Miracle Man in mahogany body?

[Studiostriver]

You are going with a Cold Sweat set? Let us know your thoughts on it when you have them fitted.

I do not know what to think really..I will buy neck Cold Sweat without any doubt,that is for sure...But I will check for other brands for bridge and compare them to CS Bridge which should be my bst deal from Bare Knuckle..Maybe Duncan Custom SH-5.I recently became fond of WCR pickups...I found they made Jon Schaeffer`s Icebucker (Iced Earth).The only problem is it is vintage style pickup and I think it will not sit well for neck Cold Sweat...The best alternative I found is WCR Iron Man bridge...

That is alternative combination for me...At the end of the year I will buy those pickups and make a review,with some sound clips of course. :)

[Slartibartfarst42]

The Cold Sweat bridge is tight, bright and cutting but its relatively light wind means it sounds quite open to give it a bit of a vintage vibe.

The Holydiver is smooth, warm, thick and more saturated than the Cold Sweat. Very versatile with a nice 80's Metal feel to it. Very Doug Aldrich and Jake E. Lee. There's lots of mids there but it's a bit more balanced than it looks on the EQ chart. It's often compared to a JB but in reality, it's so much better it's untrue.

The Miracle Man should work fine in your guitar as the official BKP clips were done using a Les Paul. Like the Holydiver, it's smooth thick and warm and like the Holydiver, the EQ chart doesn't tell the whole story. It is scooped for sure but it isn't all highs and lows with no mids, it's just that a lot of the mids are low mids. As a result it gives you a big and articulate bottom end with screaming highs.

Another one you may consider is the alnico Nailbomb. This one is more about high mids. It's incredibly tight and aggressive sounding, with a real edge to the tone. Different to the others here but in mahogany, I think it might work well.

[Studiostriver]

The Cold Sweat bridge is tight, bright and cutting but its relatively light wind means it sounds quite open to give it a bit of a vintage vibe.

The Holydiver is smooth, warm, thick and more saturated than the Cold Sweat. Very versatile with a nice 80's Metal feel to it. Very Doug Aldrich and Jake E. Lee. There's lots of mids there but it's a bit more balanced than it looks on the EQ chart. It's often compared to a JB but in reality, it's so much better it's untrue.

The Miracle Man should work fine in your guitar as the official BKP clips were done using a Les Paul. Like the Holydiver, it's smooth thick and warm and like the Holydiver, the EQ chart doesn't tell the whole story. It is scooped for sure but it isn't all highs and lows with no mids, it's just that a lot of the mids are low mids. As a result it gives you a big and articulate bottom end with screaming highs.

Another one you may consider is the alnico Nailbomb. This one is more about high mids. It's incredibly tight and aggressive sounding, with a real edge to the tone. Different to the others here but in mahogany, I think it might work well.

Hi,at BKP they says that Miracle Man or Holy Diver are less tight and articulate then Cold Sweat and this should be "the best choice" for type of my music from clips I posted. From original BK clips I don`t hear that CS (bridge) is really something I`ll be happy with,but I have not heard how they sound on 7 string guitars either,so maybe the are right.

Beside that I really like Sykes,Aldridge and Jake Lee very much.But the best tone of mentioned 80thies to me is Sykes from Whitesnake 87 era.

[Lucas]

I was wondering the same, how the MM set would work in mahogany body and neck with palisander fingerboard guitar.
Basically Im thinking about installing at some stage MM set in another Dean Cadillac (mahogany body with maple top, mahogany neck with palisander fingerboard).
In my old Cadillac I have CBomb bridge and to be honest I find it quite dark sounding while according to the BKP charts MM has less mids and the rest is the same as CBomb.
Im really into Zakk Wylde sound and MM is perfect choice for that  but dont want MM set to be muddy at all.  would that be the case with MM as well in mahogany guitars?

Cheers.

[Slartibartfarst42]

Hi,at BKP they says that Miracle Man or Holy Diver are less tight and articulate then Cold Sweat and this should be "the best choice" for type of my music from clips I posted. From original BK clips I don`t hear that CS (bridge) is really something I`ll be happy with,but I have not heard how they sound on 7 string guitars either,so maybe the are right.

Beside that I really like Sykes,Aldridge and Jake Lee very much.But the best tone of mentioned 80thies to me is Sykes from Whitesnake 87 era.

Mmmmm, tricky. To me, the one that best fits your tone is the Holydiver. It nails Aldrich and Lee and frankly, does Sykes from the Whitesnake 1987 era better than the Cold Sweat! That's more the Thin Lizzy era tone than Whitesnake to my ears. The only thing that would make me hesitate on the Holydiver is the fact that you're wanting it in a 7 string and I've never tried that (I have enough trouble with 6 strings!). The Cold Sweat is a tighter pickup than the Holydiver so I can see the logic there but so is the Miracle Man, which in many ways sounds closer to the Holydiver.

