Carvin M22SD

It is a 3 connector humbucking pickup. It has a rather high output, the midrange is very present.

It is installed on a strat copy, bridge position. It's full sound makes it possible to use it for clean but effect laden sounds, especialy singel note picking. Metal distortion is where this thing really shines. The midrange punch and the rich harmonics are perfect for defined hard riffing.

It has - compared to regualr single-coils - a very high outout. I use it with a digitech rp350 unit and a variety of transistor amps. I use it for alternative/punk/metal stuff, which is probably what it was made for. My rating as a replacement pickup for a metal axe ist ten, otherwise probably 8. It is not a one trick pony though. Due to the split option it is versatile. So i give it a nine.

For the specific guitar, yes I would buy it again. It is a very good pickup, mechanically well made and soundwise very convincing. The harmonics and the punch are really great.

Passive humbucker. 22pole pieces that catch every note you bend!

I have installed this pickup in the bridge posistion on a Ibanez RX series. The stock Ibanez pickup has been dumped in a spare parts box in my cupboard!

I think Allan Holdsworth uses this pickup on his signature guitars.

Changed the Ibanez pickup for the Carvin M22SD cos I've had two Carvin guitars before which I rate highly in everthing!

I play rock, metal, blues and modern music. When I first plugged it in and let rip, I realised immediately that the output level is relatively low for a bridge humbucker. It doesn't exactly hit you in the face like you expect a humbucker would do. However, it is extremely well balanced. When you got the distortion up it has a really leveled tone. Its got a big low end and plenty of mids and doesn't have all that surplus trebley shhhh sound.
On the clean setting I realise that i prefer using this pickup which is in the bridge rather than my stock pickup in the neck. The well balanced tone is top notch. I get the warmness of a neck humbucker and the clarity of the bridge yet its not too bright.
I've used this through a Beringher combo and stack and my trusty Peavy practice amp. I wil soon use it through a Mesa/Boogie DC-5 when the guy at my local music shop comes back from his months holiday!
This pickup does what I want it to to a good standard. Playing rock and blues it has no problem and it can do metal too, just a shame about the lack of output. However, the Carvin M22SD does have prescence in its own way.
If tone is your thing then you'll get along with this pickup. If its something brutal and powerful then I personally sugest you look for something else.

If it was stolen or destroyed i would definately seek out another one of these pickups. I've been playing 7 years and I've always been drawn to tone - one of the things my guitar teacher enforced! I'm taken to the low big end that it has and the overall versatilty on offer. I love the fact that I have everything I need in one pickup, both clean and distorted - especially in the bridge posostion! Okay, it's doesnt have a big output but thinking about it, I don't necessarily think thats a bad thing!

Pickup features: Humbucker with coil splitting. 22 cap screw pole pieces for the most precision adjustments for string volume variation
Impedence or other specs: 14 ohms

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Frankencaster
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock Fender origianlly, mighty mite humbucker MMHG-R the second time
Other pickups on guitar: Carvin AP11 in the mid and Squire stock in the neck
Artists using this pickup: A LOT
You musical style(s): MANY STYLES ACCEPT FLAMINGO AND SLIDE
Reason for pickup change: The single coil didn't have enough output in its original form and the mighty mite was far to trebly.

Perceived output level: Hot Carvin refers to it as a scorcher
Tone: The tone is very well balanced. bass is fat. mids are full and the treble is....well just right! A perfect sound for a humbucker really
Sonic evaluation: I use a full stack with a new Behringer 4x12 cab and a custom made 4x12 oversized cabinet with closed or open back with the back being negotiable in the amount it's opened. This pickup is in a Frankensteined strat and gets played straight through the amp and a small variety of pedals though I have owned a lot more in the passed that it was often played through.(crybaby,fuzz face, MXR distortion exc.)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I pl;ay mainly Metal, many varieties of Hard Rock, jazz and blues...but really a bit of everything. This pickup it great for any style I would have to say. It's got a smooth rich sound with plenty of bite that still remains very smooth. This pickup would be great for any position you could fit a humbucker.

