Holy Diver or Cold Sweat Neck?

[Attica!]

I've never owned a Holy Diver neck, so I'm very unsure about this, and I can't seem to find any good description of it. I also have a question about the recommended bridge.

I messaged Tim early asking what set he'd recommend for an Ibanez S Series with HSH setup. The music I described was for a Power Metal bands leaning in the direction of Avantasia/Edguy. I said I wanted something with some top end, as the tone in Power Metal often has a bit of treble to it, as well as something aggresive(ish) for rhythm playing. But also something that had a good lead/solo tone, as Power Metal is normally scattered with them. And I also mentioned I wanted something that cleans up well with the volume pot, as well as has a good clean tone on full with the clean channel. The response I got was:

Hi Michael
 
I would recommend the Holydiver set for progressive styles:
https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/main/pickups.php?cat=humbuckers&sub=contemporary&pickup=holydiver
 
Kindest Regards,
 
Tim

This has confused me as the Holy Diver doesn't really have a top-end, neither does it sound that agressive. Also he mentions for "progressive" styles which I didn't mention. Tim has never let me down in the past, so I trust him, but it doesn't hurt to have a second opinion? Also if anyone has an idea of a middle single coil as Tim didn't mention anything.

Anyways, back to the Holy Diver neck...Could someone please explain the EQ curve of it, as well as what it does well, and it's disadvantages? I just want to have an idea of what to expect with it compared to the Cold Sweat?

Cheers, Mike

[metalmaniac93]

I have the CS neck in a ESP Horizon NTII and had the HD set in a Carvin Alder Bolt.  The CS and HD necks are totally 2 different beasts with the CS neck being more open/clear when playing lead solos at high gain almost on par with an Air Norton neck, but more open/clearer.  The HD neck is very smooth/darker and does really well for smooth creamy soloing, but never gets muddy.  It is darker, but I had them in two different guitars.  I would not say the HD neck is aggressive at all.  Actually the opposite.  It has more mids than the CS neck while the CS has more top end.   I never use the neck pickup for rhythm playing except for clean tones and the CS is cleaner with more top end sparkle than the HD, but the HD cleans are warmer with more of a fuller sound.  It is a hard decision because I like both, but I did loan my HD set to my good friend for his RR5 Jackson.   You might want to try something else though?  I am sure others will have better advice since I mainly use the neck pickup for lead soloing.  

[Attica!]

Judging by that, I'll probably stick to the Cold Sweat neck haha. I'll have my creamy soloing from my bridge pickup. Cheers for that advice anyhoo. :)

[Attica!]

OK, now I'm very confused. Not only did Tim advice me on a bridge pickup that was completely the opposite off what I described, I sent him a message back asking if he could explain the EQ and characteristics of the HD neck. This is the response I got: (Normally he's bang on and mega helpful, but the answers I'm getting sounds like a system that's picking out keywords and sending an automated response. I'm just saying so you don't think I'm being awkward about him, it just doesn't seem like it's actually Tim replying. I really am proper confused :S)

Hi Mike
 
check out the sound clips:
https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/main/pickups.php?cat=humbuckers&sub=contemporary&pickup=holydiver
 
EQ curve is on the right hand toolbar.
 
Kindest Regards,
 
Tim

Normally I wouldn't question this, but the thing is, I asked him about the bridge/neck EQ curves a few months back, and he told me that the neck pickups have a completely different EQ curve. The pickup in question was the Cold Sweat at the time, as I was concered the CS neck was scooped and bright like the EQ. He told me that the CS neck wasn't at all scooped and said the Holy Diver neck was actually a lot brighter (this was when I got my first CS and didn't really ask much about the Holy Diver). This leads my to my problem, Tim just asked me to follow the EQ charts on the page, which is the exact opposite of what he told me before, and if I do that now, it shows the Cold Sweat as brighter. I'm mega confused :S

[metalmaniac93]

In my experience, the HD neck is not brighter than the CS, but like I said both pickups are in two different guitars.  What kind of amp/speakers are you using?   Eric would be the best person to ask about this since I believe he has had the HD set and the CS set in one of his guitars.

[metalmaniac93]

What bridge pickup do you have?

[Attica!]

In my experience, the HD neck is not brighter than the CS, but like I said both pickups are in two different guitars.  What kind of amp/speakers are you using?   Eric would be the best person to ask about this since I believe he has had the HD set and the CS set in one of his guitars.

I''ll send him a message.

I don't mean to come off sounding like I'm really moaning, and I know Tim is a very busy guy that obviously can't send big messages to everyone. It's just in all the months in dealing with him, he's always been bang on; and to now say one thing, then the opposite, just sounds nothing like him.

Regarding amps, I play many types. I have a load of Bugeras, Peaveys, a Mesa Mark IV, Laney Th100 and Laney Ironheart, so I'm never short of sounds haha

[Attica!]

The guitar currently has a Miracle Man, which I'm moving to a les Paul. I'm looking for a pickup to put into it, as Tim recommended a Holy Diver, so I may try that.

[metalmaniac93]

Cool, I just ordered a MM bridge for my Ibanez Prestige RG3120 (Mahogany Body/Maple Top/Maple Neck).  Looking forward to checking it out.

[Attica!]

Cool, I just ordered a MM bridge for my Ibanez Prestige RG3120 (Mahogany Body/Maple Top/Maple Neck).  Looking forward to checking it out.

It's a very nice pickup :) I'm just using this guitar for Power Metal now, so need something a bit more Organic and less Output.

[EffigyForgotten]

Bit more organic and less output then MM = nailbomb.

[darkbluemurder]

Bit more organic and less output then MM = nailbomb.

Holydiver bridge fits that description, too. I had both the HD and the Miracle Man in the same guitar.

Cheers Stephan

[Attica!]

How would you compare the Alnico Nailbomb and Holy Diver? I've only ever tried the Holy Diver between the 2.

[darkbluemurder]

I had them in the same guitar (a PRS Single Cut). The A-Bomb has more bass, less mids and is a bit less smooth in the highs. The HD is fatter in the mids, sounds a bit more open but is very smooth in the highs.

Cheers Stephan

[Attica!]

I had them in the same guitar (a PRS Single Cut). The A-Bomb has more bass, less mids and is a bit less smooth in the highs. The HD is fatter in the mids, sounds a bit more open but is very smooth in the highs.

Cheers Stephan

I liked my Holy Diver, do you still think it would be better for Power Metal as it involves a lot of leads, solos, and fast alternate picked riffs?