Passive Pickup Suggestions Needed: Charvel Model 5FX

[Charvel1975]

So right now my Charvel is setup for Drop B with .010-.052's. It's got an Org Floyd Rose, LSR roller nut, Kahler locking nut after the lsr roller nut, emg-85 bridge, sa-neck. I don't use the trem.

The guitar doesn't seem like it has any punch, clarity or definition to it, I'm probably going to passive pickups and was wanting suggestions. Some of the pickups that I've been reading about online are the following:

new SD 59/Custom hybrid, alternative 8, Custom TB-5, Custom Custom TB-11, JB TB-4
SD cool rails single coil for neck, jb jr flat

Suhr Doug Aldrich bridge

Bare Knuckle pickups

Also, want the pickups to be versatile enough in case later on down the road I decide to put it back to 1/2 step below E tuning as well for 80's metal, classic rock, etc. The .010-.052's are definitley coming off and I'm putting the set of D'Addairo .011-.056 that I have on it, am I gonna run into any problems when I go to put them on?

 

[maddnotez]

You might need to adjust the neck after string guage switch.

There's alot of pups that would work. Id have to hear the guitars characteristics but the 59's should be ok. Most dimarzio love charvel. And if you're going to drop $200 for some bkp id also give motor city a ring.

 

[Snowblind56]

I have a Dimarzio X2N and a Duncan Hot Rail in mine. I put those in a long time ago when I thought I need the absolute highest output pickups in it, but I never felt the need to switch them. That guitar can drop a T-Rex at a thousand yards.

Of the ones that you mentioned, I don't think you could go wrong with a Custom, Alternative 8, Suhr Aldrich, or just about any BKP or MCP. You also might want to look into a Seymour Duncan Distortion. That pickup has been getting a lot of love lately.

 

[Charvel1975]

Originally the guitar when my mom & dad got it for me years ago for a christmas present, my 2nd guitar ever it had a non quick-disconnect EMG-81 and a gold Made in Germany original Floyd Rose, both of which I still have, the original floyd rose thats been on it is a black one that came off an 80's kramer, the neck emg-sa was in there too when I got it. From what very little info there is online about the 5FX I think the body is Poplar and the neck is Maple?

 

[Charvel1975]

I have a Dimarzio X2N and a Duncan Hot Rail in mine. I put those in a long time ago when I thought I need the absolute highest output pickups in it, but I never felt the need to switch them. That guitar can drop a T-Rex at a thousand yards.

Of the ones that you mentioned, I don't think you could go wrong with a Custom, Alternative 8, Suhr Aldrich, or just about any BKP or MCP. You also might want to look into a Seymour Duncan Distortion. That pickup has been getting a lot of love lately.

I google searched trying to see in anyone has used any of the Bare Knuckle pickup's in a Charvel model 5fx and saw a post on the BKP forum a guy that has model 5 from the same era (same guitar execpt HH/5-way selector/dot inlays). He said It must've been made with a very dense piece of poplar because it weighs a ton & has a very thick meaty sound - not at all what you associate with maple neck-thru guitars and he has a Painkiller in his, said it's uber-aggressive with massive mids & low end.

 

[Charvel1975]

Only found 1 video on youtube of someone that has a SD Alternative 8 in an old Charvel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jk2B2OP5qI

 

[fearhk213]

You mentioned that you still had an EMG 81 laying around. In my experience the 81 has more punch, clarity, & definition than the 85. It may be worth trying it to see if it delivers the goods for you before you go passive & have to deal with switching out all the pots & what not.

As far as other options go . . .
WCR Icebucker - TIght, clear, & dynamic. It's low output with an overall neutral eq. It does lean to the aggressive side, but it's not so over-the-top in voicing that you couldn't use it for other styles & feel like you're compromising a lot. Since it is lower output don't be surprised if you need to boost with this pickups, but that will depend on your amp & guitar as well. For example I had one in my LP tuned to drop C for a while & straight through with no boost it sounded amazing through my Cameron Uber. Through my Cameron or Fortin Marshall it needed a boost, but then it was just as good if not better than through the Uber.

MCP Garuda - JB like in terms of output, eq curve, & note focus, but there are some differences that make superior imo. The lows hold together and have more punch. The upper mids are still there, but they're not prone to being ear piercing and strident like the JB can be. I have one in my main guitar that's also tuned to drop C and it's awesome. It's noticeably hotter than the Icebucker, but the voicing isn't so modern either that it couldn't do the other styles your mentioned either.

 

[Charvel1975]

You mentioned that you still had an EMG 81 laying around. In my experience the 81 has more punch, clarity, & definition than the 85. It may be worth trying it to see if it delivers the goods for you before you go passive & have to deal with switching out all the pots & what not.

