H.E.L.P.! HSS Pickup choice (No. 100.000)

[johnnyslomo]

First, hi to everybody since I'm new here.

On my never ending tonal quest to nirvana, I've come to BKP  :)

I'm looking for a HSS set for my Alder body/ flame maple-rosewood neck Strat.

I'm looking for a set that covers these bluesy in between sounds like SRV, really good clean performance and a humbucking sound thats good for rock. I'd like to have a bridge sound that's useable when played clean...

I also have to play sometimes this TOP40 numetal thing, that should be covered, too, but thats not my goal. I'm into blues and 70's rock and some 80's stuff.
I especially like the sound of Andy Timmons on "This was then,... ", also VH, Nuno Bettencourt, SRV, Page, Whitesnake, Lukather and so on.

What about a RY: Does it spound nice when played clean and can I get a nice in between sound in 2nd pos.?
Or is a VH2 Better???

Since I have no possibility of testing some BKP (I'm from Germany), it would be nice to tell me your opinion about that issue.

Also, a happy new year to everybody!

John

[Antag]

IMO the Holy Diver/Irish Tour HSS set will cover all your requirements.

Despite its power (which is more than enough for any metal requirement BTW) The Holy Diver is incredibly versatile & dynamic, has a gorgeous warm clean sound, thick creamy lead sound, sounds sensational in alder bodied guitars & gives a nice sound in pos #2 with the Irish Tour middle (whether split or not).

If you can't bring yourself to use such a high powered pickup, then I'd go with the VHII/Irish Tour HSS set but I can't talk about this in much detail as I've never owned a VHII bridge (though I have played a few guitars with them).

A word on the Irish Tour mid/neck - they have a real top end "pop" & nice "sizzle" when played hard.  Not massively overpowered to stop you getting nice stratty response, but powerful enough to not get massacred by higher powered pickups like the HD, NB etc.

[Antag]

If it's any help, the first clip I ever posted has the HD bridge played clean & also a little bit of the HD+IT middle.

Also:
HD set clean
HD/IT HDD set clean (as well as NB/Sultans & HD/Trilogy)
IT neck clean & lead (as well as Slowhand & Trilogy)

Enjoy :)