Comments: Overall I couldn't ask for much more from this pickup. A little more volume would be nice but otherwise it's perfect. I've been playing for around 8 years...some years saw more action than others but I definitely have enough experience to justify my reviews of this pickup performing so well. I've heard just about every pickup there is and Carvin seems to offer some of the very best. Within the top 5 best out there easily.AND I HATE THE CARVIN PEOPLE!!!! This pickup leaves me searching for absolutely nothing. I would replace it with the same but might also try a Holdsworth which is said to be similar but a little warmer sounding which in my book means more midrange. If you play with a scooped out mid sound farely often, a pickup with a fatter midrange actually seems to fill out your sound MUCH better.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: ?

Model of guitar or bass: Fender MIM Strat
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Seymore Duncan Lil 59'er
Other pickups on guitar: Stock Strat Crap
Artists using this pickup: ???
You musical style(s): Metal, Hard Rock, Metal, and Metal
Reason for pickup change: Dying to get a humbucker in a Strat. I love the Strat feel, but hated the single coil sound.

Perceived output level: Good balance, dosen't freak out with high gain amplification, but cuts through
Tone: Highs and Mid-Highs well represented, decent low range, not alot of mids.
Sonic evaluation: Running the Strat through a Peavey Triple XXX Rockin' heavy tone! Solo's cut, chords ring.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Play lots of Metal, great match if you're not into the active thing (I'm not)

Comments: I'm buying one to replace a horible stock pickup in a Jackson RR4 Rhoads V. 'nuff said.

Pickup features: HB, passive, 4 wire
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Carvin DC -125 two PU
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: 90's M22SD
Other pickups on guitar: Carvin M22V at neck
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): classic rock, country
Reason for pickup change: This 1982 M22SD was in a box under my bed. I remembered it having more mids than my current M22SD so I put it in.

Perceived output level: drives my amp into violin -like sustain in OD , as much power as I need.
Tone: fat, full bodied with that edge for pick attack, but not glassy
Sonic evaluation: Used in a Carvin 2 PU DC-125 with Carvin X-amps. I've only had experince with Gibson and Carvin HBs but this is the best bridge PU I've ever used. My other M22SD sounded good but this older model from 1982 is fatter and rounder while still supplying that top end for pinch harmonics and attack. It cleans up great for clean stuff too, and I play clean a lot.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: My band gigs regularly, playing classic rock and country. Along with my M22V neck HB all bases are covered for me.

Comments: I've played for 36 years. The combination of this M22SD in the bridge and my M22V Carvin at the neck is the best sound I've obtained so far. Of course the X-amp has a lot to do with it also. I love its full biting tone without glassiness. I've owned this PU since 1982. It was in my 335. It has always sounded great!

Pickup features: Humbuckers
Impedence or other specs: Huh?

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Stratocaster
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock Single Coil
Other pickups on guitar: Carvin M22N or M22V in neck position
Artists using this pickup: Der Lokko & Jesus Parra (Lima-Peru) , from "CHARLOTTE"
You musical style(s): Metal (in its many mutations)
Reason for pickup change: It is obvious, I play metal I needed power!

Perceived output level: More volume than Duncan's JB's or Invader
Tone: Tonefull Evil, for the destruction-minded metaleer!
Sonic evaluation: Fender Stratocasters, all customized with Carvin PU's, the first strat I had, I replaced the bridge PU with Duncan's JB, and the second strat I have, I Replaced it with the M22SD, the difference was so obvious that inmediately took off that JB and put on a new M22SD, and so on with my strats, in the neck position I use Either M22V or M22N. I use Fender RocPro 1000 heads with Carvin Cabs 4x12s, (Marshall's era is gone man!!!) as Distortions I use Mesa's V-twin, Tech 21's GT2, ProCo Rat2, As Modulation fx I Use Boss's CE20 Chorus Ensmble, ah! and my old preamp Digitech's Rp-1.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Metal, sometimes rock or Neo-classical, the M22SD is designed for the bridge position.