Tightness is a relative thing. Compared to the Miracle Man, Cold Sweat and especially the A-Bomb, I never thought the Holydiver was especially tight; just nicely tight. However, once I bought the Crawler I realised just how tight it is. If your guitar is a 7 string in standard tuning, I'd be inclined to take a punt on the Holydiver and if you drop the tuning at all I'd maybe switch to either the Cold Sweat or Miracle Man. Someone with more insight on 7 strings may be able to help you out more.

[Studiostriver]

Mmmmm, tricky. To me, the one that best fits your tone is the Holydiver. It nails Aldrich and Lee and frankly, does Sykes from the Whitesnake 1987 era better than the Cold Sweat! That's more the Thin Lizzy era tone than Whitesnake to my ears. The only thing that would make me hesitate on the Holydiver is the fact that you're wanting it in a 7 string and I've never tried that (I have enough trouble with 6 strings!). The Cold Sweat is a tighter pickup than the Holydiver so I can see the logic there but so is the Miracle Man, which in many ways sounds closer to the Holydiver.

Tightness is a relative thing. Compared to the Miracle Man, Cold Sweat and especially the A-Bomb, I never thought the Holydiver was especially tight; just nicely tight. However, once I bought the Crawler I realised just how tight it is. If your guitar is a 7 string in standard tuning, I'd be inclined to take a punt on the Holydiver and if you drop the tuning at all I'd maybe switch to either the Cold Sweat or Miracle Man. Someone with more insight on 7 strings may be able to help you out more.

Well,that is where problem starts,I start making all my songs for 7 Strings guitar and never went back... I`m in A (whole step down) tuning. I changed tuning cause all vocal melodies sits better when they are slightly lower,and guitars are even more heavier. ;)

But to be honest the tone I`m after I would describe vintage/modern..So something between two worlds..I could not live without organic sound,but also too vintage sounds to soft and not cut enough for todays music...

I like the idea to get something Sykes (Whitesnake 87) tone,and 7 string will make more modern approach to sound...

But at the same time pitch and extra string as you sad are more problems also...

[Kiichi]

Well,that is where problem starts,I start making all my songs for 7 Strings guitar and never went back... I`m in A (whole step down) tuning. I changed tuning cause all vocal melodies sits better when they are slightly lower,and guitars are even more heavier. ;)

But to be honest the tone I`m after I would describe vintage/modern..So something between two world..I could not live without organic sound,but also too vintage sounds to soft and not cut enough for todays music...

I like the idea to get something Sykes (Whitesnake 87) tone,and 7 string will make more modern approach to sound...

But at the same time pitch and extra string is as you sad are more problems also...

Ok I did not follow the thread at all and just dropped in, but this post really makes it sound like a Rebel Yell. Modern take on a classic sound. Check on that. Organic? Hellsyes. Cut? All you should ever need. Works in mahagony. Check, check, check. Can hadle 7 string in A? Not really a doubt in my mind.

[Slartibartfarst42]

If it's a mahogany 7 string tuned down a step and you want a vintage/modern voice, I'd suggest going with either a Cold Sweat or Rebel Yell, though if your guitar also has some maple in it, I still think a Holydiver is a possibility. Mine is in a mahogany PRS with a maple top and maple/rosewood neck that is tuned down half a step and it's not even close to becoming loose. All three would be great pickups so in that respect, you really can't lose.

[Arthurus]

Hello there ! Just my two cents, but I have a Holydiver in my Silhouette, and though it's tuned to Drop C, it's still tight enough.
But hell, tightness also changes a lot with amps, cabs, even speakers. My actual amp setting is nowhere near loose, but tweak it a little and you could make it sound like a soup of mud (yummy).
My point is, if you told us what your amp is, we could give you a better advice. Cheers man !

[Lucas]

Good point.
My Orange Dual Terror with 2x12 open back it`s not the tightest amp either.

I`ve read somewhere on this forum that most of BKP pickups have a tendency to become muddy especially on E  string while sitting too close to the strings. Can anyone confirm that?

[Slartibartfarst42]

No BKP I've ever tried exhibited a tendency to go muddy; quite the opposite in fact, which is why I spend the extra over Seymour Duncan and DiMarzio.

[Studiostriver]

If it's a mahogany 7 string tuned down a step and you want a vintage/modern voice, I'd suggest going with either a Cold Sweat or Rebel Yell, though if your guitar also has some maple in it, I still think a Holydiver is a possibility. Mine is in a mahogany PRS with a maple top and maple/rosewood neck that is tuned down half a step and it's not even close to becoming loose. All three would be great pickups so in that respect, you really can't lose.

Yes guitar has a maple top,but neck is pure 3ply mahogany(no maple there) with rosewood fretboard.

I would like to go with Holy Diver bridge/Cold Sweat neck combination honestly...I like the sound of Rebel Yell,very unique.To my ears (correct me please if I`m wrong) the only negative thing is somehow to me it is little bit thin for metal,I need just little more meaty sound...

Hello there ! Just my two cents, but I have a Holydiver in my Silhouette, and though it's tuned to Drop C, it's still tight enough.
But hell, tightness also changes a lot with amps, cabs, even speakers. My actual amp setting is nowhere near loose, but tweak it a little and you could make it sound like a soup of mud (yummy).
My point is, if you told us what your amp is, we could give you a better advice. Cheers man !

