Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Alex on December 15, 2013, 04:16:21 PM
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I got a Juggernaut and put it in my baritone.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/theonlywarlock/Guitars/s_ENGLandBKP028_zps17ec6235.jpg)
No more mismatched bobbins on the bridge pickup.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/theonlywarlock/Guitars/s_ENGLandBKP032_zps5690e56d.jpg)
So what did I do with the Miracle Man? Well, I've always loved the pickup and it is after all zebra coloured, so here it is:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/theonlywarlock/Guitars/s_ENGLandBKP034_zps474f48f3.jpg)
How does it sound?
First, the baritone sounds definitely different now. Both Tim and Misha do not need to fear that the Juggernaut will bring any shame to their names ;-) One disappointment at first though: despite being named "Juggernaut", it doesn't create the colossal metal sounds that the Miracle Man does. Maybe "control freak" would have been a better name? It is much more like your sensible mother telling you to wear your hat & jacket outside because it's cold, than the raw and over-the-top approach of the MM. However, I still like it. It works better in the mix and it is easier to hear every single low note, which on a baritone really is very important. The top end is also less shrill. I have a suspiciion that it is somewhere in between the Holy Diver and the Aftermath, tonally, in that it has a fluid, nice top end, and the dry mids of the Aftermath. And again, despite being called "Juggernaut", this pickup seems really flexible and versatile, much more than the Miracle Man. It definitely has an Alnico touch to it.
So what about the MM in the ESP? Well, it took me ages and I've probably done the worst soldering job ever in history that actually works, but it was worth it, it's a match in heaven really. I wanted to get a VHII or Black Dog set, but this is just... awesome. Great for shredding, Zakk Wylde sounds, stellar rhythm sounds. Finally the guitar sounds proper in standard tuning. It even matches the output of the EMG85; unfortunately I couldn't fit the second battery in the cavity anymore so now the EMG runs at 9V only and sounds supersmooth and flat... but not in a good way.
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Love that ESP
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I couldn't agree more with what you're saying about the Juggernaut ! But I might try the Miracle Man someday...
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So you've mixed passive and active pickups in the same guitar? Insanity! :P
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I'm trying to imagine the wiring harness on the ESP
I thought there was some issue with the output jack when going from active to passive?? If that's right I'm not sure how you addressed that.
From your comments on how the EMG performs now though I suspect a passive neck pickup and a new wiring harness might be on your holiday wish list
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So you've mixed passive and active pickups in the same guitar? Insanity! :P
Yeah, blasphemy! :-)
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I'm trying to imagine the wiring harness on the ESP
I thought there was some issue with the output jack when going from active to passive?? If that's right I'm not sure how you addressed that.
From your comments on how the EMG performs now though I suspect a passive neck pickup and a new wiring harness might be on your holiday wish list
No issues that I'm aware of.
Yes, I might exchange that soon, but not before Christmas. I would kind of like a humbucker-sized P90, but they are all covered, which again would be a mismatched look.
BTW, anybody know which way "zebra" is supposed to be around? Black or creme coil to the bridge. I've put the one with the cable closest (i.e creme one in this case).
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There's zebra and reverse zebra, I'm not sure which is which, but in general the screw coil is closest to the bridge on the bridge pickup, and the neck on the neck pickup. Miracle Man pickups don't have the double rows of screws like Warpigs (right?) so that should be easy to work out, but generally the cable comes from the screw coil
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zebra = brighter screw coil (closer to bridge or neck, acording to pickup position)
reverse zebra = brighter slug coil closer to center
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OK, so what neck pickup would go well with the bridge MM?
Guitar's acoustic sound: very middy, a bit subdued treble and low end can be very warm.
What I need: Deep and clear! I need something that does clean sounds very nicely, generally warm but clear, especially on the low end I need the clarity. Ideally something that is already half-way towards a single coil.
What I dislike: mismatched bobbins! I'm really unsuhre if humbucker-sized P90s would work, lookwise, sadly; I also don't want ceramic pickups; country sounds
Neck sounds that I like: Robert Cray, Guns'n'Roses, Dream Theater
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For neck pickup I'm thinking either MQ, Cold Sweat, Emerald, Riff Raff and Mule. Might not be the biggest help with a list of five pickups though... :?
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OK, so what neck pickup would go well with the bridge MM?
What I need: Deep and clear! I need something that does clean sounds very nicely, generally warm but clear, especially on the low end I need the clarity. Ideally something that is already half-way towards a single coil.
Neck sounds that I like: Robert Cray, Guns'n'Roses, Dream Theater
I'm thinking the VHII neck might be for you. If the output seems a bit low, maybe go for the Rebel Yell, which is apparently between a VHII and a Cold Sweat in character. Cold Sweat necks are commonly teamed with MM bridges
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I'd just go with a Miracle Man neck - Simples :D
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OK, so what neck pickup would go well with the bridge MM?
What I need: Deep and clear! I need something that does clean sounds very nicely, generally warm but clear, especially on the low end I need the clarity. Ideally something that is already half-way towards a single coil.
Neck sounds that I like: Robert Cray, Guns'n'Roses, Dream Theater
I'm thinking the VHII neck might be for you. If the output seems a bit low, maybe go for the Rebel Yell, which is apparently between a VHII and a Cold Sweat in character. Cold Sweat necks are commonly teamed with MM bridges
The VHII neck has more output than the Rebel Yell neck, and about the same as the Cold Sweat neck. VHII neck would have been my recommendation as well. It will not be too low in output. It held up more than well with the Alnico Nailbomb in two guitars I tried the combination in.
Cheers Stephan
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I'd just go with a Miracle Man neck - Simples :D
Hm, too much output, I want it to be clear and not so hot.