Holydiver too thin?

[capac]

Hi,

I've been using holydiver set for ~3 years at this point, but after aquiring a new guitar with hot PAF style pickups, I'm noticing some things about divers I hadn't noticed before.

Comparing output, holy diver isn't actually very hot, like people would assume based on DCR. Alncio black hawks I have are WAAAAAY hotter (I find it a bit too much for me).

That leads me too my next point; it needs to be raised up quite a lot to have "balls" (I have bridge pickup just over 1.5mm from the strings when pressed at the last fret). It just lacks that low end punch I feel, and has a bit too soft of an attack.

Is there something bare knuckle offers that isn't too hot, isn't quite as mid boosted and has more low end? Looking at black dog, VH2, nailbomb, maybe silo?

Thanks in advance.


Quick palm mute comparison of holydivers (first) and the cheap pickup in my other guitar in attachments.

[Dave Sloven]

Cold Sweat?

I suspect the issue is the interaction between the guitar and the pickup.  I noticed when I put the alnico Black Hawk into my SG it was extremely brutal.  It's like it compounded some strong frequency in the SG, down in the mids somewhere.  You might be cancelling out a frequency somehow.  Put the Holy Diver or your PAF pickup in a different guitar and the experience might be quite different.  Also I find that DCR doesn't mean a lot, especially with the Black Hawks, but also the alnico War Pig is a lot milder than its DCR would have you think.

What's the guitar that had the Holy Diver in it?

[capac]

Thanks for the reply!

Holydivers are in a mayones duvell (mahogany body, maple top, bolt on maple neck superstrat). I suspect it isn't the guitar, as the pickup has a very different vibe, especially in person. Another trick with this guitar is direct mounted pickups, which requires modification of feet of pickups that go in.

Black hawks are probably on par with EMGs as far as output goes (haven't had them in a guitar in 2 years, but I'm getting a similar vibe from black hawks).

Cold sweat looks cool, but I'm thinking of going even lower output alnico for a bit rawer tone, which is why I'm looking at black dog and such.

[Dave Sloven]

I mainly mentioned the Cold Sweat for the mid cut and a good chunky bottom end without being as powerful as the Miracle Man (for example).

Avoid the Impulse and Rebel Yell.  They both have a very tight bottom end without much by way of bottom end and low mids.  Same with the Emerald.

I'm not sure about the VHII.  It is quite close to the Cold Sweat in some ways, almost like an alnico version of it.

Black Dog could be good but it is middy.

You might want to consider the Crawler, unless you want a specifically metal pickup.

[capac]

Thanks. I'll look into cold sweat too than. I'm only afraid it's on a bit more compressed side, which I'm also trying to back off from.

[Dave Sloven]

Like I said, the VHII might be worth checking out too.

[darrenw5094]

I have a HD in a charvel San dimas. Sounded bit thin with the Floyd and small block, but an upgrade to a Schaller Floyd with brass block filled out the sound completely.

What bridge is on your guitar?

[Dave Sloven]

Yes bridge material makes a big difference.

I found this when I switched out licensed Floyds and even a Floyd Rose 1000 for a Gotoh GE1996T, which have brass blocks.  Warmer, deeper sound.

Also replacing a Tone Pros tune-o-matic with a Gotoh 510FB warmed another Schecter up

[Telerocker]

Reading this I agree that you first look at the hardware. When the Diver sounds thin any BKP vintage(hot) might sound thin.

[capac]

It's a hipshot hardtail, so I don't think this is the problem.

I feel like I jsut want something closer to hot PAF land, without a huge mid spike which I'm not too into lately.

I feel like VH2 sounds the closest to what I'm looking for.

[Dave Sloven]

I agree that the VHII is the best candidate for a happy outcome

[ericsabbath]

VHII is quite punchy indeed