PRS Custom 24 and Miracle Man (Bridge)

[Lucas]

If you are worried about the MM neck a MM/CS combo should work

I have a WP neck and find it doesn't have great cleans through my Peavey. Apparently the MM neck is very similar.  I haven't had this issue with CS and NB neck pickups through the same amp

Thanks!.
Recently I found really good deal on ebay on used Dean Cadillac (yes, another one, love them!). Guitar is LP style, mahogany body, neck with rosewood fretboard.
As MM set was alluring me for a long time plus Im a big fan of Zakk Wylde, was thinking what pickup to put into it.

Based on many reviews, youtube clips I came to the conclusion that MM set in LP style guitar, especially tuned to Eb might be a bit dark.

And there`s a problem.
I want that Dean to be 'monster', 'shredding', 'bad azz', 'colossal metal sounding' 'ground shaking' piece of metal mother F**** 
Also I want to keep that Zakk Wylde-ish, Black Label Society sound which MM set can deliver.

I also have another Dean Caddy with CBomb/CS combo, so I would like to avoid Cold Sweat in the neck position and try something different.

Agent Orange, so do you think that MM bridge would do fine in LP style in Eb tuning? Hope it wouldn`t be too dark and muddy!

And what about the NECK?
What other options do I have for big, bad azz, fluid, colossal sounding leads?

VHII neck? I`m really interested in that neck pup, would it match MM bridge despite the fact of huge difference in output?
Black Hawk are ruled out, not my taste.

[Dave Sloven]

I have to admit that I didn't put much effort into experimenting with the volume control on the Warpig neck.  That might have sorted the issue out.  But the A-Pig bridge was very dark in my Explorer and just didn't give me far to go in terms of brighter tones.

You might want to consider a Nailbomb set with the ceramic bridge option.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp8bYUWMBSE

I like the Nailbomb neck quite a bit.  Very different character from the Cold Sweat neck.  You might also want to consider a Rebel Yell neck, which is similar to the CS neck but apparently brighter.  I would keep it in mind.  But you might find that a MM neck does the job if you end up going for a MM bridge, if you are good with using the volume control and/or install a series/parallel switch on the neck.

The only BKPs I have direct experience of are the Nailbomb neck, A-Bomb, A-Pig, Emerald set, Cold Sweat set, and Stockholm bridge.  On the MM I can only go by clips and what others have said.

 

[Lucas]

Many thanks, I do appreciate your help.

I think I`ll try to gather more information about MM set, especially neck one. Have to find any MM set/neck users here. Anyone?
Also, I`ll try to email BKP team for some advise as well, will see that they say.

Anyway, IF MM neck is too dark/muddy in LP style guitar in Eb tuning I reckon that I`m left with 2 options:

Nailbomb neck (which sounds fantastic indeed, have to agree with that. I like that 'woodiness' and attitude which RY neck in my opinion is missing)
VHII neck, but my main concern with this one is output and vintage voicing when paired with MM bridge.

[ericsabbath]

the mm neck has a quite fat and round sound, with lots of sustai, but not really an aggressive tone
not bitey like the bridge pup, if that's what you want
but I wouldn't say it was overly dark or bassy in my les paul copy
sounded good, but I prefer lower output models

I didn't enjoy the neck nailbomb too much
it was quite hot, but too scooped and stratty for my taste
paired with a bridge cold sweat, it could work pretty well for something like king's x, though

perhaps the neck painkiller might deliver what you're looking for

[Lucas]

Cheers, that was really informative, thanks a million!

Eric Hellstyle, what about VHII neck, as far as I can see you own the set as well? Would VHII keep up with MM bridge?
and how would you describe VHII neck?

[Dave Sloven]

I think littleredguitars2 made a video of a VHII set in one of his Les Pauls.

EDIT: go to 5:30 and you'll hear the VHII neck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_3FzA-RAwY

[Lucas]

Many thanks Agent Orange.

At this point I`m pretty much convinced and leaning towards Nailbomb neck. I`ll email BKP team anyway, will see what they`ll say.

Judging by this clip as well as others on youtube, VHII is too vintage sounding (still nice pup anyway) and (unless pushed by Tubescreamer or something) wouldn`t give that modern, pissed off and fluid at the same time lead tone. Plus I doubt if it could keep up with MM bridge on hi gain settings. I suppose Nailbomb neck will be safer choice but as I mention before, I`ll contact BKP for more info.

