Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: sixgunsovertombstone on October 02, 2011, 09:19:17 PM

Title: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: sixgunsovertombstone on October 02, 2011, 09:19:17 PM
Hello. I'm thinking of putting a BKP into a jackson SL1 (bridge position). I've already got an alnico Nailbomb, ceramic nailbomb, and a holydiver. I love them all but I was wondering if there was a pickup that sat between the Alnico Nailbomb and the Holydiver in terms of tone. The Rebel Yells come to mind... but ive never tried them and was wondering about more experienced users opinions.

I love the awesome rhythm tone from the Alnico NB. Heavy and hot. Nicely balanced. But in terms of leads the Holydiver just rules so hard. I like the Holydivers rhythm sound as well but I play some heavier stuff and I dont think that the Diver is specifically meant for that. Not to say I dislike the rhythm tone by any means, its just that I like the NB rhythm better.

Any ideas?
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: dave_mc on October 03, 2011, 01:19:29 PM
i have no idea, but this is an interesting question that i'd like to know the answer to as well, so I'll lurk for a bit :)
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: Philly Q on October 03, 2011, 01:40:36 PM
It is an interesting question. 

I don't know the answer, but I have a feeling the Rebel Yell won't fit the bill - it's brighter/tighter than the HD for sure, but I think it's probably brighter/tighter than the NB as well. 

You're talking about "heavier stuff", and (IMO) the RY is a bit lacking in bass for that.  I'd also say, for what it's worth, that it's more of a Les Paul pickup than a superstrat one.
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: ElectricTurkey4369 on October 03, 2011, 08:01:09 PM
I am also interested in this...
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: Nephilim on October 03, 2011, 08:15:17 PM
Yeah same here :)
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: Telerocker on October 03, 2011, 10:59:20 PM
The RY's for what I read are about mids. The topend is quite bright. They can do metal, but would not be the first choice for most of the metalplayers.
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: sixgunsovertombstone on October 03, 2011, 11:27:42 PM
Hmm well any thoughts on the Black Dog fitting this description? obviously it wouldn't be as hot... But Ill be playing through some ridiculously high gain amps anyways so the outpout isnt too important. I like the output of the Diver for what its worth.

Maybe its worth looking into a custom version from Tim then if nothing really fits that description?
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: Afghan Dave on October 03, 2011, 11:53:52 PM
I'm not known for my advice, but from descriptions wouldn't the Crawler fit the bill?
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: Emperoff on October 04, 2011, 12:16:18 AM
I don't think it exists, or I'd already own it :)
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: ElectricTurkey4369 on October 04, 2011, 03:47:35 AM
I'm not known for my advice, but from descriptions wouldn't the Crawler fit the bill?

I thought about the Crawler too. I haven't tried one, but I heard it's like the HD without the super smoothness, and a bit more bite.
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: Philly Q on October 04, 2011, 11:42:22 AM
I think perhaps the Crawler lacks the tightness required for heavier stuff?

Although that might not be an issue in a Superstrat, it'll sound different than it does in an LP.
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: Telerocker on October 04, 2011, 01:24:03 PM
My Crawler is in a swampash HSS-strat. It's fat, organic, balanced, but can bite too if you turn up the treble on the amp. It's a bit compressd, which is good for great leadtones. For me (on a an Orange Rockerverb 50) it's tight enough, but for metal maybe not. It''s quite versatile though and splits well.
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: darkbluemurder on October 04, 2011, 02:24:44 PM
I was wondering if there was a pickup that sat between the Alnico Nailbomb and the Holydiver in terms of tone. The Rebel Yells come to mind...

Definitely not the Rebel Yell - it's brighter than both.

Cheers Stephan
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: ericsabbath on October 04, 2011, 02:34:42 PM
I'd say the closest thing between the holy diver and nailbomb voicings is the alnico miracle man
it also tends a bit to the warpig side, though
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: sixgunsovertombstone on October 04, 2011, 11:15:29 PM
Alnico miracle man? now that sounds interesting... I don't suppose there is anywhere I could listen to said pickup?

To be honest, out of the sample tracks on the main website the miracle man is one that I've never been too impressed by. That being said I've heard alot of good reviews of it that make me think I would like it and I know those tracks aren't a perfect representation of the pickup in real life.
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: Emperoff on October 05, 2011, 01:47:52 AM
About the Alnico (neck) Miracle Man when I asked Tim about it:

Quote from: Tim
If a MM neck is used in the bridge the bass response would be considerable, especially on a maple neck thru. The Holydiver would be better suited as the bottom end wouldn't be so dominant. the other option would be to go for a Nailbomb but with ceramic option - this will give you the tighter bass response necessary for a neck thru and not be as compressed as the higher output MM.

It's the use of Alnico V with that wind in the bridge position that drives the bass that much harder. It wouldn't produce as much bass response as a Warpig.
 
If the HD isn't tight enough for low tuned metal(check out the metal clips - it's tight as a nut and I use it in a LP in drop C# with no problems at all)then using a Miracle Man neck or Aftermath neck would be just as bass heavy.

Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: darkbluemurder on October 05, 2011, 03:33:29 PM
Makes sense - thanks for posting.

Cheers Stephan
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: Alex on October 05, 2011, 06:26:33 PM
To be honest I think the Black Dog is closer to the HD and NB than the MM, because it has a strong mid range peak similar to the HD and NB.
I think if you like both the HD and NB in general, the chances are very high that you'll also like the Black Dog.
The Miracle Man, on the other hand, I would group with other pickups with different tonalities. The low end chug on the MM is in a different league compared to the HD.
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: ericsabbath on October 05, 2011, 07:18:49 PM
the black dog was almost the the tonal opposite of the nailbomb in the same guitar
low volume, a ton of mids, tamed and friendly high end
the nailbomb was LOUD, didn't have much mids and had a very aggressive and strong top end
the dog was somewhat similar to the holy diver, but a lot darker and lower output as well
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: sixgunsovertombstone on October 05, 2011, 09:37:42 PM
Hmm this is very enlightening. I really like the Holy Diver... If there was a slightly more aggressive version with a little more attack I would love it a lot. Could this be accomplished with extra winds or something?
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: ElectricTurkey4369 on October 05, 2011, 09:43:18 PM
Hmm this is very enlightening. I really like the Holy Diver... If there was a slightly more aggressive version with a little more attack I would love it a lot. Could this be accomplished with extra winds or something?

Maybe a Ceramic Holydiver?
Title: Re: Is there something between NB and HD?
Post by: Alex on October 05, 2011, 11:36:31 PM
the black dog was almost the the tonal opposite of the nailbomb in the same guitar
low volume, a ton of mids, tamed and friendly high end
the nailbomb was LOUD, didn't have much mids and had a very aggressive and strong top end
the dog was somewhat similar to the holy diver, but a lot darker and lower output as well

Different guitars can obviously make a big impact on how they react. I just wanted to stress that the difference to the Miracle Man, at least to my ears, it much bigger then between the three Alnicos, especially with some gain added.