Need Pickups for My Carvin

[ajeffcote]

Hello. First time posting here. I lurked a bit and searched a bit, but I'm still wondering about pickup choices.
The guitar is a Carvin SH550. Chambered mahogany body, carved maple top, mahogany neck with an ebony board and stainless frets. I say chambered body, but it's closer to a semi-hollow than a chambered LP, but not as hollow as a 335. Unplugged the instrument is quit resonant but on the bright side. I play clean most of the time, blues, jazz, r&b,country, but also some classic rock.Rhythm and lead. 2 tube amps, both blackface types. Only have 3 pedals. A wah, overdrive and delay. Really don't use them much.
So I want to replace the stock pickups which are not bad at all, but they are just too hot. Good rock and roll pickups, but that's only a small part of what I play. I do want a good classic rock bridge tone available but I will spend a lot of time in the neck position. I do not want mud or boomy bass. I do want articulation and I want to hear the wood. I want coil splits also, so they need to be 4 conductor wired. And I want chrome or nickel covers. I am thinking Seth Lovers but I have read about some mud from the A2 magnets.
Please steer me to the best pickups for this beautiful guitar.
Thank you in advance.

[Gypsyblue]

Hello. First time posting here. I lurked a bit and searched a bit, but I'm still wondering about pickup choices.
The guitar is a Carvin SH550. Chambered mahogany body, carved maple top, mahogany neck with an ebony board and stainless frets. I say chambered body, but it's closer to a semi-hollow than a chambered LP, but not as hollow as a 335. Unplugged the instrument is quit resonant but on the bright side. I play clean most of the time, blues, jazz, r&b,country, but also some classic rock.Rhythm and lead. 2 tube amps, both blackface types. Only have 3 pedals. A wah, overdrive and delay. Really don't use them much.
So I want to replace the stock pickups which are not bad at all, but they are just too hot. Good rock and roll pickups, but that's only a small part of what I play. I do want a good classic rock bridge tone available but I will spend a lot of time in the neck position. I do not want mud or boomy bass. I do want articulation and I want to hear the wood. I want coil splits also, so they need to be 4 conductor wired. And I want chrome or nickel covers. I am thinking Seth Lovers but I have read about some mud from the A2 magnets.
Please steer me to the best pickups for this beautiful guitar.
Thank you in advance.

The Seths are a great choice. And don't believe that BS about A2 magnets. It's not the magnets that make for a muddy tone.

If I'm reading the forum right, most of the guys on this forum are not like you - most do not play with a clean or semi-clean tone most of the time and they do use their pedals. A lot.

But if you ask the guys who play like you do and I do about the Seths, or guys like Joe Gore, they'll tell you it's a great pickup in a semi hollowbody.

So is a nickel covered set of Pearly Gates.

[ajeffcote]

Thanks Gypsy. I guess we clean tone guys are in the minority. And I didn't even consider the PGs. I had an open set in a Les Paul once that I really liked. I'll try the Seths first.

[Mincer]

I'd be interested to see/hear how this turns out- I am very interested in the SH550. Have a pic of yours?

[ajeffcote]

OK, pics. Please excuse the quality. The camera is better than the operator. And it's not that good!




I love the way it plays, and the way it sounds unplugged. But the Carvin pickups are lacking, at least for me. The quality is over the top. If it had a Gibson logo on the headstock, it would cost twice what I paid for it.
Mincer, I just listened to the A2Pro demo on YouTube. That was pretty dreamy. Dreamscape! Cool!

[LtKojak]

I do want articulation and I want to hear the wood. I want coil splits also, so they need to be 4 conductor wired. And I want chrome or nickel covers.

You're describing the Seths word by word. I'm positive they'll compliment that beautiful guitar just fine.

Just go for it!

[ajeffcote]

Just ordered a 4-conductor set with nickel covers. Now the anticipation builds!

[ajeffcote]

The Seth Lovers HBs are in my Carvin and they sound great. Ordered them from an Eaby store, Pro Audio Land. Good price and fast shipping. Got them yesterday, installed last night. I like my guitar a whole lot more now.
The Seths are just as described, airy and warm, articulate and my guitar is even sustaining longer now. I have to say, I was ready to sell the Carvin but now it is definitely a keeper. The sound is somewhere between a good Les Paul and a 335. Brighter and crisper than the 335, but retaining the sweet resonance.
The split sound is killer, very airy and just beautiful. Absolutely the best sounding PAF I have owned.
There is a signature on the back. Seymour Duncan. Are these hand autographed?
Thank you for the advice.

[blueman335]

You're describing the Seths word by word. I'm positive they'll compliment that beautiful guitar just fine.

Just go for it!

+1.