Neck Pickup (Holy Diver vs. Cold Sweat?

[metalmaniac93]

Now that I have selected my bridge pickup (HD) for my recently ordered ESP Horizon NT-II (Neck-Thru) thanks to this forum, I would like to know which neck pickup best complements the HD bridge for high gain leads without getting too muddy and cleaning up nicely.  I would also be using it for some hard rock leads.  Do I stay with the HD pair or try something different like the CS?  Oh, I mainly use an Engl Savage 120 thru a Bogner 2X12 cab (V30) or a DrZ 2X12 cab (V30 and Heritage GH-12 30W).

[Transcend]

The most common thing in my mind would be to go with the matching set.

They are matching for exactly that reason.

That's kind of hypocritical of me though as im using a neck MQ with a bridge MM.

It's really quite hard to advise without any examples of sounds. Some youtube videos would help greatly.

I am however changing out my MQ neck for  a MM neck

[braintheory]

I have a cold sweat neck in my 68 reissue les paul and it will do exactly what want.  Also, how do you like the Engl Savage?  Out of all the Engls I've tried the Savage was the only one that reallly blew em away.

[nightflame159]

The engl is a very agressive and clear amp and i find my coldsweat neck already very clear...while the HD is a thick pickup...if id be you i would probably match it with a more warm and juicy paf neck. maybe a vhii in the neck..i know Nolly useone and said its a great warm neck with good sustain and clear enough for lead and all.

[dheim]

well, the neck HD IS thick, warm and juicy, but doesn't lose definition... honestly i liked it more than its bridge counterpart.

[ericsabbath]

the cold sweat neck works great with the holy diver bridge
it actually matches the HD better than it matches the bridge cold sweat, imo

my neck mule, for example, doesn't sustain as well on leads like the cold sweat

for high gain leads, I've never heard anything like the cold sweat neck
it keeps precise clarity and smooth sustain without being too hot or compressed, or too low output

the neck nailbomb works too, but it's way more aggressive and midscooped

[metalmaniac93]

Braintheory, I love my Engl Savage and it just destroys for metal!!! Great cleans and bone crushing gain!!  I also have a Bogner Ecstacy 101B that I will be getting rid of eventually because I do not use it much.   

[metalmaniac93]

Eric,  do you have a CS neck PU in a Les Paul?

[ericsabbath]

had in a les paul copy and in my gibson as well
right now my CS set is sitting on my desk, but it's going back to the jap LP  :D
I'm using the mule in my main guitar now, but only cause it cleans up a bit better through high gain (I never use a clean channel)
my favorite neck pickup is still the cold sweat, specially for leads
the cs neck is with me since I bought my first BKP's 4 years ago
I made the mistake of selling the holy diver a couple years ago, but I'm getting another one when I buy another les paul

ps: DON'T SELL THE ECSTASY
you will regret that  :?

[metalmaniac93]

Eric,  so do you think the CS would still work in the ESP Horizon Neck-Thru as a counterpart to the HD bridge or should I stick with the HD pair?   


Why should I not sell my Ecstasy?   Do you have one.  I fell that it is has too much of a compressed sound.   I used to love it, but it is not doing much for me lately.  I fell my Shiva sounds way better and is more open sounding and the Engl just destroys!!!

[ericsabbath]

Eric,  so do you think the CS would still work in the ESP Horizon Neck-Thru as a counterpart to the HD bridge or should I stick with the HD pair?   


Why should I not sell my Ecstasy?   Do you have one.  I fell that it is has too much of a compressed sound.   I used to love it, but it is not doing much for me lately.  I fell my Shiva sounds way better and is more open sounding and the Engl just destroys!!!

I can't comment on the neck diver
I understand it as being less hot and more vintage voiced

lower your gain settings or mod it a just a bit  :D
you can remove the high input 68k resistor, replace it with a wire or jumper, wire thar same resistor to red channel gain pot (from leg 1 to 3)
this is a simple mod that will cost you some gain, but will make it a noticeably more open on the mids and will improve dynamics and picking clarity a lot
there are other minor mods that would help with that and to improve the gain without getting even more compression

['Ash' J. Williams]

Go for the HD/CS. I bet you'll be very happy.

[metalmaniac93]

Eric, thanks!!!  I do not know where to have it modded unless I sent back to Bogner.  I have a 101B pre-2004 model (1998/99).   I wuld be better off selling it and just using my Engl Savage and Bogner Shiva.  I will see. 

[ericsabbath]

Eric, thanks!!!  I do not know where to have it modded unless I sent back to Bogner.  I have a 101B pre-2004 model (1998/99).   I wuld be better off selling it and just using my Engl Savage and Bogner Shiva.  I will see. 

if you're familiar with a soldering iron, that would be a quite easy (and cheap) job
those points are very easy to spot (first resistor from input jack and gain pot)

wiring a cap to the 4th drive stage cathode would improve the gain and picking response without getting compressed

[metalmaniac93]

I am not familar with one and if i was, I would not know where to even look in the amp.   Do you have an Ecstacy?