Neck humbuckers Riff Raff vs VHII vs Boot Camp?

[brianhenson]

I've decided on getting a Black Dog bridge pickup, but I'm going back and forth a bit on the neck.

It's down to either the Riff Raff or the VHII, I like what I've heard of both. The only reason I'm thinking maybe the VHII over the RR is because I'm a bit afraid that the RR might have too much "bite" for me. But, I think I may want the tighter low end of the RR more than I fear it having too much bite.

The other thought was the Old Guard or True Grit neck. I haven't heard them played clean so it's hard to know if I'd prefer them over the RR.

[brianhenson]

Any thoughts?

[Dave Sloven]

The VHII and RR necks seem completely different to me.

The RR seems to be one of the brightest neck pickups that BKP make, even more so than the Nailbomb neck.

What kind of guitar is it going into and what style are you working in?  Are the Bootcamp pickups available individually?

[brianhenson]

The VHII and RR necks seem completely different to me.

The RR seems to be one of the brightest neck pickups that BKP make, even more so than the Nailbomb neck.

What kind of guitar is it going into and what style are you working in?  Are the Bootcamp pickups available individually?

The guitar is a Samick Les Paul style with an alder body (with maple veneer), mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard. I haven't had enough different pickups in the guitar to determine whether it's an especially dark or bright guitar. It currently has DiMarzio 36th anniversaries which sound pretty good but with a midrange that isn't super clear, notes blur together when you play chords more so than on some other guitars.

Here's a good example of the style I play most: https://youtu.be/D-PgU57tk_w?t=36

I also play some heavier styles like this: https://youtu.be/Eu3F1jiY2K8

I don't know if the boot camps are sold individually or not.

Edit: Looking into this more I also realized that the Holy Diver neck appears to be about the same output as the VHII and has the same type of magnet, so that is also a consideration.

[darrenw5094]

Boot Camps are sold individually on Thomann website

[brianhenson]

After speaking with Ben @ BKP I think I've narrowed it down to either the VHII or Holydiver.

The Holydiver appears to have less bass, which I think would be good since most neck pickups I've had have had too much bass. I'm not really worried about combining a modern voiced pickup with a vintage voiced one. I do like the sweet high end of the VHII though. Tough call.

[Dave Sloven]

I don't think the VHII would have as much bass as the Cold Sweat neck, for example.

The VHII is commonly paired with the Nailbomb when people don't want to go for one of the other common options (Nailbomb, Cold Sweat, or Rebel Yell) and the Black Dog has some of the qualities of the alnico Nailbomb so I think the BD/VH2 combo might be a nice one.  If you think it might get too bassy a series/parallel switch on the neck pickup will take out output and bass

EDIT: here's a video of the two together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXSAwXTPcfE

[brianhenson]

I don't think the VHII would have as much bass as the Cold Sweat neck, for example.

The VHII is commonly paired with the Nailbomb when people don't want to go for one of the other common options (Nailbomb, Cold Sweat, or Rebel Yell) and the Black Dog has some of the qualities of the alnico Nailbomb so I think the BD/VH2 combo might be a nice one.  If you think it might get too bassy a series/parallel switch on the neck pickup will take out output and bass

EDIT: here's a video of the two together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXSAwXTPcfE

I had actually seen that video. I've never liked the sound of parallel wired or coil tapped humbuckers. I think the VH2 will probably be fine in the neck, I just know that with both of the other neck pickups I've put in this guitar they had a bit too much bass. That's why I was wondering about the Riff Raff or Holydiver. Still, based on what Ben has said it sounds like it is probably the pickup I want. Just second guessing myself a lot.