JB vs Bare Knuckle nailbomb/holydriver

joyouswolf

joyouswolf

New member
Could anyone give me a good description of a comparison between the
Bare Knuckle Nailbomb or Holydiver vs a Duncan JB.
Thanks and Peace
 
Last edited:
Re: JB vs Bare Knuckle nailbomb/holydriver

All 3 are completely different for starters! :)

I own Nailbombs and Holydivers, and have had JBs in the past, but all in different guitars so it wouldn't really be fair for me to do a direct comparison.

What do you want to know about them? Any particular guitar you're considering putting them in or is it just a question? :)
 
Re: JB vs Bare Knuckle nailbomb/holydriver

Brow said:
All 3 are completely different for starters! :)

I own Nailbombs and Holydivers, and have had JBs in the past, but all in different guitars so it wouldn't really be fair for me to do a direct comparison.

What do you want to know about them? Any particular guitar you're considering putting them in or is it just a question? :)
Click to expand...

Well I love the JB and there is a lot of hype about the Bare Knuckles. I'm looking for a little more bass and a littler tighter pick response from the JB type of sound. Will either of the nailbomb or holydiver pickups give me this sound? It's going into a Carvin CT6 (PRS Custom type of guitar, mahogany neck and body with a flame maple top).
Thanks
 
Re: JB vs Bare Knuckle nailbomb/holydriver

Well I love the JB and there is a lot of hype about the Bare Knuckles. I'm looking for a little more bass and a littler tighter pick response from the JB
Click to expand...


That's what a ceramic magnet will do to the JB (personal experience)

(I suppose an Alnico 8 would do the same)
 
Re: JB vs Bare Knuckle nailbomb/holydriver

I have used two JBs for a long time and in both guitars I have replaced them, one with a Holy Diver and one with a Nailbomb.

I like the Bareknuckles a lot more. I guess it is down to personal taste, but for me they are clearer and cleaner and more articulate.
The Nailbomb is the tighter one IMO and it's rhythm sound isn't far off from the JB, but it sounds less mushy with lots of gain and the top end is warm, not icepicky, and very articulate. The Holy Diver's lead sound is a bit more like the JB, it's rhythm sound I feel is a bit fatter and more refined.

I get it this is the SD forum and people here will probably differ from my opinion, but for me there is no way I'm going back to the JB.
 
Re: JB vs Bare Knuckle nailbomb/holydriver

Alex79 said:
I have used two JBs for a long time and in both guitars I have replaced them, one with a Holy Diver and one with a Nailbomb.

I like the Bareknuckles a lot more. I guess it is down to personal taste, but for me they are clearer and cleaner and more articulate.
The Nailbomb is the tighter one IMO and it's rhythm sound isn't far off from the JB, but it sounds less mushy with lots of gain and the top end is warm, not icepicky, and very articulate. The Holy Diver's lead sound is a bit more like the JB, it's rhythm sound I feel is a bit fatter and more refined.

I get it this is the SD forum and people here will probably differ from my opinion, but for me there is no way I'm going back to the JB.
Click to expand...

This is pretty much my opinion too, but I couldn't think how to put it into words :banghead:

I have NBs in a Mahogany Ibanez S470 with 11s tuned to Eb and Holydivers in an ash bodied Patrick Eggle Climaxe (Berlin Prototype) so there's far too much structural difference between the 2 guitars for me to compare the 2 pickups directly without taking into account the totally different body woods etc.
 
Re: JB vs Bare Knuckle nailbomb/holydriver

Maybe the BK Rebel Yells ? They were developed for Steve Stevens to be better than the JBs he used. Although there is quite a lot of tonal difference they have the brightness of a JB without the problematic mids and they sit great in a mix. They are far more articulate than a JB and can take a lot more gain than a JB without becoming muddy. A far superior pickup in every respect.
 
Re: JB vs Bare Knuckle nailbomb/holydriver

I've had JB and a nailbomb and the nailbomb is definetly stronger with tighter bass, but with the cost of clarity and the JB's trademark bell like high mids and wailing bends. Nailbomb is probably a bit better rhythm pickup for thrash metal type tones but still the JB takes the cake on lead sounds.

