Author Topic: Difference between the Holydiver and Nailbomb... (Read 7329 times)

Yamhammer · « **on:** October 29, 2007, 09:35:35 PM »

What is the main difference in sound between the Holydiver and Nailbomb?

Both seems to have an alnico V magnet and also they're both around 16k* in terms of output.

Eric · « **Reply #1 on:** October 29, 2007, 09:51:26 PM »

This should answer your question.

Click Here

Will · « **Reply #2 on:** October 29, 2007, 09:53:15 PM »

My HD measures 15.1, I think at some point the HD changed specs slightly? and the site maybe isn't changed. the HD sounds quite 80s rocky, whereas a would think the nailbomb is more modern.

I do not have a NB, so this is just my perception
Have heard that the nailbomb is versatile, but the HD seems to clean up really well with the volume knob

ericsabbath · « **Reply #3 on:** October 30, 2007, 06:56:20 AM »

the holy diver sounds very modern too
actually the true 80's holy diver was the old ceramic version that seems to be based on dimarzio super distortion
the new one sounds more like Tool or Alice In Chains
i never played the nailbomb but i believe it's a bit more aggressive and upper mid oriented
the holy diver is fat and powerful
more low mids, balanced highs, not as sharp, but not too smooth/loose
it's tighter than a duncan jb or dimarzio tone zone, for example

Antag · « **Reply #4 on:** October 30, 2007, 10:16:56 AM »

Quote from: Eric

This should answer your question.

Click Here

Thanks Eric, you saved me typing an essay :lol:

(I'd probably have typed a differently-worded version to what's in that linked thread - my opinion hasn't changed in 9 months :) FWIW I have 2 HD sets, 3 other HD bridges, 1 NB set & 1 other NB bridge)

Orpheo · « **Reply #5 on:** October 30, 2007, 10:35:42 AM »

@antag: i see you have the miracleman, painkiller, cold sweat and nailbomb. I have the nailbomb myself, perhaps you can tell me how the other pickups compare with the nailbomb?

Antag · « **Reply #6 on:** October 30, 2007, 11:09:49 AM »

Quote from: Orpheo

@antag: i see you have the miracleman, painkiller, cold sweat and nailbomb. I have the nailbomb myself, perhaps you can tell me how the other pickups compare with the nailbomb?

Don't have a CS bridge, only the neck (though I'm giving serious thought to putting a CS set in one of the few BKP-less guitars I have left)

PK - higher output, "harder", tighter. Lots of mids, esp upper mids (like the NB) but just feels more aggressive & METTTAAAAALLLLLL

MM - also higher output, smoother, tighter, much more low-end

NB to me is quite "gritty" - open, percussive, less output but more dynamic than either MM or PK. Cleans up much better...

Listen to the riffs (rather than the solos) in Tim's MM & NB clips at the top of the Players forum - IMO they nicely sum up the differences between MM/NB

Orpheo · « **Reply #7 on:** October 30, 2007, 11:37:53 AM »

Quote from: Antag

Quote from: Orpheo
@antag: i see you have the miracleman, painkiller, cold sweat and nailbomb. I have the nailbomb myself, perhaps you can tell me how the other pickups compare with the nailbomb?

Don't have a CS bridge, only the neck (though I'm giving serious thought to putting a CS set in one of the few BKP-less guitars I have left)

PK - higher output, "harder", tighter. Lots of mids, esp upper mids (like the NB) but just feels more aggressive & METTTAAAAALLLLLL

MM - also higher output, smoother, tighter, much more low-end

NB to me is quite "gritty" - open, percussive, less output but more dynamic than either MM or PK. Cleans up much better...

Listen to the riffs (rather than the solos) in Tim's MM & NB clips at the top of the Players forum - IMO they nicely sum up the differences between MM/NB

ah, thank you. my biggest problem with the nailbomb is that it doesnt do pinches really good. I've tweaked my setup, and now they're 'ok', but not like I have them on other guitars. and that really bothers me a lot....

Yamhammer · « **Reply #8 on:** October 30, 2007, 01:35:23 PM »

Quote from: Eric Hellstyle

the holy diver sounds very modern too
actually the true 80's holy diver was the old ceramic version that seems to be based on dimarzio super distortion
the new one sounds more like Tool or Alice In Chains
i never played the nailbomb but i believe it's a bit more aggressive and upper mid oriented
the holy diver is fat and powerful
more low mids, balanced highs, not as sharp, but not too smooth/loose
it's tighter than a duncan jb or dimarzio tone zone, for example

I doubt that.

Pale Rider · « **Reply #9 on:** October 31, 2007, 01:22:22 PM »

I'd like to ask about the HD tightness at this point, as I like tight but still crunchy tones. How is it compared against the tightness of the Custom 5?

I have the C5 as a minimum reference tightness level and also a nice balance between tightness and crunch.

Thank you!

ericsabbath · « **Reply #10 on:** October 31, 2007, 02:59:23 PM »

Quote from: HeavyAxes

I'd like to ask about the HD tightness at this point, as I like tight but still crunchy tones. How is it compared against the tightness of the Custom 5?

I have the C5 as a minimum reference tightness level and also a nice balance between tightness and crunch.

Thank you!

it has a lot more center mids than the custom 5, which gives a full sound instead of the hollow PAF sound
i don't if i can call it crunchy, cause when i think of crunch from the pickup by itself (instead of the amp), i only found it on ceramic pickups
the holy diver is no near as tight as a miracle man or painkiller, but very close to the alnico warpig and as tight as the duncan custom 8 (alnico 8 magnet) i had

Yamhammer · « **Reply #11 on:** October 31, 2007, 03:42:50 PM »

Quote from: Eric Hellstyle

it has a lot more center mids than the custom 5, which gives a full sound instead of the hollow PAF sound

Is it a nice puppy?

ericsabbath · « **Reply #12 on:** October 31, 2007, 04:47:06 PM »

sure
i recorded a short clean clip now (only chords)
i'll post on players forum

Antag · « **Reply #13 on:** October 31, 2007, 04:55:19 PM »

Quote from: Yamhammer

Maybe a very stupid question, but: Can you still hear the HD is a bridge pickup when you put it in the bridge position of a Les Paul? Sometimes I think it will almost sound like a neck pickup because it seems to be very full and thick.
When I switch from the neck to the bridge pickup I want to hear a clear difference between the two pickups...

I'll put the HD in the bridge position of my Les Paul, so that's why I want to know that.....

The first BKP clip I ever posted was a Holy Diver in a Les Paul, as is my most recent

In short, the answer is "yes" - you can definitely tell it's a bridge model.

It's just occurred to me that although the clips were recorded with different Les Pauls, they're actually the same HD pickup, as I swapped them from one guitar to the other a few months back :)

FWIW, the Goldtop in my first clip is a very heavy (nearly 11lbs), bassy LP. I took the HDs out, put Nailbombs in & put the HDs in my Vintage Burst which is quite light (8lb/7oz IIRC) with a much more lively "middy" sound. I obviously thought it was a good change as I posted a WTF thread at the time :lol:

Pale Rider · « **Reply #14 on:** October 31, 2007, 11:21:08 PM »

Quote from: Eric Hellstyle

the holy diver is no near as tight as a miracle man or painkiller, but very close to the alnico warpig and as tight as the duncan custom 8 (alnico 8 magnet) i had

Hmmm....Custom 8. I've never heard one before, but I think it's tighter than the C5. So, I think HD is tight enough for an already tight neck-through guitar made of maple and with a rosewood fretboard.

I've heard TO's video and I didn't find it just crunchy, but CRUNCHY! hehe;)

Thanks!