Username: Password:

Author Topic: VHII split options?  (Read 4264 times)

Benabu

  • Strawweight
  • *
  • Posts: 3
VHII split options?
« on: February 18, 2009, 02:32:13 PM »
Hello forum, this is my first post after a fair bit of lurkage.

I just ordered a set of VHIIs for a PRS Standard 24, pretty pumped. I also ordered a 3-way toggle switch and a push-pull, since I'm done with the awkwardness of the rotary switch.

I'd just like to hear from anyone with experience of this setup, ie VHIIs or other very asymmetrically wound humbuckers with a coil tap switch, regarding which coils you prefer split, especially in the middle position. I actually like the outside/inside coils options of the 5-way, but coil splits are for live use and that knob is just silly for gigging, so I've gone the regular magnet and 3-way/push-pull route.

I'm asking because I assumed initially that in the bridge pickup the hotter ie screw coil would sound better than the slug coil, but Tim tells me that's not necessarily the case given the screw coil's proximity to the bridge. Has anyone used the bridge screw coil split and found it too harsh? I'd like a hum-canceling middle position so if the bridge slug coil does indeed sound better I'll have the neck pickup split to its screw coil; but won't having a hotter neck in parallel with a weaker bridge sound not so good?

I'm after the best notch tone for gigging; naturally I'm not buying the pickups for their split sounds, I'd just like a half-decent approximation of the parts I record with single coils, usually a tele in the middle position very clean or slightly pushed. Any wiring options I'm missing?

Thanks for reading, great forum.

Toby

hunter

  • Middleweight
  • *****
  • Posts: 5262
    • http://www.myspace.com/christophjaeger
Re: VHII split options?
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2009, 03:13:51 PM »

VHIIs give very useable tones in split. But always when I have split tones, I tend to not use them because of the volume difference with the HB mode.

If I'd go for one switch option, I'd go for serial/parallel instead.
Tweaker's Paradise - Player's nightmare.

Benabu

  • Strawweight
  • *
  • Posts: 3
Re: VHII split options?
« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2009, 05:52:27 PM »
Cheers he of the badass Gilmour clips.

Did you ever try the screw coil of the bridge pickup split?

BareKnuckleJack

  • Junior Flyweight
  • *
  • Posts: 14
Re: VHII split options?
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2009, 06:08:14 PM »
I got VHIIs in my PRS Custom 22 and the split sounds is damn good, i have the screw split on the bridge and the slug on the neck. In the middle position i get this really open chimey sound that is hum canceled (as its running in parallel)

Hope this help.

Twinfan

  • Light Heavyweight
  • ******
  • Posts: 10528
Re: VHII split options?
« Reply #4 on: March 07, 2009, 06:49:36 PM »
I use the screw coils of my VHIIs as the splits in both positions of my PRS McCarty.  The bridge is very 'Tele' and the neck is very 'Strat'.  Works fine for me!

They are bright though, just like the VHIIs are.  To fatten them up, I just roll back on the tone knob...

sjwebb90

  • Bantamweight
  • **
  • Posts: 118
Re: VHII split options?
« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2009, 08:52:57 AM »

Obviously this post isn't VHII specific, but I have two PRS's, one loaded with Crawlers and the other loaded with Rebel Yells, both have the Split mode via a push pull.

Both sets of pickups work well in split mode, I  usually use both outers for my clean sound,  but the neck and bridge individually also sound good too..
PRS Stop tail CU22 Crawler covered  set,  PRS Trem CU22 Abraxas covered set, PRS SC Trem Crawler covered set & (Charval 475 HSS- Holydiver, Irish Tours open set)

BareKnuckleJack

  • Junior Flyweight
  • *
  • Posts: 14
Re: VHII split options?
« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2009, 01:54:31 PM »
i would love to know what a SC245 with either mules or stormy mondays sounds like...

What are peoples thoughts on the new SC245 sunburst with the nitro finish???

Twinfan

  • Light Heavyweight
  • ******
  • Posts: 10528
Re: VHII split options?
« Reply #7 on: March 10, 2009, 01:58:33 PM »
What are peoples thoughts on the new SC245 sunburst with the nitro finish???

It's too expensive at what will be the UK price of £3000.  They look great though.

I'd get a regular SC245 for £1000 less....

Benabu

  • Strawweight
  • *
  • Posts: 3
Re: VHII split options?
« Reply #8 on: March 24, 2009, 12:13:03 PM »
Cheers all, went for the same as BareKnuckleJack, splitting the bridge screw and the neck slug coils via a push/pull, and also got a tone bypass push/pull for the volume. Thought I'd prefer the two together when split, since that's my favourite on a tele, but actually I've been using the bridge the most, activating the tone control and rolling it down a bit. It's actually relatively close in character I think to the full humbucker mode, and not much quieter, but just drives the amp less which naturally works great for cleaning up on the same amp/pedal setting.

The VHIIs certainly are bright, a tad more than I'd imagined, but I'm happy; they have pretty much exactly the kind of dynamics I was hoping for. Dynamics, balance, low compression and a little extra garlic were my main criteria in the end, and I couldn't imagine a better humbucker for this so I'm satisfied. Actually I do use chunkier more compressed tones aswell, but I have a few posh pedals to achieve that when required and the sound is fantastic (I'm a bit of a pedal nerd, and with pickups like this you always have the option of clipping the guitar's signal more if you want).

Actually now I'm hankering after another solid mahogany guitar so I can put some Crawlers or Holy Divers or similar, to get the fatter hotter more compressed end of the hot-rodded PAF spectrum, but I have a 335 which I'm 90% sure will get an AIV bridge/AII neck Stormy Monday set, and a seven-string's in the works, so three sets of next level pickups will have to do this year.
 :violin1:

What are peoples thoughts on the new SC245 sunburst with the nitro finish???

The new 245 looks pretty sexy but yeah, £3000? To be honest I expect way more than a posh finish for that price. Nitro is cool, but isn't it just a top coat over some kind of plastic? Always surprised not to see more Standard Satins about. Pretty much my ultimate specs for a humbucker guitar and half the price of the SC245 Sunburst.