Thinking about Cold Sweats instead of Holydivers (Les Paul)

[LP_LOVER]

HI,

I'm about to change my HD's in my LPC for a calibrated set Cold Sweats. I find the HD neck not very useful for distorted leads...it's very hard to get a nice balance between the bridge pickup (which honestly sounds very nice) and the neck pickup.  The neck pickup sounds too clean (no compression) in comparison with the bridge pickup (I guess that's why the HD neck is mostly suitable for cleans and less so for distortion.

Will the Cold Sweats sound different compared to the HD's or not? I just want to know if I'm doing the right thing or if I'm only going to waste my money on the Cold Sweats. Will the notes 'jump out' of the guitar more with the Cold Sweats? With this I mean less 'stiffness', but a more cutting and faster lead tone in both bridge and neck position. A good clean tone isn't my priority...

I'd like to hear if the CS set is worth it, even after having played with the Holydivers...!!

[Twinfan]

I've had both sets of pickups, so can give a little insight.

I found the CS bridge to be very tight and clinical.  I play vintage Marshall style amps with gain levels from clean to 80s hair rock, and I found the CS too sterile.  For me it was really suited to the heavier end of things but was too cold for clean and crunch tones.  As you would expect really, having a ceramic magnet.

The CS neck has an Alnico V and from what I can remember, it's similar to the HD neck.  Quite open and airy, and not muddy.

I would guess that you'll find the biggest difference is in the bridge pickups, not the necks.  I know exactly what you mean about the openness of the neck HD in comparison to the bridge, and this is one of the reasons I like it so much!  It doesn't get too thick sounding and is a nice change in tonality from the bridge.

If you're happy with the HD bridge, something you may want to consider is sending your neck pickup back to BKP for a rewind.  It sounds like you may want a few more turns of wire on there to fatten it up a bit?

I'd give the guys a call.......

[dheim]

don't know, twinfan...
i've got my CSs and my HDs in two semi-similar guitars (they're both SGs, one by Gibson and one by US Masters, that's much thicker), and the neck pickups don't sound absolutely the same, being the CS more balanced and less scooped... the HD has got an almost acoustic clean tone, IMO, while the CS sounds middier and - always IMO - much better for leads...

if you like the HD bridge anyway i suggest you to swap just the neck pickups, the bridge CS is a hugely different beast and would change your tone COMPLETELY!

[Twinfan]

Thanks dheim - I was going from memory so it's a little vague!  In your sig line you don't list a CS neck, so are you going from memory too  ;)

I agree totally about the bridge pickups though.  VERY different animals.  I love the HD but couldn't like the CS.

[dheim]

Thanks dheim - I was going from memory so it's a little vague!  In your sig line you don't list a CS neck, so are you going from memory too  ;)

I agree totally about the bridge pickups though.  VERY different animals.  I love the HD but couldn't like the CS.

my fault... i have actually got a CS neck, i just forgot to write it in my sig! i'l fix it now... ;)

[Dr. Vic]

Good God  ! :lol:

What a looong sig, didn't notice that huge collection before ! Congrat' !

How do you find enough time to play them all?  :guitar4:

[dheim]

How do you find enough time to play them all?  :guitar4:

i don't, this is the big problem!
 :(

[Dr. Vic]

now wondering how this "big problem" can be solved...

Let's see... Play'em or open a "sale by auction" topic ! :idea:

[LP_LOVER]

Thanks very much for all your help guys

I decided to go for a CS neck! I'll keep the HD bridge.

The HD gives great 80's pinches, bite and compression in the bridge position in my LPC. It almost feels ceramic-like,
but without being harsh or over the top; it really rocks. I especially love the bite, with all that naturel compression.

I thought my HD neck was 7,7K, while the CS is 8,3K; I hope the CS delivers what I need -> a little more volume, a little more output and slightly more compression for distorted lead. The HD bridge is very close to the strings right now, because it seems to sound at its best that way! It fits the description of the pickup. I couldn't raise the neck HD any further to make it balanced in volume with the bridge pickup; the polepieces from the HD neck would have touched the strings definately. The neck pup was that weak...

To be continued....

[dheim]

I hope the CS delivers what I need -> a little more volume, a little more output and slightly more compression for distorted lead.

it does!

[ericsabbath]

The HD bridge is very close to the strings right now, because it seems to sound at its best that way! It fits the description of the pickup.

+1

it sounds too "acoustic" at low height
its magnetic field strength seems very mild

I like the cold sweat bridge better for metal/hard rock rhythm, but the holy diver is way better for modern rock, chords, cleaner stuff and specially leads and pinch harmonics
the cold sweat is PERFECT for Pantera leads (and rhythm), though
the pinch harmonics sound very Darrell-like too (much closer than the miracle man and painkiller)

[Antag]

I'm a bit late on this to make a difference :) but I agree with keeping the HD bridge & swapping out the neck for a CS.  The CS is more powerful & much better for lead work.

The only other thing I'd have considered is the VHII neck - probably my current favourite neck pickup, similar level of power to the CS but has a more "vintage" sound to it - kinda darker, less smooth than the modern-sounding CS.  The best description I can give is that it's exactly how I imagine "hot PAF" to sound.

[Twinfan]

I found the VHII neck similar to the HD neck Antag, quite open and clear.  Did you?

[Antag]

Not really.  Both are plenty open & clear, but I find the VHII neck much fuller sounding than the HD & more powerful - i.e. a much better lead tone.

Compared to the CS I find the VHII's clean has more of a "chime" to it.  Really hard to put into words, but IMHO the VHII neck is just as good an all-round match as the CS with the high output bridge models.

Perhaps my shootouts (clean, HD/CS lead, VHII lead) might help...

[LP_LOVER]

I'm dying to test the CS neck! Still have to wait...