Pickup suggestion for 80s Charvel Model 1a?

[romanianreaper]

I got a Charvel Model 1a from my cousin and I believe it is from 1989. Needs a bridge pickup and has a single coil there. Was wondering what is a good hard rock pickup? I had a Hot Rails back in the 90s but don't remember it much.

I thought about a JB Jr. or similar Seymour Duncan. The Jackson single coils actually sound awesome in the other two spots. Thanks!

 

[LPMojoGL]

My buddy had single coil versions of the Tone Zone and Screaming Demon in his Anderson Icon.
The TZ was fat, more modern sounding, loved it.
The Demon had higher mids, more open, typical hard rock sound I'd associate with the 80s, not as hot.
I usually go for brighter, more open sounding pups, and don't care for the TZ hb, but that TZ single coil was fantastic. I really liked it, more than the Demon.

Clips with the TZ:


Anderson at 30 seconds



Demon:

 

[shar-vell Dan]

I got a Charvel Model 1a from my cousin and I believe it is from 1989. Needs a bridge pickup and has a single coil there. Was wondering what is a good hard rock pickup? I had a Hot Rails back in the 90s but don't remember it much.

I thought about a JB Jr. or similar Seymour Duncan. The Jackson single coils actually sound awesome in the other two spots. Thanks!

SH-5 Duncan Custom.

 

[romanianreaper]

SH-5 Duncan Custom.

They have a single coil of that???

 

[romanianreaper]

My buddy had single coil versions of the Tone Zone and Screaming Demon in his Anderson Icon.
The TZ was fat, more modern sounding, loved it.
The Demon had higher mids, more open, typical hard rock sound I'd associate with the 80s, not as hot.
I usually go for brighter, more open sounding pups, and don't care for the TZ hb, but that TZ single coil was fantastic. I really liked it, more than the Demon.

Clips with the TZ:


Anderson at 30 seconds



Demon:

Thanks for posting those! Both sounded pretty killer. I had a Tone Zone HB and didn't care for it but don't remember why. Was years ago though.

 

[LPMojoGL]

Thanks for posting those! Both sounded pretty killer. I had a Tone Zone HB and didn't care for it but don't remember why. Was years ago though.

I'm the same about the hb, darker than I prefer. Was surprised how much I like the sc version. I'd definitely look at it if I needed a sc bridge hb.

 

[shar-vell Dan]

They have a single coil of that???

sorry thought you wanted a bucker. They make stacked singles.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

I got a Charvel Model 1a from my cousin and I believe it is from 1989. Needs a bridge pickup and has a single coil there. Was wondering what is a good hard rock pickup? I had a Hot Rails back in the 90s but don't remember it much.

I thought about a JB Jr. or similar Seymour Duncan. The Jackson single coils actually sound awesome in the other two spots. Thanks!

At first I was thinking the 1A was H/S guitar, but looked it up. Since that is an SSS guitar, either a Duncan Hot Stack (more single coil character) or Hot Rail, or DiMarzio Chopper.

If you wanted to mod to a bridge HB instead, here is the coolest one Duncan makes for '80s hotrods:

The Hunter (C.S. George Lynch for his ESP guitars, based on Distortion but brighter/leaner)
Exciter (apparently a near clone of The Hunter, but std production).

 

[Kelly]

I think those have a swimming pool route. I'd change pickguards and put a humbucker in it.

 

[romanianreaper]

I think those have a swimming pool route. I'd change pickguards and put a humbucker in it.

It is funny you say that because I was thinking about it. The neck plays so well, it almost deserves a full makeover.

 

[ChurchHill]

Those necks are my favorite necks ever! If it was mine, I'd seriously think about a single humbucker, or an H/S. Definitely deserves a full makeover.

 

[romanianreaper]

Those necks are my favorite necks ever! If it was mine, I'd seriously think about a single humbucker, or an H/S. Definitely deserves a full makeover.

I know! I was blown away when I started playing it amd had that familiar Charvel feel.

I got this from my cousin when he unknowingly sold me that Chinese Adrian Smith signature guitar. I'd much rather have this one!

I'm wondering what is the best way to replace the pickguard. I've never done that before. Are there any parts that glue to the pickguard or just screws?

 

[Racerxrated]

The Custom is a good choice for your bridge, or a JB as these were Alder I believe. All the usual suspects from SD will work well. Tone Zones, not for me. I've pulled probably 9 from the many USA SoCals I've had over the years, just too bass heavy. Tubby is the word.
Single coils, I can't help you there. JB has a stacked single I think.

 

[romanianreaper]

The Custom is a good choice for your bridge, or a JB as these were Alder I believe. All the usual suspects from SD will work well. Tone Zones, not for me. I've pulled probably 9 from the many USA SoCals I've had over the years, just too bass heavy. Tubby is the word.
Single coils, I can't help you there. JB has a stacked single I think.

I was gigging back in the late 90s and out a Tone Zone in a guitar I had at the time. I didn't like it at all. It probably wasn't a bad pickup, just didn't have my sound.

 

[JohnnyGtar]

I was gigging back in the late 90s and out a Tone Zone in a guitar I had at the time. I didn't like it at all. It probably wasn't a bad pickup, just didn't have my sound.

I hate that pickup and in basswood it's a sonic mess. Flub city.

 

[ChurchHill]

I know! I was blown away when I started playing it amd had that familiar Charvel feel.

I got this from my cousin when he unknowingly sold me that Chinese Adrian Smith signature guitar. I'd much rather have this one!

I'm wondering what is the best way to replace the pickguard. I've never done that before. Are there any parts that glue to the pickguard or just screws?

Should just be the screws. I've got a Model 1 (single HB), Model 2 (single HB), and have and a Model 3 (HSS), but none of them had pickguards. I've never seen a Strat-like-object with a glued on guard, but I guess it's possible. Doubt it, though. It should just come off once you remove the screws.

Back in the day, I had a Tone Zone in my Model 1 and I liked it at the time. My tastes have changed, though, and it came out a long time ago.

After that, I was on the Seymour Duncan forum when a bunch of us were changing magnets in SD Customs, what resulted in the Custom 5. I used an A5 from a JB and put it in a Custom Custom, but it doesn't sound anything like the current Custom 5... at all. That pickup is still in that guitar.

I put a BKP C-Bomb in my Model 2 and have been very happy with it.

Being basswood, they're a little different than what a given pickup would sound like in alder or mahogany, but it's a pretty balanced sounding wood.

 

[romanianreaper]

I have a 2nd Degree Blackbelt I had in a Les Paul. I imagine I could put that in the bridge since it doesn't have a trem?

 

[ChurchHill]

Yeah, should be just fine and I'd think it'd sound great. Definitely worth a shot since you already have it.

 

[stratjacket]

I bought a 1A a couple years ago. I put a Dimarzio Super Distortion S in the bridge, Chopper in the middle and an Air Norton S in the neck. It hangs sound wise with all my other full humbucker guitars. Highly recommended configuration.