Holy Divers or Blackhawks for RG920 w. 40W Blackstar Combo?

[Archlute]

Hey all, I've been wanting to pick up some BKPs for about a year now, ever since I tried a guitar w. VH2s at a local GC.  Absolutely loved the balance and articulation of the VH2 pups, but here's what I'm looking at right now: 

I have a basswood Premium RG920QMZ with a maple top and rosewood neck, which came with some decent stock Dimarzio/IBZ pups.  The pickups need a bit more clarity and sustain, and sometimes it sounds a little dark/muffled on the neck pup played in series.  I currently play it through a Blackstar HT-40, but occasionally play it through the fantastic clean channel of an old VC5310.

I really like the smooth, compressed sound of the Holy Diver neck pickup using high gain, and this would fit my playing in the neo-classical, 80s shred, genres.  However, until I pick up a single coil strat (maybe this summer), I still need enough tonal versatility to play low/moderate gain P&W stuff (during which we often play one or two really high gain sections, which is where I'd expect the Blackhawks or HDs to shine).  So, knowing a bit of my gear, and playing style, which pickup?  There is something I can't quite define that keeps the Blackhawks hanging around in my mind as an option, otherwise I'd probably just pick up the Holy Divers w/o a second thought.  The BlkHwks clips sound great for fusion oriented music, and I could easily hear them doing Vai's more recent repertoire.  I'm considering picking up his Legacy 3 w. 2x12 cab this summer as well, if that would change the equation any.

Help me make the best choice!

[Slartibartfarst42]

Difficult as I own a Holydiver but never personally tried a Black Hawk. However, despite their apparent versatility, I've read a couple of comments on here that the Black Hawks are a bit more limited than I'd always assumed. As I say, I can't back that up with personal experience but I can confirm that the Holydiver is a very versatile pickup indeed.

[Archlute]

I'll do some more searching and see what I can find. 

I assume you have the Holy Divers in the neck position?  How do you like them through your Blackstar - especially if you use the OD channel with the mid-focused gain (gain switch pressed in)?  That's one of the solo sounds I love, especially when boosted w. a Tubescreamer.

[Slartibartfarst42]

Yes, I have the gain button in but I don't use the Holydiver in the neck; it's a bridge model. Apparently the two pickups are very different. While the bridge Holydiver is thick, warm, organic, smooth and rich, the neck model is thinner and really rather bright in comparison. I had assumed you were changing both pickups. The bridge Holydiver is awesome and easily my favourite bridge pickup. For the neck, I prefer the Emerald. It's a bright pickup but I don't think it's as bright as the Holydiver neck from what I can gather. The AIV magnet gives it the sweetest lead tone you can imagine, being sweet, creamy, smooth, highly articulate and extremely versatile. The Holydiver/Emerald combo came from Tim's own suggestion as he told me it was one of his favourites otherwise I probably wouldn't have tried it. There's not much you can't do with a Holydiver/Emerald combo and a decent overdrive going into a decent amp. The Holydiver probably has the best lead tone of any of the BKP hot bridge pickups and the Emerald neck is nothing short of sublime.

And yes, both LOVE an overdrive pedal  :D

[Archlute]

Interesting.  I was planning on switching out both my pickups, but hadn't considered a split combo like that.  I wonder if still putting a Holy Diver in the neck would be better for this guitar, as I mentioned it can sometimes sound a little dark to my ears.  Although, I'm sure either would so far surpass my current pickups that it wouldn't really matter  :lol:

[Slartibartfarst42]

Basswood is usually seen as either quite balanced or perhaps a little middy so I'd be surprised if it's too dark. Mixing and matching sets is quite common, in fact the only calibrated set I've ever owned is Cold Sweats. Mixing them makes sense. I like my tone to be thicker, warm and smooth so the Holydiver bridge is perfect but the much brighter neck version probably wouldn't be me whereas the Emerald is. I never have loads of guitars as I see no point. I only ever have two because it's all I need but if I were to be reduced to just one, it would have a Holydiver/Emerald set in it  :D

The Cold Sweat neck would also be a good choice. It's tighter and thinner than the Emerald neck but not as versatile or sweet sounding.

[Archlute]

I think the dark/muffled tone is probably coming from the stock neck pickup then.

It's kind of funny, some of the similarities between our rigs.  I also have a PRS SE Custom 24, have the Blackstar HT40 (but almost got the 60), and a Morely Bad Horsie 2 optical was, which is somewhat similiar to the Mark Tremonti.  And now maybe even the pickups!

[Kiichi]

Mixing is done often as the calibrated sets can actually be a bit misleading as to what they are. They are not the same PUs with one slighly adjusted to fit the neck / bridge position. Mostly they are very different, but designed in a way that they work well together in terms of voicing and output. They really compliment each other well.
In the vintage range they can actually be pretty close, but in the modern range they can be worlds apart basecally.

