Why is this choice so hard?!

[JohnZAH]

Ok guys, I really appreciate your help on my last post and I've really narrowed it down to the holydiver or alnico nailbomb.

keep in mind:
mahogany set-neck les paul junior
orange rockerverb 50
modern pop-rock/ hard rock

I really REALLY dig the idea of the holydiver for some reason. Should I play it safe and get the nailbomb because i'm sure it will sound fantastic or say "$%&# it" and get the HD and hope it doesn't sound like cr@p in my gibson??

thanks!

[Slartibartfarst42]

I doubt either will sound cr@p  :)

To me, it depends on where your priorities lie. If you want a PAF influenced pickup that has a very tight bottom end and has a gritty, edgy distortion that is 90s Metal then get the Nailbomb. If you want a fatter, smoother and more fluid pickup with the sweetest lead tone you can imagine and is more influenced by 80s Metal, get the Holydiver. I've tried both and they're really not that similar. Perhaps think of a few 90s Metal bands and what they're basic tone is like, then think of some of the great 80s style Metal players (John Sykes, Jake E. Lee, Doug Aldrich etc.) and simply go with which core tone you like best. Personally, I've found the Holydiver to be extremely versatile. It copes with Modern Metal styles but retains its 80s characteristics.

[JohnZAH]

hey thanks for the reply! I think everyone else around here is sick of my "new to BKP questions" haha

your holydiver review is actually one of the things that made me want one so bad but the problem is that I've heard they don't work well in sg's. I don't HAVE and sg but I would assume my les paul junior would give a similar tonal quality.

Do you think the same "low or extreme output" rule applies?

I play a lot of rhythm so I want a somewhat tight pickup but I've heard that the holydiver is still pretty tight and articulate.

[Slartibartfarst42]

hey thanks for the reply! I think everyone else around here is sick of my "new to BKP questions" haha

your holydiver review is actually one of the things that made me want one so bad but the problem is that I've heard they don't work well in sg's. I don't HAVE and sg but I would assume my les paul junior would give a similar tonal quality.

Do you think the same "low or extreme output" rule applies?

I play a lot of rhythm so I want a somewhat tight pickup but I've heard that the holydiver is still pretty tight and articulate.

No problem, I spent forever deciding on my latest pickups and I still managed to get it wrong first time round!

I have no idea if your Les Paul Junior is tonally more like an SG or not I'm afraid as I don't play Les Pauls but a Holydiver certainly works in a normal Les Paul unless it's very dark sounding I believe. You'll need someone with more experience of Les Pauls to answer that but if a Holydiver won't work with your guitar, would a Nailbomb? I know Eric says the Nailbomb has a noticeably higher output but when I spoke to Ben at BKP he told me the HD was hotter and personally, there doesn't seem to be too much in it to me. The Holydiver certainly isn't the tightest pickup around but that's what gives it the smoothness that was so characteristic of the 80s sound. It's very Doug Aldrich/Jake E. Lee to me. However, don't get articulation mixed up with tightness as that's what I did and that's where I went wrong in getting the Nailbomb. Because I don't want it to get muddy at the bottom end I asked for a 'tight' pickup when what I really wanted was good articulation. The HD isn't particularly tight but it does have excellent articulation, as all the Bare Knuckle pickups do.

IF you have to go either 'low or extreme output' I'd say go lower because higher power takes you to the Warpig and that's far more than you need. In the contemporary range the Cold Sweats might work well or maybe go Vintage Hot and look at the Emeralds.

[JohnZAH]

yeah, the whole articulation vs tight argument makes a lot of sense.

I'm really wanting a diver so I might just do it and not look back.

or if I need something brighter maybe a rebel yell?

how are the pinch harmonics sounding with the HD??

[Slartibartfarst42]

Pinched harmonics are fine on the HD  :D

I really liked the Rebel Yell clip done by Steve Stevens and the only reason I was put off it was that it was too bright for my guitar. Now I've been a little put off them because I believe the RY was based on the NB and clearly I didn't get on with that but that's probably my irrationality so as I say, if I was looking at something brighter, I'd be looking at the Emerald instead as that really sounds nice to me yet it doesn't seem to get much mention on here.

[JohnZAH]

yeah I really haven't read too much about any of the non-contemporary pickups besides the mule.

I'm sure any pickups from BKP will sound better than the seymour duncans I'm used to and the 498T that's stock in my les paul (which I think is terrible for most applications).

[Slartibartfarst42]

yeah I really haven't read too much about any of the non-contemporary pickups besides the mule.

Perhaps you should, just in case the HD won't work. Try listening to this clip of an Emerald:

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=20188.0

[Telerocker]

I think this guitars ask for a RiffRaff. No maple top: Holy Diver can be too middy. The RR is a great vintage PAF with teeth, great for rhythm-stuff, specially in a Junior. I would not choose a mediumoutput pu, could be choked in the warmness of the mahogany.

[ericsabbath]

I think this guitars ask for a RiffRaff. No maple top: Holy Diver can be too middy. The RR is a great vintage PAF with teeth, great for rhythm-stuff, specially in a Junior. I would not choose a mediumoutput pu, could be choked in the warmness of the mahogany.

+1 on the riff raff, as I first stated on the other thread, considering not only the guitar, but his amp and style

but, as I also said, my friend had a HD on a Epiphone Bob Marley, and it sounded great (he played some fast Testament-like thrash metal and it sounded pretty tight with a ton of mid crunch)

[Slartibartfarst42]

I wouldn't argue with the Riff Raff at all as I've never tried it, though I still think the Emerald would work well. As for the Holydiver, some people say a Holydiver is too middy for a maple neck-thru but my experience suggests it isn't. Ultimately it's down to the individual I suppose. I'm sure the Riff Raff, Emerald and Holydiver would all work well.