Comments: I'm sure that this PUs are made for me, I just can't take that evilish high gain crunch off my head. I have been playing for 15 years and been in some bands around south america, touring around for quite a while, and by experience, I have been testing so many combinations of pickups and sometimes what it is often popular is not the best for some, but yet Carvin offers a great selection of accesories and PUs for a little bit less in price than the any other brand , but superior in quality and performance, the only wish I have is that would be excellent that Carvin would make their PUs in White colour also, so it would match with white Pickguards or instruments or that would like to combine with white coloured PUs.

Pickup features: humbucker/passive
Impedence or other specs: about 10 ohms

Model of guitar or bass: unknown carlo robelli model (strat style)
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock bridge
Other pickups on guitar: dimarzio PAF
Artists using this pickup: none that I know of, but they should!
You musical style(s): hard rock, metal, nu metal, etc.
Reason for pickup change: The stock pickup was okay, but is was too noisy and it only had two conductors.

Perceived output level: it's in between a PAF and a super distortion(dimarzio)
Tone: bassy, good treble, good midrange, it's pretty well balanced
Sonic evaluation: all I have is my trusty carlo robelli and a 15 watt marshall amp. The guitar looks like a strat(but no pickguard)but because it has more wood in it that a regular strat, and it seems to be made of mohogany, then it actually sounds pretty good. It has a good chunk.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play anywhere from hard rock to metal and this pickup is good for me because it's good for rhythm

Comments: if it were stolen I'd go buy another one. Compared to the dimarzio PAF and super distortion I have, it sounds right in between tone and output wise. It distorts better than the PAF, it's a hair warmer than the super, and it isn't as noisy or feedback as much as the super.
Currently, I have a super in my guitar, (which I bought for $38 on ebay)and it's only a hair higher output and it's noisier, so buy the carvin if you want value and tone. BUT, you should make sure that the guitar you install the pickup in is shielded, and buy a big tube amp to go with it, otherwise you might be dissapointed with the carvins performance. It can only do so much for you after all...
Also, if you live in Santa ana, CA, and you play guitar, please feel free to e-mail me. I don't know any musicians and I'd like to meet some. I'm 17, and home-schooled, so I have time to practice.

Pickup features: Humbucker Passive
Impedence or other specs: Not sure?

Model of guitar or bass: Westone 65th Aniversary. Strat copy without pickguard. I know don't laugh it was my first guitar!
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock Piece of Dogshit!
Other pickups on guitar: Two single coils
Artists using this pickup: ???
You musical style(s): Metal, Alternative
Reason for pickup change: The stock pickups were nutless and muddy. Kind of strange that Westone spent so much effort on the design/construction materials of the guitar only to use shitty pickups?

Perceived output level: I wouldn't say hot as much as loud
Tone: Tight Bass, aggressive high mids, ringing and aggressive highs. Good for harder brighter woods.
Sonic evaluation: I can play just about any style with this pickup. The best sound I have heard from it was with a Bedrock 100 watt and a Randall 4x12 with Jaguar speakers. Think of the loud brash sound of George Lynch's playing on Back For The Attack.
Like I said this pickup is on a Westone 65th Anniversary model with a hard rock maple neck and a poplar body. The guitar was actually very well designed and of good quality but it had crappy pickups. It sounds very consistent with whatever I use.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Early Metal (UFO, Scorpions, Accept, Judas Priest)

Comments: I have been playing now for 15 years and this was my first guitar. I own about a half dozen other guitars too. I bought a prewired pickup set from Carvin with H/S/S layout. The single coils are useless but the M22SD rocks! This pickup works well for people who play with a very aggressive pick style (palm muted). I wish it had more output and that it had a little more warmth and drive in the low midrange though. It distorts hard and sounds loud but clear. Not a smooth tone like a Duncan or a Dimarzio distortion which in my opinion are usually far too dark. Some people think it has too much treble but I always turn the treble down as on the amp I get louder and this pickup cuts through clearly. I have .475 capacitors in the guitar and its sound is very "woody" and resonant with tight bass. I bought this pickup/guitar during the "hair metal" days and my friends were all playing Kramers and Charvels. They were impressed by how agressive it sounded. I seem to remember paying around $120 for all three pickups? If stolen I might try a Dimarzio FRED since I have a PAF Pro in a strat that I really like.

