changing out Carvin pickups/pots question

Jbird

Jbird

Kick Henry Jackassowski
I think I'm going to change the pickups out in my old ('84) Carvin DC160.

I've been playing it alot lately and really love the playability of the guitar. But when I jammed with a friend of mine the other day, who now owns the Agile LP with Duncan 59/JB that I used to own, the tone on my Carvin just isn't what I want it to be. Plus, the pickup selector on my Carvin started to get funky on me, very muddy sound/or no sound when I had the neck pup selected, until my friend had some kind of electronics spray that we sprayed the selector with, worked fine afterwards, but something that might need replacing (?). Also, the guitar likes to squeal when I'm not playing......pickup going microphonic? Something else maybe?

Anyhow, I've heard that the Carvin pickup cavities aren't quite the same size as 'regular' humbuckers...the cavities would have to be routed out a bit? Or is this not true? Anyone have experience with Carvins like this?


Also I want some pickup recommendations. Keep in mind the guitar is all maple, with an ebony fretboard. So a heavier, denser guitar than your average dual humbucker guitar (still not as heavy as many an LP though). And keep in mind that I mainly play metal, but I'd still like a pair of pickups that could handle most anything.


Feedback appreciated :)
 
Help!I'maRock! said:
i had no problems whatsoever putting Dimarzio pickups into my '05 Carvin DC127. YMMV.
Click to expand...

I'm not very familiar with DiMarzio's, other than Petrucci uses 'em (and Yngwie, etc.) What would be a good combo in an all-maple guitar? I don't think I'd want a super distortion, I want something that'd stay clean when I want it to be clean :embarrassed:
 
I put a set of uncovered DiMarzios in one of my SC90's with no problems. For the other SC90, I had to sand out a bit with the Dremel when I installed a set of Bill Lawrence Wilde L-90s. The Carvin cavities are routed so they won't accept covered pickups. Also, depending on the guitar, they may not be deep enough for some extra thick pickups. For example, P Rails or Wilde L-500's are too thick for my SC90's. As much as I love Carvins, their electronics are poorly lacking. If you replace the pickup, replace the wiring harness at the same time.

FWIW, this is the Carvin that I had to widen the pickup cavities on:

DSCF0562.jpg
 
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PunkKitty said:
I put a set of uncovered DiMarzios in one of my SC90's with no problems. For the other SC90, I had to sand out a bit with the Dremel when I installed a set of Bill Lawrence Wilde L-90s. The Carvin cavities are routed so they won't accept covered pickups. Also, depending on the guitar, they may not be deep enough for some extra thick pickups. For example, P Rails or Wilde L-500's are too thick for my SC90's. As much as I love Carvins, their electronics are poorly lacking. If you replace the pickup, replace the wiring harness at the same time.

FWIW, this is the Carvin that I had to widen the pickup cavities on:

DSCF0562.jpg
Click to expand...

Ok, now that I think about it, it was the covered pickups that dont quite fit. Thanks, PunkKitty :)

Who is it here that has the Carvin Holdsworth? I wonder how those Holdsworth pickups would do for classic hard rock/metal? I guess they sound quite a bit different than the regular Carvin pickups (and the newer Carvin pups arent too bad, better than my mid-80s Carvin pickups)
 
The Holdworth pickups are the only Carvin pickups that I like. I can sell you a used set. PM me if you are interested.
 
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