BKP-ing an Ibanez widdler - VHII? Nailbomb? Need some advice..

[punkomatic78]

A few months ago I bought an Ibanez RG (25th anniversary model) because:
1) I craved a silly shred machine
2) I got a really good deal from the shop
3) IT'S PINK!!

I didn't expect to fall in love with the guitar quite as much as I have, it's quickly becoming my number 1 and is surprisingly (to me) a great all-rounder. The thing that's letting it down is the stock pups - the bridge is ok when overdriven, the neck is passable when clean, but an upgrade would really bring it to life.

I've been playing a lot of early Van Halen on it so the VHIIs would be the no brainer option, I'm just wondering what other people are using on similar guitars and what results you're getting. From the description and clips on the website I'm tempted by the Nailbombs - probably because they seem to have a bit more in the tank than the VHIIs, but still responsive to dynamics and sound great clean. What others should I be considering for big well defined rhythm and clear sustaining leads?

Looking forward to your ideas!

(The RG is 6 string, HSH, basswood body, rosewood board)

[darrenw5094]

Think they have maple boards, so a Holy Diver would work there too. I have seen a Rebel Yell rock in a similar Charvel guitar.
VHII would have more bottom end than the other options there.

[Dave Sloven]

I would be looking at VHII or Rebel Yell.

[punkomatic78]

Interesting to get votes for the Rebel Yells - I've got a set of those in a LP type guitar and they sound fab. Nice to know you think they'll translate well into the super strat world.

How far into modern metal territory have people pushed the VHIIs? I'm just wondering what its limits are when it comes to extreme gain settings and handling fast chuggathons.

No love for the Nailbomb on this guitar?

By the way, it's a rosewood board (maple and walnut neck).

Thanks

[Dave Sloven]

I don't know if the Nailbomb would also work; my suggestion of the Rebel Yell instead of the Nailbomb was based on the style of music you seem to want to play.

[FELINEGUITARS]

We just did the same guitar upgrade - a pink reissue RG550
We went for VH2s and a Mothers milk in the middle
Result= excellant!

Suddenly it's a great all rounder that seems happy to do classic rock and pop and a bit of punky stuff that the owner likes, but it's also awesomely good as a Van Halen style shredder
Tones are silky and yet firm and crunchy - kind of the best I've ever heard an RG sound.
As you have so much gain and drive available from pedals and amps now - getting a more vintagey voiced - or hot vintage is a good idea as your clean sounds are so much better than if you went with a hotter pickup in my opinion.

[punkomatic78]

I'm thinking VHII is the way to go!

Felineguitars, it sounds like the results from that upgrade is exactly what I'm after. Would never have thought about the mothers milk in the middle because of the wildly different outputs between the single coil and humbucker. I've got Slowhands in my strat, which are hotter than the MM but way lower output than my Gibson with Rebel Yells. What you've described is just what I'm going for though so I think I'm going to try and replicate exactly what you've done.

Out of interest, did you need to set the middle pickup height first and then adjust the two humbuckers to get balance? If so, doesn't the bridge tone in particular suffer as a result? Also, is the middle pickup giving useable tone on its own in this setup, or is it more for position 2 and 4 sounds? The stock Ibanez single coil is so weedy that I've just opted not to use it and wound it flush with the scratchplate to get it out the way. It's great to hear that your configuration works so well - and that I can expect to get a bunch more tones out of it - but just surprising to me that the MM is such a useful addition. Is it the bridge MM you're using in the middle?

[FELINEGUITARS]

hb positions are a bit louder than the s/c and split positions but customer really liked that as it was like a rhythm /lead setting option
but sonically the mm works great
you might fancy having a baseplate on it too for a bit more oomph!

[punkomatic78]

Brilliant! Now all I've got to worry about is the colours.

I'm guessing the single coil you used is the standard middle reverse wound one?

Thanks a lot for your help :D

[Dave Sloven]

Brilliant! Now all I've got to worry about is the colours.

I'm guessing the single coil you used is the standard middle reverse wound one?

Thanks a lot for your help :D

I would go RWRP +baseplate for this application

[punkomatic78]

Splendid, then so will I! Thanks a lot.

[darthphineas]

The VHII is a really versatile pickup.  more so than other VH-themed models out there.