VHII's in basswood RG550 ?

[Dazza1004]

My 20th anniversary Ibanez RG550's have turned up (I have 2).

I am going to put a set of holy divers in one and if I don't like the stock pickups I will change the others too. I am thinking about VHII's, I am kind of looking for that sweet overdriven tone like early satriani (and I guess early Vai). I seem to be playing with less gain these days.

Thanks

[Tim]

I think you'll find VHIIs may be a little too bright in these type of guitars-to get the mid girth that Satch has you'd be better off with Crawlers or Nailbombs. VHIIs by comparison will sound really open and clean and without so much gain on tap.

[Dazza1004]

Hi Tim, thanks for the response

open and clean sounds good but I don't want them to be too bright, I will give the VHII's a miss then (they'll just have to wait till I get my PRS CU24).

I am thinking the nail bombs may be too aggressive so I will look into the crawlers.

Thanks again

PS - Tim, I have PM'd you a question, hope that's ok

[JamesHealey]

he's not wrong..

I had the VHII's in an array of guitars and found it worked best in huge slabs of mahogany, and the Nailbomb is much better for this kind of application.

U'd be better just emailing tim for a question...

[Dazza1004]

so you reckon nail bomb over crawler then ?

I have just listened to the crawler clips and I am leaning towards them

[JamesHealey]

the nailbomb is like a chunkier more agressive version of the VHII with more output, the Crawler is similar but it's not got that same grinding mid range.. if your a van halen fan the Nailbomb is closer to his tone than the Crawler I believe.. Infact don't tell tim but i think it's closer than the VHII for some stuff ;)

[Dazza1004]

Hi James,

thanks for the input, I have just listened to your nailbomb clip in the players section and I think that has sealled the deal, NB's it is.

Thanks

[apmaman]

Nice to see another UK'er with there 20th's. The stock pickups are really good. You might not want to swap them out :lol: