EBMM Valentine suggestions

[msquared]

I have a pair of Ernie Ball Music Man Valentines (one is a trem version).

I love the stock pickups but I want to swap pickups in one of them so I can end up with a brighter and a darker version of these guitars. The bright one with stock pickups covers the contemporary delay-and-harmonics rock and funk really nicely and I'd like the other one to be more aimed at roots rock and jazz.

I'm also trying to keep the controls as similar as I can. I have gotten really used to the idea of a big single in the bridge and splittable humbucker in the neck.

Going down the line of alnico II offerings makes me wonder if a HSP90 Blue Note in the bridge and a Stormy Monday in the neck would be a good counterbalance to the brighter character of the guitar or if there's something else that would work better.

Finally, is there anything I need to know or pass along when ordering a pair like this other than wide spacing in the bridge? I've read a lot about balancing the pickups, what's that all about?

[CLund]

I Really like my Valentines, and I know what you mean about the pickups.   I have contemplated swapping the pickups out for HSP90 Mississippi Queens.   I have a MQ in the neck of my PRS and it is fantastic.   But I keep going back to the idea of leaving my EB alone… because it’s great the way it is.    Wish I had your problem, having 2 great guitars.   Good luck, and let us know what u decide, would like to hear about the outcome.   

[Alfi27]

Used to have a husker red Valentine, was a fool to sell it... Amazing guitar, especially after it got a set of VHIIs. Even if the bridge pickup could not be split, it sounded great in the middle position. And the neck splits so well that it's truly like having a humbucker and single coil in one package. I should really try and track another one down!