Pickup suggestion for Charvel?

[retrojet]

I recently got my hands on my first BKP, a Rebel Yell...absolutely love the sound and clarity of it and I'm sold on BKP's now. But the RY is a bit too bright for my Charvel Model 2...so I'm looking for a good alternative. I play in a 80's hard rock / hair metal cover band (Def Leppard, Scorpions, Ratt, Poison, VH, etc...). Would the Holydiver be a better fit with that guitar for that range of tones and gain? Or maybe something else?

Thanks!

[Telerocker]

Welcome! I think the Diver is the pu for your style and guitar. Will certainly fatten up your Charvel and it sounds organic and huge, what I've heard from clips and read in topics.

[sjwebb90]

I happen to have a Nailbomb and two Irish Tours in my Charvel 475 HSS more than happy with the tone that is derived and should cover most bands mentioned.

I have a RY set in my PRS CU22,, very versatile and give a good coil split, especially with the outside coils on for chimey cleans.

[FELINEGUITARS]

Holy Diver - or VH2 will work nicely too if you have lots of gain available on the amp and may be better for cleans too

[Nolly]

Another vote for the Holy Diver here - really thickens up a superstrat and with the extra output/compression it gives you an awesome sustain that trems normally kill right off.

The VHII is however not a bad idea either, I have a set in a bright alder/maple Kramer and the sound is wicked. The bridge position has an awesome "aunch" and harmonics pop out like crazy despite the moderate output.

If the Rebel Yell is only a bit too bright then definitely consider the VHII, but if you want to pull that top end back the Holy Diver is your best bet.

[Telerocker]

The VHII is however not a bad idea either, I have a set in a bright alder/maple Kramer and the sound is wicked. The bridge position has an awesome "aunch" and harmonics pop out like crazy despite the moderate output.

Sorry for the sidestep, but how would the VHII do in an ash-superstrat with rosewood fretboard (Fender HSS American Series)?

[Nolly]

It would be pretty awesome if you want a punchy hard rock pickup. It's bright not abrasive or harsh. It's a great fun pickup to riff and shred on, the attack is juicy and definitely encourages you to dig in.

[Telerocker]

It would be pretty awesome if you want a punchy hard rock pickup. It's bright not abrasive or harsh. It's a great fun pickup to riff and shred on, the attack is juicy and definitely encourages you to dig in.

Thx, I was thinking of replacing the standard-pu's in VHII and maybe Mother's Milk. I was a little afraid the VHII being too bright for ash, but a lot of people here have them in a strat, so must work. Your experience was the final push. It's gonna be a VHII. Now still have to decide on the sc's. Apologies for hijacking this thread.

[FELINEGUITARS]

The VHII is however not a bad idea either, I have a set in a bright alder/maple Kramer and the sound is wicked. The bridge position has an awesome "aunch" and harmonics pop out like crazy despite the moderate output.

Sorry for the sidestep, but how would the VHII do in an ash-superstrat with rosewood fretboard (Fender HSS American Series)?

I would say that the ash bodied strat would be close to Van Halen's Frankenstrat (apart from him having a maple board) , so a VH2 would be a good choice if you want to go in that direction tonally

[kevinr]

I have VHIIs in two of my guitars, a HH and HSS with MMs, these are one of my favourite BK bridge pups, they have a very sweet top end in what are quite bright guitars.

[Telerocker]

Thx guys, I'm not going to play Van Halen, but I'm looking for something different then the Crawler/IT's in my swampash customstrat. More vintage open tone, but still a bridge-hb that can rock out with harmonics jumping out.

[Nolly]

I think it's a great choice for you to check out Telerocker. I wouldn't describe the VHII as exactly vintage sounding, but then it's not modern either! It really has a character all of its own (in both bridge and neck positions), probably due to the very offset coils. An extremely cool pickup indeed though, you should definitely give it a shot.

[Telerocker]

Yeah Nolly, I had settled for 99% on the VHII. And for the sc's the MM's, but if there are other suggestions, chime in.

[kevinr]

The MMs sit great with the VHII, the VHII splits very well too!

[Telerocker]

The MMs sit great with the VHII, the VHII splits very well too!

I def. like the MM's. How is the sec. pos. (VHII splitted and middle MM)? Still Fenderish enough?