(Alnico V) Nailbomb vs Holy Diver

[mbchepburn]

OK I'll make this quick. I'm building a guitar from Warmoth (Alder body, Quatersawn Maple neck, Ebony fingerboard, Floyd Trem) and just wondered which calibrated set to use. I'll be playing vurtuoso style playing (not that I can lol) like Sartiani where really beautiful tones are a priority and sound heartfelt and alive etc but also clean up really nice when the volume is rolled back. I'd also like it to be quite versatile as well able to mabye play a bit of metal and prog like Dream Theater. I'm edging more towards the Nailbomb at this time since I've been reccomended it off Tim & Ben but I wanted to get a full opinion.

P.S. Also looking for a single coil for the middle position to compliment it

[LMCollard]

From a same topic i posted, all forum members pushed me to the Holy Diver. *

I got the same guitar as you (except for the floyd) and the HD seemed to them (and me now) the perfect match: it's powerful, versatile enough and fits perfectly to a "superstrat type of guitar".
From my personal experience, the nailbomb was not the best BKP I heard (still better than a lot of pups, but compressing to much frequencies for me), but was a good choice to boost a Ibbie type of guitar...
While I would say Nailbomb if you like Satch, Dream Theater is enough said, the HD is the closest choice betwin the
two universe  :D

Hope this helps, cheers

[Telerocker]

Holy Diver in alder is a great match.

[Alex]

I have both pickups and must say I slightly prefer the Nailbomb over the HD. I think it sounds more compact, tighter and a bit more aggressive while still being very versatile. The HD sounds a bit fatter, but also "softer" and "mushier" (not mushy, of course).

Given that both pickups are quite similar, you can't make a wrong choice really. My vote would go to the NB, but currently I think this board has more HD enthusiasts.

[mbchepburn]

I have both pickups and must say I slightly prefer the Nailbomb over the HD. I think it sounds more compact, tighter and a bit more aggressive while still being very versatile. The HD sounds a bit fatter, but also "softer" and "mushier" (not mushy, of course).

Given that both pickups are quite similar, you can't make a wrong choice really. My vote would go to the NB, but currently I think this board has more HD enthusiasts.

Would you be able to give me a bigger and better idea of how both pickups compare and why you prefer the Nailbomb?

[Alex]

It's a bit more aggressive and tighter in my opinion and I love the warm, yet articulate top end.

[mbchepburn]

Is it the Alnico V you have? And what's it like for metal if you have the AV version?

[Alex]

Yes.

It's great, nice chunky rhythm.
HD: less chunky, more smooth.

[Zaned]

Yes.

It's great, nice chunky rhythm.
HD: less chunky, more smooth.

This depends on the guitar, of course. I've owned both and heard the Nailbomb in two different strats. The top end of the nailbomb is sharper and it has more bottom, IMO. HD is very aggressive too (when needed!), but has a warmer top, more mid mids, and to my ears, less bottom. Both clean up nicely. Because the HD has more mids, many would describe it as MORE chunky. Depends on what you perceive as chunky and what the guitar is like.

Satriani often has pretty biting tones, so Nailbomb would probably be quite nice :) If you like Satriani's tone, I'll make the choise a little more difficult and suggest putting VHII under consideration too. I've never owned it, but have heard many clips on different guitars and IMO it would also suit that tone very well.

-Zaned

[Slartibartfarst42]

Given that both pickups are quite similar, you can't make a wrong choice really. My vote would go to the NB, but currently I think this board has more HD enthusiasts.

Oddly enough, I didn't find them similar at all. I REALLY didn't get on with the Nailbomb in mine as I found it too harsh and too aggressive in a very 90s Metal way, while the Holydiver was a much more forgiving sound that to me, has proven to be far more versatile. For what you're after I'd say Holydiver without a moment's hesitation.

[ElectricTurkey4369]

The Holydiver is insanely versatile. I have mine in a Les Paul tuned to C# standard and it sounds massive without being muddy. The Holydiver does have a very sweet high end, and is not harsh at all.  It is a smooth pickup while also being able to get aggressive, but not overly aggressive.

I wonder why Tim doesn't recommend a Holy Diver's more often for Les Paul's