Duncan JB vs Suhr SSH/SSH+/SSV/SSV+?

[MrFlexx]

I have an ESP E-II Standard Vintage Plus that I will upgrade to a HSS. I just can't figure out what pickups are the best ones for what I'm after.
I want great articulation, string separation and dynamics but I don't want it to feel harsh och icepicky. I'm gonna have it as my session guitar and I want it to cover as much ground as possible in the styles of Dann Huff, Michael Thompson, George Lynch, Warren DeMartini and Andy Timmons. Which one of the ones in the title would be the best fit using a Bogner Helios and an ENGL Artist Edition 100 Blackout? Those are the amps I'm using most of the times as they cover a lot of ground.

Then I need 2 single coils to match the humbucker. I'm thinking of Duncan SSL-6 if I go for the JB and the Suhr V63+ "Old ML" if going with a Suhr humbucker.
I also have a brand new Alnico 4 Rough Vintage Alloy Bar Magnet that I can swap in the JB if needed.

So what's your input about this?

 

[Nitrobattery]

The V63+ are great. If you want them to play really well with gain, I'm a huge fan of the V60lp's. I have several Suhrs with mixes of V63+'s, V60lp's, SSV's, SSH's, SSH+'s, Aldrich and even have some Suhr pickups in my non-Suhr guitars. Highly recommended.

A Thornbucker II with a pair of V63's would cover a lot of ground. An SSH or Aldrich in the bridge would be great if you want a little more heat. The Suhr pickups sound great in parallel as well. So if you wire the bridge for series/parallel, you can get some great lower output, quasi-Tele tones out of a mean humbucker as well.

 

['63-Strat]

I have an LP an SG with JB in bridge and a Suhr Modern (basswood body, maple top) with SSH+ I liked so much I put one in my US Select San Dimas (alder) also. The SSH+ is similar to JB but smoother in mids. JB is a little more raw. Depends what you want, both are great. My modern has an SSV in neck and V60lp in middle I believe. My main amp is a bogner xtc classic also. So based on that and your description of what you want, I'd lean SSH+.

 

[MrFlexx]

The V63+ are great. If you want them to play really well with gain, I'm a huge fan of the V60lp's. I have several Suhrs with mixes of V63+'s, V60lp's, SSV's, SSH's, SSH+'s, Aldrich and even have some Suhr pickups in my non-Suhr guitars. Highly recommended.

A Thornbucker II with a pair of V63's would cover a lot of ground. An SSH or Aldrich in the bridge would be great if you want a little more heat. The Suhr pickups sound great in parallel as well. So if you wire the bridge for series/parallel, you can get some great lower output, quasi-Tele tones out of a mean humbucker as well.

I think an Aldrich will be far to much for what I'm after in this guitar. I'm leaning more for the SSH. How would you compare it to a JB? is V60lp better for high gain than the V63+? How do they clean sound on them?

 

[MrFlexx]

I have an LP an SG with JB in bridge and a Suhr Modern (basswood body, maple top) with SSH+ I liked so much I put one in my US Select San Dimas (alder) also. The SSH+ is similar to JB but smoother in mids. JB is a little more raw. Depends what you want, both are great. My modern has an SSV in neck and V60lp in middle I believe. My main amp is a bogner xtc classic also. So based on that and your description of what you want, I'd lean SSH+.

When you say it's smoother...does it translate to being less articulated and have less string separation?

 

['63-Strat]

When you say it's smoother...does it translate to being less articulated and have less string separation?

No, if anything I would say more articulation/string separation with SSH+ vs JB. The JB has a peak in mids, that the SSH+ while similar, to me is just a little less.