Is Holydiver for me? Need help deciding. Details inside.

[cFlat]

I have a Godin Freeway Classic that I'd like to install a new Bridge humbucker in. I tried a Duncan C5 in it.  But that was too dull and lifeless.  Especially in the mids.  I also tried a Duncan JB.  This is where it gets interesting.

I LOVE and HATE the JB at the same time.  I Love how vocal it is.  Kind of like a subtle "Wah" effect.  I like the ouput.  I like it's character.  But I HATE how the Low E string sounds Tubby/Loose in this guitar.  And I Hate how it sounds "Fizzy" in this guitar.  I can almost hear the tone that is in there.  But it's just not working for this guitar.

Guitar is Big Leaf Maple Center Body(Similar to Mahogany), Poplar Wings, Maple Neck(Bolt-On), and Rosewood board.  Has a tendency to be loose on the lows, and fizzy on the high-mids/highs.

Would a Holydiver suite me?  Are the lows tighter than a JB?  Is it smoother in the high-mids and highs?  Does it has a touch more "Meat" to it compared to the JB?

That's what I'm looking for in this guitar.  A JB with a tighter bottom, Smoother high-mids & highs(less/no fiz), and a tad more Meat to it.  Doesn't have to be exact.  A good representation of a tone I like, is the beginning of "Them Bones" by Alice in Chains.  Or "Rain when I die", or almost anything from Alice in Chains.  This will be used for anything from Rock to Metal.

This is a fair bit of money for me to invest, since I'm in the US.  So I'd like some opinions on what you guys think.  I'd Really appreciate the help!

I'm playing through a James Peters Gryphon, and Avatar 2X12 with GB's.

Thanks in advance.

[ericsabbath]

Are the lows tighter than a JB?

hell yeah!  :D
not a ceramic tightness, but very tight
tighter and hotter than duncan custom V and gibson 498t too

Is it smoother in the high-mids and highs?

yes... nice beefy low and center mids, and less overbright in upper mids
not dark like some say, but very balanced

Does it has a touch more "Meat" to it compared to the JB?

a lot more!
very chunky

That's what I'm looking for in this guitar.  A JB with a tighter bottom, Smoother high-mids & highs(less/no fiz), and a tad more Meat to it.  Doesn't have to be exact.  A good representation of a tone I like, is the beginning of "Them Bones" by Alice in Chains.  Or "Rain when I die", or almost anything from Alice in Chains.  This will be used for anything from Rock to Metal.

it can do anything that JB does, but better, heavier and clearer
works very well with a cold sweat in the neck (no, it's not ceramic)
i love Alice too
one of my top 5 bands ever

[Antag]

I agree with most of what Eric says.

Here is the post I made when I first replaced the JB with an HD in my Jackson... :)

[cFlat]

Thanks Guys.  I appreciate it.

It does seam like the Holydiver would be for me.  The problem is this gutiar.  I have a feeling that this particular guitar just isn't resonating in the right frequencies.  I'd hate to buy the Holydiver, only to find that it also does not work for this guitar.  That's why I decided to ask here.  To be sure.  Just keep in mind the issues I was having with the JB in this guitar

Antag:  So you think the Holydiver would work in this particular guitar with the issues I am having with it and the JB?  Fizzy High-Mids & Highs, Loose Bottom, and not quite thick enough.  Seams kind of redundant to ask, but it didn't sound like you were having the same problems with your JB prior.

I probably should just go ahead and order it :)

[cFlat]

UPDATE:

I'm hoping to order my first BKP this week.  But first I need some help.
This pickup will be going into a different guitar than posted above.

It's going into a G&L Legacy Deluxe.
-Basswood Body
-Quilted Maple Top
-Maple Neck
-Maple Fretboard

It came with a Duncan JB.  I'm having the same issues as stated above with this pickup, although not a much in this guitar.

I emailed Tim, and he said the Rebel Yell would be too little output.  And I should consider a Painkiller if I really wanted to tighten the bottom.  But I think, as long as it's a little tighter than a JB, it would be fine.  SO I'm still leaning toward a Holy Diver.

So one last time before I order;

Thick/Singing/Vocal Mids(Like JB), good Harmonics, Tighter Bottom than a JB, a little meatier than a JB, not as Sizzly as a JB.

Painkiller, Rebel Yell, or Holy Diver?

Thanks Guys

[ericsabbath]

painkiller seems to have a more duncan distortion/gibson 500t ceramic vibe and mid voicing
if you prefer these pickups over jb, then go with PK

[cFlat]

painkiller seems to have a more duncan distortion/gibson 500t ceramic vibe and mid voicing
if you prefer these pickups over jb, then go with PK

Nah.  I think I'm going to go with the Holy Diver.  I can always put a Ceramic Magnet in it later, and try that.

I think Holy Diver is for me.  Now to decide between Cover Options.  Burnt Chrome looks Neat.