Didn't like HD in Strat, now what?

[Slartibartfarst42]

My logic goes like this: i really like the sound of my mules in my les paul and i want that sound with lightly higher output in my strat, but since the strat should be a brighter guitar than the paul, maybe the pickups that would give me that sound on a paul would sound to thin on a strat? Since alder is a thinner sounding wood?

Personally I think VHII, Abraxas and Crawler will all work well in that guitar BUT I think you're asking a lot of any pickup to get a Strat with any of those pickups to sound like a Les Paul with a Mule in it. There's just too many variables. I love the tone of a Les Paul but sadly I don't like playing them and while I've always striven to get my guitars to sound more like a Les Paul, it's ultimately impossible, simply because it's plainly not a Les Paul. To my mind, getting a Strat to sound like your Les Paul is impossible and anyway; why would you want to? If you want that tone, use the Les Paul and use the Strat for something different.

[Telerocker]

My logic goes like this: i really like the sound of my mules in my les paul and i want that sound with lightly higher output in my strat, but since the strat should be a brighter guitar than the paul, maybe the pickups that would give me that sound on a paul would sound to thin on a strat? Since alder is a thinner sounding wood?

Personally I think VHII, Abraxas and Crawler will all work well in that guitar BUT I think you're asking a lot of any pickup to get a Strat with any of those pickups to sound like a Les Paul with a Mule in it. There's just too many variables. I love the tone of a Les Paul but sadly I don't like playing them and while I've always striven to get my guitars to sound more like a Les Paul, it's ultimately impossible, simply because it's plainly not a Les Paul. To my mind, getting a Strat to sound like your Les Paul is impossible and anyway; why would you want to? If you want that tone, use the Les Paul and use the Strat for something different.

LP and strat are different birds, however it depends on the pickups in both guitars. I can't get a good LP-flavoured tone with the Crawler in my swampashstrat.

[Roboten]

My logic goes like this: i really like the sound of my mules in my les paul and i want that sound with lightly higher output in my strat, but since the strat should be a brighter guitar than the paul, maybe the pickups that would give me that sound on a paul would sound to thin on a strat? Since alder is a thinner sounding wood?

Personally I think VHII, Abraxas and Crawler will all work well in that guitar BUT I think you're asking a lot of any pickup to get a Strat with any of those pickups to sound like a Les Paul with a Mule in it. There's just too many variables. I love the tone of a Les Paul but sadly I don't like playing them and while I've always striven to get my guitars to sound more like a Les Paul, it's ultimately impossible, simply because it's plainly not a Les Paul. To my mind, getting a Strat to sound like your Les Paul is impossible and anyway; why would you want to? If you want that tone, use the Les Paul and use the Strat for something different.

I'm not trying to make my strat sound exactly like a les paul, i know thats impossible. But my goal is to get it to sound like the strat version of the les paul, ie clear, fat but with some twang and airyness, not a metal monster or a hum canceling singlecoil. I think i'm looking for a paf pickup made for strats, which from what i've read would be a VHII no?

[Telerocker]

Yep, you want the VHII.

[darkbluemurder]

Never played the VHII bridge model but in your particular case I would definitely advise against the Crawler and the Abraxas if the Holydiver is not tight enough for you. Of the BKPs I played I would recommend the Rebel Yell or Cold Sweat as an alternative solution - both are quite bright and tight but not harsh. Both would certainly give your guitar enough cut.

Cheers Stephan

[Telerocker]

Never played the VHII bridge model but in your particular case I would definitely advise against the Crawler and the Abraxas if the Holydiver is not tight enough for you. Of the BKPs I played I would recommend the Rebel Yell or Cold Sweat as an alternative solution - both are quite bright and tight but not harsh. Both would certainly give your guitar enough cut.

Cheers Stephan

Seems that the definition of tight is a constant debate. If the NB is not tight enough, nearly any vintage/hot will be less tight, however amp/speakerscab/settings play a role too, I think.

[metalmaniac93]

Never played the VHII bridge model but in your particular case I would definitely advise against the Crawler and the Abraxas if the Holydiver is not tight enough for you. Of the BKPs I played I would recommend the Rebel Yell or Cold Sweat as an alternative solution - both are quite bright and tight but not harsh. Both would certainly give your guitar enough cut.

Cheers Stephan

I agree with Stephan except I would go with the RY.  Great pickup that is plenty tight with plenty of cut!!!

[Slartibartfarst42]

I agree that the Rebel Yell and Cold Sweat would do the job but he did say that he didn't like modern pickups. He seems to prefer pups that are more vintage or vintage hot, hence the appeal of the VHII. That being the case, the VHII is probably the better option surely.