Recommend a single coil for neck--Charvel content.

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nevusofota

nevusofota

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I'm looking to replace the neck single coil pu in my Charvel Custom shop. I believe it currently has a Seymour JB Jr. that I'm not totally happy with so I want to try something else. The problem seems to be that it seems to have quite a bit of volume drop when switching from the bridge to the neck. It also doesn't get "round" enough. I would like to get a very fat jazzy tone out of the neck, doesn't necessarily need to be high output because I'm not looking for it to push the preamp into high gain. Also, the JB Jr. didn't push through a live mix well. I am usually a Dimarzio guy so I was leaning toward a Virtual Vintage Heavy Blues 2.

Any other suggestions?

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I like the quarter pounder but it also has a vol drop, but thats kinda whatI use it for. Also like cool rails for neck in my Charvels.
 
The Cool Rails' description sounds like what I'm looking for. May have to put it on my list to try. Thanks for the suggestions.

I also want to throw in that my Charvel has a mahogony body w/ a maple cap.
 
It all depends on what you want it to do. The volume drop could be from the pickup being to low in the cavity, My hotrail in the neck is low as well but matches up pretty good with the SH6 in the bridge. The cool rail is a good alternative as is the quarter pounder, maybe even a lil 59 would get you where you need to be. By the way I love that damn Charvel.
 
Yeah man. I have one of the TMZ natural mahog guitars (maple board) with cool rails in the neck. Sounds terrific, although I dont have a maple top like yours, I bet the results will be similar.
 
Try a Dimarzio SDS-1 if you want a fat, round neck tone with little to no volume drop. It's much like a P-90 in a Strat-sized pickup
 
I love my VV Heavy Blues on bridge positions. Never tried it in the neck position. I bet it sounds fantastic.

I had the same problem you're having but with my Aldrich pickups. I use the Seymour Quarter Pounder. I love it. Fantastic results.
 
i second the Quarterpound recommendation...FWIW, most Charvel Custom Shops are coming stock with those pups these days. Just real punchy, plenty of gain, but they still retain the clarity that one expects from a single. They clean up real nice too.
 
I personnally didn't like the Quarter Pound for the style of sound I was after.
Do you want a real single coil or a humbucker sized single?
I replaced the QP in my guitar with the Air Norton S... really like it
Also note that the previous owner of the guitar said he liked the QP better after trying the ANS
Guess I'm not really helping :lol: :LOL:
 
maiden_fan":3uo9od90 said:
The Dimarzio Air Norton S is a great neck pickup.
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I like it better than the full size Air Norton... Tried all the neck pickups.. air norton S is the one..
 
Ive tried the Qtr Pounder, did like it. I recommend the Lil 59, fat and smooth, cleans up nice too.
 
Forget SD. Go with Dimarzio Pro Track, Chopper, Air Norton S, or Fast Track 2, depending on exactly how much bass vs. cutting through the mix you want. Don't get me wrong--I love the Heavy Blues 2 but if you want to stay on par volume-wise you have to stay around 300 mV, which the four I've described do wonderfully. The Air Norton S SEEMS like it has lees output than it does, but I'll tell you, in my new RG3XXVLB it hangs tough with the D-Activator at 470 mV.
 
The Chopper is my favorite. I tried quite a few of the ones mentioned including the Vintage Blues. The Chopper had a nice warm, round tone. More like a humbucker but still a single. I find it difficult to mix hums and singles because of the pot differences. The Chopper worked great with 500K pots and matched well with a Bareknuckle Nailbomb bridge. Personally I would go Chopper with an Air Norton or similar bridge. Chopper is a great pickup. I still have it in new condition as I returned that guitar to stock and sold it. You can have it for fifty shipped if you want. You can buy a black cover on Ebay for three bucks. Theres a great Dimarzio seller on there. My covers are white and cream. None the less I say Chopper for that guitar.
 
glip22":3lino0wv said:
The Chopper is my favorite. I tried quite a few of the ones mentioned including the Vintage Blues. The Chopper had a nice warm, round tone. More like a humbucker but still a single. I find it difficult to mix hums and singles because of the pot differences. The Chopper worked great with 500K pots and matched well with a Bareknuckle Nailbomb bridge. Personally I would go Chopper with an Air Norton or similar bridge. Chopper is a great pickup. I still have it in new condition as I returned that guitar to stock and sold it. You can have it for fifty shipped if you want. You can buy a black cover on Ebay for three bucks. Theres a great Dimarzio seller on there. My covers are white and cream. None the less I say Chopper for that guitar.
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I have a Vintage Blues on the way but will keep your offer in mind. Thanks for the info also. If the Vintage blues doesn't fit my application I think I may just purchase 3 or more pu's and just re-sell if they don't make the cut.
 
I just put a DiMarzio BC-1 in the neck position of my Jackson PC-1. I have a Suhr Aldrich in the bridge and there's no volume difference between the pickups. I use the BC-1 for a few solo's and it works great...
 
nevusofota":1jw8sore said:
glip22":1jw8sore said:
The Chopper is my favorite. I tried quite a few of the ones mentioned including the Vintage Blues. The Chopper had a nice warm, round tone. More like a humbucker but still a single. I find it difficult to mix hums and singles because of the pot differences. The Chopper worked great with 500K pots and matched well with a Bareknuckle Nailbomb bridge. Personally I would go Chopper with an Air Norton or similar bridge. Chopper is a great pickup. I still have it in new condition as I returned that guitar to stock and sold it. You can have it for fifty shipped if you want. You can buy a black cover on Ebay for three bucks. Theres a great Dimarzio seller on there. My covers are white and cream. None the less I say Chopper for that guitar.
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I have a Vintage Blues on the way but will keep your offer in mind. Thanks for the info also. If the Vintage blues doesn't fit my application I think I may just purchase 3 or more pu's and just re-sell if they don't make the cut.
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Thats exactly what I did. The Chopper stayed.
 
Im a Dimarzio man too. I love my Cruizers in the neck. For a warmer buttery solo tone I would recommend the air norton as well. Reminds me of Slash tones. I was about to load my Paul with a used Pro Track but it isnt working properly. Sending it to DiMarzio for repair. I will post back with my thoughts when I get it back. Satch uses the Pro T in his 2400 Sigs and his tone sounds a bit brighter than what I thought the Pro T would be so I wonder if he has them wired up in series. Anyone have a clue?
 
Cool Rails, if I'm not using an EMG, it's my single coil of choice in the passive world. Matches nicely with a hot or average bridge humbucker.
 
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