lol i dont know. it did fine with high gain but not like the modern, tighter stuff. if you like big fluid 80s style solos on the neck i dont think this would be my first choice. but if you liked doing ambiant or other clean stuff with neck pups then i'd definitely say the vhII would work great.
To be honest, that was my initial thought about VHII neck that it might be a bit 'grainy' and the first choose for massive fluid leads, but once I`ve read that Jugg neck apparently was based on VHII neck, I started wondering how it sounds in reality.
Yes, based on demo clips, cleans on VHII neck are superb, but the fact that this pickup is not capable of huge soling things put me off a bit.
I've not received my vhii's yet so I cant comment. If they werent to any ones taste thats one thing but to say it 'isnt capable' of fluid solos in general is probably a bit strong. I say probably because I dont know but I thought the vhii and cold sweat neck were meant to be the 'shredders neck pups'. Having said that I think shredding isnt about pickups its all technique some just sound nicer thats all and we all have different ears.
Seeing as some of the old reviews were lost ill do a camparison of the all the pickups ive used together and compare them as best I can.
I've had a cold sweat neck, aftermath neck and will have a vhii neck all in my esp m1000 so ill let you know how they all sound compared to each other.
I can tell you that whilst I liked the cold sweat in the esp for certain things it sounds heavenly in my les paul and I can now see what all the fuss is about with the cold sweat neck.
Under hi gain the cold sweat neck in a les paul and the aftermath neck in a super strat sound similar and very fluid ideal for 'big solos'.
The aftermath neck cleans arent ideal though so to me it 'just' for epic metal type leads but extremely well. The cold sweat neck in my super strat wasnt ideal but in a warmer guitar its probably as close as im going to get to 'perfect' for any thing which to me is some clean stuff and leads.
Looking forward to finding out how the vhii fits in.