Thinking about hot rodding the Charvel 475......

[Enigma]

I have had this guitar for probably 12 years, i believe it is about a '91, Charvel made some great imports back then. I love the guitar, especially the awesome neck and jumbo frets, but after all these years I am thinking why not try some new pickups? Right now I have the stock J50BC (KILLER lead sound [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img], ok rhythm crunch) and J120 middle/neck single coils with the JE-1200 active mid boost. I really like the J120 in the middle position, but the J120 neck pos lacks meat for thick leads. The cleans are great. The JE-1200 is cool, but adds a little noise, so I may even take it out. Then again, I do like having the ability to crank the mids a bit for leads and then cut mids for a more scooped sound for crunch, so I may keep it.

This has always been my "lead monster" guitar and I am not concerned as much as normal with getting vintage tones or being as well rounded as my Carvin for example, I want this Charvel to be focused more on loud, searing sounds! I am not after Pantera like sounds, more in the vein of Jake E. Lee cira Ultimate Sin or Warren di Martini or Megadeth circa Rust In Peace. I need a nice hot, tight sound that is intense but articulate, not a sledge hammer, more like a sword.

I like the idea of a Duncan Hot Rail or similar at the neck position for thicker leads, although I like a twangy sound for the middle single coil. For the bridge HB I am considering the Duncan Full Shred or Duncan Distortion or Trembucker Distortion. Although I love the DiMarzio Evolution, I don't really want to use one for this guitar. Last but not least, there is the EMG 81/SA/SA option. Any thoughts are welcome........

[etaeniura]

Re: Thinking about hot rodding the Charvel 475......

Try a JB jr in the neck slot. I just popped one in a model 4 and it is killer. THey are a little strange looking, but if you get past the looks, the tone is incredible.

[pro-fusion]

Re: Thinking about hot rodding the Charvel 475....

The Duncan Distortion might be a bit too much, based on the ideal sound you described. You'd get a tighter sound with an EMG 81 or 85 in the bridge. A DiMarzio PAF Pro might be a good option, as well--that's what Vai was using prior to the Evolutions.

[Enigma]

Re: Thinking about hot rodding the Charvel 475....

Yeah the EMGs have a certain appeal, although they would make the guitar more specialized into that type of hi-fi sound. As far as Evo vs PAF Pro at the bridge, the Evo wins every time for me, but it's not really what I'm after for this guitar. I think the SD Full Shred is a little less fizzy than the Evo and still more than hot enough, it's the front runner right now.

[No Use]

Re: Thinking about hot rodding the Charvel 475....

have you tried a JB in the bridge? Musty and Marty used those in their guitars.

I like this thread. it gives me ideas for me to try with my charvie fusion!

[Enigma]

Re: Thinking about hot rodding the Charvel 475....

[ QUOTE ]
have you tried a JB in the bridge? Musty and Marty used those in their guitars.

I like this thread. it gives me ideas for me to try with my charvie fusion!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah I used to have the JB in an old Gibson V. The JB is nicely balanced, but I like more intensity. I replaced it with a 500T, which was perfect for that guitar.

I definitely like a powerful pickup, although I don't want extremely fizzy for this guitar. The stock J50BC has an ideal lead tone to me, but has always been a little too loose for crunch. Keep those ideas coming! [img]/images/graemlins/band.gif[/img]

[No Use]

Re: Thinking about hot rodding the Charvel 475....

hmmm, Custom Custom?