BKP bridge for a very bright 70's Les Paul Custom - Holy Diver?

[jdbwales]

I've just acquired a beautiful 1978 LPC that could do with some fattening up (maple neck and cap plus ebony fretboard equals brightness!) - I play classic to hard rock and tend to go for a nice thick mid-gain crunch most of the time and boost with pedals for solos, think later Lizzy stuff, middle Weezer stuff, and a bit of Aldrich/Moore for luck. I'd be looking at upwards of 12k resistance for a ballpark measurement!

Would the Holy Diver be the ticket? I had an Emerald in it for a while but it was a bit too bright, even though it sounded superb. I'm currently running a Duncan SH11 Custom Custom which is almost perfect, but I could really do with a bit more clarity and fatness in the tone!

Thanks!

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I'd say Holy Diver sounds good, but matters what amp you have too. Maybe look at VHII's or Black Dogs?

[itamar101]

Holy Divers will be perfect. Very fat, fluid and always recommended for Aldrich tones and it should do Moore very well too. Like all BKPs its very articulate too, Even under lots of gain. It's cleans are also very good.

[Mr. Air]

Sounds like the holydiver but have a look at the crawler as well.

['Ash' J. Williams]

Holydivers.
But BlackDogs will also be fantastic in there, have them in a quite bright LPC, full of mids and bite, more open/a bit less compression than the Divers.
FWIW, my LP with BlackDogs does a better Thin Lizzy tone than the one i have with Emeralds, and they are 2 bright Les Pauls...

[jdbwales]

I should also note I tried the Crawler in this guitar and didn't like it (fancied something heavier) - I think the Black Dogs may also fall under that category!

Also, I'm using Blackstar HT50 and HT20 heads through an Artisan 2x12 cab with G12H and V30, so EL34s are king.

Sounds like the Diver may be the way to go - any more recommendations?

['Ash' J. Williams]

Well the Black Dog is not as powerful as the Crawler so maybe you will not like it...
What exactly was wrong with the Crawler ? I'm asking coz i think it bears some similarities with the Holydivers... but i just tried one once (and in a different guitar) so i may be very wrong...
Maybe someone who knows these two p/ups well will chime in.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Well if you thought the crawler wasn't powerful enough, I'd no doubt go for HD now

[jdbwales]

The Crawler seemed a bit rounded and vintage for me, a bit lifeless too. Hard to describe really - it was the only BKP I've ever really disliked to be honest!

I want a beefy, fat but defined tone, like I said - the Duncan Custom Custom with more detail and clarity. It definitely sounds like the HD is the one!

Thanks gents!

[darkbluemurder]

I have both the Crawler and the Holydiver but I have not tried them in the same guitar. From your description I understand you want a bit more bite than the Crawler offers. Holydiver could be the right choice but I would also look at the Rebel Yell. I have my RY set in a LPC with ebony board and it sounds fantastic. A lot of bite for sure but not too much.

As far as a direct comparison between Crawler and Holydiver that is a question you should ask Tim.

Cheers Stephan

[ericsabbath]

black dog is pretty similar to the diver
diver is brighter and more aggressive
had both in my '73 les paul custom (mahogany neck, though)

the diver should be about as hot as the sh11 but fatter in the low mids, tighter in the low end and have a more articulate midrange

[jdbwales]

Just an update - put in a Holy Diver and it is PERFECT. Everything I liked about the Duncan but with ten times more clarity and punch. Great stuff. Thanks you to everyone for your help!

[itamar101]

Congrats!! Just how I felt about it!
It just sounds stunning to my ears in my Les Paul. Great at cleans and coil tas too. :)

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Congrats!

[ericsabbath]

great to hear.... oh wait... we didn't!
where are the clips?  :D :D :D