HD neck vs RY neck or something else to pair with VH2 bridge

[schneidas]

Ok, I'm looking for a neck pickup to go with my VH2 bridge in my Mahogany/Maple Les Paul.
Now, the solution seems obvious at first - VH2 neck - but I have tried that pickup a year or so ago in my PRS Bernie Marsden and did not like it at all.
For me the VH2 sounded too smokey - like it had dirt in its sound that was constantly present. I did not like this quality at all.

Now my other guitar will have a Mule neck soon. So I'd want something different - without going too far away from PAF territory.
I was contemplating a HD neck or a RY neck.

Are they the same pickup with the only difference being the RY being slightly hotter while the HD is brighter?
Can anyone compare both?
Any model else I'm missing that is not too far from PAF specs and that I should be considering to pair with the VH2 neck?

(please note that I only play heavily distorted (hot rodded Marshalls) with emphasis on neck pickup solo play)

[Slartibartfarst42]

The Rebel Yell neck is generally more closely associated with the Cold Sweat neck. The Holydiver neck is a much lighter wind and it maintains a distinctly PAF flavour but the AV magnet keeps things very articulate whereas more traditional PAF pups can start to get too loose in the bottom end. Whenever I think of Dave Murray's neck tone from when he was using PAF-style pups in the neck, I always think of the Holydiver because that's easily the BKP that has got me closest to that tone. To me, your other option would be an Emerald neck. It has the AIV magnet to give it some PAF flavour but it's hotter, darker and has a more modern twist to it compared to the Holydiver.

[darkbluemurder]

The HD neck is definitely brighter than the RY neck. Output is slightly lower but not much.

I had both back to back in the same guitar - a  LP custom built by a local luthier.

Since the VHII bridge is a bright pickup I would go with the HD neck unless you want a stronger contrast between neck and bridge pickups.

Cheers Stephan

[schneidas]

Thanks a lot for the great info guys!
HD neck it is!!!! 

[PhilKing]

I'd go with a Stormy Monday Bridge pickup in the neck position.  It will work really well with the VHII and it will clean up beautifully.

[mantrasky]

Holy Diver \../