Seeing that it is easy to understand why a lot of people mix and match. Of course you can go wrong, but there are many proven combos and others that just are very promising.
For example the C-bomb bridge CS neck is a classic, as is the HD bridge emerald neck (though I think that is a bit newer). On the other hand there are some that are very promising but there is no intel on them yet. Here I could cite my thought to put a HD bridge and AM neck together for early Petrucci sounds, while the Cbomb / CS covers the modern times.

[Slartibartfarst42]

I think the dark/muffled tone is probably coming from the stock neck pickup then.

It's kind of funny, some of the similarities between our rigs.  I also have a PRS SE Custom 24, have the Blackstar HT40 (but almost got the 60), and a Morely Bad Horsie 2 optical was, which is somewhat similiar to the Mark Tremonti.  And now maybe even the pickups!

Yes, it's handy that our setups are so similar as it makes common terms of reference a bit easier. I think your choice may be determined by exactly how you want your guitars to fit in with each other. I only ever have two guitars because I'd simply never play more than two but I set them up to do slightly different things, albeit with a significant crossover. My PRS has the Holydiver/Emerald combo and is set to run from clean material and Classic Rock to 80s Metal, though I can get it to work with the entire set. My Jackson uses a MIracle Man and bridge model Sinners in the neck and middle, which gives me a more modern tone and takes me from 80s Metal to modern Metal. What else do I need? I'll sell the Jackson next year because the PRS, with an overdrive, can take me all the way to modern Metal anyway, albeit with an 80s Metal flavour to it. I'll then buy a different guitar, probably another CU24, and fit it with an Abraxas set to give me a better clean setup and more of a Blues and Blues Rock tone. Perhaps your choice can be made by fitting it into what else you have.

[drawnacrol]

Emerald neck pairs up with a HD bridge much better than a HD neck. Its smoother, fatter and saturates more.

I'm swapping a HD bridge out for a ceramic black hawk soon just to see what they are like so I will post back here with my findings.

['Ash' J. Williams]

I've tried some of those combination.
The HD/EM and HD/VHII works REALLY well, they're even better than the stock HD set for fusion style and superstrat guitars.
Also the HD neck is indeed a very clear and low output pickup, not much compression going on on this one.

The BH are different animals, they can be quite bright - i own 6 and 7 AlNiCo sets. Their EQ is pretty straight, in fact they have a bit more of everything compared to the HD but doesn't work in as many guitars as the HD in my opinion. They work well for more modern fusion/prog style.

[Archlute]

I've tried some of those combination.
The HD/EM and HD/VHII works REALLY well, they're even better than the stock HD set for fusion style and superstrat guitars.
Also the HD neck is indeed a very clear and low output pickup, not much compression going on on this one.

The BH are different animals, they can be quite bright - i own 6 and 7 AlNiCo sets. Their EQ is pretty straight, in fact they have a bit more of everything compared to the HD but doesn't work in as many guitars as the HD in my opinion. They work well for more modern fusion/prog style.

First off, I want to thank you all for the feedback you've given.  I'd otherwise be going blind into this, and your responses have been very helpful.

So, at this point I can pretty well say that I'll probably rule out the Blackhawks.  This guitar is my workhorse guitar, and needs to be able to cover a wide range of clean and overdriven tones, while also being able to hold a good shred tone.  The Blackhawks still sound awesome, but probably would need to go into a second guitar oriented more toward fusion/prog playing.

As far as the HD/Emerald or HD/VHII - what would you say would be the difference between those two neck pups?  I noticed the Emerald was higher output, and that it also uses an AlNico IV vs an AlNico V magnet.  I know the basic difference between AlNico and ceramics, but not different AlNicos.  I know the VHII neck I played a few months back was freaking sweet, so tell me how the Emerald differs in freaking sweetness in its own way ;)  Everything I've been reading about the Emerald makes me think it has a leg up for me right now on this set.

[Slartibartfarst42]

There's a sticky at the top of this section of the forum called 'Magnets' and in it Tim summarizes the difference between all of the magnets. Basically, an AIV magnet gives a rather sweeter and rounded tone. It's not as tight as AV but then on a neck pickup that's often not what you're after anyway.

['Ash' J. Williams]

The VHII has more bite, almost single coil-like attack sometimes but stays full bodied and feels quite powerful.
Somebody on the forum (gwem I think) described it as having quite a Fender-y vibe and it makes sense.
The Emerald has more mids, a bit more power and is a bit more sweet, it really sings in a beautiful manner but manage to always stay clear.
Both reacts really well to the volume pot.

Either way, the VHII and Emerald neck are - IMO of course - two of the best neck hb bkp makes, and you cannot go wrong with either of them when paired with a HD.

[Slartibartfarst42]

It really is personal preference. I listened to loads of clips of both before deciding and while both sounded good, the Emerald just blew me away. For me, the description of a VHII sounding a bit 'Fendery' and 'single coil-like' also put me off. You may be different.