Seymour Duncan TB-4 or Miracle Man?

[Ray Guy]

I've got a number of questions.

Which one is easier to get harmonics? Can I still hear the notes clearly on distortion with high volume using MM? Is the MM suitable on the bridge for guitars with tremolo?

What if I can't decide and put TB4 on bridge and MM on neck? Good choice?

[Antag]

Which one is easier to get harmonics?

MM by a mile.

Can I still hear the notes clearly on distortion with high volume using MM?

Yes, much more than the TB4.  Clarity is one of BKP's great selling points (& applies equally to pretty much the entire range)

Is the MM suitable on the bridge for guitars with tremolo?

Yes, definitely

What if I can't decide and put TB4 on bridge and MM on neck? Good choice?

No, bad choice.  MM neck is pretty pokey - it'll massacre the TB4 bridge.

[Antag]

& sorry if this sounds facetious, but do you seriously expect anyone to answer "TB-4" in the Bare Knuckle forum? :)

[Philly Q]

What if I can't decide and put TB4 on bridge and MM on neck? Good choice?

That doesn't get round your "can't decide" problem - a MM neck sounds totally different from a MM bridge.  Just as a JB neck (if there was such a thing) would sound nothing like a JB bridge.

[dave_mc]

a MM will massacre a JB, IMO.

though it's worth keeping in mind that the MM is ceramic... if you want alnico V tone (as the jb is), you may want to consider some other jb's.

[Antag]

...it's worth keeping in mind that the MM is ceramic... if you want alnico V tone (as the jb is)...

Yes, there's also the question of how radical a departure from the JB he wants.

FWIW, I don't think it's a huge deal that MM is Ceramic whereas the JB is A5.  Just because you like a pickup that has one particular magnet doesn't mean you can't like pickups that have a different one.  I interchange between a variety of guitars with A5 pickups (Holy Diver mainly, some Nailbomb) & Ceramic (Miracle Man, Painkiller & dare I say it, Duncan Distortion).  Horses for courses.... :)

[HTH AMPS]

There's also the point that the JB and MM sound nothing alike - the JB has a really pokey midrange and less bass whereas the MM has a beefy bass end with a scooped (to my ears) midrange.

The closest BKP to the JB would be the Nailbomb and it absolutely SLAYS the JB.  It's very much in the same vein with a similar EQ but reacts to overdrive much better retaining clarity and getting really fat on the treble strings with heavy gain.  The bass end is bigger on the NB and also tighter - it's just a much better pickup all round.

 :twisted:

[dave_mc]

Yes, there's also the question of how radical a departure from the JB he wants.

FWIW, I don't think it's a huge deal that MM is Ceramic whereas the JB is A5.  Just because you like a pickup that has one particular magnet doesn't mean you can't like pickups that have a different one.  I interchange between a variety of guitars with A5 pickups (Holy Diver mainly, some Nailbomb) & Ceramic (Miracle Man, Painkiller & dare I say it, Duncan Distortion).  Horses for courses.... :)

yep, agreed. i mean, if you ask me the difference between a jb and a MM isn't as big as, say the difference between a MM and a paf clone, but they're probably still a little different. or at least enough different that if you want "JB but better" there are probably better options.

as usual, it just depends what you want... :drink:

[Davey]

no comparison. MM all the way.
tighter, clearer, punchier, it has a better low end, and no annoying upper mid spike that makes it sound nasal

[Muso]

How can you compare the pickups? theyre both constructed differently to achieve different sounds.

If you are more specific about what exact tone youre after like the style of music u play and bands you like then you'll get a better answer.

I've owned a TB4 and its a mid gain pickup and Ive played my mates Miracle Man which is totally different, its much louder and more for high gain tones.

I don't get this "easier to get harmonics" question I see all the time here, its all in the technique and the ammount of distorsion you use.

[HTH AMPS]

I don't get this "easier to get harmonics" question I see all the time here, its all in the technique and the ammount of distorsion you use.

I somewhat agree as I can get squeels with my Mules into my plexi AND the king of squeels (Billy Gibbons) was a PAF guy too and didn't seem to have any problem getting 'em.

I've used my Tele into the 5150 and had no problems getting Zakk Wydle low-E squeels - it's all about technique since I can get them with a clean tone (though they do ring out better with gobs of gain).

 :twisted:

[ericsabbath]

different animals
if you want a loose bass, blinding brightness and muddy upper mids, go with the tb-4
 :lol:

[Antag]

I don't get this "easier to get harmonics" question I see all the time here, its all in the technique and the ammount of distorsion you use.

I somewhat agree as I can get squeels with my Mules into my plexi AND the king of squeels (Billy Gibbons) was a PAF guy too and didn't seem to have any problem getting 'em.

Absolutely right that pickups won't cover poor technique.  If you can't hit a pinch harmonic properly, miracles will not happen (sorry, bad pun :)) when you change pickups.

However, certain pickup/guitar/amp combinations are going to make it a lot easier for harmonics to really "jump" out of the guitar, as well as affecting the character of harmonic feedback/sustain you get.  By no means is the pickup the only factor (or even one of the most significant factors), but it does contribute.

At least that's what I meant when I answered "MM by a mile".

[fps_dean]

They're a bit different, but if you like the JB tone and want a massively improved JB get Holy Divers.  Or Rebel Yells if you want something like an original JB.

Miracle Mans do killer harmonics.  So do Rebel Yells, and Nailbombs.  But remember there's some pretty big tonal differences between the MM and JB.

[fps_dean]

different animals
if you want a loose bass, blinding brightness and muddy upper mids, go with the tb-4
 :lol:

I found the new JBs to be total mudbuckets with no real value over most cheap stock pickups... now the BKPs I have (Rebel Yell set, Nailbomb bridge, Trilogy Suite middle and neck) are a whole seperate story.