Charvel 650 xl question

[sikter]

Hello,

I'm new here, and I just found out about this great forum the other day. I have both Jackson Soloist SL1, and recently acquired Charvel 650 XL.

I mainly played Fender and Gibson, but Jackson and Chravel (650 xl) always remained on my wish list. OMG I just realized that I'm turning into collector. ahaha

Anyway, I got that Jackson SL1 last year, and I love it, but when I came across this 650 XL the other day on eBay, I just couldn't resit it. This was the guitar that good friend of mine got brand new in 1990, and ha was teaching me some stuff on it. Since than I got my eyes on it.

So, I got that 650 XL the other day, and it looks beautiful. there is no scratch on it, and black/dark blue sparkle is still pretty vibrant. Guitar plays good, and it has two pickup modifications-neck is red Fender Lace, and bridge is DiMarzio Super Distorsion.

However, the action is bit higher than what I'd like it to be. I compared it to my SL1, and bridge on it is all the way down, and pickups are bit lowered. On my 650 xl, bridge could go down for about 3-4 mm (maybe about 1/8"), but the pickups are high raised almost to the height of neck.

The neck pickup and middle pickup have two screws inside, and if I try to tighten them the pickups don't go down like they do on Fender guitars. It seems that they are just fastening/tightening those pups to the guitar body.

So, how do I lower those two pups? I'd like to figure that out before I start screwing around with lowering bridge.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Here are two pics of my new family member. BTW I love the toothpaste logo.

[Rich#6]

pull the pickups out and see what is underneath. The jackson pickups are very thick since they're stacked so the lace sensor would have to have something underneath to keep it as high as the original jackson. Same thing may have been done to the jackson, they originally come with a piece of hard form that may have been replaced with something thicker.
I think the color is metallic black.

[sikter]

Thanks Rich. I'll definitely try that when I get home in the afternoon. Anyway, I need to replace strings as well.

Could you just please tell me is there any chance that I could pull out those pup wires? I never played with guitar electronics, and I'm just trying to be careful not to screw up something.

Thx.

E

[Rich#6]

Could you just please tell me is there any chance that I could pull out those pup wires? I never played with guitar electronics, and I'm just trying to be careful not to screw up something.

To be safe you can take off the control cavity cover and make sure there is enough wire, but you should be fine to just flip them up on the body.

[sikter]

To be safe you can take off the control cavity cover and make sure there is enough wire, but you should be fine to just flip them up on the body.

I'll try that. Thx.

[Tricky]

Sweet axe!
Welcome to the forum.

[sikter]

Thanks Tricky. I really enjoy being here.

[catzodellamarina]

Brings a tear to my eye

I miss mine. It sure was a hottie. I had the same color. I changed all the hw to Schaller chrome, added a D-Tuna, EMG KH kit, replaced the 3rd knob with on/off mini-toggle. It was a nice looking guitar. I ended up not playing it very often. It just never felt right and I preferred other guitars over it. I did a friend a favor and sold it to him. He's VERY happy with it.

[MetalMedal II]

Same thing may have been done to the jackson, they originally come with a piece of hard form that may have been replaced with something thicker.
I think the color is metallic black.

Yes, the original neck and middle have hard foam under the pickups. I have used a straight razor to *carefully* slice off a thin section to decrease the pickup height to what I wanted. The other way to go is to completely pull off the foam pad and use springs to keep the pickups elevated and you can adjust to whatever u like. I have a similar banged up one in dark green that I only have a humbucker in the bridge.

[sikter]

I'm waiting for a weekend to take on this little project. Wanted to do it yesterday, but didn't get a chance. If I'm able to lower those pups, than I believe that I'll be able to get the action as low as I'd like it. My Jackson SL1 is so low, smooth, and comfortable to play.

One more question for you guys. Would I have to play for Floyd setup if I used .009 strings? I think that these that I have on 650 might be .010, and I have a few extra Boomer's.