Which HSS or HH for Hard/Classic Rock Warmoth Strat

[Highway.Rocker]

I'm really lost as to what I should get for this guitar. Its just a good old boring Alder/Maple combo with a Floyd.

I play in a Hard/Classic Rock band (as well as record my own songs in a home studio). We play both originals and covers (both instrumental and with singing) so I kind of need a very wide palette of tones coming from the one guitar.

The kind of songs we play range from the 60/70s all the way up to the present. We don't play anything metal, just more a typical pub/bar type of sound. I think the heaviest song we play is Unchained by Van Halen in Drop D so not looking for a high output contemporary pickup.

I was thinking of the VHII as I love the description "really open and touch sensitive feel. Harmonic overtones are strong and defined with excellent string separation producing a huge sound with superb pick attack" I'm a very emotional player so I'd prefer something that prefers a seasoned style, as to a pickup that covers up bad playing. I was mainly thinking this pickup as we play a fair few GnR and Van Halen songs, and the string separation would be great on big Paradise City and Panama style chords. Thing is, I don't want to sound like Van Halen on all my songs. I'd like to clean up to play lighter songs like Deep Purple/Rainbow/Alcatrazz/Gary Moore/Thin Lizzy. Opinions???

The thing that was bugging me the most was whether to get a calibrated set, or to go the HSS route? I play most, if not all, my cleans on the neck pickup. We also cover Californication by RHCP as well so would really like something mellow. This is only one song though so I don't want to get a nice SC for the sake of one song. I solo a lot on the neck pickup too. Think November Rain, Knockin on Heaven's Door, etc.

Thanks for your time, and sorry for the long post.

 PDT_001

Just noticed the VHII & Cold Sweat neck clip. Is it me or does the VHII - even though they're playing the same thing - sound very Marty Friedman/Jason Becker-y? I think that would be a great sound as a small solo section when playing in a club. I'd just appreciate a bit more info to steer me in the right direction

[Slartibartfarst42]

I think there are a number of pickups that would work for you. I play a similar set to you, perhaps slightly Rockier and I use the Holydiver with Trilogy Suites or something that is a bit more vintage in nature would be the Crawler. The Holydiver is a lot more versatile that you'd think. However, I think the VHII would be a great choice, though I think you'd also love the versatility of the Abraxas.

[Mr. Air]

Like slartibartfarst said more than one set will possibly suit you. Here's my suggestions. VHII + MM, Abraxas + MM or Crawler + IT.

[Highway.Rocker]

Well I actually like a bit of top end. Not spikey! Just present. That's what kind of took me away from the Abraxas & Crawler.

Regarding the Holy Diver, I think that pickup is a a bit too compressed for my liking. I really like my pickups to be open sounding and really touch sensitive. Not in the sense of when you play an acoustic and you can hear the sliding of the fingers - I mean more in the way if you play a fast blues solo, it tracks very well; but if you play the bend emotionally, it enhances the feel so you can be at one with the guitar.

I'm really liking the MM clips. I'll have to have a proper look at the other clips shortly. Sounds very Little Wing. But I'd also need a neck pickup for doing the GnR style solos, so I don't want to restrict myself in favour of a single tone.

It's a very hard choice for me, and it's something I need to gig with so I want to portray myself as best as I can! I'd love to get as much advice as I can. It's all fantastically appreciated. Thankyou

[Slartibartfarst42]

Tbh, the more I hear from you, the more I think you'd really appreciate the Abraxas.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I like a VHII for this, but don't discount the Abraxas recommendation, sounds killer too.

[Zaned]

I have to admit, I immediately thought of the VHII when I read your description. I think you've pretty much described yourself to the 'Vintage hot' section.

About the SC..well, I too play a number of GnR songs with a HSS strat (maple+RW neck, alder+maple cap body). I have the HD-IT-IT set there. I used to have a Trilogy suite on the neck, but I like the neck single coil to be a bit brighter than it was in that guitar..even with 500k pots. The Irish tour has considerably less bottom, a more present upper midrange and is brighter in general. I have modified my wiring so that the IT sees the volume pot as 250k one. Without that, it had a little too much ring in the highs that could sometimes be irritating. Now it's great.

The following speculation might actually make you more confused :) Slash doesn't use hot or midrange heavy pickups. No single coil is going to sound exactly like a humbucker, but I wonder if the of the mother's milk pickups would suit you better, knowing that they have less midrange emphasis? You can roll the tone pot (if you have one) back a tad for the Slash moments.

Or maybe the Alnico II Sultans. Hmph, maybe better ask the BKP authors themselves :) Nevertheless, the pickups answer well to tone and volume pots, much can be done there too.

-Zaned

[Highway.Rocker]

Thankyou verymuch all.

BKP got back to me and said I got it spot on with the VHII.

Regarding the neck, they said Irish Tours over Mother's Milk as the MM is a lot brighter and may be too much for my guitar. I may still get a Rosewood board though, so I guess that option is still open depending on the actual bright/darkness of the guitar when it arrives. The description reads "calibrated mid and neck coils retain the hollow, woodiness of the Mother's Milk coils but with extra output." for the Irish Tour, so I guess they're similar anyways.

On a further note, how does the VHII compare to the Abraxas?