80's Hair Metal and versatile HSS?

[EmiAba]

I am happy with the hyperion set of my ibanez Az. I think they worth a try. The set is well balanced. The bridge sounds full without the mid focus spike of the JB.

 

[STLMTLHD79]

I dont own many HSS setup guitars however, i have found a great match that would work for 80s tones, especially metal: TB10 Full shred bridge, Classic Stack middle, Cool rails neck. It works fantastic in one of my strats.

 

[JamesPaul]

AI is not wrong.

 

[Ascension]

One of the favorite combos is the stock set up that came in my 95 Washburn USA MG 120. JB bridge with a pair of SSL 5's. The US Charvelle DK 24 runs a Full Shred bridge and a pair of SSL6's.
I have a JB and a pair of SSL1's in my 95 Washburn USA MG 120 now. One of my favorite set-ups for those type tones is what's in my 2017 Kiesel DC 135 a Perpetual Burn Bridge with a pair of Carvin AP 11's. Also have another guitar with a Kiesel Beryllium and a pair of Marks singles that I also really like for those type tones.
I greatly prefer real singles to any mini humbuckers or other noiseless pickups.

 

[Ascension]

With a H S S set up doing hair metal, you want a killer clean with the 2 and 4 position for the ballads. Here is my Kiesel DC running a Perpetual Burn split with a pair of Carvin AP 11 on some clean tones. A pair of SSL 5 or 6's will also get close. I prefer the Carvins myself for these type tones though.
Clean Country.
https://youtu.be/cVOT7dUyEFo?si=i9uaP-PyZigMlbZ1
Smooth Jazzy tones
https://youtu.be/ovwKkcrbD3w?si=eXdy4PzbUii_iT-g

 

[Synapsys]

Custom/'59 Hybrid - Vintage Hot Stack - Vintage Hot Stack.

 

[Chistopher]

AI is not wrong.

I was not aware Allen Iverson played guitar.

 

[JamesPaul]

I was not aware Allen Iverson played guitar.

Oh yeah, when he was at Georgetown he played in The Crossovers. Saw them at The Bayou, Spring Semester, 1995.

 

[Clint 55]

Yes, if you like 80s metal and bluesy classic rock, then definitely go with a single coil size humbucker in the neck and a stacked single coil in the middle. This will open up some stratty sounds which are useful in the styles you like. I would 2nd Mincer's suggestion. A single size hb in the neck will balance with a JB in the bridge if you fiddle with heights. You will not have to deck the JB. You can get a more open sound out of the JB set lower anyway.
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I'd just do Little 59 neck, and Classic Stack Plus in the middle.

 

[donaldr]

I used to play a lot of classic rock and blues but now in my 50's, I've acquired the skills to play my secret love of 80's hair metal (Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Skid Row, Ozzy Satriani, etc). These days, I jam 80's stuff with my son in the living room or in bar jams using a Marshall practice amp or a Marshall JCM 900. I also occasionally join my purist, professional cousin in bar jams on Allman Brothers type stuff, doing the best I can with a Marshall or a Fender Blues Jr.

Personally I would go the opposite way: keep the HSS Strat as is (the PAF Pro is no slush IMO) and swap the Fender Blues Jr for a Katana Artist MK2/MK3. You would have a better sound with the Brown amp character for '80s, a nice sound with the Crunch amp character for blues, and a also good clean sound (try adding the natural drive with 0 gain). You can use some Drives or EQs on the Katana to beef up the PAF Pro if needed.

FIY, I play '80s rock on a Strat copy with STK-S7 bridge and my amp. That will not be possible with a Fender Blues Jr (or any open back 112 cab/combo) for me, YMMV.