Help choosing BKP's for MIJ Charvel strat

[herbychimp]

Hi

I am new to the BKP world / forum and need a little advice. I have a late 80's MIJ Charvel strat (alder body / maple neck / r.wood board) currently the guitar has a SD C/C in the bridge and two SSL-3s in neck and mid. This combination is not well balanced and even given that the guitar itself is not brilliant (although I love the neck!) I would like to replace the whole set with BKPs. I have emailed BKP and they advised either the Nailbomb or Holy Diver with Irish tours. This sounds good but I also love the sound clips of the VHII. One of the problems I have with the SD humbuckers I have is that they sound a little too compressed - I want a bigger, more open sound. I hear that the Nailbomb is really organic sounding but wonder if it might be a little too modern for me? We tend to play anything from late 70's up to current rock / pop and I need grunt and versatility.

Any ideas?

Stef

[ericsabbath]

the holy diver sounds bigger and more open than the nailbomb
the nailbomb is more focused and aggressive

[dheim]

the holy diver sounds bigger and more open than the nailbomb
the nailbomb is more focused and aggressive

i couldn't disagree more on the "openness" thing (having tried both pickups in exactly the same guitar - an Ibanez S), but i wouldn't suggest the NB anyway for your requirements... HD seems a better choice, even if i've got nearly no experience with alder guitars.

[IAMBR00TALZ]

Also check out the steve stevens rebel yell

[FELINEGUITARS]

For open the VH2 may work really well - I have them in a few guitars and love them
You might also get on with the Cold Sweat which is really open with a very tight bottom end
Failing that the Painkiller is v nice if you want a little aggression and detailed mids

[Telerocker]

Maybe The Crawler is an option. This one is in my MXG swampash superstrat, joined by two Irish Tour. The Crawler is very dynamic and open, but can crunch superb. Splitted it is well-balanced with the middlepickup. Tim recommended me this great combination. No regrets yet.