Could someone explain the differences between the EMG 81 & Miracle Man?

[eighteen-0-nine]

I tried the Miracle Man the other day, but I have to throw in the towel, and admit I probably didn't have enough play time on it to actually disregard it completely. I've now ordered my Holy Diver/Cold Sweat and I'm interested in hearing the tonal differenced between the Miracle Man and the EMG.

The guitars I have EMGs in are a Jackson RR Maple Neck Thru/Alder Wings, and a Les Paul Mahogany Body/Maple Neck

I've done some research and read many threads on the subject and I wondered if someone could clear a few niggles I have?

For starters I've seen that people say it has the sound like it's kind of in between the half way point of a Wah Wah pedal. Does anyone agree with this? And if yes, what are the pros and cons of this?

Secondly I've seen that people have also said it doesn't have the upper mid range of an EMG, which led me to want to ask - How does this affect the guitar cutting through for solos and downtuning riffs? It's just I like how my EMGs cut through. Although I want something not as sterile.

Thirdly, and this is quite random - How would the Miracle Man sound with a Pre-Amp added to the guitar? Kind of to give it that EMG Ooomph, but so that it isn't always in Active Mode.

Fourthly, just anything else you think would be good to add to the comparison.

Cheers again :)

[wolfenstein]

Hi...
To first q...No I wouldn´t agree...Aftermath sound like that...

second...Midrange of MM is more balanced with that 81ish top end....It does cut through mix well...Mate no problem with downtuning with any BKP pickups because they´re tight and super clear...

third...I saw some ESP Edwards guitars loaded SD SH6 distortion with after burner so I don´t see problem way it wouln´t work with MM...

fourth....listen difference....
MM http://soundcloud.com/wolfernus/engl-miracle-man-test
Active http://soundcloud.com/wolfernus/engl-sbs-electronic-active

[ericsabbath]

the miracle man sounds huge on lower tunings

[Alex]

This has been discussed several times before. I suggest you use the search function. Thanks.

[eighteen-0-nine]

This has been discussed several times before. I suggest you use the search function. Thanks.

I have, as you'll see I pointed that out if you have actually read all the original post :) -

"I've done some research and read many threads on the subject and I wondered if someone could clear a few niggles I have?"

The whole idea of the post was to find out the answers to some of the questions discussed, which I still wasn't sure on

Thanks :)

[eighteen-0-nine]

Another thing I forgot to ask is - I hear Tim made the pickup to replicate the Zakk Wylde tones. Does the pickup constantly have a sort of Zakk Wylde vibe? I ask this because even though I like EMGs (besides the Sterilness) I'm not a particular fan of Zakks actual tone.

Cheers

[FELINEGUITARS]

The Miracle Man covers a lot of territory

I use mine for 80s Dokken and George Lynch type stuff as well as Queensryche and other crunchy hard rock & metal
Yes - it does work very well for Ozzy type stuff too - for me it doesn't sound like Zakk - it sounds like me playing Ozzy stuff (badly)

Many others find it great for modern detuned stuff

[eighteen-0-nine]

The Miracle Man covers a lot of territory

I use mine for 80s Dokken and George Lynch type stuff as well as Queensryche and other crunchy hard rock & metal
Yes - it does work very well for Ozzy type stuff too - for me it doesn't sound like Zakk - it sounds like me playing Ozzy stuff (badly)

Many others find it great for modern detuned stuff

Thanks for that Feline. I've just listened to a few recordings, and most of them seem to have a Zakk Wylde tone, I just wanted to be sure it wasn't just a one trick pony.

[darkbluemurder]

Thanks for that Feline. I've just listened to a few recordings, and most of them seem to have a Zakk Wylde tone, I just wanted to be sure it wasn't just a one trick pony.

It's definitely not a one trick pony. I have one in an alder bodied strat and I could do Southern Rock and Blues Rock with it - no problem (Southern Rock = more Molly Hatchet/recent Skynyrd/38 Special than Allman Brothers Band though).

Cheers Stephan

[eighteen-0-nine]

Thanks for that Feline. I've just listened to a few recordings, and most of them seem to have a Zakk Wylde tone, I just wanted to be sure it wasn't just a one trick pony.

It's definitely not a one trick pony. I have one in an alder bodied strat and I could do Southern Rock and Blues Rock with it - no problem (Southern Rock = more Molly Hatchet/recent Skynyrd/38 Special than Allman Brothers Band though).

Cheers Stephan

How does it sound for metal in a bright guitar? Say, a Maple neck through with Alder Wings?

[Transcend]

Just to point out it can do more than the ZW thing as has already been mentioned

http://soundcloud.com/boyes/in-memoriam

http://soundcloud.com/boyes/abigail-ibanez-starfield-vpa-1

http://soundcloud.com/boyes/here-we-come-in-a-heartbeat-collaberation-with-oldrottenhead

http://soundcloud.com/boyes/new-original-song-work-in-progress-standard-tuning

[FELINEGUITARS]

Thanks for that Feline. I've just listened to a few recordings, and most of them seem to have a Zakk Wylde tone, I just wanted to be sure it wasn't just a one trick pony.

It's definitely not a one trick pony. I have one in an alder bodied strat and I could do Southern Rock and Blues Rock with it - no problem (Southern Rock = more Molly Hatchet/recent Skynyrd/38 Special than Allman Brothers Band though).

Cheers Stephan

How does it sound for metal in a bright guitar? Say, a Maple neck through with Alder Wings?

That is the best place for a Miracle Man
On an all maple guitar or a neck thru maple such as a Jackson or ESP etc it is completely the best IMO!

I am wishing for a Maple  thru neck Mockingbird with Miracle Man pickups - yummy!

[Davidjoel111]

I got a miracle man on an alder strat, have only played them on natural tunings lol, or haven't being able to compare them to an emg81 but I've played emg81 and I think MM sounds very different, more balanced, aggressive but without the lack of mids and excessive top end of the emg. And of course is a passive hum so more dynamics and no 9volts lol