New pickups for my Charvel 475

[Kalebmation]

I think I'm going to do away with active pickups, and get a DiMarzio Tone Zone in the bridge, an HS-2 in the middle, and a YJM in the neck position. Would I need to get new 500k pots to replace the (I think 50k) pots with the active pickups?

Thanks!

[pro-fusion]

Re: New pickups for my Charvel 475

The pickups themselves are not active--instead, your 475 has an active midboost circuit. In other words, you could use new passive pickups with the active electronics if you want. Personally, I would try that out first, since you would need to get 500k pots to replace the ones in there currently.

[charvel750]

Re: New pickups for my Charvel 475

The tone control pot is 250 K in the active system. The others are 50 K. Are you really dissatisfied with the tone of what's in there already? The 475 is a sonic scorcher when stock...

[Kalebmation]

Re: New pickups for my Charvel 475

The pickups don't cut through with my band, so thats why I'm looking to replace them. They aren't that bad though, I just want a little more. The clean tone is horrible though.

[GodWentPUNK]

Re: New pickups for my Charvel 475

I got the same 475 in desert crackle. I love mine to death although I've given some thought about replacing my pickups as well. I'd be interested in your final outcome.

joe...

[guitarshredder]

Re: New pickups for my Charvel 475

That C-475 is nice!

[gid_25]

Re: New pickups for my Charvel 475

I replaced the pseudo-actives in my Charvel ST Custom. It has the same configuration HB/S/S. I replaced them with an EMG-85 and two EMG-SAs. I have discovered that all actives are NOT equal and as far as EMG goes and active pickups, well they have no equal.

The guitars clean with the Charvel actives, hell the tone itself, was just plain CRAP compared to the EMGs. I am playing blues with it now (volume knob rolled back a bit most of the time) and it sounds incredible in EVERY position. These pickups are also used by Kirk Hammet, Zak Wylde, David Gilmore. I got them because I am adding an EXG (sweeps mids) and SPC (boosts mids) which I will wire only to the neck and middle single coils. The variety of tone I will get then from this guitar will be almost limitless.

Ha, but if you get EMGs you will have to rewire the whole thing unless you get an artist package thing like this:
http://www.emginc.com/displayproduct...;catalogid=106

Thats the Kirk Hammet package, but I would definitely go with an 85 in the bridge instead of the 81. The 2 single coil SA's are alnico magnets for uber sustain and the 85 is also made with alnico magnets whereas the 81 is made with ceramic magnets giving, well, a rather harsh sound in the bridge position in my opinion. 81's are just better sounding to me in the neck.

With the 85/SA/SA I can dial everything from Led Zepplin, Eagles, to Stevie Ray Vaughn, to Metallica and Megadeth to super saturated Nu-Metal (crap music but I can still get it there) pretty easily with my self-modified Ibanez TS-7. The clean tones are emaculate and if you add on one of those equalizer things you can dial in any tone you could ever want. The EMGs are super clean and clear with excellent dynamic range and have a flat response that doesn't "color" the tone so its all about fingers and the natural tone of the guitar ringing thru. Of course I am playing thru a vintage 1972 all tube Fender vibrachamp with a new Weber Vintage series alnico speaker (WOW-tone machine!). I am still waiting on my EXG (boosts highs and lows effectively sweeping mids)which was back ordered.

What kind of music do you play?

[Kalebmation]

Re: New pickups for my Charvel 475

Thanks for the nice reply, but I went with DiMarzio's.

My local shop matches musicians friend, and installs for free.

I got a Fred, HS-2 in the middle, and a YJM in the neck.

There will be a 250k volume pot for the singles, 500k vol pot for the humbucker, and a series/parallel switch.

I should have it back next week some time.