NGD: 80s brilliance content

mike_l · December 2013

dindude said:

Nice one @dave_mc we've almost got enough now for a dedicated Charvel porn thread!

That's gotta happen

Dave_Mc · December 2013

Bidley said:

Great work dude! I've been playing mine non-stop and it's just awesome in every way, it just fits me so well.

Go on then, stick a couple of pics of your San Dimas up! What pups are in it?

JB and 59. The JB actually suits it fairly well. I normally find myself scratching my head as to why (other than just cost, and the fact people have heard of them) most manufacturers use JBs all the time. It probably still wouldn't be my first choice but it's good enough that it doesn't need to be swapped, either.

That's actually one of the things that swayed me towards the san dimas (well aside from the fact they didn't have any socals left in nice colours)- I don't think the tone zone is as suitable for 80s tones (and I'd prefer a paf-type in the neck to an evo). Don't get me wrong, I probably actually prefer the Tone Zone to the JB as an overall pickup- but to my ears it's a bit dark for those 80s tones.

mike_l said:

Excellent work Dave_Mc and Bidley, more Charvel converts........

I already had a star

Bidley · December 2013

Oh that is nice, looks very 80s

Yeah, the JB is quite widely-used. It's just an all-round great pickup, which serves well for most styles of rock/metal.

How are you enjoying it? What everybody says about the necks is all true, in my estimations.

streethawk · December 2013

Not my thing at all, floyd and all that, but for some reason I want one in blue. Just a dead good looking guitar.

mike_l · December 2013

Dave_Mc said:

Bidley said:

Great work dude! I've been playing mine non-stop and it's just awesome in every way, it just fits me so well.

Go on then, stick a couple of pics of your San Dimas up! What pups are in it?
JB and 59. The JB actually suits it fairly well. I normally find myself scratching my head as to why (other than just cost, and the fact people have heard of them) most manufacturers use JBs all the time. It probably still wouldn't be my first choice but it's good enough that it doesn't need to be swapped, either.

That's actually one of the things that swayed me towards the san dimas (well aside from the fact they didn't have any socals left in nice colours)- I don't think the tone zone is as suitable for 80s tones (and I'd prefer a paf-type in the neck to an evo). Don't get me wrong, I probably actually prefer the Tone Zone to the JB as an overall pickup- but to my ears it's a bit dark for those 80s tones.

mike_l said:

Excellent work Dave_Mc and Bidley, more Charvel converts........
I already had a star

Coolio. Try lowering the neck pup right away from the strings, it works well

Dave_Mc · December 2013

Bidley said:

Oh that is nice, looks very 80s

Yeah, the JB is quite widely-used. It's just an all-round great pickup, which serves well for most styles of rock/metal.

How are you enjoying it? What everybody says about the necks is all true, in my estimations.

Yeah that's what I was going for. I figure if I'm going for an 80s guitar there are no prizes for subtlety

)

I find the JB suffers slightly from jack-of-all-trades syndrome- for most styles there's normally a better option, IMO (though obviously that "better option" might not be as versatile). I also find its output and voicing don't really necessarily make all that much sense to me- it has quite a classic voicing, yet a lot of output- which makes it too hot and compressed for more vintage tones, but not really tight enough for higher gain tones. That being said, as I said, it sounds pretty good in this guitar.

)

I also find it kind of funny though that (personally) I think its forte is probably 80s rock and metal, and most guitar players hate those tones. Yet it's one of the most popular pickups in existence. If they called it "the spandex" I wonder how many they'd sell

And yeah I'm liking it a lot.

The neck finish seems to be very thin, the neck is starting to discolour a little already

)

mike_l said:

Dave_Mc said:

Bidley said:

Great work dude! I've been playing mine non-stop and it's just awesome in every way, it just fits me so well.

Go on then, stick a couple of pics of your San Dimas up! What pups are in it?
JB and 59. The JB actually suits it fairly well. I normally find myself scratching my head as to why (other than just cost, and the fact people have heard of them) most manufacturers use JBs all the time. It probably still wouldn't be my first choice but it's good enough that it doesn't need to be swapped, either.

That's actually one of the things that swayed me towards the san dimas (well aside from the fact they didn't have any socals left in nice colours)- I don't think the tone zone is as suitable for 80s tones (and I'd prefer a paf-type in the neck to an evo). Don't get me wrong, I probably actually prefer the Tone Zone to the JB as an overall pickup- but to my ears it's a bit dark for those 80s tones.

mike_l said:

Excellent work Dave_Mc and Bidley, more Charvel converts........
I already had a star

Coolio. Try lowering the neck pup right away from the strings, it works well

Thanks, good idea, I'll give that a shot. I didn't think the neck pickup sounded as good as in my star, a bit muddy, that might well be it. You just lower it like normal? Not too used to direct-mount pickups

)

Also thanks very much for the wow, whoever did that

I just realised I'd forgotten to leave Bidley a wow for his, I'm not too used to this newfangled forum

)

mike_l · December 2013

Dave_Mc said:

Coolio. Try lowering the neck pup right away from the strings, it works well
Thanks, good idea, I'll give that a shot. I didn't think the neck pickup sounded as good as in my star, a bit muddy, that might well be it. You just lower it like normal? Not too used to direct-mount pickups )

Also thanks very much for the wow, whoever did that I just realised I'd forgotten to leave Bidley a wow for his, I'm not too used to this newfangled forum )

The neck pup in my Jackson is way more powerful then the bridge, but having lowered it well away from the strings, compared to the bridge pup, it's a load less muddy, nice and clear, a bit less focused than the bridge, but not in a bad way.

The pup's are a Bulldog Extremist (@Clarky spec - Alnico 5 magnet) and a Seymour Duncan Distortion (neck) and the difference in output is huge, hence the difference is height. Similar to the Charvel (Different pups - similar output specs IIRC) set-up.

That handy hint came from the shredmeister, Clarky himself.

Oh, and the wow was from me. Beautiful guitar mate.

Dave_Mc · December 2013

Thanks

Yeah I'd want a bit of a clearer tone. In terms of volume balance they're already fine, both neck and bridge are around the same volume, but I reckon lowering the neck might be the way to go to get a bit more clarity, as you suggested. I'll give that a shot tomorrow if I get round to it.

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NGD: 80s brilliance content

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