What I like about Naibomb neck is that woodiness (more present in BKP website clip anyway) and attitude.

check that youtube clip with Nailbombs, interesting.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hetxfRS3xM&list=UUrCFLaN4SH6U0MiI_2vPo1A

[darkbluemurder]

Would VHII keep up with MM bridge?
and how would you describe VHII neck?

I am not Eric but I own both pickups. The VHII neck is the hottest neck pickup in the vintage hot category and should easily be able to keep up with the Miracle Man bridge. I had it together with an Alnico Nailbomb in two different guitars and it kept up easily with it. Currently I have it paired with the Crawler bridge in my PRS Custom.

The VHII neck is hot for a vintage vibed pickup. It can be creamy but it also lends itself well to aggressive playing styles. The Cold Sweat neck would be slightly brighter and not quite as big sounding.

Never played the Nailbomb neck or Miracle Man neck. Going by specs the Miracle Man neck does not seem like something I'd be interested in since I rather like bright low output pickups for the neck position.

Cheers Stephan

[ericsabbath]

I wouldnt call the neck vhii hot or aggressive but it's quite loud and sounds bigger and punchier than a mule and the cold sweat
The cold sweat has a more dense and focused tone, though

[ericsabbath]

The neck vhii sounds pretty good in the bridge and pretty close to the bridge riff raff, but a bit scooped in comparison, so maybe the bridge riff might do well in the neck as well, but delivering more mids

[Dave Sloven]

What I like about Naibomb neck is that woodiness (more present in BKP website clip anyway) and attitude.

check that youtube clip with Nailbombs, interesting.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hetxfRS3xM&list=UUrCFLaN4SH6U0MiI_2vPo1A

I'm not much of a lead player at all but that clip is pretty much on the mark.  If you like it I'd go with the NB neck

[Lucas]

Thanks guys for great input (like always!)

Hahahaha Now I`m even more confused that I was before 
I remember I wasn`t even that much confused when I was getting my first BK pup - Cbomb, just went through all clips, liked CBomb and bought it. Simple as that 
When I was getting my second one - CS neck, I followed BKP staff recommendation. Easy enough again. Was replacing Dean DMT Michael Angelo Batio neck pickup which sounds fantastic on Dean website, but not as good in reality...
And now I`m really torn
Anyway...


Ok, Miracle Man neck is completely out of the game now.
So it`s only Nailbomb vs VHII

Which one is more precise for fast sweep picking, appregios ect.? I don`t want the neck pup to be loose and muddy and getting lost with fast leads. Precision and defined tone with 'attitude' that`s what Im after. Think Zakk Wylde 'tone' on the Bridge (that`s already sorted) and Zakk`s crazy 'leads' on neck pup.

I`m intending to create a 'monster', 'shredding', 'bad azz', 'colossal metal sounding' 'ground shaking' piece of metal mother F**** from that guitar. No prisoners! 

Ps, I already have CS neck in another Dean so now want something different all together.

Cheers and thanks a million!
You guys rock!

[ericsabbath]

why don't you consider a neck painkiller? it should be hotter and middier than those two
the vhii is not in your description, in my opinion, but I'm no shredder
it's pretty much a bigger sounding PAF tone, kinda "acoustic" sounding
the nailbomb has what it takes, but it has a quite scooped and single coilish sound

[Lucas]

I haven`t consider Painkiller neck, sorry.
It seems to quite popular especially in the neck position.
As I was reading some reviews, one forum member was praising Painkiller`s highs, apparently they`re very musical and great sounding but at the same time stated that pickup gets muddy on lower strings.

Due to it`s focus in mids would it not be too much in all mahogany/ rosewood guitar tuned to Eb?

cheers

[ericsabbath]

maple neck les pauls are even middier than regular les pauls in my experience, and that was never a problem
I had a '78 greco lp standard with maple neck and a black dog
that thing was absurdly middy and awesome
the holy diver doesn't work well in SGs, but I heard the painkiller set sounds great
I don't think that should be a problem at all
if the lower strings get bassy, just lower the pickup and screws