I got a Juggernaut and put it in my baritone.
No more mismatched bobbins on the bridge pickup.
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:
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.
