concerned about 'new' holy diver

[gwEm]

say what you like about the dimarzio super-distortion, its still somehow a classic... even if it has many disadvantages, i must say that it has the 'silly grin' factor, slipping into easy feedback and having a good and rich overdriven tone.

the original concept of the 'holy diver' from the bare knuckle page seemed to be a kind of massively improved super distortion.

people seem to be talking about the updated holy driver as some kind of SD-JB hybrid, having as it does an alinco magnet rather than a ceramic.

i was thinking about adding to my bareknuckle collection one day with a holy diver, but i must admit i'm a bit worried about the new version and i'm looking for somekind of reassurance ;)

will it still excel at mid 80s vivian campbell type tones?

[jt]

:D As it goes i completely agree with you on the Dimarzio Super distortion front. I think the Dimarzio SD is for me IMHO the bench mark P/U.  It covers a multitude of bases very well as far as stock made P/U`s go. i used them for the best part of 20yrs !!

But i wanted something....more. Better tone, something that sounded alive. that`s when i discoverd BK & i`ve never looked back. The hand winding process means that these P/U`s [ BK] sound just as loud as my SD`s ever did & yet i get far better Tone out of`em. Oh & it`s just as easy to pop pinched Harmonics out of `em !  :P

As for the new improved Holy Diver i think Tims track record speaks for itself. Trust the man he no`s what he`s doing !!

 :D  8)

[Ratrod]

The old Super Distortion pretty much started the whole after market pickup thing. I always liked the sound of the old one, from the late 70's and early 80's.

But what would be the BKP 'Super Distortion'?

The Nailbomb or the Holy Diver?

[Trendkiller]

Hi.
I use a calibirated set of HD's with aged covers, in my Jackson King V-Korina.
This is the new version with alnicoV's.
I've tried most pick ups out there during many years, and up to I discovered the BKP's, TomHolmes, Fralins, and a 25 year old Duncan Custom just have been my fave pick-ups. Including a set of original PAF's I have in one of my LP's.
The old Duncan has been into my main LP for years, a 1970 LPC.
And...I though I would never change this pick-up, until the HD's came along.
The HD's are for my taste, the best pick-ups I have had the pleasure of using yet. They do rock and metal extremely well, a BIG fat tone, clear and woody, killer harmonics.
But, the guitar also makes these sound good of course. Into that Jackson it's a match made in heaven or something. The old JB's, and some others sounded bland and dull in comparison.
Now, I'm thining about to get another set which will go into my main guitar, the 1970 LPC.

Btw, on our last gig on Saturday, several "raved" about the tone in the Jackosn King V with the HD's. (Amps Soldano SLO's and a '71 50 Marshall).
Jepp, I made my decision, more BKP's are on planning.
I'm also using MM, and a set of VHII's in two other LP's. These are also GREAT pick-ups.
Still, the HD's are a fave these days. :)
And I think they will be years ahead.
IMO, You can not go wrong with the Holy Divers.
Good luck.

T.

[Spleen]

I sure wish someone could post a Holy Diver clip.  I have an original Dimarzio Super Distortion in the bridge of my 1981 Les Paul.  It totally rocks.  I'm in the process of ordering a Nailbomb for the bridge pickup of my 1982 Greco Les Paul to bring its sound more in line with my Gibson.  Someone recommended Holy Divers to me in that forum thread and while I was tempted (I love Viv Campbell's Dio tone too) I just couldn't do it when there were so many excellent examples of the Nailbomb.  Knowing now that the Holy Diver was based on the Super Distortion I'm even more tempted.  

Really though, I just want them all I think, from Mules to the Warpig.   :twisted:

[gwEm]

thanks for the reassurances!

jt, ratrod: happy to find some other super distortion fans, or at least former ones :)

i'm sure that the new holy diver will be a bad-ass pickup, just based on the bare knuckle reputation alone and my previous experience with them. probably the old one was also killer.

i know already that this is a silly preconception on my part, but i always thought the ceramic magnet was a good part of the classic SD sound... it certinally gave it the cheap-banjo-like clean tones i'm sure ;)

trendkiller: you seem well happy with your 'divers... do you think they'd be perfect for some glossy sounding 80s metal action? 'BIG fat tone' sounds great, and do they also slip into easily controllable musical feedback?

spleen: did dimarzio handwound his pickups in former times?

[Spleen]

thanks for the reassurances!

...
spleen: did dimarzio handwound his pickups in former times?

I have no idea, but I doubt it.  I've just heard that the Super distortions from the late 70's/early 80's were different than the later models.

[jt]

:D If anyone out there has Holy Divers can they  for F***s sake post some clips of`em in the players section so`s the rest of us can hear`em PLEASE.......

 :D  8)

[Trendkiller]

thanks for the reassurances!

trendkiller: you seem well happy with your 'divers... do you think they'd be perfect for some glossy sounding 80s metal action? 'BIG fat tone' sounds great, and do they also slip into easily controllable musical feedback?

Hi GwEm.
Yes.
I use my Jackson for down-tuned stuff, these songs are inspired from 80s metal, with some kinda Sepultura/Pantera tones mixed in as well.
The HD's are capable to sound great both for metal, as well as classic rock, IMO.
They have a fat clear tone, with excelent harmonics and respons (feedback) very nice.
I'm going to order a new set now, to replace my old trusted 25 year old Duncan Custom in my '70 LPC (a '59 neck has already been sold off).
I would never believe I would do that, as I though this LPC just had a tone that not could be "bettered". (Well, that old Duncan will NOT be sold off, ever....to much "History", hehehe...).
On gigs now, I'm actually looking forward to play the Jackson King V (Korina), as this guitar just sounds huge and badass. It has really outdone my LPC which has been "the fat axe" for rock and metal for years on.
I'll call Tim later today, and have a new set of HD's shipped.
Jepp, I'm really that pleased with these pick-ups.
I think You can not go wrong with the HD's, and I guess BKP has a return policey if You're not real happy.

Highly recommended!

T.
 :)

[hobleguitars]

I think people are baying for clips, rather than further praise, but your descriptions have me salivating! Record, record!

[Trendkiller]

I think people are baying for clips, rather than further praise, but your descriptions have me salivating! Record, record!

.

Yes, words do not justify how these things actually sounds....
I have no equipement at home to make some clips :( .
I'll try to arrange some live clips at my bands homepage after a little while.
It's a kick in the butt that people at a gig "raves" about the tone from a Jackson V-guitar loaded with HD's. Real cool. :)  It actually sounds better and fatter than my LP's (???!, jepp...).
I would not change a bit of the HD's tone for a number of reasons.
One reason among many others...At a gig last Saturday, two guys howled that I could not change guitar back to something else after they heard the Jackson V with HD's. Hehehe, strange things happens all the time.
This guitar was plugged into my Soldano SLO's, and a '71 Marshall 50W used as slave, cabs old Marshall 412's with GB's.
No bragging, but a great match, and mean, big tone (no fx's, just a Budda Wah).
 
I ordered a new pair of HD's today for my LPC, and asked Tim to do the exact same job over again. I guess this LP also will get a nice facelift. 8)

Rock!!!
T.

[gwEm]

trendkiller, you have a real way with words ;) no worries about the clips after such a description!