Differences Between Black Dog and Miracle Man?

[darrenw5094]

I am thinking of pulling the trigger on a MM set for my Ibanez Jem to replace the Evo's. MM is what BKP advise for Vai tones, although that is slightly beyond me.

The only BKP i didn't get on with, was the Black Dog with it's big low mids and smooth upper mids. The EQ chart with the MM looks a bit similar as the BD and i would rather something more balanced.

I have a clatter of other BKP already, but not the MM or Juggset, so the MM is a bit tempting to try out.

[Dave Sloven]

Maybe the EQ chart is misleading.  They sound very different to me.  Sort of like comparing the Cold Sweat to the A-Bomb.

[darrenw5094]

Maybe the EQ chart is misleading.  They sound very different to me.  Sort of like comparing the Cold Sweat to the A-Bomb.

Actually the EQ chart now that i look at it, doesn't look alike. But the description of extra low mids and smooth uppers has me thinking they are kinda similar. But maybe not then.

[ericsabbath]

don't worry
they're nothing like

the miracle man has similar specs and voicing to the dimarzio steve's special (that isn't related to steve vai, but john petrucci used it for a while)

the miracle man is much hotter, punchier, less middy and more treble heavy

[darrenw5094]

the miracle man has similar specs and voicing to the dimarzio steve's special (that isn't related to steve vai, but john petrucci used it for a while)

the miracle man is much hotter, punchier, less middy and more treble heavy

Yes, i want the hotter pup to match the ceramic Evo, which is awfull for mere mortals and the puchy bit sounds good.

So, is it a balanced pup or is it a bit scooped? I prefer balanced pups in general, but scooped i don't like at all.

[ericsabbath]

I wouldn't call it scooped, but it does have more bass and treble than center and upper mids
the c-bomb sounds more balanced, but hotter and not as refined

[darrenw5094]

I wouldn't call it scooped, but it does have more bass and treble than center and upper mids
the c-bomb sounds more balanced, but hotter and not as refined

The C-Bomb is one i considered also, but i have a A-Bomb in a LP and it's very shy in the bottom end i think.

So, i might take the plunge with the MM in a few weeks and see what it sounds like.

[ericsabbath]

perhaps you don't have a-bomb close enough to strings
both nailbomb versions are quite bass and low mid heavy
and both were bassier than the black dog in the same guitar

[darrenw5094]

perhaps you don't have a-bomb close enough to strings
both nailbomb versions are quite bass and low mid heavy
and both were bassier than the black dog in the same guitar

Maybe i need to tweak that one up a pinch. But people tell me that there is a danger of ghost notes when super close to the strings.

[gepetto33]

Re: Differences Between Black Dog and Miracle Man?

Night and day. The Black Dog was the pickup that stayed in my guitar the longest, and the Miracle Man was the shortest (maybe 24 hours?), so by praxis of opposites you should love the MM. 

Directly after the low mids the Miracle Man has a large scoop until the high end, to which it has plenty of. The scooped character means it should be good for leads and not so much for big wide chords. Like all BKP's it's plenty tight, so unless you value midrange greatly it should be a good pickup for you.

[Alex]

What they both have in common is a generous amount of low mids. I used the MM quite a long time in my Eclipse and now I have the BD in there, so I would be predestined to share my comments here, but I recommend you dig out my Black Dog review instead.

I like both pickups, but they are very different animals.

[darrenw5094]

Re: Differences Between Black Dog and Miracle Man?

Night and day. The Black Dog was the pickup that stayed in my guitar the longest, and the Miracle Man was the shortest (maybe 24 hours?), so by praxis of opposites you should love the MM. 

Directly after the low mids the Miracle Man has a large scoop until the high end, to which it has plenty of. The scooped character means it should be good for leads and not so much for big wide chords. Like all BKP's it's plenty tight, so unless you value midrange greatly it should be a good pickup for you.

Lol....just the 24 hours then. I need this in white with probably gold bolts, so if i don't like it, it will be a tough sell for me someday. Hopefully this will be a praxis moment then. :)

[darrenw5094]

What they both have in common is a generous amount of low mids. I used the MM quite a long time in my Eclipse and now I have the BD in there, so I would be predestined to share my comments here, but I recommend you dig out my Black Dog review instead.

I like both pickups, but they are very different animals.

Hopefully the MM will be the one i prefer then.