Best passive bridge PU for a tight and aggressive low end?

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angelspade

angelspade

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I am typically a Duncan JB and Custom in the bridge kind of guy and recently a friend recommended I try a BK Miracle Man in the bridge position of my LPC as I play mostly traditional metal and hard rock. I tend to use a healthy dose of low end when dialing my amps and am looking to try a new passive that has a tight, percussive and crunch low end. I don't mind a little "sizzle" in the top end either as long as its not overbearing. I'm curious what pickups are favored here for that application. Thanks brothers.
 
angelspade said:
I am typically a Duncan JB and Custom in the bridge kind of guy and recently a friend recommended I try a BK Miracle Man in the bridge position of my LPC as I play mostly traditional metal and hard rock. I tend to use a healthy dose of low end when dialing my amps and am looking to try a new passive that has a tight, percussive and crunch low end. I'm curious what pickups are favored here for that application. Thanks brothers.
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I just put a ToneNerd Wicked 8 in my Warmoth build and I am SUPER impressed with the tightness of the low end and articulation. Not sure if it's what you're looking for, but reach out to scottosan. He'll hook you up!
 
I've really been digging the Nazgul lately for exact said purposes. Probably more than any other to date.
 
Here are some I've played that can do that tight, percussive thing well. At the end of the day, though, it will just depend on what your guitar likes.

Lundgren M6
Lundgren Ceramic Black Heaven
Duncan Jupiter Rails
PRS MTL
PRS Tremonti

If you're dialing in a lot of low end on the amp, I'd probably lean towards the Black Heaven or MTL because they're a little leaner on the lows. Not thin, just leaner than the others. The M6, on the other hand, is actually very bass heavy.
 
BKP’s I find to sound too sterile/2D, but the Miracle is better than most of their models imo. If you really want something great for your criteria, you’re not gonna find it within current made pickups imho. I’d instead look to the vintage ‘80’s/late ‘70’s Bill Lawrence’s, Dirty Fingers or Mighty Mites. Those are a lot of what I use. No recent made hot pickup can touch those IME. If you feel that you have to go with something current made the Wagner Iron Man is pretty good, but not that inspiring vs the good vintage stuff
 
MC Afwayu. Tight low end, great singing highs and balanced mids. It is definitely a hot pick up. It is kind of a cross between a JB and a Custom.

PRS Tremonti is another good choice too. It is a bit beefier than the Afwayu and maybe a bit less versitile. It is one of my favorites though.
 
After much trial and error, Dimarzio PAF pro was my favorite.
Not as hot as most, but amps have plenty of gain
 
Ive tried a few of Bareknuckles Contemporary line in a Les Paul Custom (Nailbomb, Painkillers, Aftermath, Miracleman, and Coldsweat)
The Miracle man is the smoothest of the bunch, everything that said about it online is true.
It has a hefty amount of lo/lomids, smooth mids and a smooth top end.
Very clear/articulate, great string separation and while staying tight. Its a great pickup.

-Painkillers are aggressive, tight, and articulate. One of my favorite Pickups I've tried from BK.
-Cold sweats are kind of like a lower output Miracle man, scooped mids, lots of top end cut but not in a harsh way.
-Nailbombs are the most popular and for good reason. I had the Alnico 5 version and it was just a great all around pickup.
-Aftermath was the tightest pickup of the bunch. Similar to the PK but smoother in the mids.

You will be happy with the Miracle man, my favorite pickup next to the Painkiller.
 
im not sure, using a lot of low end isnt what i would usually do going for tight and percussive, but assuming youre tuning in E i would say my duncan 78' would be best for that out of my guitars, its not super compressed and chugs really pop out of that thing, i can definitely use more bass and gain with that pickup than my other guitars and still be tight and popping.
 
RaceU4her said:
im not sure, using a lot of low end isnt what i would usually do going for tight and percussive, but assuming youre tuning in E i would say my duncan 78' would be best for that out of my guitars, its not super compressed and chugs really pop out of that thing, i can definitely use more bass and gain with that pickup than my other guitars and still be tight and popping.
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It's a good pickup for sure. That's what was in my guitar before the Wicked 8 but the low end is definately tighter in the W8
 
Findthetone1 said:
It's a good pickup for sure. That's what was in my guitar before the Wicked 8 but the low end is definately tighter in the W8
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that must be super tight, the 78’ is even a little too tight for me most the time but with my recto and cameron that have the nice compressed feel it’s perfect.
 
CEG85 said:
Ive tried a few of Bareknuckles Contemporary line in a Les Paul Custom (Nailbomb, Painkillers, Aftermath, Miracleman, and Coldsweat)
The Miracle man is the smoothest of the bunch, everything that said about it online is true.
It has a hefty amount of lo/lomids, smooth mids and a smooth top end.
Very clear/articulate, great string separation and while staying tight. Its a great pickup.

-Painkillers are aggressive, tight, and articulate. One of my favorite Pickups I've tried from BK.
-Cold sweats are kind of like a lower output Miracle man, scooped mids, lots of top end cut but not in a harsh way.
-Nailbombs are the most popular and for good reason. I had the Alnico 5 version and it was just a great all around pickup.
-Aftermath was the tightest pickup of the bunch. Similar to the PK but smoother in the mids.

You will be happy with the Miracle man, my favorite pickup next to the Painkiller.
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Interesting...Is it correct that the Miracle Man essentially mimics the EMG 81 in a passive flavor?
 
RaceU4her said:
that must be super tight, the 78’ is even a little too tight for me most the time but with my recto and cameron that have the nice compressed feel it’s perfect.
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It was actually a little flubby in my guitar. :dunno: Could just be the wood combo. Mahogany w/maple top. Dunno.
 
braintheory said:
BKP’s I find to sound too sterile/2D, but the Miracle is better than most of their models imo. If you really want something great for your criteria, you’re not gonna find it within current made pickups imho. I’d instead look to the vintage ‘80’s/late ‘70’s Bill Lawrence’s, Dirty Fingers or Mighty Mites. Those are a lot of what I use. No recent made hot pickup can touch those IME. If you feel that you have to go with something current made the Wagner Iron Man is pretty good, but not that inspiring vs the good vintage stuff
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To second a few others, wicked 8 by scottosan is best way to go. I had a wagner iron man. It is a bad ass pickup. But tone nerds are better
 
For a Duncan, the Custom would be my choice. A step above would be an Afwayu....

But going even past that would be all of the Tone Nerds I've tried, the best for your needs IMO is his Psyches pup...but really, all of his pups have great tight lows.

As Sam said, a real deal Shaw Dirty Fingers is fantastic, but challenging since it's not potted and will squeal like crazy under high gain. It's really the best for your needs but higher gain/volume it's almost unmanageable.
 
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