In need of Pickups for Metalcore? Miracle Man vs Blackhawks?

[Eyes Wide Shut]

I currently have a custom guitar made from a thin mahogany body, maple neck & rosewood fretboard and I'm looking for a set of pickups to cover bands such as Bullet For My Valentine, Trivium, Killswitch Engage, All That Remains...the typical Metalcore band. I currently play through a Peavey 5150 60w combo.

Now I know the default would probably be Black Hawks, but I'd like to weigh up my options first as I'm not keen on the design. And regarding the Aftermaths and Painkillers, I found them slightly dry.

I heard the Miracle Man & Holy Diver may be an option as I read on the forum that someone said they're great for Bullet  For My Valentine music. I then read a Miracle Man review that really turned me onto that, but I remember someone saying that it's a pickup better suited to single guitar bands, whereas the Holy Diver's uppermids help in that dual guitar area.

Help is always greatly appreciated.

[Slartibartfarst42]

At least some of those bands have used both Seymour Duncan JB and EMG pickups so it depends. The Black Hawks could certainly be good but so could a Holydiver and Miracle Man. With the Holydiver you'll need an overdrive to get to the more extreme tones you want so I'd say Miracle Man all the way. It may well have been my review you read and I can tell you for sure that it is NOT just for single guitar bands. I play in two bands at the moment and we have two guitarists in both of them and the Miracle Man cuts through like a hot knife through butter. It's awesome.

[Eyes Wide Shut]

Yeah it was actually.

How do you compare the MM to EMGs (if you've played them?) Obviously they'll be better, but how are they better than EMGs?

[Slartibartfarst42]

My experience with EMG is limited and I may be a bit biased as I don't really get on with actives but I'll do my best.

I find the EMG pups to be rather sterile and lifeless whereas the Miracle Man is warm, organic and full of character. I always think of it like playing a modelling amp (EMG) and then suddenly changing to a full valve amp (BKP). I also find the Miracle Man to be much thicker and more fluid sounding. Bass notes have real body to them that isn't quite there with EMG while the highs really scream while retaining some serious weight to the notes. To me, they represent the ideal pickup for what you want. They have the warmth and smoothness of the Holydiver (so you're covered for when bands like BFMV used the JB) but also with tightness and aggression (so you're covered for when they moved to EMG). A Miracle Man is like having the few bits you might like about EMG blended with all the awesome qualities you get with the Holydiver. The tone you're after is grounded in 80's Metal but with a modern edge to it and to me, that's a Miracle Man. Thinking of it like a passive EMG doesn't even begin to do justice to what this pickup can do.

[Eyes Wide Shut]

Sounds perfect for me that! But I'd really love to know how they compare to the Black Hawks, if anyone can chime in?

[ericsabbath]

I had a kse style band when  I bought my first bkp (holy diver)
tried the miracle man in the same guitar months later with the same band
both pickups did a great job
the diver is a bit more boost dependent, though
the miracle man is tighter and punchier, the diver is fuller on the mids and smoother on top
both do great fat pinch harmonics and fluid leads
they sound nothing like each other, though, but they work great for the same thing in different ways

tried the cold sweat after the miracle man, and actually liked it better than the MM, but for ealier 90's thrash metal, specially Pantera and some old Testament and Exodus
for the modern stuff, the miracle man and holy diver are hard to beat

the single guitar vs dual guitar thing is bullshitee, in my opinion, unless you're plugging your pickup straight into some sort of toneless speaker bobbin
peaveys are very mid heavy amps and usually combined with mid heavy speakers, mid heavy overdrive pedals, mid heavy guitars, etc

also had emgs in that guitar
emg 81 sounded dry and toneless in the bridge
I liked the emg 85 in the bridge, but it was too fat and round
the miracle man sounds quite different
it's punchy in the bass and low mids like 85, but not as overpowering, and the upper mids are more controlled
on fast shredding, it sounds a lot like the emg 81, specially on the clarity aspect, but it's warmer and quite toneful

[Eyes Wide Shut]

I'm really interested in the Miracle Man. I'm just trying to figure out which one between that and the Black Hawk. It's a hard choice.

