Are Juggernauts the best option? (ESP - Mahogany w/Maple, Ebony)

[CraigJohnsJr]

Hey all,
First off, thanks for taking the time to help me out here.

I'm looking to replace the pickups in my ESP Eclipse II (full thickness). Mahogany body and neck, maple cap, ebony fretboard. It came with the infamous JB/'59 combo. I was looking at the Juggernaut set, but I've also read great things about the Miracle Man, Painkiller, Black Hawk, and Nailbomb sets.

I'm tuned down to Drop B, and I play hardcore metal, so everything from breakdowns and fast riffs to chords and leads. I need something clear, but ballsy as all hell. Something that's not too dry, but not too fizzy.

What do you think?

[darkandrew]

I put a Rebel Yell set in my Eclipse and am very pleased with them. I chose them over the Nailbombs as I was worried that the 'bombs might be too fizzy. They are versatile and good for most types of hard rock and metal but if I was going for something heavier I'd probably go for a Painkiller set.

[Dave Sloven]

I guess the question is really what is it exactly that you dislike about the pickups that are in there now.

IMHO the Nailbombs would probably sound very good in that guitar.

[Lucas]

As far as I remember Painkiller (bridge I suppose) was at some point somewhere here described as little fizzy and quite bright sounding.

Just wondering how does MM set behave in low dropped tunigs? Doest it handle well?

[ericsabbath]

the miracle man sounds amazing in drop B tuning
I personally like it better in low tunings rather than in near standard tunings, despite of being a bass heavy pickup
like the lower midrange is its comfort zone

[CraigJohnsJr]

The SD's are very bland and lifeless, in my opinion. I want something a bit tighter, too. Has anybody used these pickups in a mahogany guitar? Can you compare them?

[Alex]

I think all the pickups you mention, even the Nailbomb, will be tighter than the JB.

I'm currently using a Miracle Man/VHII combo in my not-Full Thickness Eclipse (the normal version with 4 knobs). I love it and think it works very well. It definitely needed a pickup with a tight low end and a strong treble response. I always felt the guitar is very middy, rolling off the top end a bit. I get some very great Ozzy Osbourne lead sounds from it (Rhoads through Wylde). It also does a great The Haunted thrash sound.

I honestly cannot say which pickup might be best for your guitar - it anyway has a thicker body than mine, but the pickups I considered for mine were:

Black Dog
VHII
Miracle Man
Blackhawk

I think the Nailbomb might not be that suited, given that it can be a bit darker and throaty in the top end. The Painkiller I don't know.

[CraigJohnsJr]

Interesting! Lots of different opinions here. I am going for a more modern metal sound, so I'm still tempted to try the Juggernauts. Aftermaths seem too dry and Black Hawks may be too bright. I'm curious as to why nobody has suggested the Juggs though!

[Alex]

Sorry, I missed them. Yes, they would work and sound quite modern.

[King IzzO)))]

Check out the ceramic Nailbomb.

[mongey]

I need something clear, but ballsy as all hell. Something that's not too dry, but not too fizzy.

Juggs sound right in the zone to me. I really like them. Put a set in my 7 string a month ago and I have a set for my Mayones setius in the mail right now . Its similiar spec apart from the ebony board ,I'l post my thoughts on them when I get them , hopefully tomorrow

Miacle man and ceramic blackhawk I have owned and they are nice , but if you dont want bright they probably arnt for you

[CraigJohnsJr]

Cool, thanks for the help guys! I just ordered a set, as well as the 550k potentiometers and capacitor. I've seen a lot of comparison videos between BKP and Dimarzio, EMG and Lace, but none with Seymour Duncans, so I'll try do one, since those are stock in a lot of passive guitars! I'm thinking I'll do it with both POD Farm and AXE FX, so you can get a few different tones. Updates to come!

[CraigJohnsJr]

Hey! I'm back. The Juggernauts are in the guitar and holy hell do they roar! I am absolutely loving these. To be honest, it's not an enormous difference from the previous pickups, but they definitely met my expectations. There's not as much high end as I thought there would be, but then again the reviews I watched and heard were on basswood bodies, not mahogany. In fact, it's the lows and low mids that stand out to me in comparison to the Seymour Duncans. It doesn't sound boomy or muddy though. The word I want to use is "body". It sounds like it has more body to it... more power. This, while retaining incredible clarity. I really can't express how huge this thing sounds now. The high end is fantastic too. Not shrill, not harsh, not annoying. It's smooth and crystal clear. I'm trying to put together a little video to showcase these pickups in a mahogany body, as well as compare them to passive Seymour Duncans, as I've noticed people don't usually do. I'll post back when I do! Thanks for the help! Cheers.

Also, for what it's worth, I'm using DR Drop-Down Tuning DDT 13-65 Strings in Drop B (low to high, B-F#-B-E-G#-C#)

[Lucas]

Well done!
It will be great to see them in action in mahogany body. There`s one (or meant to say was...) LP with Jugg bridge here, and that`s all.
Im really curious about the neck pickup.
cheers,

[Yellowjacket]

A darker pickup is usually more at home in a brighter axe.  I have juggs in my super strat that is a rock maple neck with a soft maple body with poplar wings.  It gives highs along with that huge low mid roar and thump that I love so much.

But, darker pickups can work in a darker axe; this is what the treble knob is for!!!  Sounds like it is a winner!!!  What do you think of the lead / solo feel and tone?  What about the cleans?