Looking for BKPs for some '80s shred axes.

[gingataff]

OK troops, I'd like your advice on BKPing 3 guitars.

They are:

1989 Ibanez 540R (Satriani type but slimmer neck)
2007 Ibanez RG550 20th Reissue.
1989 Charvel (Japanese "Model" type but made for the Japan market only)


All are basswood, have locking trems and will need neck and bridge humbuckers (well, the RG and Charvel are HSH but I'm not worried about the single coil yet) and I'd like to try different models in each guitar. I play through a Line6 Pod XT Live so have lot's of tone options.

So what am I looking for?

540R: (Rosewood fretboard)
This guitar is very light and has a nice lively acoustic tone, it's probably my best sounding guitar unplugged.

I tried my Nailbomb in this and it sounded great, but it felt too METAL! for this guitar.
So I've currently got a DiMarzio Fred in the bridge and like the low(ish) output and the midrange emphasis but I want a bit more sparkle and some of that BKP 3-dimensionality. I'm not looking for the Satch tone, but something not too hot with good midrange and clear treble. I'm not looking for a bass monster although I don't want it to sound thin either.

Tim has suggested the VHII as a replacement and I'm happy to go with that as he's usually on the money, however...

For the neck I do want Satch's tone ( Flavor Crystal 7 is the best example I can think of, actually Engines Of Creation is full of great neck tone, Frank Gambale's Little Charmer is another favourite neck tone) but I'm worried the VHII neck might be too full sounding. Anyone think the VHII will be fine or perhaps want to suggest an alternative?

Next!
RG550:(Maple fretboard)


This guitar just says late 80s instrumental shred to me, and I'd like something that fits in with that. I really love the smooth tones on Vai's Passion And Warfare but I also like trying to play Vinnie Moore's (slower ;) ) stuff, which has much more midrange.

It's a relatively young guitar and combined with the very thin neck it doesn't resonate as much as my other guitars (that's not to say it sounds weak or harsh, I think it has a good acoustic sound), so when I tried my Nailbomb in it I noticed a nasal high-mid hump that I didn't like. This guitar definitely favours high frequencies over lows!

I would like something with a smoother midrange but with enough meat to carry lead lines, as well as having clarity for chords.
I'm open for suggestions on this one.

Finally...
Charvel HSH Model: (Maple fretboard)

I bought this recently, I saw it tied to a railing in a second hand shop. It looked so sad and unloved that I had to take it home. I tried it briefly (before dismantling it for cleaning and refurbishment) and it's VERY light! It's also extremely resonant.
This is going to be my Eb (or D# if you are a pedant) 80s guitar, to play everything from Van Halen to W.A.S.P. to Extreme.
It doesn't need to exactly copy both Eddie and Nuno, but something that'll get close would be good. 
What do you think?

I look forward to your ideas.

[Jonny]

VHIIs for the 80s.

I was reccommended them too :)

[gingataff]

VHIIs for the 80s.

I was reccommended them too :)

Uhh.. Cheers Johnny... so you're saying VHII for all 3? I guess the post was too long to read all of it ;)

[Jonny]

I could only say yes for the RG550 because of the wood.

[Philly Q]

Apart from saying there has to be a VHII in there somewhere (Fred replacement, as expected!  ), I really don't know what's going to work in basswood/locking trem guitars.

As a bit of a guess though, if you want a relatively bright neck pickup, not too hot, for the 540R, what about the Riff Raff neck?  It's A5 so probably won't sound as warm as a Mule or SM.

[gingataff]

As a bit of a guess though, if you want a relatively bright neck pickup, not too hot, for the 540R, what about the Riff Raff neck?  It's A5 so probably won't sound as warm as a Mule or SM.

Cheers Phil, I agree that there should be a VHII somewhere and have had a hard time deciding where but Tim's recommendation helps in this. The Riff Raff neck is one that had crossed my mind to so I will check with Tim. I was also wondering if  the Mule would work though.

