Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Rubblebrother on April 24, 2012, 07:51:12 PM

Title: Swapping Emeralds For Riff Raff/Mule In an Edwards LP
Post by: Rubblebrother on April 24, 2012, 07:51:12 PM
Hi, People, I am at the moment just wondering what difference I would get if I swapped out my Emeralds For a Riff Raff Bridge and a Mule neck in My Edwards LP, I really like the emeralds but I am very curious, how much more of an open tone would I get and Brightness from the RR/ Mule combination? I play Mainly Classic Rock and Blues. Thanks  :D
Title: Re: Swapping Emeralds For Riff Raff/Mule In an Edwards LP
Post by: Twinfan on April 24, 2012, 08:14:08 PM
I think you'll find you'd have a brighter, sharper tone from both pickups - especially the RR  :)
Title: Re: Swapping Emeralds For Riff Raff/Mule In an Edwards LP
Post by: TheyCallMeVolume on April 24, 2012, 09:10:06 PM
I think you'll find you'd have a brighter, sharper tone from both pickups - especially the RR  :)

Couldn't agree more!
Title: Re: Swapping Emeralds For Riff Raff/Mule In an Edwards LP
Post by: Telerocker on April 25, 2012, 12:22:35 AM
Nothing to add to previous contributions. Why not a Mule-set? The bridge is great for classick rock too.
Title: Re: Swapping Emeralds For Riff Raff/Mule In an Edwards LP
Post by: ericsabbath on April 25, 2012, 02:27:02 AM
my favorite set after trying a dozen different pickups (mostly BKP) in my les paul custom
Title: Re: Swapping Emeralds For Riff Raff/Mule In an Edwards LP
Post by: Rubblebrother on April 25, 2012, 05:44:32 AM
Thanks guys, OK what are the pros and cons of a riff raff / Mule set and All Mule set  :D
Title: Re: Swapping Emeralds For Riff Raff/Mule In an Edwards LP
Post by: darkbluemurder on April 25, 2012, 08:45:36 AM
what are the pros and cons of a riff raff / Mule set and All Mule set  :D

Riff Raff/Mule will have a sharper bridge and a stronger contrast between the bridge and neck positions. These are pros or cons depending on the way you look at it.

Cheers Stephan
Title: Re: Swapping Emeralds For Riff Raff/Mule In an Edwards LP
Post by: Twinfan on April 25, 2012, 09:06:35 AM
Yep - it depends how much contrast you like between bridge and neck  :)
Title: Re: Swapping Emeralds For Riff Raff/Mule In an Edwards LP
Post by: Philly Q on April 25, 2012, 10:51:01 AM
what are the pros and cons of a riff raff / Mule set and All Mule set  :D

Riff Raff/Mule will have a sharper bridge and a stronger contrast between the bridge and neck positions. These are pros or cons depending on the way you look at it.

Yep - it depends how much contrast you like between bridge and neck  :)


Is there not much contrast between the Emerald bridge and neck, then?


(I really should get round to fitting mine, shouldn't I....?  :oops:  :roll: :wink: )
Title: Re: Swapping Emeralds For Riff Raff/Mule In an Edwards LP
Post by: Twinfan on April 25, 2012, 10:55:32 AM
What I mean is that the same wire/magnet/wind as a set usually gives a closer tone match than two different models.

In this case:

Mule = Alnico IV = slightly less winds
Riff Raff = Alnico V = slightly more winds
Title: Re: Swapping Emeralds For Riff Raff/Mule In an Edwards LP
Post by: Philly Q on April 25, 2012, 11:08:32 AM
Got you.   :)

But the Emerald set is also AV bridge, AIV neck (both with 43 AWG wire?) so I'm assuming there's a reasonable amount of bright vs warm contrast?
Title: Re: Swapping Emeralds For Riff Raff/Mule In an Edwards LP
Post by: Twinfan on April 25, 2012, 11:18:54 AM
I can't really remember to be honest!  :oops:  I'm guessing the winds will be closer matched...
Title: Re: Swapping Emeralds For Riff Raff/Mule In an Edwards LP
Post by: hunter on April 25, 2012, 11:20:19 AM
The Emerald carries you more on leads, but the RR will give more crunch on the rhythm.

I like the RR but it's a tad more fight involved than with the Emmy, as the latter compresses nicely on the treble strings.
Title: Re: Swapping Emeralds For Riff Raff/Mule In an Edwards LP
Post by: Rubblebrother on April 25, 2012, 02:37:03 PM
Thanks again for the info. I guess I want to get a more open tone but still have some bite, hence the riff raff, the emerald neck is really good but I find the bridge lacks something I want in my tone, its hard to describe, maybe its not pick sensitive enough( though I was sure it would be)  or im looking for a bit more brightness?
Title: Re: Swapping Emeralds For Riff Raff/Mule In an Edwards LP
Post by: Philly Q on April 25, 2012, 02:37:48 PM
I can't really remember to be honest!  :oops:  I'm guessing the winds will be closer matched...

Oh well, I'll find out.... eventually.  :lol:

If I end up with the Cold Sweat set in one PRS and the Emeralds in another, it'll be interesting to compare and contrast.
Title: Re: Swapping Emeralds For Riff Raff/Mule In an Edwards LP
Post by: Philly Q on April 25, 2012, 02:42:48 PM
Thanks again for the info. I guess I want to get a more open tone but still have some bite, hence the riff raff, the emerald neck is really good but I find the bridge lacks something I want in my tone, its hard to describe, maybe its not pick sensitive enough( though I was sure it would be)  or im looking for a bit more brightness?

If you're after "open", have you considered VHIIs?

Again, I can't speak from personal experience here, however...... the Riff Raff and VHII are both vintage-to-vintage-hot pickups, but the Riff Raff has balanced coils whereas the VHII's coils have an offset wind for a bigger/more open tone.
Title: Re: Swapping Emeralds For Riff Raff/Mule In an Edwards LP
Post by: ericsabbath on April 25, 2012, 06:05:53 PM
What I mean is that the same wire/magnet/wind as a set usually gives a closer tone match than two different models.

In this case:

Mule = Alnico IV = slightly less winds
Riff Raff = Alnico V = slightly more winds

I think they have similar amount of winding (they have the same wire gauge, insulation and dc resistance), but the riff raff is more symmetrically wound
I'm not sure if the a5 magnet is stronger, but the riff raff has a short magnet, like 60's PAFs and t-tops, while the mule has the long 50's spec a4 magnet
Title: Re: Swapping Emeralds For Riff Raff/Mule In an Edwards LP
Post by: Rubblebrother on April 25, 2012, 06:39:56 PM
I was just watching the BkP video Tutorial on Covered / Uncovered Pickups and heard the tone from the Les Paul loaded with A Riff Raff Bridge and Mule neck,, I want that tone!!! ( wonder what amp is being used?). I notice the Mule bridge has a silghtly hotter Dc resistance than the Riff Raff, but will it sound hotter?
Title: Re: Swapping Emeralds For Riff Raff/Mule In an Edwards LP
Post by: ericsabbath on April 25, 2012, 06:50:43 PM
that's within the dc variance
I've seen riff raffs from 7.9k to 8.5k, miracle men from 17k to 18k, nailbombs from 15.4k to 16.2k...
also, a 2% "hotter" wound pickup won't necessarily sound hotter than another one of the same model, and we are talking different models with different windings and different magnet types and sizes

if you want that tone, go for it