Author Topic: Miracle Man bridge, what in the neck!? (Read 6521 times)

downrodeo · « **on:** June 07, 2006, 05:01:07 PM »

I am certain of getting a pickup combo with a Miracle Man in the bridge. Tim suggested either a VHII or Cold Sweat in the neck. I heard the Cold Sweat is great for neck soloing but I'm concerned that it's not as good for cleans as the VHII. Is the VHII a better option than the CS? I know it is mainly a question of taste, so my question is this: what are the advantages that both have to offer to my sound? I'm into progressive metal and jazz fusion (think Petrucci, Santana, Vai, Dimeola) so cleans and distortion are both very important. Thanks guys!

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #1 on:** June 07, 2006, 05:20:20 PM »

I don't really know whats better for cleans but if you want what will work as a pair, the miracle man and cold sweat is a match made in heaven!

ztevie · « **Reply #2 on:** June 07, 2006, 05:43:44 PM »

I wanted a heavy distortion rhytm pu with tight bass in the bridge, and a neck pu which has good cleans and also for soaring ditorted solo work.
After corresponding with Tim he suggested Cold Sweat or a matched neck Miracle Man... I can't remember excactly why, but I ordered the MiracleMan set after all... The neck pu is different from the bridge, it has a alnico magnet if I remember correctly, whereas the bridge is ceramic... It's supoose to have great cleans, the bridge is not that good for cleans...
I haven't gotten my handmade custom guitar yet, so I can't give you an opinion on the sound, but I'm hoping for the best!

downrodeo · « **Reply #3 on:** June 08, 2006, 06:17:02 PM »

I know the Cold Sweat supposedly has excellent tone for distorted neck soloing, sweeps, etc. But, does it have really good cleans like the VHII in the neck? And I realized that in the store, you can't specify whether you want a Cold Sweat bridge pickup or neck pickup. Does this mean it's not alnico, but in fact ceramic like it's regular bridge form?

ztevie · « **Reply #4 on:** June 08, 2006, 07:48:36 PM »

I will below post my correspondence with Tim about this matter:
"Tone I want from my neck-pup:
I play clean stuff on occasion, and would like a really nice clean/undistorted tone when desired, however, when I turn the gain up on the amp I'd like it to be able to produce warm, soaring lead notes.
Really pretty much the way Trilogy behaves, when I think about it...? Any ideas?
I am going to install a mini-switch to series/paralell/split the neck hb too. Is there a humbucker that sounds like the Trilogy when splitted?
I'm under the impression another MM in the neck wouldn't be able to do those cleans very well? Maybe I'm wrong, do you use different magnet on the neck MM? "

Tim's answer:
"ther are two options, Miracle Man neck-Alnico V for great clean tones, extremely fluid and warm lead tone and masses of power-the perfect partner to a MM bridge.Next is a Cold Sweat neck, still Alnico V but DC8.3K for a more open tone but still great dirty tone-great for Vinnie Moore neck tone.CS neck clip attached-played by Chris Broderick/Jag Panzer "

QWrite your emailaddress anad I'll post you the 2 clips he provided with the mail? One of them is called Jazz Slap :) and the othere Starlights Fury....

downrodeo · « **Reply #5 on:** June 08, 2006, 08:01:04 PM »

SURE MAN! Awesome...downrodeo62@hotmail.com

thanks again.

ztevie · « **Reply #6 on:** June 08, 2006, 08:09:42 PM »

Done...

downrodeo · « **Reply #7 on:** June 08, 2006, 08:18:11 PM »

That stuff sounds great. I think I'll be going for MM/CS combo!

JamesHealey · « **Reply #8 on:** June 11, 2006, 09:37:51 PM »

i use the MM/CS combo, the CS has good cleans but not as nice as the VHII, i've also had the MM/VHII combo I really dig this combination but it's not really great for high gain applications and the CS is so with everything in life it's a trade off but with the CS u get good enough cleans to keep you happy just not as rich as the VHII.

the VHII in the neck is very big midrangey and deffinatly requires you to dig in a lot to get licks sounding fast and fluid.

The CS you can play lightly it picks up your playing nuances very well sounds open and large but remains really fluid and widdly, great for John Petrucci type stuff atleast i've found anyway.

Hozze · « **Reply #9 on:** June 11, 2006, 11:02:31 PM »

Personally I think the CS might be the best allround neck pickup I've played, so it'll get my vote too.

downrodeo · « **Reply #10 on:** June 14, 2006, 04:04:59 AM »

Well, I'm ordering a MM/CS set now so...if you want to stop me...you can try. Though, I don't know whether to get covers or not...I think I will.

downrodeo · « **Reply #11 on:** June 14, 2006, 04:45:42 AM »

Well. I've done it! Miracle Man and Cold Sweat en route! Got the Miracle Man extra hot at between 18k and 19kOhms and they are black-covered, gold polepieces. I hope they come in on time!