Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: case report on November 26, 2009, 08:38:18 AM

Title: Holy Diver: too much hights?
Post by: case report on November 26, 2009, 08:38:18 AM
Hi everybody
this is my first message, I'm glad to be in this wonderful community!
I have a Jackson guitar Fusion Professional (1991), HSS, basswood body, maple neck, ebony fingerboard, Floyd Rose, 10-46 strings, standard tune, and I usually play Maiden, Skid Row, Van Halen, Scorpions and something more modern like Creed/Alter bridge...
I'd like to change the original humbucker with Holy Diver but I have a doubt:
does the basswood overemphasizes mids and high end?
Could be the Nailbomb more equilibrate?
I like full and huge sound...
Please help  :lol:
Title: Re: Holy Diver: too much hights?
Post by: MDV on November 26, 2009, 09:03:15 AM
No, all things being equal basswood is pretty linear.

You should get on pretty well with a holy diver.
Title: Re: Holy Diver: too much hights?
Post by: dheim on November 26, 2009, 12:31:26 PM
No, all things being equal basswood is pretty linear.

You should get on pretty well with a holy diver.

+1

i'd add that basswood is quite on the dark side, but the HD should work well, expecially if you want it to sound HUGE! :)
Title: Re: Holy Diver: too much hights?
Post by: hunter on November 26, 2009, 01:35:17 PM
Best info about body woods and tone is here:
http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Options/BodyWoodOptions.aspx
Title: Re: Holy Diver: too much hights?
Post by: case report on November 26, 2009, 05:45:20 PM


Thank you so so much for your very useful opinions!
Now I'm pretty sure that I'll get a Holy Diver  :x

In the warmoth link by hunter, basswood seems to be warmer than alder... I didn't know it!!!
Maybe the Nailbomb is best on Les Paul, isn't it?

Title: Re: Holy Diver: too much hights?
Post by: The Sorbz on November 27, 2009, 12:23:36 PM

I have a Warmoth Soloist which I had a Holy Diver in.  It sounded great and very, very expressive.

Ta,
Jim
Title: Re: Holy Diver: too much hights?
Post by: case report on November 27, 2009, 12:54:42 PM

I have a Warmoth Soloist which I had a Holy Diver in.  It sounded great and very, very expressive.

Ta,
Jim

Interesting... Basswood body?
C.R.
Title: Re: Holy Diver: too much hights?
Post by: Antag on November 27, 2009, 02:04:40 PM
OK, I have Holy Divers in 6 guitars (actually 8, but 2 of those are the old-spec ceramic HD):
Korina body, bolt-on Maple neck, Ebony fretboard
(2) Maple thru-neck w/Alder body wings, Rosewood fretboard
Maple thru-neck w/Alder body wings, Ebony fretboard
Mahogany thru-neck w/Mahogany body wings (+ laminate maple top), Ebony fretboard
Mahogany body w/carved Maple top, set Mahogany neck, Rosewood fretboard

In my Korina strat, which is probably closest construction-wise to yours (Korina is "warmer" than basswood), it sounds absolutely MASSIVE with bucketloads of thick raunchy midrange grind.  I recorded a rough clip with it a few years ago here (http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6463.0)

Compare it with a clip I recorded on my Jackson RR1T (Maple thru-neck w/Alder body wings, Ebony fretboard) at about the same time using the same amp here (http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6461.0)

I think HD is the best choice for what you want.   You certainly won't find it too bright or lacking in "body".
Title: Re: Holy Diver: too much hights?
Post by: BigB on November 27, 2009, 02:49:41 PM
Best info about body woods and tone is here:
http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Options/BodyWoodOptions.aspx

This one is quite good too IMHO:
http://www.dinosaurrockguitar.com/new/node/281 (http://www.dinosaurrockguitar.com/new/node/281)
Title: Re: Holy Diver: too much hights?
Post by: case report on November 27, 2009, 07:42:48 PM

Thanx Antag, you rock!
Holy Diver will be mine!

do you think it's unnecessary buying the complete set (+ Irish Tour single coil)?
maybe the neck pu only? (I don't use the middle pu)
I know that the complete set is the best but money misses  :(


OK, I have Holy Divers in 6 guitars (actually 8, but 2 of those are the old-spec ceramic HD):
Korina body, bolt-on Maple neck, Ebony fretboard
(2) Maple thru-neck w/Alder body wings, Rosewood fretboard
Maple thru-neck w/Alder body wings, Ebony fretboard
Mahogany thru-neck w/Mahogany body wings (+ laminate maple top), Ebony fretboard
Mahogany body w/carved Maple top, set Mahogany neck, Rosewood fretboard

In my Korina strat, which is probably closest construction-wise to yours (Korina is "warmer" than basswood), it sounds absolutely MASSIVE with bucketloads of thick raunchy midrange grind.  I recorded a rough clip with it a few years ago here (http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6463.0)

Compare it with a clip I recorded on my Jackson RR1T (Maple thru-neck w/Alder body wings, Ebony fretboard) at about the same time using the same amp here (http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6461.0)

I think HD is the best choice for what you want.   You certainly won't find it too bright or lacking in "body".
Title: Re: Holy Diver: too much hights?
Post by: Antag on November 27, 2009, 08:12:47 PM
do you think it's unnecessary buying the complete set (+ Irish Tour single coil)?
maybe the neck pu only? (I don't use the middle pu)
I know that the complete set is the best but money misses  :(
It's entirely up to you.  If you never use the middle & neck pickups then there's no real point.  You can always buy them later if you change your mind (although getting the HSS set saves you £18 over buying them separately).