Well to be honest,I`m not using metal amp at all.For 90% stuff I use my trustworthy Line 6 POD X3 Pro
http://media.soundonsound.com/sos/jun09/images/gt_line6podx3pro_01.jpg

to Korg Tp-2 Instrumental Tube Preamp(to give warmth to sound),and to my EMU 1212M music card.

For clean sounds I`m using Acoustic 230 (Generation 3 Medium Duty Guitar Head) from 1978. It`s our family legacy ;) My father`s band use it for their recordings back in time.
http://acoustic.homeunix.net/twiki/bin/view/Acoustic/GuitarHead230

All three components are connect at the same time so sometimes I use Acoustic as guitar preamp,then shape the sound in POD X3 PRO,and send it to Korg TP-2 instrumental,and that way I mix tube and transistor sound into one.
Trying to achieve that vintage/modern vibe philosophy.

And that`s it,know you my home studio guitar gear . :)

[Dave Sloven]

The Rebel Yell seems to be very successful in mahogany seven strings.

I really don't think you can think of it in the same way as you would think of a six-string tuned to E, unless (as 5-string bass players often do) you only use that low string now and then for effect.  Most seven string players seem to approach the B string very much as if it were an E string tuned down. Thus a good point of reference (at least for metal) would seem to be those death metal six-string players who tune down a long way, of whom I've known a few.

When I tuned down my Explorer to C# and C standard I remarked to my local guitar shop owner (who happens to be a guitarist in a notable death metal band that tunes to A# or A standard, I forget which, but lower than a standard seven-string anyway) that it 'sounds like a bass' and inquired as to how he got a clear, guitar sounding sound out of his guitars tuned much lower.  Besides string gauge he emphasized that his whole set-up is much brighter than it would be if he were playing in E standard or even D standard, and emphasizes the mids rather than the scooped sound typical of thrash metal etc, which just gets too muddy in his tuning.  Hence the preference for V30s and generally very bright EQ, although of course like most death metal players his pickups remain the old EMG 81/85 set.

I think this is why the Rebel Yell might work so well in low tunings and seven-strings for styles considerably heavier than it suits in standard six-string tunings. The low-end is inherent in the tuning and the additional mass of the instrument.  A seven string compared to a six string made from the same wood has a noticeably larger amount of that wood directly under the strings.  This might tend to accentuate a dark wood.  There are clips of mahogany seven-strings with RYs on youtube and they don't sound like '80s glam guitars partly because of the way they are played and EQ'ed but also due in part to the tuning.

I'm not sure about the Cold Sweat in a seven-string, that seems a bit more mixed.  It might need a brighter wood in a seven-string format.  It is a bit 'scooped' compared to the RY.  There is quite a bit of discussion of BKPs and seven-strings over at that American seven-string forum.

[Studiostriver]

The Rebel Yell seems to be very successful in mahogany seven strings.

I really don't think you can think of it in the same way as you would think of a six-string tuned to E, unless (as 5-string bass players often do) you only use that low string now and then for effect.  Most seven string players seem to approach the B string very much as if it were an E string tuned down. Thus a good point of reference (at least for metal) would seem to be those death metal six-string players who tune down a long way, of whom I've known a few.

When I tuned down my Explorer to C# and C standard I remarked to my local guitar shop owner (who happens to be a guitarist in a notable death metal band that tunes to A# or A standard, I forget which, but lower than a standard seven-string anyway) that it 'sounds like a bass' and inquired as to how he got a clear, guitar sounding sound out of his guitars tuned much lower.  Besides string gauge he emphasized that his whole set-up is much brighter than it would be if he were playing in E standard or even D standard, and emphasizes the mids rather than the scooped sound typical of thrash metal etc, which just gets too muddy in his tuning.  Hence the preference for V30s and generally very bright EQ, although of course like most death metal players his pickups remain the old EMG 81/85 set.

I think this is why the Rebel Yell might work so well in low tunings and seven-strings for styles considerably heavier than it suits in standard six-string tunings. The low-end is inherent in the tuning and the additional mass of the instrument.  A seven string compared to a six string made from the same wood has a noticeably larger amount of that wood directly under the strings.  This might tend to accentuate a dark wood.  There are clips of mahogany seven-strings with RYs on youtube and they don't sound like '80s glam guitars partly because of the way they are played and EQ'ed but also due in part to the tuning.

I'm not sure about the Cold Sweat in a seven-string, that seems a bit more mixed.  It might need a brighter wood in a seven-string format.  It is a bit 'scooped' compared to the RY.  There is quite a bit of discussion of BKPs and seven-strings over at that American seven-string forum.

Thanks for your comments bro...
Well,for me personally I working with 5 string bass guitar,and I`m not using B string or 7 string for effects only by any means...Some songs I composed (for my releasing album) are from D/C/A/G ...It really depends from song to song....

I will definitely need to find some YT Rebel Yell 7 string clips to get idea where it could take me...

Due to fact I`m not using real hi gain amps but emulations I mostly depending on heaviness of guitar and pickups and then translate it and shape in processing.Cheers bro.