MrCruel Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 Hi! I have been searching for some advice/ideas for my future project. Primary question is about puckups and elecrtonics on the guitar, but of course, other opinions are welcome too, because this will be my first project. I have an old Charvel, made in Japan -88 or -89. I don't know exact model yet, I haven't been able to get it here yet from my friend. Probably something like Model 4 or Model 6. It has sharkfin inlays, Jackson/Schaller double locking tremolo and Jackson active pickups in S-S-H configuration, with standard strat-style pickup selector-switch. Original colour is white. Guitar has seen some rought handling, it has some bruises in body and one pickup is dead. Other problems with electronics, when volume is turned all the way up, it starts to scream like insane (feedback). Tremolo has seen better days, but it can be fixed. Now, for initial ideas on what to do with it. I'm under impression that Charvels made in 80's are of good quality, both wood and labour. So, I intend to sand off old finish, put in something to fill bruises and make some additional contouring to get better acces to upper frets. Tthen refinish it in black (headstock is black, so they would match...). Neck will remain as it is. But then the electronics... I'm looking for heavy, warm and full distorted sound and then again, some beefy rich cleans. There should also be long sustain and I'm going to tune it to D. I was looking for EMG's (S/S/81), but they are expensive and I'm not sure if the guitar is really worth it (is it?). Duncans are even more expensive alternative. Jacksons are not too easy to obtain. However, I found store selling Kent Armstrong pickups, not too expensive. I have no experience with them, so I'm asking if they are worth trying? Are they noisy and how's their quality overall? Or should I just invest some more money on EMG's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddiewarlock Posted October 22, 2004 Report Share Posted October 22, 2004 Yes it's worth it!! i'd sooooo bring that guitar back to its glory days! but if i was you i'd use Duncans, and they're cheaper than EMG's, Charvel's are great guitars, specially if they were made in the 80's, i'd recommend you to go to www.jcfonline.com ; register, and go to the forum, the Jackson Charvel experts there will gladly help you! Lots of ppl there with a true love for Jackson and Charvels, as it should be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted October 22, 2004 Report Share Posted October 22, 2004 i second that,it is worth it.the old charvels are quite nice.i am an emg lover so i would go 85/s/s(alder body i assume) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCruel Posted October 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2004 (edited) Thank you for info I'm not sure if Duncans are really cheaper, I can get S/S/81-set (or S/S/85-set) at €260 (about $312), including switches, jack, volume/tone controls and wiring. Duncan Distortion Trembucker alone costs €110 and TB4 €89. So, it would be actually cheaper to get those EMG's. For the sound, I'm not sure if it's better to use 81 or 85 if I'll use EMG's (yes, it's alder). Same for Duncans, if I'm going to use them, I don't really know what single coils I should pair with TB4 or PA-TB2B. Honestly, I have no experience with EMG's or Duncans (probably ypu already guessed that ). I've mostly been playing with passive Jackson PS2.. it sucks. That's why I want to restore that Charvel.. It's easy and comfortable to play and I really need good quality instrument to use in gigs and in studio. Edited October 22, 2004 by MrCruel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddiewarlock Posted October 22, 2004 Report Share Posted October 22, 2004 Oh you're in Europe! well, on this side of the pond, duncans are usually cheaper than EMG, both are excellent pickup choices, so go with whatever you think is fine, I said Duncans cuz i'm a duncan fan! good luck on your restoration project Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crafty Posted October 22, 2004 Report Share Posted October 22, 2004 Duncan Quarter Pounders are good single coil pickups and sound good with a TB4. I'd also consider the Hot Stacks if you don't want the single coil hum. Both would sound good with the TB4. The EMG Pro Series setups are a good deal and everything comes prewired and tested, which is nice. It's EMG's way of making their pickups less expensive than anyone else by offering a matched set for a discount price. On a side note, I was at a shop in Des Moines yesterday and they had a well-worn Jackson Dinky Professional series for only $279 w/case. I almost offered the guy $200 for it because it was just about worn out. The only reason why I didn't was because I didn't want to mess with a refret along with a refinish on a nearly worn-out guitar. But it sure sounded nice if it didn't exactly play very well. Very nice "relic" piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCruel Posted October 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2004 (edited) Yes, pro-series and combination systems are not too expensive, considering that they are complete sets with wiring, controls, jack etc. I could get close to it (or cheaper) with Kent Armstrongs (something like €110-€170 for pickups, depending on setup, plus wiring, controls etc), but I bet those EMG's are