Carvin M22T

Pickup features: passive humbucker, alnico 5 magnet
Impedence or other specs: around 13k

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez JS1000
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: DiMarzio Fred
Other pickups on guitar: DiMarzio PAF pro
Artists using this pickup: Don't know, but someone should use it.
You musical style(s): Classic rock and 80's metal to modern.
Reason for pickup change: I thought the Fred had a little much on the treble side, a good pickup though.

Perceived output level: Fairly hot, about the same as a Duncan JB, but slightly less
Tone: The tone is very balanced with enough drive for metal or classic rock.
Sonic evaluation: I'm very impressed with the sound of this pickup. It does the classic rock thing and the metal thing equally well. It also sounds very good with the coils split. It has a very balanced sound with excellent definition, even with a totally gained out amp. I play through a peavey triple xxx a 5150II and a peavey classic 30. I have this pickup in one of my Carvin guitars, that's how I found out about it. What a find this pickup has been. If this was made by one of the big pickup companies people would be endorsing it, I think it sounds that good. Very thick yet very defined, the bass is nice and tight and the highs are nice and smooth not brittle.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mosly classic rock and 80's stuff and some of this nu-metal crap that is out there.

Comments: I've been playing over 20 years and have probably been through over 20 pickup changes on various guitars throughout the years. This pickup is NOT coming out of this guitar, it sounds so thick and musical I won't replace it. It just does everything so nice that I wanted to post a review on it. As far as humbuckers go, this is the best I've heard as far as balance and a nice thick totally rocking tone. What a deal for around 40 dollars. I doubt you will send this pickup back after you hear it. If your looking for a pickup that can cover all the bases check this one out.

Pickup features: Humbucker Passive
Impedence or other specs: 13K, A5 mags

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez Lawsuit Destroyer
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: None
Other pickups on guitar: Pearly Gates in the Neck
Artists using this pickup: Unknown
You musical style(s): Rock, Classic Rock, '70s/'80s
Reason for pickup change: Got guitar disassembled. Needed Bridge Pickup

Perceived output level: Moderately High. Not a 'distortion pickup' however.
Tone: Nice balace but very wide midrange response
Sonic evaluation: Lawsuit Destroyer (one of the last ones B78xxxxx Serial number Feb '78), Keeley-modded Screamer, Reinneger Marshall-style 60 watter (think Plexi Marshall with gainboost channel added. Orange 4x12 with Weber Silvers and 55Hz Celestions. Furman Parametric and Intellifex in the Loop.
This is my backup ride. My main one is a '76 Destroyer that Gary Brauer put a Floyd in for me in the '80s.
This guitar is 'softer' than the one with the Floyd. This is a REALLY nice pickup. But, the midrage is too wide for this guitar. This pickup would be a really great choice for an intrinsically bright guitar; maybe one with a Floyd and a Maple cap. It has nice harmonics and GREAT crunch for rhythm. For this ride I need a pickup with a little more 'pointy' midrange/low treble. I'll likely go with a Screamin' Demon, which I usually don't think sounds great in 'shred' rides, but usually sounds really good in Gibson style guitars.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Good even-response Rock pickup for a bright guitar. Can do alot of different things.

Comments: BTW, I've been playing seriously for over 30 years. I'm no neophyte "Godsmack Kid'. I had to learn to play back when chops counted.
I chose this pickup because I had a Carvin DC135 with a maple top, Wilkinson, and an M22T in it. It was GREAT, and at some point I'll get another. But that guitar was VERY bright to begin with, and this pickup emphasised all the right stuff in it. But not quite right in this guitar. So, as I said, I'll go with a Screamin' Demon.
BUT, THIS IS STILL A WONDERFUL PRODUCT. One thing you learn over the years is, any good product has a proper application. There are a ton of variables you have to mate together to get a great tone.

Pickup features: Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Kramer Pacer
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: EMG Select single coil
Other pickups on guitar: EMG Select single coils
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Progressive rock
Reason for pickup change: I actually switched from the M22 to a Seymour Duncan Super Distortion to see if I could get a little more crunch. Big mistake!

Perceived output level: medium
Tone: mid to trebly
Sonic evaluation: What I loved about this pickup was that it allowed me to immensely vary my tone just by turning the volume knob a little bit. I could go from totally distorted to clean tone with only a volume knob adjustment, and the in-betweens were very expressive. The Super Distortion I replaced it with sounds great, but only on full volume. Try to turn it down with the knob, at all, and it sounds like a freaking kazoo. I will be re-buying an M22 asap.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play progressive rock, which requires many tones, and it's a great match for that. The Super-Distortion is not.

Comments: Great sounding pickup. Allows you to play loud, but with subtlety if needed.

Pickup features: Humbucker passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: B.C.Rich Warlock
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Seymour Duncan sh-4 JB
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Metal, Rock, Classic Rock, Classical.
Reason for pickup change: JB had too much twang for me, and not enough crunch.

