Peavey HP Special Carve Top Pickup Recommendation

[aikido777]

Looking for some advice on a new set of pickups for my HP Special Carve Top. This is the "continuation" of the Wolfgang after EVH split from Peavey. Basswood body, maple top, maple neck and fret board, Gotoh Floyd Rose with a large brass block. The bridge is blocked for down only.

I play through an Axe-Fx II - XL so I have access to a wide range of amps. I play everything from blues to classic rock and 80's hair metal (Led Zeppelin, AC-DC, ZZ Top, Aerosmith, Guns 'N Roses, etc.)

The stock pickups are too "dark" and compressed for my tastes. Chords and power chords under gain seem to lack note definition and separation. I'd like more clarity. I'm not even that fond of them when coil split. I know some guys love the stock pickups, they are just not my personal flavor.

I am considering replacing them with a set of VHIIs or Rebell Yells as these seem to be the two most suggested for replacement in Wolfgangs, MM Axis and similar speced guitars. I have listened to all of the samples on here but just wonder if anyone with this guitar or similar can comment on how these would work for my setup and uses. I'm also open to some other suggestions.

Also, the guitar is set up for coil taps so it would be nice to have a great tapped sound as well.

Thanks.

[Yellowjacket]

I have a solid lump of mahogany guitar with a Rebel Yell bridge / VHII neck and it is really quite amazing.

Is the Peavey a warm / dark guitar or is it more bright?  The overall tonality of the guitar will have some bearing on the sort of pickups you put in it.  All other factors equal, you will want the pickups to enhance the good qualities of the instrument while mitigating the things that don't sound so good. At least, that is my philosophy for choosing pickups.

[Dave Sloven]

Usually with that kind of combination of woods something like the Cold Sweat would be recommended, but it is interesting that you say people go for the Rebel Yell.

How does it sound unplugged?  Dark?  Bright?  Middy? Resonant?  All of these will have a bearing on what will suit best.  Simply from wood specs it is hard to say.

If it is dark and resonant, try the Emerald or Rebel Yell.

If it is middy, try the Cold Sweat.

I'm not sure what the VHII suits other than Strats.  I see mixed reports on here.

If it is dark and not resonant, maybe try EMGs! :-/

[aikido777]

I would say the guitar is pretty balanced unplugged. It has a maple neck and a thick maple cap but the basswood body seems to balance those out. I also have a massive brass block in the Gotoh Floyd with a trem stop for down only that adds some "fatness" to it. With the big brass block in there and the trem stop it sustains for days. Easily out sustains the Les Paul I had.

I also tend to prefer a brighter pickup. Most of my guitars are strats with single coils as a starting point. Also, I can always turn down the tone control but you cannot add treble.

[darrenw5094]

If you guitar is balanced and has a bit of fatness to it, the Rebel Yell could work for you.

I can't believe the VHII wouldn't work in a EVH type guitar 

[Dave Sloven]

Sounds like a Rebel Yell would work

[Telerocker]

One more vote for the RY, but this one particularly needs to be set to the right height.

[darrenw5094]

It would be tragic if the Rebel Yell didn't work in the alder/basswood bolt-ons. It screams the 80's thing.

[Playloud]

Hi !
I have the same guitar or actually ..i have three of them. 
I keep coming back to the VHII set in all of them.I also like my tone on the bright side and not too hot and gain.
The VHII makes me work harder and play cleaner as it is not very high in output.
These are great guitars and its a shame they stopped making them.
Mine are custom shop guitars an have been modified with TrueTemperament fretboards in two of them.
Cheers
//Lars     

[darrenw5094]

Mine are custom shop guitars an have been modified with TrueTemperament fretboards in two of them.
Cheers
//Lars     

Pics dude? 

[Playloud]

I`ll try and post some pics after the holidays!
 

[Playloud]

Hi!
I`ve posted some pics of one of my Peaveys in the users gallery.
 

[Playloud]

There you go!  :-)