VH II vs the Blackdog

[ardskoay]

Hello,
     I have a American Standard Ash Strat with a maple fb, that I want a bridge humbucker for. I want a big wide sound when used with a high gain amp. I want the sound to cover as much ground as possible and be open sounding and have good dynamics. I play primarily punk(all types) and metal rhythm.
     I really like the weight of an Invader for example, but it is too compressed sounding and has bad dynamic range. That is why I am looking at lower output.
     I have narrowed it down to these two pickups, but I am using Vintage 30 speakers and am worried that it could be too middy with the Blackdog. Having said that, the modern metal clip for the Blackdog is one of the best tones I have ever heard. But, there is not a modern metal clip for the VHII to compare. So, could you please compare the two pickups. Hopefully that will make the choice easy. Thanks.

[darrenw5094]

I have both pickups. I would have sided with the VHII, but then you mentioned the metal thing, which is not my thing. The VHII covers nore ground, as in it's more versatile than the BD. Can't help on the metal case, sorry.

Have you a link to the BD metal vid?

[ardskoay]

As for the metal clip, I was referring to the clip on the Bare Knuckle site.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

VHII without a doubt.

[JonnyScaramanga]

VHII is phenomenal in my Strat for dynamics and an open sound. It still has a surprising kick into the amp.

It would certainly be an excellent pop-punk sound. I've used it for drop tunings as low as D standard (and drop C#, I think) and it's plenty tight enough.

[bandmaster188]

I have a vhii in my maple neck strat and it certainly has plenty of grind for what you're after. Have not experienced the black dog in strat but did recently try them out in one of feline guitars les Paul types. I would say its quite a bit darker sounding but could also work well in a maple neck strat as it may balance out some of that maple brightness. I do find myself backing the tone off a little on my strat as it can be a tad bright for certain songs.

[Telerocker]

Gigged last weekend with my ash American Series HSS strat, loaded with VHII and Mother's Milk, thru an Orange Rockerverb/2x12 cab and the VHII is just stellar. Crunchy, punchy, touchsensitive, good bass, enough mids and a clear topend that is not brittle or too bright. I love the dynamics of this pickup, the amount of pickattack makes really a lot of difference. I'm sure the VHII can do metalstyles too. It's tight enough.

The BD is somehow not connected with strats here. I don't know why. I have a Crawler in another swampash HSS-strat and that one is very versatile, just not really a metalpickup. I guess the BD would work in a strat too, but don't have any experience with this pickup.
 

[CanadianMetalhead]

The only problem I find with the VHii is that it doesn't have that saturated tonal aspect to it like the higher output guys. A small negative in my opinion and if your looking lower output the VHii is a great pickup for pretty much everything. Telerocker nailed the description.

No clue with the BD though but I was in the same position as you but wanting a lower output metal tone. The thing that got me was the top end present aspect without being ice picky with the "roar" factor. $%&#ing love that shite lol. I even got 1 meg ohm pots in my guitar and the VHii still has no pick.

Personally I'd get the BD if you generally like how the invader sounds in terms of low end "weight". But the Vhii is just a great all rounder and would fit a punk type sound very well.

My 2 cents. Hope it helps

[ardskoay]

Alright, now that so many have recomended the VHII, let's elaborate on that one.
Just how bright is it? Is is at least darker than the stock American Strat singlecoils?
Would the VHII be a good pickup for that huge crunchy Weezer Blue Album sound?

[Telerocker]

Of course it's darker then a strat singlecoil. I would be say the eq is balanced. Big crunchy tones are no problem.