Holy Diver vs. Crawler vs. Rebel Yell

[ShredHeadJHJ]

It's a fight to the death. Duel if you will. Pros/Cons, and comparrisons of each.

Would each work well in a LP?

[Telerocker]

In a bright Les Paul the Holy Diver and the Crawler would do fine, but not in a darker sounding one. They both are middy and warm, but in different way. The HD more agressive and suitable for metal, the Crawler a creamy bold vintagehotpaf on steroids. The Rebel Yell's will work great in darker sounding Les Pauls. Personally I think the Crawler excels in bolt-on guitars like superstrats. The HD I'm not familiar with, but it's reckoned to be thick and providing fluid leads. In an not too bright Les Paul I would favour RY's and maybe work with the toneknob.

[Slartibartfarst42]

I'd be amazed if the Holydiver didn't work in a Les Paul given all the positive reviews it's received unless it's massively dark. I was seriously impressed with this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T26RqvH3YBA

I've never tried a Crawler and the clips on the website suggested something entirely vintage but there are a number of clips in the Player's section that suggest it can do a lot of styles and do them very well indeed. I'd guess a brighter or middy Les Paul would like these.

I've equally never tried a Rebel Yell but the Steve Stevens clip sounds fantastic, though the fact that it's supposed to be even tighter than a Nailbomb would worry me a bit. Having said that, I think it's very much a dark Les Paul pickup.

[ShredHeadJHJ]

This guy's tone is nasty. Based on the reviews I would think Holy Diver for this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXr1TDzViBk


Crawler bridge kind of worries me for some reason. I can't quite pin point it, but everything leads me think it would be more smooth as opposed to aggressive. I'm looking for something a tad nasally (like Doug).

[Telerocker]

Doug-tones require the HD. The Crawler is indeed on the smooth side.

[ShredHeadJHJ]

Here's a good question, and one I have yet to ask:

How does to HD compare to the RY?

[ericsabbath]

the dark les paul x holy diver issue is a myth, in my experience
had it in two dark and bassy les pauls and in a brighter one
it actually sounded brighter in one of the dark les pauls than it did in the brighter les paul, and sounded better in the darkest dark one than in the other two

the black dog, in the other hand, sounds quite dark in my lp custom, and so did the diver in a gibson SG, but not in any les paul I've installed it

[ShredHeadJHJ]

See, I don't know for sure whether my LP is bright or dark really. You kind of need to try a couple of pick-up configurations to really find out. It has an ebony fretboard so it'll probably be bright for a LP but still much darker than any other guitars that I have.

I'm most weighing on the HD or RY, really. I take it that the Crawler is tighter than the HD, but the RY has other characteristics that I like.

Does the HD cut through?

[kevinr]

I don't have any problems with my HD cutting through! you have not told us what amp you are using?

[ShredHeadJHJ]

I don't have any problems with my HD cutting through! you have not told us what amp you are using?

Hey man. I use a Splawn Quick Rod... Looking for that Doug Aldrich / Nuno Bettencourt (1st Extreme Album) / John Sykes / Slash / Vivian Campbell / Warren DeMartini / Jake E. Lee esque tone.

I posted all about it in another thread, but I'm having trouble finding exactly what I want to hear as there is a lot of conflicting information on teh internetz :P

[ShredHeadJHJ]

So I take it:

Rebel Yell - TIGHTEST >>>
Crawler - MIDDLE OF THE ROAD >>>
Holy Diver - LOOSEST (but not loose)

[kevinr]

I would not hesitate in saying HD if you were using Marshall as I have gigged 2-3 shows a week for years and would be happy covering with the Divers! have never tried RYs or Splawn amps, so maybe the RYs would suit, I'm quite sure the HDs would be better for you than Crawlers.

[Telerocker]

I think you'll be happy with the Divers.

[ericsabbath]

with the diver boosted with your keeley ts9 into the quickrod, you won't have a problem dialing doug's lead tone and playing some jake and vivian stuff
if you turn off the boost and dial out the volume pot a bit, you'll easily get in Slash area as well

just make sure you get the best pickup height setup (I liked it quite close to the strings, unlike the nailbomb)

I'd get warmer speakers, though

[ShredHeadJHJ]

I'd get warmer speakers, though

I'm thinking about one day getting the Scumback M75-LHDC / H75-LHDC 100w combo. They'reeeee pricey though. My friend who inspired me to get the Splawn plays the same speakers as me, but he uses different cabs. So far with the guitars and such I have bought I have not gotten close to his monster 80's tone, so I want to try to do that with this guitar. I'm thinking about also maybe getting Eminence Splawn Small Blocks (similar to Greenbacks) if the Scumback thing doesn't work out.

I spoke to Nick at The Axe Palace and he highly recommended Rebel Yells. They were Tim's 2nd or 3rd pick for me. Nick said the Holy Divers would be very dark in my guitar, and Tim seemed not to recommend the HD's for me. Tim's 1st pick was the Crawler... but everything I've read or heard about them seems to conflict with what I want.

My cab shipped out today :) :) :) As soon as I get it and test the water's with the current SD pups and the cab I'm going to order the Gold Ray Gun RY's :) :) :)