Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: _tom_ on March 18, 2007, 05:54:23 PM

Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: _tom_ on March 18, 2007, 05:54:23 PM: I decided I'll actually get a pickup for my Charvel before thinking about getting a different cab.. With this guitar I play pretty much the same things as I do on my LP - "classic"/hard rock and nwobhm-style metal

It'd be going in my Charvel Model 1C which has a basswood body, maple fingerboard and a vintage trem. The current pickup is ok but muddy/fizzy for chords - heres a clip of how it sounds now http://www.mp3lizard.com/download.cfm?id=23837

I'm thinking the VHII would be clearer, tighter and less gainy? The only thing I'm worried about is that it could only do the brown sound and nothing else? Basically I love the tone of my LP with Mules and want something with similar "push" for the Charvel, but more aggressive and with more harmonics.

Tim recommended a Crawler, but I was thinking it'd be too thick and powerful for the kinda tone I'm after.
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: hunter on March 18, 2007, 07:15:33 PM: VHII is versatile, especially if you think about splitting it - got a great Tele style sound to it.

In the PRS SE it doesn't resemble EVH at all actually, more like a cleaner BlackDog type hot PAF. It cleans up beautifully and will cover what you're aiming for.

However, your Charvel - basswood and maple (same as my Axis) => what about a RebelYell?
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: _tom_ on March 18, 2007, 07:59:00 PM: hmm I dunno, I thought the RY was designed for a Les Paul? Thought it might be too bright in a superstrat. Then again I loved your RY clips so who knows.

Oh, been listening to Badlands again today, would a VHII be good for that kinda tone on songs such as High Wire, Soul Stealer and Dreams in the Dark?
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on March 18, 2007, 11:07:55 PM: ^ Yes! VHII will nail the essence of the tone on the 1st Badlands album. A couple of things to note, tho:

1. The guitar tone on that album is VERY "produced", so you have to take it with a grain of salt. A lot of elements went into capturing and further sweetening Lee's natural tone on that album.

2. I'm not sure if your Laney will have the attack necessary to replicate that tone.

But the VHII will get you into the ballpark, that's for sure.

I know I'm repeating stuff we've already discussed privately, but I'm repeating for the benefit of others. :)
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: _tom_ on March 18, 2007, 11:14:30 PM: Ok, I'll just order myself a VHII with aged nickel cover when I get the neccesary funds into my account :twisted: Will post some clips as soon as it arrives and I get round to installing it!

Course.. I'm still thinking that since Tim recommended the Crawler I should go for that.

Thanks :)
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: matteo on March 19, 2007, 08:56:30 PM: im not an expert on tone but my vh2s rock!! it nails any tone i need!!
u wont be dissapointed! :P
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: _tom_ on March 19, 2007, 08:59:23 PM: What guitar do you have it in?

I'm trying to decide between a Crawler or VHII..
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: matteo on March 19, 2007, 09:31:57 PM: its a yamaha rgx 420dz. floyde rose. alder body. very versatile. i play through a fender gdec which helps me get variety of tones and it sounds good. but when i plug into my tutors peavey bandit it comes alive!!! blues to rock to tight metal. hes been playing for 30 years and could shred for england and he says the pickups are awesome!! which makes me :D they always sound better when hes playin tho! guess u got to know how to get the best out of the gear!
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: matteo on March 19, 2007, 09:33:37 PM: sorry dude its the only bkpup ive played so there may well be one more suited to you though?

good luck :lol:
Title: Re: How versatile is a bridge VHII?
Post by: HTH AMPS on March 19, 2007, 09:49:48 PM: Quote from: _tom_
Tim recommended a Crawler, but I was thinking it'd be too thick and powerful for the kinda tone I'm after.

I have a Crawler in my Les Paul and it definately has that PAF tonality but with more output and mids - a great rock pickup.

You can do Zep and AC/DC with total authority with the Crawler. Add more gain and it responds well with plenty of grunt with the extra midrange keeping things PHAT.

