VHII vs Holy Diver (My custom guitar build) UPDATED

[Mr.Coneman]

Hi again guys, long time no see!
Looking for a reccomendation between both these pickups, I believe they're quite similar, and both seem like they probably would adequately cover my needs. I shot Tim an E-mail and he reccomended the Holy Diver, so I'm leaning more in that direction now definitely, but I'd like some more input anyway  :lol:

So fairly recently I designed a custom electric guitar, and Martin Sims guitars are currently building the body for me, they'll build the neck for me eventually too, but I want to use this as a bit of a project. Get all the parts separately and assemble/wire/paint/finish everything myself.

The guitar is going to be in the vein of a Super Strat - Alder body, bolt on Maple neck, ebony fretboard, two humbucker positions, and a stetsbar. This is going to be my "shred" guitar. I want this guitar to be kind of the antithesis of my Les Paul, which will probably remain my main guitar, this whole thing is really for the building fun, but I hope I end up with an amazing guitar at the end of it.

So it's really designed for the whole 80's shred scene, very Van Halen to Joe Satriani kind of tones I'm hoping. So my instinct was telling me the VHII would be perfect for it all along, but Tim reccomends the HD on the basis of the woods used in the guitar. What do you guys think? Would really like that Van Halen barely on the edge of distortion clean tone, and those huge creamy leads like Satch. Maybe one of each pup? haha.

Here is the latest concept image Martin has mocked up for me. The musical note is going to be cut into the body, similar to Steve Vai's monkey grip, but not cut all the way through. I think I'll use the cavity to create some kind of plectrum holder and put it in there. Note the strat style bridge for the stetsbar rather than a Floyd.


Let me know what you guys think :)

edit: oh that's mostly everything about the guitar, but I play a Blackstar HT100 half stack. Ask any other information of course.

edit 2: Check my sig for which BKP's I already have, I was tempted to use the Cold Sweat again because I freakin' LOVE that thing, but it's likely too hot for what I hear this guitar sounding like in my head, plus I want to try more BKP's !

[Cpt_Gonzo]

I'd go for the Diver...it has the fluidity you'll want for 80s metal lead tone and the bridge is certainly articulate enough for VH stuff.

It really handles everything you throw at it by using the split function, the volume knob and amp settings.

[Telerocker]

I have the VHII in a ash strat and it's a balanced, punchy en touchsensitive pickup, but I think the Diver is closer to what you want.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I like HD for this as well.

[darrenw5094]

I think the VHII gets my vote. That guitar might need a pinch of bass from the pickups and the VHII edges it for me.

[Mr.Coneman]

Thanks for the information guys, seems like the HD is tipping the scales here, still open to any arguments for the VHII, but definitely leaning toward HD now!

Oh, the company emailed me today, they've finished the body! :D Some shots!







Absolutely over the moon with this :D

[Telerocker]

Looks sweet and neat.

[ericsabbath]

definitely the diver
the vhII is much drier sounding
slightly punchier on the bass, but it won't deliver that big midrange push

and don't get me wrong, I have one and a half vhII sets
but it has more of a percussive and deep single note tone instead of the midrangy and creamy sustain of the holy diver

might work for paul gilbert or something, but for satriani I'd consider the black dog over the vhII (paul gilbert's tone on the last mr big album also sounds quite black doggish)
the dog sounds a lot like the diver, but has a slightly tamed top end and less output
if you're using some sort of booster for soloing, that might work really well

[Capelo]

Hi, not willing to high jack the thread but I have the exact same question as the OP. Looking to swap the pickups in my Caparison Dellinger. Very similar guitar in concept but with a mahogany body and a FR. Looking for the same sound as the OP. HD, VH something else? Thanks. 
Btw that guitar body is pure win. Looking forward to seeing the finished guitar

[darrenw5094]

Hi, not willing to high jack the thread but I have the exact same question as the OP. Looking to swap the pickups in my Caparison Dellinger. Very similar guitar in concept but with a mahogany body and a FR. Looking for the same sound as the OP. HD, VH something else? Thanks. 
Btw that guitar body is pure win. Looking forward to seeing the finished guitar

HD for sure. The mahogany will give some natural bottom end with the HD.

[Mr.Coneman]

Okay, I've certainly made my decision at this point. Definitely the Holy Diver for me, thanks for reassuring me, fellas. :)

Good luck finding your pickup Capelo, and thanks for saying :)

[Mr.Coneman]

So I totally went and bought a set of calibrated zebra'd Holy Divers :D!

I was going to budget all the money towards the actual guitar first, but then I got a tax rebate, and excited  :lol:.
The body and pickups arrived at the same time, so it's obviously destiny !



Just asked for a quote for a custom neck to go along with it from the same luthier, man I can't wait till this is built, and I can post some clips :D

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Congrats! I bet it sucks having them but not being able to use them yet!

[Mr.Coneman]

Haha you can imagine. I've just been staring at the body all day  :lol:



This is the neck design for anyone interested. Badly photoshopped mind you, but that's the idea.

[darkbluemurder]

That will be a killer shredding guitar when it's done.

Cheers Stephan