Bare Knuckle Holy Divers

[nigelpkay]

I had a hard time to find a good pickup for my Jackson SL2H back then. I choose the Holy Diver Set on recommandation too and that was the perfect fit for me, just the right amount of everything. Alder is a very bright wood and a lot of pickups are made for thicker sounding wood (mahogany). The Holy Diver's bring low mids instead of high mids like the JB's and that's what i wanted.

This is super helpful, thank you.
I'm also on a ebony board maple neckthru with alder wings guitar.

Yes I guess I should have added something in about the sound rather than just how to use it.
I always describe it as a half-way between a Super Distortion and JB. It's got the low-mid thickness and tighter bass of the Super Distortion, but it also has enough higher-mids to sing like the JB for solos, but without that high-mid spike the JB is known for. Because the centre mids stand out, the EQ feels more flat which you may or may not like. It's not as aggressive or has that high-output punch as either pickup, but what you get in return is this really nice even clarity for chords where all the strings ring out, and a nice creamy singing lead tone at the same time. As other people have said, VERY dependent on the guitar. Doesn't do well in heavier mahogany, but lighter, brighter alder guitars works great. For LPs I always recommend Cold Sweat or Rebel Yell for a similar tone.

 

[charvelstrat81]

Even though a few here gave them a "MEH" that really means nothing in the real world.
YOU have to decide in your own guitar and amp, just because a few said they were not impressed does not mean you wont be blown away by them
I remember a few told me that the tone zone was a mud bomb, NOT in my guitar.
Sounded incredible with great clarity and balls

Well he did start the thread by asking for everyone's thoughts and experiences...

yeah i cant argue with that but i do find it kind of sad that one would not try something based on opinions of players he does not even know or ever heard play?
How does he know they have the same basic taste? how does he know if they have any taste?
What i think he should do is go here,
https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/main/p ... =holydiver
and then here,
https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/main/p ... humbuckers
and listen to several sound clips of the BKP's to compare.
Tim gives a tone chart and spec's for each model
and also will be glad to help with any questions.
he is known to be really good at recomending his p'u models to the guitars construction and players taste.

 

[hatrick00]

I would like to try the nailbomb, currently using a JB but find it to be a little loose in the bass. Still love my JB but feel it could be a little more 3d sounding..

 

[Ventura]

I would like to try the nailbomb, currently using a JB but find it to be a little loose in the bass. Still love my JB but feel it could be a little more 3d sounding..

3D sounding...
Organic.
Percussive and clear.
Piano like.
Fast-tracking.
Offers magical skills to the player.

Sorry, I just love the descriptions that get lobbed around when it comes to music gear and talk on forums

hatrick00, the NBs are probably the best selling pups that BKP's put out. They're everywhere. Great pups for a wide range of usage. That said, it's up to the fingers, finesse and skillset of the player to turn notes into music and make things sound good and right. But you knew this.

Nailbombs are a safe bet

 

[the4thlast1]

Nailboms are great aswell .... The ceramic verison sounds amazing in a thick somewhat dark sounding guitar... Its basically like the opposite of where you would use the Holy Diver. The C-bomb and the Holy Diver are probably my fav BK picups. The regular alnico version nailbomb is cool also and will work great in a guitar that has a naturally tight\fast lowend. For me the ceramic version in the right guitar is just sick sounding and responding.

 

[charvelstrat81]

oh man, I didn't know I could go to their website. or listen to the clips. or even ask their head salesman what to buy! What an idiot I am...

never said you did not KNOW, but if you think gathering opinions on a forum of players who more than likely have a very different taste in tone than you is smart then go right ahead
yeah man the holy diver set suck ass and you will hate them! happy?

 

[Racerxrated]

Played through a bridge HD last night in an Alder Washburn USA MG bolt on. Sounded great, 3D clear with good mids. Less mids than my JB Hamer but good nonetheless. I'd get one.

 

[hatrick00]

I have also been recommended a motor city afwayu which I want to try. It is going through mainly a Friedman jj or Splawn nitro.

 

[Beyond Black]

oh man, I didn't know I could go to their website. or listen to the clips. or even ask their head salesman what to buy! What an idiot I am...

never said you did not KNOW, but if you think gathering opinions on a forum of players who more than likely have a very different taste in tone than you is smart then go right ahead
yeah man the holy diver set suck ass and you will hate them! happy?

Really??? How foolish of Reza to go on a gear forum and ask opinions on a piece of gear.....

 

[VC4Ever]

I remember someone saying the Holy divers were BKP take on the Super Distortion..or was it the JB? one or the other.

 

[Ventura]

the Holy Divers are an improvement, but still might be a little loose on the top end. I will plug into a real amp a little later to get a more true feel. The Axe FX wasn't cutting it.

Overall they sound pretty great. Im not mad at them. Need more time with them to really get a feel.

I found they shined best on my higher gain amps with the amps' preamp gain set a little lower than I normally would go. Great with guitar volume/tone adjustments; you're right, dynamic. But I swear they slayed on my NT7 through the 20th Sheevs and Rev.G.

Hope they grow on ya man!!