MM Vs Nailbomb (THE thrash metal pickup debate)

[Crazy_Joe]

Miracle Man has the power and everything, but doesn't have the articulation the Nailbomb has which is needed for Thrash metal and stuff which is what i play, but then the Nailbomb to me doesn't sound like a pickup made for Metallica riffing.

It is basically the Nailbomb's cleans + articulation Vs the Miracle man's power & tightness.

Hmmm....

[MDV]

Did I read read 'miracle man doesnt have the articulation'????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

[Crazy_Joe]

I meant not as much as the Nailbomb.

[Crazy_Joe]

I'm sort of leaning towards Nailbomb now because i just found out Exodus use Duncan Custom in the bridge, only about 14K (though it is ceramic) But the new Exodus (starting from Tempo of the Damned) sounds more Nailbomby than Miracle Many :lol:

[MDV]

Well I cant comment on the articulation next to a nailbomb: I've never played a nailbomb.

Both my miracle men are extremely articulate (one standard, one 23k double screw pole). Pretty much the most of any pickup I've played. Cleans are good too, especially for a ceramic, but no doubt the nailbombs are better.

By all accounts, in the factors you've picked there (cleans, tightness) the painkiller is an option

[Antag]

IIRC Gary used Duncan Customs in the studio but EMG 81s live on Fabulous Disaster & Impact is Imminent, but by Force of Habit it was EMGs all the way.  No idea what Rick used - possibly DiMarzios for a while as he went through an Ibanez phase.   Don't know what Gary has in his Rico sig model either...

I can't stand the Duncan Custom.  It's absolutely vile - weedy, muddy, lifeless - I made the mistake of having one installed in my FV once.  Just goes to prove how much of a player's tone is in his fingers...  (although I think Gary beefed it up with an SD1 with the level wound right up in front of the amp)

I REALLY like Exodus - possibly my all time favourite band :twisted:

Not sure what I consider to be a "typical" Exodus tone though as I love all their albums & they've used so much different gear over the year - IMO a MM or NB (don't have a PK yet so can't comment) would help you get their sound equally well, but in different ways...

[Philly Q]

I can't stand the Duncan Custom. It's absolutely vile - weedy, muddy, lifeless - I made the mistake of having one installed in my FV once. Just goes to prove how much of a player's tone is in his fingers...

It's funny how pickups can work in one guitar and not in another, though.  I had a similar experience with a Duncan Custom in my Hamer Special, then I put it in a homemade (not-very-)SuperStrat and it sounded... OK.  

The same Strat originally had a DM MegaDrive which sounded thin, harsh and horrible - I put that in a Hamer Vector and suddenly it was huge and powerful.  So almost the exact opposite of the D.Custom.  :?

[Antag]

It's funny how pickups can work in one guitar and not in another, though.  I had a similar experience with a Duncan Custom in my Hamer Special, then I put it in a homemade (not-very-)SuperStrat and it sounded... OK.

True enough, but you wouldn't believe how truly awful the Custom was in that V - put me off that pickup for life.  I've had the JB work well in some guitars, but lousy in others.  Always liked the Distortion (still do).  But discovering BKP has given me so much more tonal variation & made me more demanding about my sound.

FWIW the V got an MM a few months ago & is back in favour now :twisted:

[Philly Q]

FWIW the V got an MM a few months ago & is back in favour now :twisted:

A V should never be out of favour for long!!!  :D

[Miracle Man Matt]

The MM is far morte defined and accurate for thrash metal as it is very tight and focused as well as having godly bottom end

[Crazy_Joe]

I'm not so sure, i am a big fan of thrash metal, my favourite genre, and hardly any thrash bands use pinch harmonics in their riffs, only on the high strings when soloing. Riffs need to be defined and you need to hear each note clearly and agressivly with a lot of pick attack, and i think the Nailbomb's description fits that better.

Edit: though i havn't tried it so i wouldn't really know.

[MDV]

I wouldnt have thought the A5 nailbomb would out-do the ceramic miracle man for thrash.

It has superb definition for low string ultra-fast chugging. I cant say for certain, but I'm 90% sure the nailbomb isnt up to the MM standard for that.

[Crazy_Joe]

I really don't know, what i need is a good recording of 2 of exactly the same tracks with both pickups so i cant stand them up side by side.

[Crazy_Joe]

Actually i changed my mind, MM does seem better now.

[octavio_amzer]

mmmm... I had the same dilemma as you!!

and this is what I found out...

yes... the Nailbomb is much more articulate for chords in high gain, cleans up better, cuts in a mix better.

BUT. The Miracle man is stronger, chuggier, tighter, and sounds AWESOME with powerchords (thrash main chord).

Nailbombs sound great for thrash also! but not like a Miracle Man.

then after I found all this out... I wanted a more unique sounding pickup that could be a "balance". I play in my own band and I'm starting to record and everything so I wanted a Jack of all trades on the "heavy side". So I decided to try out the Painkiller for all this.

so it all depends on what you want.

If I wanted to play Metallica or LOTS of 80s Thrash I'd get a Miracle Man no doubts about that!

the Nailbomb will do thrash also... but not as THICK and POWERFULL as a Miracle Man.

and I also don't get why people say that the Miracle Man is only good for pinching.

all in all I prefer a Painkiller (I hope it works out)  :D