Hss Set For Alder Strat

[HoboBobo]

Hi guys, well as mentioned I'm after a Hss set for my strat.

I'm looking for a big thick 80's rock/power metal sound from the bridge and some gritty blues from the neck.

From what I've read so far is seems that the holy diver + tours set would be perfect.

Still I'm open to suggestions.

Also i have a couple of questions in regards to the balance between the HD and the IT's, i remember reading a comment that said that they just balance so i was wondering if adding base plates to the mid and neck would even it out a bit more. Anyone have any experience with baseplate's on the neck and/or mid?

Usually i find the mid pickup on it's own unusable as it just sounds plain and flubby in the bottom end so i figured from the description a baseplate would take care of all my issues with the sound from the mid.
And as for the neck i like it a bit thicker for lead runs but and wondering if it would have an adverse effect on the clean sound and light distortion sounds ie, too bassy.

I was interested in adding plates all around anyway when i was going to go with a SSS set but I've realized i need a bucker for the tones I'm after.

Anyway sorry for the essay but just wanted to clear all my questions up at once so i wouldn't have to make several posts needlessly.

Thanks in advance!!

[Antag]

Yes, the Holy Diver/Irish Tour HSS set would be a good bet.

Holy Diver is great in alder body/maple neck guitars - just makes them sound HUGE.  It's so versatile: enough grunt for the heaviest grind, massive thick mids for big rock chords, a fantastic warm clean sound.  It's got it all.

It might have been me that made the balance comment about HD/ITs :oops:  Yes, they balance in that you can switch from mid/neck to bridge on the clean channel without a massively overpowering jump in volume.  There is a difference, but it's one that you can even out by varying your pick stroke.

If I get another HSS guitar, I'd probably put Slowhands with an HD - from what I've read they have a bit more mids & output which would in theory make them ideal for an HD HSS set.

I also have a Trilogy neck (It's an H-S guitar so no mid) with an HD - the Trilogy certainly has more than enough power to keep up with the HD.  I'm not sure that "gritty blues" is what the Trilogy is about though :)

Can't comment on the baseplate question as I've not tried them...

[HoboBobo]

Hey Antag thanks for the quick response and ii think youre right, think it was you who made the balance comment :lol:

As far as the slow hands go i haven't heard many clips from them but from what i have listened to they don't really sound like what I'm looking for. They sound a bit too dark although i suppose for a general match in sound you may be right as to them working better with the HD.

And although the trilogy has the power to match, like you said gritty blues isn't what they're about. But then again they would be handy for the malmsteen stuff which i do play quite often.

One of the main reasons I'm interested in the IT's is a clip someone posted called enero of a 10 minute jam, had my perfect clean sound and i had heard they are great for SRV stuff which is similar to what i"m looking for.

I'll try to find some blues & clean clips of the trilogy and if they sound good i think they may be the way to go.

Thanks again

Still open to suggestions if anyone has anything to add.

[Antag]

Then go for ITs.

Don't get me wrong, Irish Tours DO balance with a Holy Diver bridge.

An increase in volume when switching to the bridge of an HSS set is not only unavoidable, it's also a good thing IMO.  When I originally commented on HD/IT balance, it was to point out that you can have too much of a good thing.

In one of my other guitars I have a Miracle Man bridge & 2 Sultans.  That combination definitely doesn't balance at all - it was a really stupid choice :roll:  Basically, there's such an huge difference in output that if I dial in a nice clean sound for the Sultans, the MM is unuseable on that channel (& vice versa).  Even if I baby my pick stroke on the MM & bash the hell out of it with the Sultans I can't even come close to evening out the volumes :lol:  The Holy Diver/Irish Tour set does not have this problem - all switching positions are useable on all channels.

Slowhands appeal to me partly because I don't have any yet :) & partly because while I like the clean sound of ITs, I'd like something with a little bit more "body" while still sounding like a single.  Gritty blues aren't really my thing :)

[Woogie]

I have HD/SH/SH combo and I play that 80's metal and gritty blues. Awesome combination :).