Rebel Yell Set in HSS Strat? OR VHII? Any other experience?

[Triptychon]

Hey everyone!

I am new to this forum... Right now I am building a stratocaster with a Rosewood Neck and a heavy alder body... the neck is definitely made to shred, so I am thinking about installing a BK contemporary HSS Set. Since I was always a fan of heavy and fat 80s rock and Hard Rock sounds, I tend to buy the Steve Stevens set with the Slow Hand SingleCoils... I am a bit afraid that the Rebel Yell set has a bit too much treble and Mids for my taste, I am afraid that the guitar screams in the end... but not in a positive way ;)

The other set I am thinking about is the VHII set... This would be a compromise because it has low output, but I like that the eq is more balanced and the pickups seems to be very "musical".

Has anyone any experience with these sets? Or any other set? Do the Pickups fit very well with each other?

Greetings from Germany, Tobi

[darkbluemurder]

I have experience with both the VHII and Rebel Yell bridge models. Personally I prefer the Rebel Yell for its increased midrange push over the VHII. It will make the guitar scream for sure - whether in a good way that depends on the guitar, your amp and pedal set up and your playing technique. If you want to go fatter than the Rebel Yell, the Holydiver is the natural candidate.

I have very limited experience with the BKP single coils so far.

Cheers Stephan

[Telerocker]

I would not go with the RY in alder. I think that pickup excels in a Les Paul-configuration.
The VHII does well in strats, if you like a non compressed, focussed tone with a fierce, but not shrill topend.
I'm with Stephan the Holy Diver is the natural candidate for beefed up hardrock- and metaltones in a strat.

For the singlecoils it depends if you want some vintage(hot)flavours. Then the Slowhands are a good choice. Contemporary candidate is the Trilogy Suite.

[Triptychon]

Thank you so much for your answers.... Right now, I am even thinking about another alternative... The Mule... read nothing but good things about it and people say you can use it for everything from Blues to Hardrock....

[Telerocker]

Thank you so much for your answers.... Right now, I am even thinking about another alternative... The Mule... read nothing but good things about it and people say you can use it for everything from Blues to Hardrock....

I have Mules in an all mahogany guitar and they work brilliant in that one, but in an alder strat a vintage PAF-pickup could be on the thin side. In that cas I would suggest the Abraxas (a fatter hotter Mule) or the Crawler (beefy, round but not dull topend, thick solotones, excellent choiche for strats, splits well, good allrounder with some PAF-dna for all kinds of music except metal).