How versatile is the HD/Emerald combo + HD bridge question.

[Lucas]

Woah! That baby can really scream! More bad azz than I thought! To be honest I was put off a little by that Procol Harum thing indeed thinking that it`s nearly as polite as some vintage bluesy pickups (Mule set? sorry 8)).

And I completely forgot to mention earlier on Rock/Classic Metal POWER BALLADS. I love ballsy power ballads from
Europe -Carrie, some Bon Jovi, Motley Crue - Home Sweet Home through Guns `n Roses to Metallica - Unforgiven, Nothing Else Matters ect.
Just love mixing cleans with distorted parts with creamy as well as screaming long bluesy solos.
That aspect will be quite high on the priority list when it comes to battle between HD and Crawler.

[Lucas]

I guess still Crawler anyway!

And by the way, what option would you suggest for Crawler/Emerald combo in mahogany body, maple neck, rosewood board guitar? Open coil or covered? Was more tempted to lean towards covered option, but now when Crawler is much darker and smoother, covers wouldn`t make it too dark with mahogany body?

[Slartibartfarst42]

You see! I swear that whole 'Procol Harum' thing puts people off the Crawler in the same way that the Santana connection can sometimes put people off the Abraxas.

Go open-poled as I find they have noticeably more cut to them. I have zebras on all of mine and they look great.

The Crawler/Emerald combo works well and I really liked it even though I don't use that combo now as I prefer the Holydiver neck with the Crawler. I discuss the two in more detail in this thread:

https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=31078.0

I'm sure you'll like the Crawler bridge; it makes a PRS sound really beefy and Les Paul-like.

[Lucas]

Correct me if I`m wrong, HD bridge would be similar to Nailbomb (being certainly less aggressive), is that right?
I mean tone and voicing wise,` cause EQ chart might be misleading sometimes.

[Slartibartfarst42]

The Holydiver and Nailbomb bridge pickups are very different. The Holydiver is smooth and thick while the Nailbomb is thick but much more hairy in its tone with upper mids giving it a very angry tone. The mids on the Holydiver are more evenly spread while the Nailbomb is more focused. The Holydiver is reasonably tight while the Nailbomb is VERY tight and in a similar way, the Holydiver is reasonably aggressive whereas the Nailbomb is extremely aggressive. The Holydiver works in pretty much anything except an SG but I found the Nailbomb to be far more picky. As a measure of just how different they are, the Holydiver is one of my favourite ever pickups and I sent the Nailbomb back. The Holydiver is classic 80s Metal while the Nailbomb is more 90s Thrash, though oddly enough the Nailbomb is also more open than the Holydiver so will also do very aggressive sounding Classic Rock. Very different pickups indeed. 

[darkbluemurder]

Well, as I have that exact combination in a PRS SE Custom 24 and I have been singing its praises for quite some time, I really should step up to the plate on this one.

Versatility

I think this is a relative question to be honest because the obvious qualification is 'Compared to what?'. As contemporary pickups go it is certainly a versatile option and I think that's because it's not massively extreme in any particular direction. It has aggression in it but that is tempered by the inherent smoothness of the pickup. It has lots of mids but they're pretty evenly spread so you cut through the mix without sounding hairy or angry. Notes are thick but they're not really fat and while it has a bottom end, you'd never call it a 'bassy' pickup. It's also tight and articulate but it's a hell of a long way from being tight in the 'djent' sense. The tonal characteristics of the pickup do place it firmly in the 80s Metal category and that is where it is most comfortable without a shadow of a doubt but as long as you accept it will always retain these core characteristics, you can take it in other directions. Add an overdrive and compressor as I often do and it thickens up further and can be used for things like Metallica and Children of Bodom but wind down the gain and compression and it will do a very credible Classic Rock sound, albeit with that 80s twist. It wouldn't be my first choice for Blues. Having said all of that, although it's versatile within the confines of most contemporary pickups, there are ultimately more versatile options out there, though I can't think of too many.

In many respects the same can be said of the Emerald. Even though it's in the 'Vintage Hot' section, it is a modern pickup. The alnico IV magnet gives it its sweetness and an incredibly harmonically rich tone but the modern wire gives it all the cut of a modern pickup like the Cold Sweat. I think that's why I like it so much because I feel like I'm getting the best of both worlds and it really is unique. With most pickups in the range, especially neck pickups, there is always an alternative that is similar but the Emerald neck stands completely alone. There is simply nothing else like it in the range. This does make it quite versatile as the modern cut it has means it's great for shreddy styles but the expressiveness you get with the AIV magnet means it's a pickup with a lot of soul. It will do all the styles of the Holydiver with ease but also take you closer to Blues styles. It's a lovely pickup for more modern Blues Rock.

Gary Moore

This is a REALLY tricky one. Gary Moore is my favourite guitarist without a doubt but in his lifetime he covered an awfully wide range of styles. The Holydiver will certainly do some of his material but I'd say it would be most at home around the time of his 'Corridors of Power' album. The Emerald has a bigger operating window for Gary Moore as it will cover that era too but also do a number of his Blues Rock numbers. I can only speak for myself but I'd use the Holydiver/Emerald combo for some Gary Moore songs while for others I'd rather use the Crawler/Holydiver combo I have in my other PRS. For others who want a more authentically Blues tone, the Abraxas or Mule neck would be a better option but I just find the more vintage pickups to be too rounded in the bass for my tastes.

