I finally feel like I have a handle on these killer pickups. I went from Duncan Designed HB-102s (which are good pickups, actually) to VH2s in my Strat-like ESP MH-201 which is Mahogany with a maple neck and a rosewood fingerboard. Main observations after playing for a few days through a Traynor 40 watt tube combo with replacement jj tubes:
1) First reaction was shock and a small bit of dismay at the clarity and treble until I dialed back my settings. What I realized was that I had compensated for the lower output and clarity of my HB-102s by cranking the treble and presence on my amp and once I reset this, I was in business.
2) Did I mention how shocking the clarity was? It makes you play better because you have to in order to get the best sounds from these pickups. Not to fear, though, because after a coupla sessions, I was totally used to these pickups and so there is no steep learning curve. Versatile, and they just beg on their knees for you to lay into them for even more different tones and hitherto undoable harmonics.
3) Suddenly, two whole positions on my 5 way ultraswitch (allows humbucker and split coils in series or parallel) became usable where they were 'suckage' on tone before. With the outside coils on in Parallel, SUDDENLY I HAVE A FRICKIN TELECASTER! I AM Waylon Jennings (or Jimmy Nolen from the original James Brown lineup), it was sooooooo awesome. Before, it just sounded the same as split inside coils which is more of a SRV sound. I am not even a country player, but I can do it now! By the way, my vote for hidden guitar god is Junior Brown, and he has the best live guitar playing out there right now...And, with the neck humbucker, punch where there was once mud. Still mellow, but so much more articulate and clear.
4) To the guys at BKP, "I love you, man" I had played a $3500 Tom Anderson at a music store right before my pickups came in, and it was a great guitar. Not $3,500 great, but certainly the best strat I had ever played. Now, I would honestly not trade this guitar (which cost me $450 plus the BKP upgrade) for anything on the planet unless I could sell the new guitar and buy back my guitar and keep the loot left over.
5) Clips to follow in the player section once I have the discipline...Oh yeah, I've been working through some neo-classical Vinnie Moore from his first two albums, and was just not getting the right sound. I have it now, and tapping also sounds vastly superior to any pickups I've ever used, none of that drop-off in volume like with other pickups. String bending is smoother and my tone sings like Ella Fitzgerald...watch out for the glass around the house...