Does anyone have any other ideas for the RG and the Charvel?
I've been pondering some of the ceramic pickups or maybe a Holydiver set.

[Antag]

If I was making these choices I'd go with:

540R: VHII set
RG550: Holy Diver set
I don't know any of those Satch or Gambale songs, so I can't really say for sure on the neck - also you don't say what neck you want in the RG.  Having said that, I love the VHII neck & reckon it would mix well with an HD bridge so perhaps buy VHII & HD sets, put the VHII bridge/HD neck in the 540R & the HD bridge/VHII neck in the RG?

Charvel: hmmm, something with less beef - RY, CS or perhaps even the old-spec ceramic HD? (NB: I don't have any of those pickups yet so it's a pure guess based on your reqs & the need to have something different to the other two guitars...)

[gingataff]

If I was making these choices I'd go with:

540R: VHII set
RG550: Holy Diver set
I don't know any of those Satch or Gambale songs, so I can't really say for sure on the neck - also you don't say what neck you want in the RG.  Having said that, I love the VHII neck & reckon it would mix well with an HD bridge so perhaps buy VHII & HD sets, put the VHII bridge/HD neck in the 540R & the HD bridge/VHII neck in the RG?

Charvel: hmmm, something with less beef - RY, CS or perhaps even the old-spec ceramic HD? (NB: I don't have any of those pickups yet so it's a pure guess based on your reqs & the need to have something different to the other two guitars...)

Hey Antag cheers for the reply..
Here's a link to the Satriani song I mentioned http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53nA3tf4yWs

As for the RG neck pickup, I suppose the For The Love Of God is the old cliche' tone but still a good one for reference.

[Antag]

Hey Antag cheers for the reply..
Here's a link to the Satriani song I mentioned http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53nA3tf4yWs

As for the RG neck pickup, I suppose the For The Love Of God is the old cliche' tone but still a good one for reference.

Ah OK, thanks.

In that case I'm going with my second suggestion:

VHII & HD sets, put the VHII bridge/HD neck in the 540R & the HD bridge/VHII neck in the RG

For the Love of God is on Passion & Warfare right?  I have it on vinyl somewhere & haven't had a record player for a few years, but from memory I'd say a VHII neck could do that....

[dave_mc]

my cold sweat neck gets a pretty good vai tone, but that's not in a superstrat... and i haven't tried the others.

[gingataff]

my cold sweat neck gets a pretty good vai tone, but that's not in a superstrat... and i haven't tried the others.

A MM/CS set is one that I've been considering so that's good to know!

[PhilKing]

I'm pretty much in agreement with everyone else on the first 2, VHII and Holydiver.  I have heard the original HD and wasn't a real fan of it, though I know that some people still like it.  Light and resonant and different could go with a Painkiller set or Cold Sweat.  PK's are more modern sounding, CS's are very organic (I have them in an old BC Rich and they sound great and that is a light resonant guitar). 

[dave_mc]

A MM/CS set is one that I've been considering so that's good to know!

yeah, that's the set i have in my legra V, for the neck lead tone i was after kind of a vai tone, and that's what tim recommended. as i said, though, i haven't tried the others... :)

[gingataff]

Thanks Phil and Dave!
So far I'm thinking VHII set for the 540R, Holydiver set or MM/CS for the RG and Cold Sweat or Painkiller set for the Charvel. I'll give Tim a ring on Monday and see what he says about the last two, in the meantime feel free to add any other suggestions or opinions :)

[gingataff]

OK chaps,
I just had a chat with Tim and we decided to have some fun :)
The Holydiver would be good but perhaps not bright enough in the high end for what I want, and the Cold Sweat might be too bright with the maple boards, so...

For the 540R I'm getting VHIIs, for the RG550 a Miracle Man set with a Slowhand, and for the Charvel a Painkiller set with Trilogy Suite. Phew 8)