I have the HD/IT HSS set in my Korina strat & like it.  The ITs have a real "pop" to them & a lot of top end sizzle that contrasts nicely with the meaty bridge pickup.  There are some really nice sounds in there (hint: don't coil-split the bridge in position #2 - the Bridge Hum + Middle single is beautiful)

Note that all the BKP single coils are "real" single coils, not hum-cancelling stacked or rails pickups.  Also note that they require the standard single coil rout (like the neck pickup on this (http://www.felineguitars.com/guitar_images/gunslinger%20-%20amber/pickups250.jpg)), not the EMG-style straight rout (like the middle pickup on this (http://www.felineguitars.com/guitar_images/dinky%20-jackson%20feline%20/completed-front.jpg)) - depending on the pickups in your fusion (got a pic of it?) they might not fit.
Title: Re: Holy Diver: too much hights?
Post by: case report on November 28, 2009, 05:07:43 PM
do you think it's unnecessary buying the complete set (+ Irish Tour single coil)?
maybe the neck pu only? (I don't use the middle pu)
I know that the complete set is the best but money misses  :(
It's entirely up to you.  If you never use the middle & neck pickups then there's no real point.  You can always buy them later if you change your mind (although getting the HSS set saves you £18 over buying them separately).

I have the HD/IT HSS set in my Korina strat & like it.  The ITs have a real "pop" to them & a lot of top end sizzle that contrasts nicely with the meaty bridge pickup.  There are some really nice sounds in there (hint: don't coil-split the bridge in position #2 - the Bridge Hum + Middle single is beautiful)

Note that all the BKP single coils are "real" single coils, not hum-cancelling stacked or rails pickups.  Also note that they require the standard single coil rout (like the neck pickup on this (http://www.felineguitars.com/guitar_images/gunslinger%20-%20amber/pickups250.jpg)), not the EMG-style straight rout (like the middle pickup on this (http://www.felineguitars.com/guitar_images/dinky%20-jackson%20feline%20/completed-front.jpg)) - depending on the pickups in your fusion (got a pic of it?) they might not fit.


Antag, precious informations!
my fusion pro is similar to that:

http://www.jcfonline.com/gallery/jack-strats-pics/F901247.jpg

Isn't possible to mount BN Irish Tour?
Title: Re: Holy Diver: too much hights?
Post by: Antag on November 28, 2009, 05:40:55 PM
my fusion pro is similar to that:

http://www.jcfonline.com/gallery/jack-strats-pics/F901247.jpg

Isn't possible to mount BN Irish Tour?
You'll need to contact BKP & ask - they used to offer single coils for the EMG rout as a special order, then they stopped.  If there's been enough demand maybe they started again? Best to ask directly...

EIther way, the standard SC won't fit in that rout.  It's fairly straightforward to get a decent Luthier to rout out the extra bit for a "lip" - Feline did my Charvel (http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh23/george204/Ch_HDTr.jpg) & it didn't cost much IIRC...
Title: Re: Holy Diver: too much hights?
Post by: HTH AMPS on November 28, 2009, 10:09:30 PM

I usually play Maiden, Skid Row, Van Halen, Scorpions and something more modern like Creed/Alter bridge...


with those bands, I would immediately think Cold Sweat.

Title: Re: Holy Diver: too much hights?
Post by: IntenseJim on November 29, 2009, 01:20:08 AM

I usually play Maiden, Skid Row, Van Halen, Scorpions and something more modern like Creed/Alter bridge...


with those bands, I would immediately think Cold Sweat.


I love those tones but I found the Cold Sweat (CS) too bright for me with not enough mids.
.
.
Title: Re: Holy Diver: too much hights?
Post by: case report on December 06, 2009, 10:45:41 PM
my fusion pro is similar to that:

http://www.jcfonline.com/gallery/jack-strats-pics/F901247.jpg

Isn't possible to mount BN Irish Tour?
You'll need to contact BKP & ask - they used to offer single coils for the EMG rout as a special order, then they stopped.  If there's been enough demand maybe they started again? Best to ask directly...

EIther way, the standard SC won't fit in that rout.  It's fairly straightforward to get a decent Luthier to rout out the extra bit for a "lip" - Feline did my Charvel (http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh23/george204/Ch_HDTr.jpg) & it didn't cost much IIRC...

Because I can't mount BKP singles, I'm looking for next best for neck/middle...
Any advice?