Cleans

Are there bridge pickups with better cleans than the Holydiver? Yes, absolutely, but I don't think you'll find many of them in the contemporary section. The Crawler is the only one that leaps to mind. Move out of the contemporary section and you may find better cleans but then you're starting to compare apples and pears. The main role of a Holydiver bridge is never going to be cleans but with that minor caveat I'd say the cleans are good. The cleans on the Emerald are very good. It's thick and very harmonically rich. I find the Emerald very satisfying to play clean. In some respects my Holydiver neck has better cleans but they're nothing like as complex as those on the Emerald. It's just a REALLY good pickup.

Holydiver compared to the Crawler

There is certainly some common ground here and I guess that's why I like them both.  Both pickups are smooth, both have plenty mids, both are warm and organic and both are thick sounding. In some respects they are certainly related, it's just that the Holydiver is the younger and more raunchy brother. It's also important to point out where they differ because they certainly do. Where the Holydiver can be described as 'thick', the Crawler is 'fat' and on top of the warm, organic nature that is common to both, the Crawler is very rich and sweet in its tone. The Holydiver has mids pretty much across the board while the Crawler is more focused on the low mids, which gives it the darker and fatter nature that seems to be one of its defining features. While I could describe the Holydiver as 'tight', it's not a word I would use to describe the Crawler but that's not to say it tends to be mushy because it certainly doesn't, it's just that the word 'articulate' seems more appropriate. The Crawler also isn't an obviously 'aggressive' pickup but it does have a very distinctive 'growl' to it that can be really satisfying. When I bought the Crawler I was wanting to make my PRS move distinctly towards the tonal characteristics of a Les Paul and generally speaking I'd say it does just that. Cleans are certainly better on the Crawler and the Crawler also has another distinct characteristic that, for me at least, is very unusual. I'm not a great fan of single coils and I'm even less of a fan of humbuckers employing split coils but I really like the splits on the Crawler. There's some very useable single coil tones in there that I don't generally find on split humbuckers. I like the split tones on the Crawler better than most single coils I've tried.

Summary

What would work best for you really depends on what you're after. If your focus is raunchier Classic Rock, 80s Metal and more modern Rock/Metal styles, the Holydiver does very well indeed. If you need more versatility in your PRS I'd be tempted more with the Crawler simply because it has a much bigger operating window as it will cover everything from Blues to early 80s Metal and give you both humbucker and single coil tones in the process. I think it may struggle to go much beyond 80s Metal because it will start to get a little soft in the bass but there's a limit to what any single pickup will do. I use the Crawler mostly for our first set while in the second set it's far more Rock/Metal so I use the Holydiver almost exclusively but if I had to choose just one guitar to cover our entire set, I'd choose the Crawler. As for the neck pickups, the Emerald is my favourite so far because it offers so much but I would repeat that I don't really do tones that are particularly vintage. I like the sound of vintage but I miss the cut of more modern pickups. So far the Holydiver neck is as vintage as I've been happy with.

I hope this covers everything but if there's anything else you want clarifying, please just ask.

That's just too cool for words. Thank you very much!

Cheers Stephan

[Slartibartfarst42]

Thanks Stephan, that means a lot as your knowledge of Bare Knuckle pickups is so extensive  :D

[Lucas]

Slarti, you`ve mentioned that Crawler splits extremely well producing wonderful 'single coil-ish' sound which stands even better even among some real single coils.
But that applies to the bridge version, or you meant it in general?

Originally when I bought my Dean Caddy I had push/pulls for both stock pickups. While neck one wasn`t too bad, the bridge one was terribly weak, thin and good for absolutely nothing. I didn`t find that tone useful at all.

I know that BKP is in another league, no doubt about that, but how would you describe Crawler bridge in single coil mode?
More Telecaster bridge tone or beefier Strat tone? If it`s more Tele with that chicken pickin` weak sound I wouldn`t be bother with another push/pull then :D

ps. no offense to Tele bridge sound and chicken pickin` playing :lol:

Thanks a million!

[Slartibartfarst42]

When I originally bought the Crawler it was as a calibrated set and the one push/pull pot split both pickups. Both the neck and bridge versions split well, producing good Strat style tones. They're certainly not the Tele style you describe otherwise I wouldn't have bothered either! When you split the Crawler they do brighten up considerably from the humbucker but it's still not what I'd call a dramatically bright single coil tone. As you know, I didn't really get on with the Crawler neck and sent it back for the Holydiver neck which I much prefer. If I like the split tones of a Crawler I'd imagine most people would. It's the only single coil sounds I'll use.