better sounding and less noisy ones. So, S/S/85-combination seems reasonable choice for me. Pro-series SL20 would be my choice, if my guitar had strato-like pickguard... Duncan-setup would consist of two SSL-7 Quarter Pounders and one TB-4, at price of €217,3. I'm under impression they are passive ones, but what should I do with volume and tone controls? Old ones are crap, but I have no idea how should I choose other parts if going for Duncans... (yes, I'm newbie.. ) I once played Jackson Professional series.. my friend bought one second hand and it was almost unused. Paid €300 for it. It was fun to play, althrough i couldn't get satisfactory cleans from it. But I have heard that quality of Jacksons have decreased from what they were back in 80's. I don't know if they are any better nowadays. At least cheap ones are crappy (even worse than my PS2, but USA Selected Series SL2H Soloist was actually very pleasant thing to play...) So, I probably wouldn't buy brand new Jackson, or used Jackson/Charvel if it's not from late 80's... sad thing, because they are really good looking guitars. Edited October 22, 2004 by MrCruel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerryL Posted October 22, 2004 Report Share Posted October 22, 2004 While I don't know if they do International Orders, This Duncan Scorcher is a great value for money, and Might be worth you're while to look into. Musician's Friend Duncan Performer Scorcher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crafty Posted October 22, 2004 Report Share Posted October 22, 2004 Looks like an imported version of the Hot Rails... Anyways, if you went with the SD pickups, their website has a good selection of wiring diagrams to guide your installation. EMG also has diagrams you can download as well. I would highly recommend the SSL-7/TB-4 setup, though. I have played a guitar with such a setup and it was excellent. Very versatile and clean. As far as pots and switches, the reason why EMG includes pots with their pickups is because they use different values than passive systems. With passive systems, most people either use 250k or 500k ohm pots. If you use the Quarter Pounders, go with 250k. Your bridge humbucker will loose some highs, but you'll still get a nice quack out of the mid/neck singles. If you go with the single-coil size humbuckers, including stacks, you can use 500k pots. Of course, selection of these parts is all personal preference anyway. SD also has a cool page where you can hear a sample of their pickups being played, too. BTW, as far as Jackson/Charvel quality goes, I do hope that Fender will do something to upgrade the quality and maybe pair down the selection of guitars. Having five different import lines and two USA lines is just way too confusing. Also, do something about the naming structure, too. SL2AQT and DK2FS, anyone? Do one asian line, one mexican line, and one American line, and I'll be happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted October 22, 2004 Report Share Posted October 22, 2004 i mentioned the 85 because it pairs well with alder at the bridge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted October 23, 2004 Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 My '86 Charvel catalog shows the model 4 as a bolt-on, basswood body. Model 6 is neck-through, poplar sides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCruel Posted October 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 (edited) Thanks for info again. I'm not sure what model this Charvel is, but I'll try to get it home somewhere near future and take couple of pictures of it. So it would be easier to identify... It seemed like Model 4 for me, when I played it for a while, except that it comes with standard strat-style witch, not three separate mini-switches like Model 4. If I remember it correct. Remains to be seen... Edited October 23, 2004 by MrCruel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goth_fiend Posted October 23, 2004 Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 do you know if that bridge humbucker is a jb50c? if it is would you be willing to trade? i have a dimarzio tone zone and a duncan invader i dont use anymore let me know. im in the us so i would pay shiping for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCruel Posted October 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2004 I don't know yet, but I'll check that out as soon as I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCruel Posted November 3, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 Ok, something new info about the guitar... Exact model is most probably some variation of Charvel 475, made late 80's or early 90's, don't know for sure. Bolt-on neck, sharkfin inlays etc as I have told before. So, if I'm correct, woods used in this thing is basswood on body, maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. Friend told me that I might want to take off some wood from body because of weight, but I don't think it's exceptionally heavy weight. Friend compared it to his Warmoth with one-piece cedar soloist-body.. Same question stands - is it worth repairing/refinishing, and is SSL-7/TB4 or SSL-7/Invader-setup good for this? Another choice would be to get Charvel Model 4. I could get one for €450 in very good condition... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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