To me the nailbomb sounded more like a distortion but with a bit less aggressive tone. I've never tried the holydiver so I have no idea about that.
 
Re: JB vs Bare Knuckle nailbomb/holydriver

Brown Note said:
I've had JB and a nailbomb and the nailbomb is definetly stronger with tighter bass, but with the cost of clarity and the JB's trademark bell like high mids and wailing bends. Nailbomb is probably a bit better rhythm pickup for thrash metal type tones but still the JB takes the cake on lead sounds.

To me the nailbomb sounded more like a distortion but with a bit less aggressive tone. I've never tried the holydiver so I have no idea about that.
Click to expand...

The Nailbomb has alot more bass than a Distortion does, but isn't muddy.

I also disagree on the clarity thing too, as I find the Nailbomb (and BKPs in general tbh) to have alot more clarity, even under high gain, than the JBs I've tried.
 
Re: JB vs Bare Knuckle nailbomb/holydriver

richard parker said:
Maybe the BK Rebel Yells ? They were developed for Steve Stevens to be better than the JBs he used. Although there is quite a lot of tonal difference they have the brightness of a JB without the problematic mids and they sit great in a mix. They are far more articulate than a JB and can take a lot more gain than a JB without becoming muddy. A far superior pickup in every respect.
Click to expand...

Took the words right out of my mouth.
 
Re: JB vs Bare Knuckle nailbomb/holydriver

Popemobile_passes_the_White_House.jpg
<<<<HOLY DRIVER
 
Re: JB vs Bare Knuckle nailbomb/holydriver

Brow said:
The Nailbomb has alot more bass than a Distortion does, but isn't muddy.

I also disagree on the clarity thing too, as I find the Nailbomb (and BKPs in general tbh) to have alot more clarity, even under high gain, than the JBs I've tried.
Click to expand...

Clarity might be a wrong word, but JB is definetly more trebly (or high middy). I do agree that Nailbomb has much more low end than either of the JB or DD, hence to me it sounds less aggressive.
 
Re: JB vs Bare Knuckle nailbomb/holydriver

Alex79 said:
I have used two JBs for a long time and in both guitars I have replaced them, one with a Holy Diver and one with a Nailbomb.

I like the Bareknuckles a lot more. I guess it is down to personal taste, but for me they are clearer and cleaner and more articulate.
The Nailbomb is the tighter one IMO and it's rhythm sound isn't far off from the JB, but it sounds less mushy with lots of gain and the top end is warm, not icepicky, and very articulate. The Holy Diver's lead sound is a bit more like the JB, it's rhythm sound I feel is a bit fatter and more refined.

I get it this is the SD forum and people here will probably differ from my opinion, but for me there is no way I'm going back to the JB.
Click to expand...

I am waiting for a set of nailbombs . ordered them last week.

This descritpion pleases me :naughty:
 
Re: JB vs Bare Knuckle nailbomb/holydriver

Ive been curious about a nailbomb set in an LP.. I LOVE Sam coulson's paul tones. But of course, i cant play like that..
 
Re: JB vs Bare Knuckle nailbomb/holydriver

Brown Note said:
Clarity might be a wrong word, but JB is definetly more trebly (or high middy). I do agree that Nailbomb has much more low end than either of the JB or DD, hence to me it sounds less aggressive.
Click to expand...

Yeah, a JB is alot Treble-y and spikey in the mid range than a Nailbomb is. Guess it all depends if you like a push in the bass or if you prefer more top end.

BloodRose said:
Ive been curious about a nailbomb set in an LP.. I LOVE Sam coulson's paul tones. But of course, i cant play like that..
Click to expand...

NBs wouldn't be the 1st thing Id've thought of for a LP to be honest. They're quite bass heavy in my thin bodied Ibanez S470, so I think they'd be even more so in a thick slab of Mahogany like a LP.
 
Re: JB vs Bare Knuckle nailbomb/holydriver

Excuse me for potentially opening up a can of worms, but I read that the Rebel Yells were wound to be like an idealized EARLY JB (before they became a production pickup), which was around 14k. Can anybody back this up?
 
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