[Kiichi]

I got my Crawler wired for split too, actually with a 3 way switch for HB, split and PRS split with a 2k resistor. On top of that I have mine turned around so that the slug coil is the outer coil when split making it even brighter and weaker. I do that cause I much prefer it when combined with the middle (itīs a HSH) as it is more tele like, thus giving me more variety.
With that situation most PUs would have an issue I believe as split sounds always struggle a bit to be like a real SC, which is the reason I like the PRS wiring as it helps along. On my RY guitar (HSH too, also turned) I would not be so confident in running the split HB alone (even with the PRS wiring), but I admittadly never tried that.

However the Crawler split is actually that good. It retains power, character, does not sound thin, etc. Just a lovely, lovely and absolutly usable sound. Also handles gain suprisingly well. I implore you to go for it. I also still advice on the PRS wiring, even though the Crawler goes better without than other PUs. Still makes it even better though.

It just is the best split sounds I have ever heard out of a PU, both bridge and neck.

[Slartibartfarst42]

And that's exactly what makes the split tones on the Crawler so incredible - they are actually usable. Loads of people split their humbuckers for alleged versatility but in practise, I bet there's not many who actually use those split tones much because they're really not that great. The Crawler stands out because it has that unique distinction in my experience of genuinely good split tones.

[Kiichi]

And that's exactly what makes the split tones on the Crawler so incredible - they are actually usable. Loads of people split their humbuckers for alleged versatility but in practise, I bet there's not many who actually use those split tones much because they're really not that great. The Crawler stands out because it has that unique distinction in my experience of genuinely good split tones.

Exactly. I know I should shut up about it, but the PRS split helps with that, but even with it a lot of HBs will not produce a properly usable split, ever (of course this also depends on style and rest of the gear). That is also the reason why my RY (b) IT (m) Mule (n) guitar does not use splits alone, but only autosplits in combination with the middle. I really, really like splits, but ususally they just are too weak on their own, as a HB coil just is not a SC.

Come to think of it there are only two PUs where I felt comfortable using a split without combining it with something else (my prefered solution most of the time as that is very usable ususally, at least in my eyes). One is the AM, although that was only a half thing. It was nice to pull that pot out, taking gain and fattness out for some slower strumming parts then punching it back in for metal riffing. Half usable I would say.
With the Crawler however I would feel comfortable playing hours just on the splits I sh1t you not. Still does not quite reach BKP SCs, but kicks all stock SC asses I have played.

[Lucas]

Kiichi, does the PRS wiring have something to do with parallel while in middle position?

Currently I only have one Mojotone CTS Push/Push pot on the neck pup. With that pot engaged my Dean is wired in parallel when in middle position-both pups and when on neck both coils in parallel. Something like that.
To be honest I`m really confused and not quite familiar with wiring ect. Friend of mine was doing that for me.
If Im wrong, have to ask him what exactly it was. :D

That wiring doesnt give you full split even on one pickup? Dont laugh... wires, soldering things together and electronic diagrams are not my thing at all :lol:

[Kiichi]

I would not dare to laugh. I myself am still somewhat new and not everyone wants to be a tech guy, I just happen to be interrested not only in the results but also the tech and fiddling behind the scenes. Far too much actually, keeping me from playing more than I would like to. You know, one of those guys who tweaks the sound but canīt play properly ;)

What the PRS wiring I am talking about is is actually stunningly simple (or so I say....). When you split a HB you send one of the coils signals to ground, turning it off, like a fully turned down volume pot. What the PRS wiring changes is putting a resistor in series with the ground path. So between the to be shut off coil and the ground there now is a barrier. This effectivly works as a not quite turned down volume pot. So the coil it not completly turned off, but mostly. The effect his has is for one of course a slightly higher output, slightly lower noise (as the humbucking effect still occurs to a small extend) and (sides the output) the most important thing added bottom end. As you know when you roll a normal volume off you do not only loose volume, but also a bit extra treble, thus often the use of a treble bleed or 50s wiring, both of which make sure that the high end stays sparkly when you roll down for a cleaner sound. In this case this roll off of the high end is actually good since, as you noted, split coils can be thin, weak and trebly and this is remedied by the nearly shut off coil adding mostly bottom end.

So to recap: Instead of turning one coil you put in what is essentially a fixed volume pot to weaken it. What it then adds to the mix is mostly extra output and bottom end, bringing the sound closer to a true SC.

The PRS values used for this are usually 2k for the bridge and 1k for the neck. It is extremly easy to experiement with exact values though, just need two allicator clips.

There is also a variation on the idea using caps instead of resistors to lower the resonance peak, but I have not tried that myself (yet) and will not get into it right now.

If you have any more questions please do ask!

[call_of_c]

While you guys are at it, how would one of these combinations sound on an Ibanez RG550 or JEM (locking trem, basswood body, maple neck w/ rosewood board), especially when compared to DiMarzio Paf Pros,

Matched HD set
Emerald neck / HD brigde
Emerald neck / Crawler brigde
Emerald neck / Abraxas brigde
Matched Abraxas set

given that my requirements are pretty much the same as Lucas'? I'm not looking for high output, but more articulation. Paf Pro brigde is plenty enough for me, although I prefer SD Jazz in the neck position.