Yea I still have the EMG 81 that was in it when I got it, seemed to me there was just a very minimal sound difference with the 81 vs the 85, even when I had it in 1/2 step below E tuning. Like I said though all my other guitars have passive pickups and I've gotten so used to passive thats why I was thinking of going to passive for the Charvel. I'm wondering though if the new Seymour Duncan 59/Custom TB-16 is gonna have the punch, clarity, & definition vs the 85 thats in it now? I'm thinking maybe I should watch the funds a little bit and try Seymour Duncan 1st, the only other guitar I have duncans in is my korean epi LP custom, it has the JB/Jazz hot rod set.

 

[Charvel1975]

So a while back I've since took the .010-.052's off & put a set of EB Beefy Slinky's .011-.054 on the Charvel, don't have the special truss rod tool to adjust neck, the action raised a bit when I put them on there. Somethings going on with the volume balance between the bridge emg-85 and neck emg-sa single coil, I think the 3-way toggle switch my tech replaced might be bad, I dunno? Should I just get a new Switchcraft 3-way? I'm definitely going to passive pickups, I'll still hang on the the original non quick connect emg-81 and sa that was in the guitar when I got it, the 85 thats in it now I might be selling.

I've been using my Peavey 6505+ head right now but my other head is my Mesa Tremoverb head. I've seen some guys say for what it's tuned to right now, drop B, the SD Distortion might be a good choice I wonder how the cleans will sound on the bridge position, what about for the neck single coil, Cool Rails, etc? I think I've got it narrowed down to either the SD Distortion or a Suhr Aldrich trembucker.

 

[SDMF38]

I've used the SD distortion forever and it cleans up really good with my setup, even staying on the dirt and just rolling the volume knob down. I also have a Aldrich in my last build and really like it alot. It also cleans up well and responds well to vol knob manipulation. I don't think you could go wrong with either choice but if you want high output with a ceramic magnet get the duncan.

 

[mchn13]

duncan distortion at that tuning. ripping, tight pickup, and good for rock too.

 

[Charvel1975]

So after much research online I think I'm gonna go with a Seymour Duncan Distortion TB-6 for the bridge position in my Charvel 5fx but as far as the slant neck single coil, the tone wizard on Seymour's site is recommending a SSL-4 Quarter Pound Flat, do you guys think that'll pair well with the Distortion? I'm thinking even if I have it setup again to 1/2 step E tuning from drop B where it's tuned to now should be pretty versatile. Also, if I ever have it set back up to 1/2 E would one of those EVH D-Tuna's work, the trem cavity is recessed? What's some good brands to look at to replace volume & tone pot, 3 way toggle switch and output jack. I stumbled upon online those EVH Bourns pots, anyone use em?

 

[jsp]

For punch, clarity, and definition, I'd suggest the Dimarzio Dominion.

 

[Charvel1975]

For punch, clarity, and definition, I'd suggest the Dimarzio Dominion.

I used DiMarzio's tone finder and the last question problem solver I selected Warmer/Fatter and the Dominion was the 1st result that came up. My Charvel has a Poplar body, rosewood fretboard, org. Floyd rose trem. So if I went with a Dominion would a DiMarzio DP184 Chopper neck single coil pair well?

 

[jsp]

I've never tried the Chopper so I can't say for sure about that...

 

[SFW]

Duncan Distortion and a lil 59 for the neck.

 

[Lord Toneking]

If it had EMGs in it I would make sure the pots and input jack have been changed. That could deaden things up

 

[chunktone]

You might need to adjust the neck after string guage switch.

There's alot of pups that would work. Id have to hear the guitars characteristics but the 59's should be ok. Most dimarzio love charvel. And if you're going to drop $200 for some bkp id also give motor city a ring.

I absolutely love the Motor City Pickups Detroiter for drop tunings.

 

[Charvel1975]

If it had EMGs in it I would make sure the pots and input jack have been changed. That could deaden things up

It still has the 85 & SA in it still, I actually used it last night at our show at The Carriage House in Louisville, OH running thru the peavey 6505+/marshall 1960. I changed the 9V battery out before leaving and forgot my guitar guy shielded the control cavity and put a large Orange Drop cap in there, didn't check the value, but with all my other guitars having passive pickups I've gotten used to that sound

 

[MrDan666]

Definitely load the 81 back in and try again. That pickup tracks like lightning and it cuts like glass. If it isn't aggressive or cutting enough with the 81, i would think the woods of that guitar probably are overly dark/soft sounding.

For what it's worth, Ralph (gainfreak) and I were recently experimenting with EMG's after using Duncan Distortions in the bridge for years. We are both of the opinion that the 81 is super close to the Distortion in it's overall tone. Obviously the EMG has the extra compression that you don't get in passives, but generally the tone is very similar. Just an FYI. The 81 could save you having to rip out all the pots/jacks etc.