Perceived output level: Awesome, great crunch, great sustain, great everything.
Tone: Everything I want, how's that?
Sonic evaluation: B.C.Rich Warlock, Fender Princetone Chorus 120w amp, Digitech RP300 effects processor.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Again...Metal, Rock, Classic Rock, Classical.

Comments: If it were stolen I would replace it, or maybe try another Carvin pick-up first. I love this pick-up! It gives me everything I ever wanted. It makes my cheesey Warlock sound awesome.
I traded a Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB for this pick-up, and am
I ever so glad that I did. The JB had too much of a twangy sound to it, where the Carvin has a good crunch for when I play metal, a descent sound on clean, and all the harmonics I want.

Pickup features: Passive, tappable (is that a word?) humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 24 hex-adjustable pole pieces

Model of guitar or bass: BC Rich Bronze series Mockingbird
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: farce of a stock humbucker
Other pickups on guitar: farce of a stock humbucker in neck position
Artists using this pickup: i hope i'm not the only one
You musical style(s): classic metal
Reason for pickup change: BC Rich Bronze series stock pickups sound like those flat microphone psuedo-pickups that came on flea market guitars made without truss rods. Airy, muddy, aesthetically displeasing...

Perceived output level: output's about average, carvin's a little too classy to make something obscenely hot
Tone: trebly, yet satisfying. the lows and mids are there if you feel like EQing
Sonic evaluation: i'm kind of a novice DIY guitar tech, so my first reaction was of joy that i wired it right, then of despair, because i f'd up the grounding on the neck pickup. oh, well, tone-wise, i was glad it sounded better than the BC Rich copper-wound dung that i replaced. With heavy distortion, it really doesn't have much uniqueness to it, but what do you expect for $40. I prefer a little midrange in my sound, but i can tolerate the scooped mids sound of this pickup. I hate to use Metallica as a reference point, but the best comparison I can make for you all is the "Ride the Lightening" sound- scooped mids, but heavy on the treble....although not very fat. The lead tone is alright, but i would want to get an EQ pedal to boost the mids and overall signal before feeling comfortable with it. The clean sound is very bright, leading me to wish i wired that goddamned neck pickup right.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I guess it's alright for the styles that i play, except for low-tuned thick stuff that i dabble in every so often. If you play neo-metal stuff, I would look elsewhere if I were you. I wouldn't put this pickup in the neck position, because that's what the M22N is for.

Comments: I guess I'm somewhat satisfied with this pickup. I have to keep in mind that even though it's sold through the catalogue independently, it is the dreaded s-word (stock) pickup of the carvin line. I've been playing for over five years, and i also own a Jay Turser SG with a Toni Iommi humbucker in the bridge position. My SG is my "number one" because it just sounds better and plays better than my BC Rich. I wish the tone was a little fatter, maybe putting on heavier strings will solve that problem. The Iommi humbucker kicks the carvin's ass so hard it's unbelievable. For the price, however, I guess it's alright (MSRP of Iommi model: $199, got it for $20). I should have gotten the Holdsworth model, would've been interesting, or maybe a DiMarzio Super Distortion or Megadrive. Who knows, I might try them and throw this Carvin on an old guitar. As for "that sound," still searching...would help if i could afford a tube amp. Lastly, I got my M22 in black (or bezel, whatever) with black pole pieces..on my black mockingbird, very cool-looking.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 1976 Les Paul Deluxe
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: 70's DiMarzio PAF (didn't seem to be working correctly - very thin and weak)
Other pickups on guitar: DiMarzio PAF - neck
Artists using this pickup: Don't Know
You musical style(s): Rock - Classic /punk/metal/industrial
Reason for pickup change: The PAF in the bridge seemed not to be working correctly (very thin and weak). It was in the guitar when I got it.

Perceived output level: Normal output pickup (sweet, musical tone - Alnico V magnet )
Tone: Well-balanced - also sounds good (Strat-like) using a coil tap switch.
Sonic evaluation: Currently using the Carvin M22t and PAF loaded 1976 Les Paul and a Peavey Supreme Transtube (a great amp, especially considering the price) head & 412 cabinet. Pedals include a Crybaby Wah, DOD Overdrive-Preamp 250, DOD Bi-Fet Preamp, Boss CE-3 Chorus, DOD DFX-9 Digital Delay. Also BBE 462 Sonic Maximizer.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This is a very well-balanced pickup (I don't like "hot" pickups-they seem to color the sound of the guitar too much for my taste)

Comments: Boy, I didn't know how much I liked the Carvin M22T pickup until I replaced it recently with a DiMarzio Super Distortion. I wasn't displeased with the Carvin (it had been in the guitar for about 8 years), I was just experimenting to see if I could improve my sound and tone. Well, if it's not broke, don't fix it! The DiMarzio (ceramic magnet) sounds harsh and sterile compared to the Carvin (Alnico V magnet). The Carvin pickup is much sweeter and musical sounding. I'll probably leave the DiMarzio in a little longer just to play around with it, but I'm certainly planning on re-installing the M22T. Carvin pickups must truly be one of the best musical values around. Try them if you don't believe me. If I am not mistaken, they still come with a money-back guarantee.