Nailbomb vs Holy Diver

[FourT6and2]

Just keep in mind the VH4 prefers lower output pickups. Peter Diezel recommends staying below 10k. I play a few Marshall-type amps as well, so higher output pickups are good for those. So I have to make a compromise somewhere. HD bridge is like 15k, I think. Which is lower than the JB. But with the VH4 at least, it may still be slamming the front end too much. There's a lot of preamp gain in this amp. So no need for a hot pickup. I generally keep the gain on Channel 3 around noon. With a lower output pickup (maybe around 8 or 9k) I could really get the amp cooking and keep compression to a minimum for a raunchy, open, mean, high-gain sound.

That's why I grabbed some Black Dogs as well.

 

[FourT6and2]

I'm liking the Holy Divers more and more. They're everything I liked about the JB, minus all the stuff I hated. Mean mid-range, sweet top-end, tight(er) bass response. The bridge pickup is very vocal, and pinches have a half-cocked wah pedal sound.

I wonder how the Black Dogs will compare. They seem like they would be very similar, but with a lower output. So they should be a little less compressed, maybe?

 

[Erock]

I'm liking the Holy Divers more and more. They're everything I liked about the JB, minus all the stuff I hated. Mean mid-range, sweet top-end, tight(er) bass response. The bridge pickup is very vocal, and pinches have a half-cocked wah pedal sound.

I wonder how the Black Dogs will compare. They seem like they would be very similar, but with a lower output. So they should be a little less compressed, maybe?

they grow on you don't they? They can almost feel lower output at first because they have so much clarity to them. I really dig that vocal quality about them too.

 

[Steinmetzify]

I'm glad theyre growing on you. I had a paranoid moment tonight when I realized that I hadn't really checked out how people think HDs sound tuned low. Already bought, already shipped to luthier, nothing I could do anyway. Fortunately the guys on the BKP forum calmed me down.....took a minute though.

 

[FourT6and2]

I'm glad theyre growing on you. I had a paranoid moment tonight when I realized that I hadn't really checked out how people think HDs sound tuned low. Already bought, already shipped to luthier, nothing I could do anyway. Fortunately the guys on the BKP forum calmed me down.....took a minute though.

I play in Standard and Drop D, so I couldn't tell ya. But I imagine they'd sound just fine tuned a step or two down.

 

[Steinmetzify]

I've got one in standard and one in drop D, and the rest are tuned to open C......been playing a bunch of Devin Townsend stuff lately. Hopefully they work out. Are you going to put the Black Dogs in immediately?

 

[cardinal]

I have a 7 string Holy Diver on the way; hopefully I'll have it in a week or so. I'll let you know how it sounds with the low B.

 

[FourT6and2]

I've got one in standard and one in drop D, and the rest are tuned to open C......been playing a bunch of Devin Townsend stuff lately. Hopefully they work out. Are you going to put the Black Dogs in immediately?

I'm going to keep the Holy Divers in for a week or two and then try out the Black Dogs. Also, right now my guitar is wired up 50's style with some repro. Luxe Grey Tiger caps from RS Guitarworks. But I have a "modern" kit on the way from them as well. So I need to decide how I want to do this.

Holy Divers vs. Black Dogs
50's wiring/Grey Tigers vs. modern wiring with whatever their modern caps are.

Modern kit should make the guitar a bit more clear and tight. But I'll lose the ability to roll my volume down and keep the high-end intact.

I'm also bringing my guitar in today to get a string-ground installed. I'm nervous about a guy drilling a hole into my 33-year old guitar, though...

 

[Jofipe]

I have been running Nailbombs in my gibsons till now. Recently I got a new LP custom... I decided to try Warpigs. OMFG, this is not a dark PU.. if Nailbombs was a super hard on, that hard on just became harder. So much rich and creamy.

 

[shred-o-holic]

I have been running Nailbombs in my gibsons till now. Recently I got a new LP custom... I decided to try Warpigs. OMFG, this is not a dark PU.. if Nailbombs was a super hard on, that hard on just became harder. So much rich and creamy.

I had a C-pig and it was great....kind of dominates that one sound but it's a good tone...I use a A-bomb for my Classic Rock band and a C-bomb for my Metal stuff......I have zero complaints...

 

[Steinmetzify]

I've got one in standard and one in drop D, and the rest are tuned to open C......been playing a bunch of Devin Townsend stuff lately. Hopefully they work out. Are you going to put the Black Dogs in immediately?

I'm going to keep the Holy Divers in for a week or two and then try out the Black Dogs. Also, right now my guitar is wired up 50's style with some repro. Luxe Grey Tiger caps from RS Guitarworks. But I have a "modern" kit on the way from them as well. So I need to decide how I want to do this.

Holy Divers vs. Black Dogs
50's wiring/Grey Tigers vs. modern wiring with whatever their modern caps are.

Modern kit should make the guitar a bit more clear and tight. But I'll lose the ability to roll my volume down and keep the high-end intact.

I'm also bringing my guitar in today to get a string-ground installed. I'm nervous about a guy drilling a hole into my 33-year old guitar, though...

I would be too. Hopefully dude is a complete professional and realizes what hes doing and the need for careful. I'll be waiting for your review on the Dogs. Good luck, mang.