Model 6

[ripit]

I bought a Charvel in 1988. I believe it is a Model 6 (single coil pickup in neck and middle position, double in the bridge position, Kahler tremlo). Does this sound like a model 6? Pickups look like EMGs however have no writing on them. Are they EMGs? Also what type of wood is the body made of. Any help in identifying specifics about my guitar would be appreciated. Thanks. [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[RacerX]

Re: Model 6

Search function, newbie!

[RacerX]

Re: Model 6

To answer your questions:

Yes
Maybe
Poplar



But it'd be great if you could supply more details and a pic.

[1trussell]

Re: Model 6

If it's a model 6, it will be neck thru maple with poplar body sides. It will have sharkfin inlays, volume/tone/mid boost knobs, and a bound neck and headstock in addition to what you've already described. If it's a bolt on, then it's a model 4 with a maple neck and basswood body.

[dg]

Re: Model 6

If the pickups are original to the guitar, they are a Jackson J50BC in the bridge & Jackson J200 stacked humbuckers in the neck & middle. Even if the white lettering has rubbed off, you should still be able to see a raised Jackson logo on the pickups. Jackson pickups are all passive, but the guitar has an active midboost system (JE1200).

Like Travis said, it should be neck through & have 24 frets with sharkfin inlays if it's a Model 6. If it's a bolt-on with 22 frets, it is a Model 4.

Welcome to the JCF, btw. [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

[ripit]

Re: Model 6

Yes it is a neck thru body with shark fin inlays, 24 frets, Cobolt blue. The pickups do look like Jacksons (and EMGs) however there was never any writing on them (no raised logo). Im guessing right-Model 6 I suppose. Neck thru maple with poplar body (sides).

[dg]

Re: Model 6

I have an '87 in the same color. Yours is an '86, since it has a Kahler. Maybe they made pickups without a raised logo early on. Someone else here will know for sure. Does the midboost circuit on yours still work?

[agresivo]

Re: Model 6

My Charvel 650XL had its Jackson pickups without the raised logo, it was just printed over the plastic covers.

[ripit]

Re: Model 6

Yes the mid-boost still works. Do have to change the battery occasionally (infrequently). Im thinking about swapping out the pickups. Especially the neck and middle. Im not happy with the way they sound with slight distortion/gain (want better tonal distinction when sweep picking). What do you think of these pickups? Any recommendations for upgrades. Need a good clean tone but with better distinction when gained. Thanks in advance.

[etaeniura]

Re: Model 6

my 86 model 4 also has no lettering on the pickup covers. It doesn't appear as though there ever was any.

[model1]

Re: Model 6

[ QUOTE ]
Yours is an '86, since it has a Kahler.

[/ QUOTE ]
at least it should be(as a genaral rule: they built in kahlers only in 86)
look at the serial on the back of the head
first number indicates the year:
a 6 would be 86, a 7 would be 87 and so on
we see that the kahler-rule is not always true as in the classifieds there was a model5 with a 7xxxx serial and kahler...
andy

[ripit]

Re: Model 6

Any suggestions in an upgrade pickup(s), particularly for the neck and middle position? See may last post. Thanks

[dg]

Re: Model 6

Quite a few people replace all 3 pickups with EMGs, like 81, SA, SA. If you want to keep the bridge pickup & the electronics the same, there are a few options in single-space hums you can try. The Duncan Hot Rails is pretty popular, but it has a lip that requires that you modify the route to fit it in. The Cool Rails doesn't have the lip, so it will fit right in, but I haven't heard people rave about this pickup as much. According to Travis, you can special-order the Hot Rails without the lip & it takes something like 6 weeks. I was considering going with an Invader, Cool Rails, Hot Rails combo in my Model 6, but I got going on a couple other things & haven't gotten around to it.

[1trussell]

Re: Model 6

[ QUOTE ]
According to Travis, you can special-order the Hot Rails without the lip & it takes something like 6 weeks.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's right, you can. The Duncan rep I talked to said it wouldn't cost any different, but it would take the extra time. I put in a Distortion/Cool Rails/Hot Rails combo in my 650xl and that thing is a tone monster. I left the active electronics in and it works fine with the passive pickups. To tell you the truth, I've been turning the boost knob all the way off and it sounds a little better. The extra gain was good for all out metal mayhem, but it fukked with my articulation and ruined the cleans.