Holydiver vs. JB?

[Bradock PI]

A 20 year old guitar or a 30 or 40 year old one is unlikely to sound as it did when it was produced wood ages and changes some will improve some will become rubbish a lot will depend on how they are cared for. The act of playing them alters the wood over a long time vibrations in the body will change the timber, the fibres will age and change futher.

In some instruments age makes them superb in others it makes them awful. Pianos tend to sound best between 10 and 70 years old and even during that period many components will be refreshed, violins tend to sound better >100 years old but bows need to be much newer. Brass instrumenst last about 15 to 25 years.

Joints that are glued will change usually becoming slack and needing attention there are lots of other things that could change.

It is intersting to note that often old instruments on average may well sound better than newer ones - why - well its a case of un-natural selection the good ones are kept and cherished and looked after the bad ones end up in skips and landfill.

[LP_LOVER]

Well, there are lots of vintage guitars/Gibsons (from about 20, 30, 40 years old) that look like garbage from the outside,
but with a tone to die for.

[LP_LOVER]

I still say it's all down to the guitars.

The JB will have been tested and specced up for guitars available in the early eighties.  Woods used and construction methods were different back then.

The HD was designed recently, using more recent guitars, hence it works well in new guitars.

The interesting test would be to put a brand new JB and HD into in both an eighties guitar and a new guitar.  If anyone has a new JB knocking about I wouldn't mind testing it back-to-back in my PRS McCarty with the current HD, and I can compare it with my 80s Ibanez RG (plus the old JB in my '87 Baretta)................

I agree with every word you're saying. It's always the guitar thats responsible for the tone (old wood, different construction methods, aging + the fact that every piece of wood has been unique since the first tree on earth. A brand-new Gibson Les Paul Custom with HD's or JB's will of course sound different compared to an old Les Paul Custom with HD's or JB's. The older one will most likely sound more 'vintage' with a different character/vibe.

[syr2012]

HD isn't big on high mid and top end crunch in my guitar.  It's more low mid growl.

Sounds like you want a Rebel Yell?

Well, the 'diver is already ordered, and after this wait, I'm gonna be kinda screwed if it's not the right pickup. I've been looking for more of a roar lately, and the MQ that sits in the bridge now will always be available in my other guitar if I want a sparkle. I'm also disconnecting the tone pot, and considering wiring a push-pull for the volume and that'll be it.