Barenuckle Pick-ups For ESP Horizon NTII (Holy Diver, Nailbomb, Aftermath?)

[metalmaniac93]

I was wondering what the best contemporary pick-ups for an ESP Horizon Neck-Thru with Mahogany Sides and Maple Top.  I just ordered the guitar and it comes with the typical SD JB/59 combo.  I usually play thru an Engl Savage and want a pick-up that is kind of versatile and not too over the top.  Tim recommended the Aftermath, but I am afraid it might be too tight and not as versatile?  Plus I have tended to stay away from ceramic pick-ups.  He is the man and should know.   It appears the Holy Diver sounds like something I would like since it can do more than just metal.  Also locking at the Nailbomb A5, which I heard was awesome. Any suggestions from this group.

[Telerocker]

Tim knows his pickups best. What I read here is that the Aftermath is very tight in the lowend and on the dry side. Seems you're not after that. The HD is reckoned to be the best leadpickup in the alnico-league. Cleans up well too. The NB is a great allrounder, more agressive on the uppermids then the HD, but with less roundness/fatness of the HD. I think HD could be your pu, but your better ask HD-users on the forum.

[metalmaniac93]

Telerocker,

Thanks!!!  Yes,  I am looking for a sweet sounding lead pickup that also can do some heavy metal rhythms/riffs.  I am mostly a lead player anyways, but do like the thrash/modern riffs as well as some of the older 80s stuff like Ozzy, Maiden, Dio, Priest, Dokken, Metallica, etc .   I also have a Schecter C-7 Blackjack with the JB and does some of the heavy modern riffs very well thru the Engl Savage.  I read that the HD is similar to the JB, but is tighter and fatter with more pronounced lower mids. 

[kevinr]

HDs are really great for what you need, the neck is also an amazing pickup as well! if you like the SD JB you are going to love these :D

[darkbluemurder]

I am looking for a sweet sounding lead pickup that also can do some heavy metal rhythms/riffs.  I am mostly a lead player anyways, but do like the thrash/modern riffs as well as some of the older 80s stuff like Ozzy, Maiden, Dio, Priest, Dokken, Metallica, etc . 

That sounds like a Holydiver is the way to go.

I read that the HD is similar to the JB, but is tighter and fatter with more pronounced lower mids. 

I agree to the "tighter and fatter with more pronounced lower mids" part. That makes it much different to the JB.

Cheers Stephan

[dheim]

but...
i'm quite sure you'll prefer A5 Nailbombs!

[Slartibartfarst42]

Might I ask why he'd prefer an alnico Nailbomb? I don't know that much about Bare Knuckle pickups yet but it seems to me that the Holy Diver, alnico Nailbomb and alnico Warpig might all do what he wants as they're all hot and got that sweet alnico tone but I don't really understand why one would be better over another.

['Ash' J. Williams]

Had both a NB and HD set in a ESP Horizon NTI (so Ash wings), the nailbomb were incredibly good but had this constant aggressive edge that i found hard to tame...
The real revelation was the HD set. It's tight enough and has ton of rich mids; lead tone is stellar. It will likely remains there.

[dheim]

Might I ask why he'd prefer an alnico Nailbomb? I don't know that much about Bare Knuckle pickups yet but it seems to me that the Holy Diver, alnico Nailbomb and alnico Warpig might all do what he wants as they're all hot and got that sweet alnico tone but I don't really understand why one would be better over another.

because when i think about sweet lead tones AND modern thrash riffis i think about nailbombs!
in my opinion they're the best lead pickups around...

and by the way great nickname! ;)

[Slartibartfarst42]

and by the way great nickname! ;)

Thanks  :D I'm a big fan of 'The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy'. I wanted to call my first son Zaphod Beeblebrox but the wife wouldn't let me  :(

Thanks for the insight. It's interesting that nobody suggests the Warpig so perhaps I was on the wrong track with that one. It seems that both the Nailbomb and Holy Diver are very good and it boils down to if you want an aggressive edge or not. I'm probably going to be getting a maple neck-thru guitar myself soon so this thread is of particular interest to me, however, I won't hijack this thread with my own requirements as that wouldn't be fair. I'll carry on researching and start my own thread when the time comes.

[metalmaniac93]

Ash J Williams and Dheim, thanks for your recommendations.  I am leaning more towards the HD, but the A-NB is my second choice.  I have an Engl Savage 120, so I do not need an overly agressive pick-up with an upper midrange spike.  The Engl Savage is voiced in the upper midrange and is plenty aggressive.

[ericsabbath]

I'm with J Williams

the Savage, like all other ENGL models, is already plenty of edge
and so is the Diver!

[metalmaniac93]

J Williams,  is the HD neck articulate enough when used with high gain like the Engl or do I need to go with something like a CS in the neck? 

[dheim]

It's interesting that nobody suggests the Warpig so perhaps I was on the wrong track with that one.

the pig is perhaps my favourite pickup (both alnico and ceramic versions), and i think it's much more versatile than it could look like, being a massive beast, but it's got a very aggressive edge that could be simply too much for metalmaniac's needs (if i really got the idea of what they are...)

regarding maple neck throughs, i happen to own one (http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=20655.msg278258#msg278258), with mahogany wings and a set of alnico nailbombs that sound absolutely killer! :)

[dheim]

J Williams,  is the HD neck articulate enough when used with high gain like the Engl or do I need to go with something like a CS in the neck? 

it is, it is, don't fear! it's quite scooped, at least compared to the middy CS, and lacks CS's incredible balance between definition and fluidity, but it's quite articulate itself, even if much warmer. if you love warm PAFy neck pickups i suggest the HD. the CS has got a peculiar tone, much less vintage(ish)
for the record, i've got an ENGL Fireball100, so there's plenty of gain to talk about! ;)