hey, guys
didn't have time to install the mules yet (and still gotta find the flying spring :lol:)
going out to buy some dog food, and might install them later today
still impressed with how much more balanced the neck VHII sounds in the bridge than in the neck spot
definitely sounds like a bridge pickup
the bridge version was more nailbombish (strong lows, edgy top, faster picking response), which is kinda expected, as the bobbins should get more asymmetrical with the higher DC (just like the nailbomb)
the neck version sounds much more organic, a lot like the riff raff, maybe a little less bright than both RR and bridge VHII
From this description it sort of sounds like an underwound Holy Diver... Is that something that you'd agree with or am I imagining it all wrong?
nah, nothing like the holy diver
completely different specs and voicing
technically, as far as I understand:
bridge vhii = nailbomb with thicker wire (not underwound)
black dog = holy diver with thicker wire (also not underwound)
of course, by "equal", I mean in specs
not sure if Tim uses some sort of voicing adjustment in the wiring process
and lower dc doesn't mean underwinding
both vhii and nailbomb are heavily overwound pickups, and Tim manages to retain the high end by offsetting the coils, and that's supposedly what gives them the more articulate top and punchier low end , instead of getting middy and bloated
they have the same long alnico 5 magnet, enamel wire, different gauges (42 awg for the vhii, 43 awg for the nailbomb)
the others have short alnico 5 magnets, polysol wire, also different gauges (42.5 awg for the black dog, 44 awg for the holy diver), so they aren't much overwound, although they have close dc readings to the vhii and holy diver, respectively
the neck vhii has a little more vintage correct spec, and is more paf sounding, as it's not heavily overwound
I'll guess it's not as asymetrical as the bridge model, cause it sounds more balanced in the mids instead of being bass/treble focused
quite warm response compared to the bridge pickup
I'll try to get a reading from each bobbin
can't make a precise comparison with the riff raff cause my RR has a custom 4 mm thick magnet and it's also in a different sounding les paul
the difference between a stock riff raff and a neck vhii would be the magnet length and maybe the level of asymmetry
an alnico 5 mule should be pretty much like this
again, absolutely nothing lile the holy diver
edit:
playing it louder today, I can definitely relate it with the riff raff
this guitar sounds warmer than my les paul custom, so maybe that's why it sounds a little less spanky than the riff raff
