Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Iced Dragon on January 09, 2009, 04:21:19 PM

Title: discriminate neck from bridge The Mule
Post by: Iced Dragon on January 09, 2009, 04:21:19 PM

Hi,

a little question here. I bought a TM secondhanded, assuming it was a bridge version (as was mentioned in the description).
Now, taking a closer look at the back, there's an 'N' engraved and has a red round sticker. Is this/are these an indication for a neck-pup instead?

 :?

Thanks

Title: Re: discriminate neck from bridge The Mule
Post by: Ratrod on January 09, 2009, 05:19:13 PM

Correct, the red sticker indicates the neck pickup.

Title: Re: discriminate neck from bridge The Mule
Post by: Iced Dragon on January 09, 2009, 07:03:49 PM

oh cr@p  :(

Are there more differences then lower volume in neck pups?

Title: Re: discriminate neck from bridge The Mule
Post by: PhilKing on January 09, 2009, 07:30:06 PM

There are many variables in the Mules.  It could have Alnico II or IV magnets and it will have a lower DC resistance than the bridge.  Did you get the cardboard insert/description that comes with the pickup, as that will tell you the magnet type and DC?

Title: Re: discriminate neck from bridge The Mule
Post by: Iced Dragon on January 09, 2009, 07:46:21 PM

No, unfortunately not. If I'm not mistaken, it came in a SD case ... :mrgreen:

Evilbay  :?

So, only through applying a multimeter I could get some info, I guess?

Title: Re: discriminate neck from bridge The Mule
Post by: ailean on January 09, 2009, 11:34:49 PM

Yeah a multimeter will tell you which it is, but it's sounding like the neck.

DC: Bridge 8.4K, Neck 7.3K

On the plus side it's going to be a bloody good neck pickup so put in the neck and enjoy!

Title: Re: discriminate neck from bridge The Mule
Post by: Fikealox on January 10, 2009, 12:05:55 AM

Also measure the distance between the centres of the outside polepieces. If it's 53mm, you've got a bridge version. Odds are it'll be 50mm (since Mules are most popular in LPs), which won't tell you anything, but it's worth trying.

Title: Re: discriminate neck from bridge The Mule
Post by: Iced Dragon on January 10, 2009, 10:42:18 AM

It's 50mm for sure ...

Unfortunately, I don't have a guitar with a neck-humbucker to use it at the moment. But I'll keep it aside allright!

Title: Re: discriminate neck from bridge The Mule
Post by: PhilKing on January 10, 2009, 02:48:32 PM

You can still use it as a bridge pickup.  Remember when Gibson first made humbuckers they didn't calibrate them, they just fit pickups from the same bin in both positions and it was luck of the draw as to how they balanced.  If you are using single coil pickups in the other positions it will work fine (and may balance really well).  I used to have an old PAF in the bridge of one of my strats, with the old Fender pickups in the other 2 positions and it was a great sounding guitar.

Title: Re: discriminate neck from bridge The Mule
Post by: Iced Dragon on January 10, 2009, 03:20:47 PM

Yes, it didn't really sound bad, and indeed I use it with SCs. I actually loved it split with the middle SC  :P