Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Mrbombastic1999 on August 20, 2016, 07:20:17 PM

Title: Lead Pickup for HSS? Nailbomb or HD
Post by: Mrbombastic1999 on August 20, 2016, 07:20:17 PM
I play primarily leads on my bridge humbucker in a 'fusiony' style but also some sides of metal. I use a Rosewood board strat and would like a versatile setup (Clean/ cutting single coils, Dirty bridge pup)
i've narrowed down to the Nailbomb (not sure on ceramic or alnico) and the Holydiver. Have u had personal experience with these pickups? i'd love to hear your opinions.
Title: Re: Lead Pickup for HSS? Nailbomb or HD
Post by: johnny_rock_it on August 20, 2016, 08:27:59 PM
Holy diver all the way. It's almost made for lead playing.

Just put in a HD in my strat last week and I'm loving it.

It's a lot more well rounded and I think the nail bomb might be too bright/cutting in a strat.
Title: Re: Lead Pickup for HSS? Nailbomb or HD
Post by: Telerocker on August 20, 2016, 11:54:05 PM
Diver all the way. You might even consider the Crawler if your strat is a tad on the bright side.
Title: Re: Lead Pickup for HSS? Nailbomb or HD
Post by: Lucas on August 21, 2016, 08:55:49 PM
I use ceramic Nailbomb and to be honest I wouldnt say that`s a good lead pickup. It is truly great rhythm pickup without the doubt but leads in my opinion are the weakest point.
Title: Re: Lead Pickup for HSS? Nailbomb or HD
Post by: Yellowjacket on August 21, 2016, 09:09:53 PM
Strat, you say?

For leads you have two options:  Holy Diver or Juggernaut.

The Juggernaut is tighter and more modern sounding.  The cleans on it are excellent as well.

From what I've heard, the Holy Diver is more of your classic hot rodded humbucker. 

A-Bomb sounds better in an LP style guitar or an Explorer imo.
Title: Re: Lead Pickup for HSS? Nailbomb or HD
Post by: fps_dean on August 24, 2016, 07:04:34 PM
I use ceramic Nailbomb and to be honest I wouldnt say that`s a good lead pickup. It is truly great rhythm pickup without the doubt but leads in my opinion are the weakest point.

I have an alnico Nailbomb and I love it for screaming metal leads.  But the ceramic does seem a bit less geared toward lead players to me.  It's also a bit darker in an alder body than in a Les Paul.
Title: Re: Lead Pickup for HSS? Nailbomb or HD
Post by: darkbluemurder on August 29, 2016, 10:43:55 AM
I would take the HD over the NB for this.

Keep in mind that if you use vintage output (read "low output") single coils, either HD or NB will overpower them. This is not to say that this is a bad thing but that's the way it is.

Cheers Stephan
Title: Re: Lead Pickup for HSS? Nailbomb or HD
Post by: Telerocker on August 29, 2016, 08:59:50 PM
I would take the HD over the NB for this.

Keep in mind that if you use vintage output (read "low output") single coils, either HD or NB will overpower them. This is not to say that this is a bad thing but that's the way it is.

Cheers Stephan

Agreed, but when you adjust them right and set the hb not too high (usually sounds better in most of my guitars) the volumedrop is not that big.
Title: Re: Lead Pickup for HSS? Nailbomb or HD
Post by: Dave Sloven on August 29, 2016, 11:56:19 PM
I would follow this recommendation and then maybe save up some dollars for a pair of Irish Tours to go with the Holy Diver later, which would enable you to set the pickups up more optimally.