Replacement for HolyDiver ?

[alex.ahrens]

Hey guys,
I have a Gibson Les Paul Standard 2003.
Right now i have a HolyDiver in the bridge and a Nantucket in the neck.
I love both pickups a lot ,but somehow they don't seem to be working really well together:

The Nantucket seems to be louder than the HD. As measured in dB, it's not. But when you play and switch between the pickups, it sounds louder. I think it is the attack and the EQing of the pickups. Either the mellow highs of the HD or the clearer top-end of the Nantucket. I don't know. Thats why I'm asking you.
I love the Nantucket neck as it is and it is the best neck-PU i ever had. I totally wanna keep it.

Looking at the HD, I also like it. but i was feeling it would benefit from a little more top-end bite. seems logical in a Les Paul Standard.
Also, i would be happy for slightly more power or output. I don't wanna lose any low-end or "bigness" and i love the middy chunk in the Palm mutes, that should definately stay.

(I already played with PU-heights, the Nantucket is already all the way down)


I have been writing E-mails with Ben from BKP already and he has had a lot of patience so far. He suggested to try swapping the Nantucket's magnet to Alnico 2 to make a a little weaker. But with shipping that would cost me about 50 Pounds and as I said, I wanna keep the Nantucket as it is and I don't think, it will change too much.

SO, what could you recommend for the bridge?  I was thinking about Rebel Yell, but don't know if i lose bottom fatness and palm-mute chunk, or if it will be TOO trebly.
Or Alnico Nailbomb? ben said it is actually weaker than a HolyDiver.
I wanna stay with Alnicos, they are just more organic.



SO please help me out with suggestions.
Thanks.

[Dave Sloven]

Kind of sounds like you want a Miracle Man bridge, to be honest

[alex.ahrens]

thanks, but no, not really 
miracle man is too much like an EMG 81, i have another guitar for that.

i basically just need a holydiver with more treble.

[Dave Sloven]

The Miracle Man is basically an overwound Holy Diver with a C8 magnet ... so more output, bass, and treble, less mids.

There really isn't a pickup similar to the EMG 81 in the BKP range.  I know that they say Miracle Man and Black Hawk pickups both are aimed at that market but I own both of those and I play in a band with a guy who uses EMGs.  Took our bassist seconds to say 'that sounds better than the EMGs' ...

[Yellowjacket]

Unpopular and left field suggestions:  seeing as this is a Les Paul, what about an Alnico Nailbomb or a Rebel Yell? 

[Muffler]

The Rebel Yell shouldn't sound too trebly on a Les Paul. It didn't on mine.

[alex.ahrens]

well, my first thought was also a RY, but Ben from BKP just wrote
 "The RY moves to the fatter plain enamel wire so definitely a more classic feel, better cleans etc, nowhere near as much mids or bass as the HD and not as powerful"

and i don't really wanna lose Power or Low-End

[darrenw5094]

well, my first thought was also a RY, but Ben from BKP just wrote
 "The RY moves to the fatter plain enamel wire so definitely a more classic feel, better cleans etc, nowhere near as much mids or bass as the HD and not as powerful"

and i don't really wanna lose Power or Low-End

Painkiller is the next step up from the HD for me

[ericsabbath]

Rebel Yell sounds pretty thick if you have it close enough to strings
My 73 Les Paul Custom had alnico and ceramic nailbombs, cold sweat, black dog, holy diver, aftermath, ceramic warpig, but my absolute favorites in the bridge position were the riff raff and the rebel yell
The rebel yell sounds somewhere between the holy diver and the riff Raff, but it feels hotter and louder than the holy diver

[Yellowjacket]

Alnico Nailbomb? 

[lamp]

One of my favourite pairings in my les Paul has been A-bomb bridge and MQueen neck. I’d be very surprised if the Nantucket overpowered the Nailbomb.