[Slartibartfarst42]

The Black Hawk crossed my mind too before I went with the Miracle Man. I went with the Miracle Man partly because I had a lot more information on it and partly because I'm not keen on the look of the Black Hawk. I have no regrets. For what I use it for I can't conceive of the Black Hawk being better in any way. Perhaps the Black Hawk is better with cleaner and jazzy sounds but as I'm not using that guitar for those tones it really doesn't matter. I have no direct experience of the Black Hawk but like me, for what you want it for, I can't see it being an improvement on the Miracle Man. That pickup really is perfect for what you want.

[WeAreNotGentlemen]

I have Blackhawks and I think the Miracle Man would fit those bands sounds better. The Blackhawks don't really have an 80's roots feel to me.

[Eyes Wide Shut]

.

[Eyes Wide Shut]

Thinking about it actually, do you think the Miracle Man would be a good choice if I'm also delving into bands like UFO, Michael Schenker, 80s Metal bands in general, etc? But metalcore will be my number 1 choice. I just want a thick lead tone, as to a sharp one. I want notes to have weight.

[Slartibartfarst42]

YES, YES, YES.

80's Metal is my primary home, hence my love of the Holydiver. The Miracle Man maintains a kind of 80's Metal feel to it but with a bit of extra punch and aggression. My band plays UFO and Schenker as well as other 80's Metal bands and it works beautifully but because of the extra tightness and aggression, it will also go on to do BFMV and Trivium, especially because their sound is so obviously heavily influenced by 80's Metal. I know it's a big decision and I'm the last one to talk because I'm usually hopeless at deciding on a pickup but you're honestly starting to over think it. The only exception to my usual hesitancy was the Miracle Man and life was a lot less stressful as a result. I asked about what I wanted, the overwhelming view was Miracle Man and I bought it - simples. One of the best decisions I've ever made. What you're after sounds VERY similar to what I was after and the overwhelming view here is that you need a Miracle Man.

[Eyes Wide Shut]

YES, YES, YES.

80's Metal is my primary home, hence my love of the Holydiver. The Miracle Man maintains a kind of 80's Metal feel to it but with a bit of extra punch and aggression. My band plays UFO and Schenker as well as other 80's Metal bands and it works beautifully but because of the extra tightness and aggression, it will also go on to do BFMV and Trivium, especially because their sound is so obviously heavily influenced by 80's Metal. I know it's a big decision and I'm the last one to talk because I'm usually hopeless at deciding on a pickup but you're honestly starting to over think it. The only exception to my usual hesitancy was the Miracle Man and life was a lot less stressful as a result. I asked about what I wanted, the overwhelming view was Miracle Man and I bought it - simples. One of the best decisions I've ever made. What you're after sounds VERY similar to what I was after and the overwhelming view here is that you need a Miracle Man.

Miracle Man it is then.

What you reckon for the neck? I do like the sound of the Miracle Man neck for pure shred, but I fancy something more versatile that can also play cleans. But again having a great articulate attack, for pure shred :)

[Slartibartfarst42]

The Cold Sweat is the usual choice but Emerald also makes an incredibly versatile alternative. Both are fantastic neck pickups.

[Broodwich]

Thought I would resurrect this thread since it addresses my situation so well:
Looking to float between 80's Hard Rock: Ratt (DiMartini), Whitesnake (Vandenberg, Campbell years), White Lion, EVH etc and current metal: Zakk, KSE, Unearth, Disturbed, Slipknot etc.  I love Dan Donegan's sound particularly (Disturbed).

So after reading this thread it looks like I should go MM in the bridge to get the heavy stuff down and also lean into the 80's feel (with a bit of extra oomph I'm guessing).

For the neck, it looks like ones from another sets are being recommended.  Is there a reason the MM neck is not the easy choice to pair with the MM bridge?

What would you recommend for my situation?  I'd probably split the neck and use it for cleans/lighter stuff as well as soloing the heavier styles.

As a side - these will be put into a to-be-built Warmoth Tele HXH setup with trem.  Thinking alder body/maple neck/asthetically pleasing fretboard, but could be swayed on the wood types (will post in appropriate forum once pickups locked down).

Thanks all.