Pickup and neck advice

[kenneth]

I just finished putting together my SSH superstrat greenie, made mostly from Warmoth parts. It came out great, although I was hoping more for Dweezil green, and the color came out more like Vai’s greenie, with white pickguard and knobs, chrome recessed original Floyd Rose; the flutter is fantastic. But here’s my problem – I’ve got an Air Norton (S) in the neck, Virtual Vintage Solo in the middle, and Air Zone in the bridge – and I don’t like the sound. I’ve mentioned in the past that my favorite guitar for soloing is my Ibanez S540 with QM pickups; I love the Wizard neck, and even with the stock pickups, I get great clarity and smooth sustain on legato runs using both the neck and bridge pickups. When I was planning my greenie, I was hoping for more of the same, along with a more versatile middle. Well, the sound is a disappointment; it’s a much less focused sound from both bridge and neck pickups, and doesn’t come close to the sustain, articulation, or even output of my Saber.

So am I simply being unrealistic in wanting my light swamp ash-bodied guitar with a gigantic recessed Floyd to sound similar to a mahogany-bodied Lo-Pro trem-equipped Ibanez? Or is there another pickup configuration you could suggest that might get me closer? I’m thinking of maybe trying a Duncan ‘lil 59 in the neck and perhaps a Fred or Mo’ Joe in the bridge? Any thoughts?

I've noticed a number of people on this forum who've said they used to play Ibanez but have switched to Jackson or Charvel. I've never owned a J/C - but as someone who loves flat, thin necks - do you guys have a recommendation of a J/C I might try?

[daisp]

I'd like to see pic's of your guitar...and I really like my Charvel SD's...

[Dreamland_Rebel]

i'd go custum custom in the bridge. and lil 59 in the neck. don't care much for middle pups so no suggestions from me on that one.

[Phantom Hawk]

Evolutions all the way ! Man, I love those things. All my E and E flat tuned guitars have 'em. D