Pickup features: passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: dunno

Model of guitar or bass: Carvin v220
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar: m22n (passive humbucker, neck)
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): light finger picking to blues to heavy
Reason for pickup change: It's stock

Perceived output level: Great distorted sound. Perfect for shredding. More distortion than my HFS(PRS), but less volume output, and not as clear or harmonical(new word?).
Tone: The pickups pu out a very well-balanced tone. The guitar provides a bright, edgey tone, but balances it well with a tight bass response.
Sonic evaluation: This v220 was my main axe before I got a PRS Custom 24. I can't get rid of this guitar. I love the tone too much. The neck pickup gets a FAT blues tone, and the bridge pickup is perfect for metal. My PRS has a cleaner sound, with more presence, but this pickup has life and energy that is unique. I run through a vox wah, danelectro Fab Tone, Big Muff, Boss EQ, Arion Chorus, Rocktek Delay, Boss Octave, Ibanez Powerlead, Digitech Rp5, Pod 2.0, in whatever order or combination into a Hot Rod DeVille 212 or Fostex Multitracker. I keep trying to find a way to trade off this guitar or sell it to afford more gear, but I love it too much, and the main reason is the tone these pickups get. It is also sweet and easy to fly on, but lacks the harmonics and distinct presence or character of the PRS. I am torn between these two guitars.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Anything from light, pretty fingerpicking a chords with effects to heavy all out shred, rip, and roar. This is a bridge pickup, and compliments the m22n perfectly.

Comments: If I lost my Carvin for any reason, I would be tremendously incomplete. If the pickup went to crap, I would replace it with another m22sd. I have been playing 12 years. I have had a beautiful Les Paul Custom, have a PRS, a Martin acoustic, a Charvel Strat-type, and a Charvel bass. Miss the Les Paul sound, but found it limiting, love the PRS, although it is kind of generic. The Carvin is FAT and HOT, but lacks the clarity and presence of the Paul Reed Smith, and I actually liked the variety of sound better than the Les Paul. (I'm not crazy, just know what I like.) I loved the Les Paul, even named it Snookems. Great feeling guitar. The Carvin is just more fun to play. I chose this guitar because every time I went to look at it over the course of one month, it was still in tune, and I could play so fast on it. I can't understand why so many people don't like the sound of these pickups, unless they are just inconsistently manufactured, leading to varying quality. I have sustain, crunch, fatness, and great single-coil tapped sounds. They do lack harmonics, and have less volume output than the PRS. I still love the sound I get from this guitar. I have yet to find the perfect guitar. The beauty of the PRS inspires me to find notes and chords I have never been to. The solos I pull outta the Carvin are magical. I wish I could find a guitar with a single coil neck PU, the beauty and presence of the PRS, and the playability of the Carvin. Any ideas, please mail me.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Kramer 422S/D
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Quadrail
Other pickups on guitar: Quadrail singles
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Metal
Reason for pickup change: I was looking for a little more punch and a litle more sustain on the high end

Perceived output level: Terrible!! supposedly a 13.7 on an impedance meter but this thing is weak!!
Tone: toneless,, what a POS!
Sonic evaluation: Couldn't even get it to sound decent through a Pod

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Would rather listen to a dog puke!

Comments: This pickup is freakin terrible!!! I had it in the guitar approx 12 hours. I adjusted it every way possible and it just never got any better. I yanked it and reinstalled the original Quadrail and the Axe screams again. I was extremely disappointed with this pickup AND the fact I will be out $20 shipping for having tried it. If someone were to steal it I'm sure they'd bring the damn thing back for a refund shortly there after!