New pickups day! VHIIs :0)

[Twinfan]

You're not describing the VHII there at all Phil - I don't think they'll do what you want.  A pair of Mules may though?

Could be a case of asking Tim.....

[Yamhammer]

The Stormy Monday doesn't have enough "push" in the mids to give that really plummy, singing neck tone, and I suspect the VHII neck may be a bit powerful.  Which leaves the Mule, or maybe Black Dog (but again, it's AV, don't know if that'll work).  Or, maybe, even the MQ?  What I don't want is for the neck pickup to be too bright.

The MQ is a great neck pickup

[Philly Q]

You're not describing the VHII there at all Phil - I don't think they'll do what you want.  A pair of Mules may though?

I was only considering the VHII for the bridge pickup, the rest of that stuff I was waffling on about was for the neck.  But if the VHII bridge won't do "tight, crunchy... with strong treble (but fat treble, not thin treble)", then I'm sure you're right Dave.

I'm a bit loath to go for Mules because they're not a million miles from the Riff Raff/SM set.  I suppose maybe I could get a Mule set with AIV neck/AV bridge.... but again it's firmly in vintage country.

The MQ is a great neck pickup...it really isn't too bright. The AIV winding and fairly low output makes it a great, singing neck pickup (even with lots of distortion).

Thanks for that, maybe I should seriously consider the MQ for the neck pickup.  And I no longer have a guitar with a P-90 neck.  But then what humbucker for the bridge?  At one point I was thinking about the Warpig (for something really different), but then I read JP's NB-MM-WP-PK review and even he finds the WP a bit hairy, so it's gonna be too much for me.

[gwEm]

I'm a bit loath to go for Mules because they're not a million miles from the Riff Raff/SM set.  I suppose maybe I could get a Mule set with AIV neck/AV bridge.... but again it's firmly in vintage country.

ah!! my favourite bkp set :)

[Twinfan]

The VHII bridge isn't "fat" treble Phil, it's more "thin/biting" treble.  I'll let you know what a BD is like once mine arrives from HTH, bit I think a set of MQs might do what you want....

[Yamhammer]

I'd think MQ neck/BD bridge...

[Philly Q]

The VHII bridge isn't "fat" treble Phil, it's more "thin/biting" treble.  I'll let you know what a BD is like once mine arrives from HTH, bit I think a set of MQs might do what you want....

Thin/biting treble doesn't sound what I'm looking for, I agree.  But  I wonder if it might respond differently in mahogany than in a Strat-type with a trem bridge?  Maybe not.

Definitely not going the MQ-set route, I like a single P-90 in either neck or bridge but a pair of P-90s never works for me.  I always end up selling my double-P-90 guitars (I've had 4 of them, I'm a slow learner!).

I'd think MQ neck/BD bridge...

The Black Dog is pure classic rock (led zeppelin, angus). It really bites and cuts with the trebles being still 'thick' with an overall full sound....great bridge pickup.

I have a BD in an Edwards V and it doesn't quite do it for me, but I can never decide if that's just because I don't like the way it combines with the Stormy Monday neck.  And also I have to admit the Edwards isn't a great guitar - it's lively and resonant but somehow just doesn't sustain very well when it's amplified.  Maybe it's just too light, like balsa wood or something.

I'll be taking the BKPs out of the V anyway, so it won't hurt to try the Black Dog in the SG - it might just work.

Thanks, guys, this is all food for thought!  :)


(EDIT:  Sorry I've completely diverted and taken over your thread, Dave!!  :oops: )

[il˙ti]

Philly, ever considered a Cold Sweat? It seems to have a lot of bite but the ammount of power makes it appear fatter than the lower output treblies.

[Will]

I have a BD in an Edwards V and it doesn't quite do it for me, but I can never decide if that's just because I don't like the way it combines with the Stormy Monday neck.  And also I have to admit the Edwards isn't a great guitar - it's lively and resonant but somehow just doesn't sustain very well when it's amplified.  Maybe it's just too light, like balsa wood or something.

Nice one! saw one of those on guitarjapan.com and thought it was rather pretty, thank god you just said that :)

[Philly Q]

Philly, ever considered a Cold Sweat? It seems to have a lot of bite but the ammount of power makes it appear fatter than the lower output treblies.

The Cold Sweat was the first BKP I ever considered buying (for my Gibson The Paul SL - yet another mahogany guitar).  I think Tim recommended I'd be better off with a Rebel Yell, which is what I ended up with.

I think the CS might be a bit too high-output for my SG, but I'd like to get one sometime.  I hear they're good in neck-throughs, so if I ever get that Mockingbird....

[Philly Q]

I have a BD in an Edwards V and it doesn't quite do it for me, but I can never decide if that's just because I don't like the way it combines with the Stormy Monday neck.  And also I have to admit the Edwards isn't a great guitar - it's lively and resonant but somehow just doesn't sustain very well when it's amplified.  Maybe it's just too light, like balsa wood or something.

Nice one! saw one of those on guitarjapan.com and thought it was rather pretty, thank god you just said that :)

Don't want to put you off, Will, it may just be my particular guitar.  My other Edwards V, which is a sunburst with a maple (veneer) top, sustains like a sustainy thing.