:twisted:
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: _tom_ on March 19, 2007, 10:08:44 PM: hmm I think I may go for that then as it was Tims recommendation, I guess I can get a good metal sound with it (I can with my Mules at least). Now I just need to decide on covers. Black might look the best, but its kinda boring really. Its going in this guitar:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/tomr61/CIMG7922.jpg)

I thought aged nickel or even uncovered zebra might look good:

(http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/4730/agednickelgx5.th.jpg) (http://img266.imageshack.us/my.php?image=agednickelgx5.jpg)(http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/1006/zebrann4.th.jpg) (http://img266.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zebrann4.jpg)
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: matteo on March 19, 2007, 10:27:46 PM: dude that guitars the same colour as mine! id go for open poled zebras. i got black open poled and they just look stock. i wud of got the zeras but they were in a different guitar before :cry:
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: MrPring on March 19, 2007, 10:45:36 PM: reverse zebra tom!
although the aged nickel does look nice
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: dave_mc on March 19, 2007, 11:19:27 PM: Quote from: TwilightOdyssey
^ Yes! VHII will nail the essence of the tone on the 1st Badlands album. A couple of things to note, tho:

1. The guitar tone on that album is VERY "produced", so you have to take it with a grain of salt. A lot of elements went into capturing and further sweetening Lee's natural tone on that album.

2. I'm not sure if your Laney will have the attack necessary to replicate that tone.

But the VHII will get you into the ballpark, that's for sure.

I know I'm repeating stuff we've already discussed privately, but I'm repeating for the benefit of others. :)

don't wanna hijack this, but would a vh2 do his bark at the moon tone as well? not really after a vh2 at the moment (i need a guitar to put it in, lol), but for future reference...

thanks for posting that, by the way. any time I see anyone wanting any 80's tones, I check out the thread even if I don't post (don't want to hijack).

:drink:

EDIT: you want a burnt chrome cover for that, tom. :D
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: noodleplugerine on March 19, 2007, 11:29:30 PM: Quote from: dave_mc

EDIT: you want a burnt chrome cover for that, tom. :D

This is true.
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: _tom_ on March 19, 2007, 11:30:41 PM: hmm I dunno, its an extra tenner and when I photoshopped it on it didnt look very good :? I guess it'll look better/more subtle in person though.
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: hunter on March 20, 2007, 06:18:54 AM: Can you photoshop how it would look with open coil cream or even white? I could imagine that's kick a...
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: indysmith on March 20, 2007, 12:21:02 PM: I like just open black on that guitar....
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: _tom_ on March 20, 2007, 12:31:40 PM: Quote from: indysmith
I like just open black on that guitar....

Thats SO boring though, even for me and you know how conservative I am with guitars :P I was gonna just go for burnt chrome but now I think it might clash a bit.. I'd love smoked chrome, just emailing tim to see if he can do it. Looks like this -

(http://www.mustangmods.com/data/357/mazda_rim_smoked_chrome_2.jpg)

Hunter, I tried double cream/white and it didnt look very good to me so I didnt even save it :lol:

I think zebra or black covers looks best so far now I think about it.

edit - did a better zebra photoshop -

(http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/6018/zebra2vs6.jpg)

cant decide! Black cover or zebra.. hmm
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: Davey on March 20, 2007, 03:20:39 PM: Make it metal. Make everything metal.
Blacker, than the blackest black, times infinity!
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: _tom_ on March 20, 2007, 03:27:12 PM: Quote from: Davey
Make it metal. Make everything metal.
Blacker, than the blackest black, times infinity!

:lol: ok! Reminded me of this great song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ljsCh8538 :D

I want to see if its possible to do smoked chrome though, I think that'd look awesome. Just waiting to hear back from Tim about that.
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: Davey on March 20, 2007, 03:28:23 PM: i was more thinking of this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHjFrhivFbw
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: _tom_ on March 20, 2007, 03:32:52 PM: hahah Dethklok. "Do you folks like coffee? Real coffee, from the hills of columbia?" - great stuff :D

I just realised I'm nearing 4000 posts, I really need to stop posting so much :lol: :oops:
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: Davey on March 20, 2007, 03:34:23 PM: yes, yes you do :roll:
Title: How versatile is a bridge VHII? + which cover to get?
Post by: dave_mc on March 20, 2007, 04:24:47 PM: Quote from: _tom_
hmm I dunno, its an extra tenner and when I photoshopped it on it didnt look very good :? I guess it'll look better/more subtle in person though.

ah, ok, if you've already photoshopped it and it doesn't match, fair enough. Burnt chrome looks awesome, just I don't have any guitars that it'd match!