Just when I thought the Holy Diver couldn't surprise me...

[Antag]

I FINALLY installed the Holy Diver set I bought a few weeks back into my Jackson RR1T (non-trem).

All my BKPs until now had been installed into either newly built Warmoths (so nothing to compare to) or Gibsons (less said the better).  This is the first time I've put BKPs into a guitar whose pickups I'd thought were OK - the RR1T had Duncans (JB bridge & Jazz neck).

I've always liked this guitar (especially the neck - love the Jackson U shape profile) but plugged in it's always seemed to lack something. I put it down to the light alder body wings (most of my guitars are mahogany).

However with Holy Divers installed, it's like a totally different guitar.  All the punch, the power, the dynamics, the "life" that was missing from the sound before is there now.  I cannot believe the difference.

As with every BKP I've used, they clean up so well - the neck is bright & clear, the bridge full & warm.  They really catch the nuances of your pick stroke - surprising for such a high output pickup.

Then I stood on the channel switch & my jaw dropped:

Remember I said few days ago that HDs in my Les Paul were insane?  Well the Jackson ought to be in an asylum :lol:

It's quite possibly the most murderously heavy guitar sound I've ever had :twisted:

I've gotta get some clips recorded... :)

[Eric]

Stop making me want a Holy Diver!  :twisted:

Could you give a direct comparison between the JB and the Holy Diver since you had them both in the same guitar?

[Crazy_Joe]

Clips!!!

It sounds awesome the way you described it!

[Antag]

Could you give a direct comparison between the JB and the Holy Diver since you had them both in the same guitar?

FWIW it's never been my first choice pickup, but I don't dislike the JB - I've had several of them in the 20+ years of playing (including one of the original ones from the early 80s).

Although the JB is often described as a mid-rangey pickup, the Holy Diver seems to have a much fuller & fatter midrange.

To my ears the JB in the RR1T had a slightly wiry, almost "nasal" crunch to it - as if its mids were from a narrow band somewhere in the upper midrange.

The Holy Diver has a lot more "body" to the sound - thicker & perhaps a little darker.  In terms or raw output they are about the same, but the HD just seems to drive the amp a lot harder.

Perhaps the JB wasn't a good match for such a bright guitar.  The Holy Diver seems to offset the brightness of the woods & give the sound a lot more punch

Hope this helps, I'm working on recording some clips :)  but it might be a few weeks before I can convert them to MP3 & upload them...