Holy Divers, Rebel Yells or Cold Sweats

[schneidas]

Where would the bridge Alnico5 Nailbomb would be placed? Would this one be the ticket to 80/90 Iron Maiden and Rock?

[ericsabbath]

all the mentioned pickups will do that, including the vhII
don't be too precious about it

[Dave Sloven]

Where would the bridge Alnico5 Nailbomb would be placed? Would this one be the ticket to 80/90 Iron Maiden and Rock?

Somewhere between 'NO!' and 'not really' on this one, depending on what guitar you put it in.

I've had an A-Bomb and a Cold Sweat in my SG; the CS can do Maiden and '80s rock, the NB could not.  The A-Bomb can do Accept, AC/DC, Poison Idea, and other 'raspier' guitar sounds from the '80s, and generally sounds more aggressive than any of those bands but it can do something that basically sounds like them.  It can't do the smoother sounds of the '80s.  At least not well, and not in my experience.

Out of the three you mention it is closest to the RY but much more bottom and low mids, and hairier.

[m t soule]

I got the HD bridge in a maple neck rg550 and its really good for maiden. Thats what i use it most for.
In the  neck i have a vhii which i love a little more that my CS neck. However i never really acknowledged whats sounds they nail because they just sound good wether they nail a sound or not.
The RY bridge is really lovely however you may find the bottom not fat enough fer maiden n the likes

[Slartibartfarst42]

If it was a darker Les Paul I'd have said Cold Sweat for the bridge but as you say it's brighter I'm more hesitant. The Super Distortion that Maiden use a lot carries a fair bit of bottom end, which is offset to a degree by their use of alder guitars. Your guitar is presumably darker than alder but is it enough to make the Cold Sweat viable? The Holydiver in this video may help as it's always impressed me with the tone:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T26RqvH3YBA

I'd also point out that Holydivers LOVE Overdrive pedals and that gives you access to a greater range of tones. If the guitar is brighter, I still think either a Holydiver set or a Holydiver bridge and Emerald neck.

[schneidas]

Thanks guys, in the end - I think I settled on a full HD-set (seeing as my Les Paul is on the slightly brighter side)

[schneidas]

Ok last thing here. I still have another few days left to decide.
Although I was set on the HD set, I'm now also contemplating a BD bridge / HD neck combo (the HD neck being set in stone).

How does the BD bridge differ from the HD bridge? They seem tonally similar (both mid heavy). Might the BD bridge be a better HD bridge in that it has the missing highs of the latter?
Just been reading a few threads and the BD bridge seems to get praise only

[ericsabbath]

having replaced one with the other in the same guitar, I wouldn't say the BD is any brighter than the HD
it's just less compressed
the diver sustains a little better and the dog sounds more spanky

[Slartibartfarst42]

The BD and HD are certainly related in some ways but the HD is smooth whereas the BD is a bit more growly. I think the BD would probably be more versatile.

[schneidas]

Thanks guys.

What exactly does "more spanky" mean? (sorry, I sometimes get lost with all these descriptions)

[schneidas]

Ok one more: Abraxas vs Holy Diver.

Am I correct to assume that the Abraxas will have more highs & be more open than the Holy Diver?
The Diver having more mids and be more compressed with a more modern voice?

Anyone has compared both pickups in the same guitar?

[ericsabbath]

Thanks guys.

What exactly does "more spanky" mean? (sorry, I sometimes get lost with all these descriptions)

a stronger picking attack

[richard]

You're asking about an enormously different range of pickups. Most of the pups from the Contemporary range are going to be more 'modern' sounding than the Abraxas. I would say that the RY and the Abraxas are somewhere in the middle ground. The RY is more modern sounding but does well with classic rock. The Abraxas has it's roots in more vintage tones but the extra output means it can handle hard rock/older style metal as well. I think you need to narrow your choice a little more i.e. are you inclined more to modern tones than vintage tones ?

[Dave Sloven]

I would just go for the HD set here.  I think it has the best chance of covering all the bases to an acceptable extent

[Slartibartfarst42]

Agreed, I think you're starting  to overcomplicate things. If you want that smooth 80's Metal tone the Holydiver is best. If you want something more versatile, vintage and not too bright, look at the Black Dog, Abraxas ane Crawler.