VHII very thin in PRS Singlecut

[PK]

This weekend I decided to put the VHII, I had lying around, in my PRS Singlecut.
The stock #7s are not all that great, so I figured I'd give it a go.

I was really looking for a fatter and more sparkly sound, the #7s seem a bit round and muddy.

The VHII sounded fine on my practice amp at home (a heavily modded Vox AC4TV). But on my band rig it sounded awefull.
I play through a MXR Custom OD, CAE Wah, Budda Superdrive II 18Watt.

The sound I got was shrill, thin, lacking low end. The top end that was there was nice though, but completely lacking low end.
In the Charvel 375 it was in previously it worked fine, but that guitar has 250k pots. But that guitar isnt to good, so the overall sound was not great, but technically the pickup worked fine.

I know BKPs are very fussy about the height, so I brought a screwdriver to tweak. But to no avail..............even when almost touching the strings, it was still a bit weak.

Is there a chance I have a neck version?
What is the DC for the neck version of the VHII?

Next week I'm trying the Rio Grande Texas BBQ, I also have lying around.

[ericsabbath]

wow, the vhII is quite punchy in les pauls and prs singlecuts
a friend bought a set for his prs singlecut and then sold it me only cause it sounded too bass heavy in that guitar
neck version should be around 8.3k and sounds a lot like the bridge riff raff
I actually liked it better in the bridge than the actual bridge pickup

maybe what you're looking for is more midrange thickness or a high output pup

the BBQ should be more in the crawler ballpark

[PK]

I think I forgot to mention that the VHII has a braided wire, and is out of phase with the PRS pickup in the neck.

[darkbluemurder]

The stock #7s are not all that great, so I figured I'd give it a go. I was really looking for a fatter and more sparkly sound, the #7s seem a bit round and muddy.

Exactly my observation with these pickups.

The sound I got was shrill, thin, lacking low end. The top end that was there was nice though, but completely lacking low end.
In the Charvel 375 it was in previously it worked fine, but that guitar has 250k pots. But that guitar isnt to good, so the overall sound was not great, but technically the pickup worked fine.

Is there a chance I have a neck version?
What is the DC for the neck version of the VHII?

Next week I'm trying the Rio Grande Texas BBQ, I also have lying around.

Sounds like you have a VHII neck. DC resistance should be around 8k for the neck version and around 9k for the bridge version.
The bridge version is definitely hotter and nastier than the neck version. Compared to the stock #7 Bass it would sound louder due to the increased bite it has.

The BBQ is a darker, more compressed pickup.

Cheers Stephan 

[PK]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for your input.
I measured the DC, and it is 8.6k
right in the middle..............

Anyway, I tried the BBQ in the brigde, and I think I like it, raw power...............
I might give it a go and try the VHII in the neck and see what happens...........

[darkbluemurder]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for your input.
I measured the DC, and it is 8.6k
right in the middle..............

Closer to a bridge model.

BTW: the measurements can vary depending on the room temperature (higher room temperature = higher DC resistance). It also matters whether or not the pickup is in the guitar and soldered to the circuitry - in that case the volume control (250k or 500k) is in parallel with the pickup's DC, lowering the overall value. A VHII bridge at 9k out of the guitar would measure 8.8k when connected to a 500k volume pot and 8.7k with a 250k pot.

Cheers Stephan

[PK]

thnx.
I did the measurements while the pup was not connected, at around 20 degrees Celsius.
Maybe it's just the combo of my guitar, my amp and the pickups that's not working..........
Anyhow, I've put the Rio Grande BBQ in, so far on my practice amp, and some modeling plugins, it sound pretty sweet. This Saturday I can hear it through my Budda Superdrive. Can't wait!!

And yes, I agree, the BBQ seems to be a bit more compressed than the BKP I've tried so far (VHII, Emerald, HD). But I kinda like it...............
It's not as compressed as the Dimarzio's and SD's I've had.

But the thing is, I like compression, if done right.............yes, it gives you less dynamics, but it also gives you more energy/power.
If Dimarzio and SD are like Preamp gain/compression, the Rio Grande BBQ is like poweramp compression................I know, weird analogy, but this is kinda how it feels.....................dirty, in a good way 

[fdesalvo]

I had BBQs in all my gear before I moved over to BKs haha.  Great Metal/Rock pickups.