Versatile, organic, vocal, pickup combos?

[AnnunakiMassacr]

I'm going to replace the pickups in my Ibanez S (unsure of the model) and wondered what be a great set of versatile, organic, vocal pickups? Something touch sensitive and open where you can really show off your style. Not something which compresses the sound to hell, hiding mistakes.

I was thinking the Abraxas in the bridge? And maybe a VHII in the neck as I hear the VHII has that single coil quality which would be great for cleans and overdriven solos.

I'm going to be playing through a Marshall JVMJS I've just ordered.

[itamar101]

I'm going to replace the pickups in my Ibanez S (unsure of the model) and wondered what be a great set of versatile, organic, vocal pickups? Something touch sensitive and open where you can really show off your style. Not something which compresses the sound to hell, hiding mistakes.

I was thinking the Abraxas in the bridge? And maybe a VHII in the neck as I hear the VHII has that single coil quality which would be great for cleans and overdriven solos.

I'm going to be playing through a Marshall JVMJS I've just ordered.

That's exactly the combo that I was gonna recommend. The VHII bridge would also work very well if you want something with more treble presence than the abraxas. It's also slightly more open sounding and dynamic but the abraxas is slightly more vocal sounding.

[AnnunakiMassacr]

Sounds a plan the.

Also, what's the deal with the Nailbomb? I've seen it recommended a lot for Satriani styles.

[Mr. Air]

I got a nailbomb in the bridge of my lp clone and it is a very aggressive pickup. It's modern voiced, but i find it very versatile at the same time.

[Deafcat64]

I would suggest Abraxas bridge, and Mississippi Queen neck. I've been using this combo, and it is incredibly versatile, very organic, and completely uncompressed. The MQ is the most amazing neck pickup I have seen in my 38 years of playing. Exquisite tone, and the most responsive of any pickup, bar none. IMHO. I would actually recommend a Mule bridge with MQ neck for the best response to volume control.

[darrenw5094]

Abraxas bridge and either Riff Raff or Mule neck. Fairly versatile setup there, hot balanced bridge and less hot (almost single coily) neck.

[Telerocker]

Lots of vintage(hot)-pickups have these qualities you describe. You'll will love the VHII-bridge too. It fits your description. But I'm sure you will be happy with the (somewhat underestimated) Mule-bridge and the Abraxas.

[CanadianMetalhead]

If your going for single coil quality in the neck the Missisipi queen would be awesome. The VHii neck is awesome too but itll have a thicker vibe then the MQ in my opinion.

As for bridge the VHII is a great rock hard rock pickup. Very upfront sounding, open and dynamic. But the mules bridge would be better for you in my opinion. That thing is organic, and the complete opposite to compressed and very versatile ranging from blues to being capable of metal.

 /2cents :P

[ericsabbath]

in my short experience with the vhII, I wouldn't call it a "vocal" pickup
more of a classic PAF tone, but with a tight and focused heavier rock edge
single notes sound deep and heavy, but it has a focused non-middy character, like a nailbomb in a true PAF form (well, the only difference between than is the wire gauge)

the black dog, rebel yell and holy diver are VERY vocal and organic

if you're still after the Schenker thing, my choice would be the holy diver for this particular guitar

[AnnunakiMassacr]

I ended up getting a Rebel Yell for the Schenker sound. Jut looking for something different this time.

I regards to the term "vocal", I've kind of lost the meaning of what it implies now as I would never have though a pickup as compressed as the Holy Diver could sound vocal?

[itamar101]

I ended up getting a Rebel Yell for the Schenker sound. Jut looking for something different this time.

I regards to the term "vocal", I've kind of lost the meaning of what it implies now as I would never have though a pickup as compressed as the Holy Diver could sound vocal?

The Holy Diver really isn't very compressed. You'll find that most other pickups in the contemporary range are far more compressed. The holy diver isn't open sounding either... it's in the middle between the two.
As far as an organic, vocal sound though... The Holy Diver is very "natural" sounding. It's a rather balanced pickup so it really just gives your guitar a bit of a power boost in terms of sound and the mids give it a very guts, vocal sound.

[AnnunakiMassacr]

I'd just love a pickup set where I can have fantastic cleans, a beautiful tone that sounds almost like it's singing, whilst having an open touch sensitive feel. But also remain the power to rip out the solo from a power ballad now and again. But I guess and overdrive pedal in front of a marhsall would help that?

[Deafcat64]

The Abraxas is very vocal. It sings on single notes in a guttural way as well. The MQ is also amazing, with a great vocal quality in the mids. The output of the MQ is actually louder than most humbuckers, and cleans up beautifully with the volume knob.

[darkbluemurder]

Definitely agree on the Abraxas bridge as a vocal pickup. The Abraxas neck is more vocal to my ears than the VHII neck but both are great pickups.

Cheers Stephan

[AnnunakiMassacr]

I'd love to hear a bit more about the Abraxas neck, and Mississippi Queen.