Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Marco78 on November 03, 2013, 09:26:54 AM
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Hi, I have to get my first set of Bareknuckle humbucker pickups. I have a fantastic made in japan Les Paul: 1 piece back and neck, long tenon, no holes, 50's wiring with pio caps and cts pots, nitro but pickups aren't good. Now I have installed a Seymour Duncan alnico II pro set but I don't like a lot this pickups, are a little bit compressed and the neck pickups is muddy on low string, while the bridge pickups have a piercing high on E string. Probably the guitar is a little dark, but I'm not sure of that.
I'd to get a calibrated set, not mixed pickups so my choose is from Mule or Riff Raff set. For the bridge I prefer a Riff Raff because is more tight and have a sparkle top end that I love on rhythm parts. I'm not sure on neck pickup. Where can I hear it?
PS: unpotted or lacquer potted?
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what are you playing?
the mule is plenty of sparkle too
I like the mule better from clean to mid gain, but the riff raff sounds clearer under high gain
both are my absolute favorite bridge models for les pauls
the neck mule is amazing as well, but I never played the neck riff raff, though
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I play '70 rock but I like too a Randy Rhoads tone.... no metal or similar style.
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I play '70 rock but I like too a Randy Rhoads tone.... no metal or similar style.
I'd pick the mules, then
there must be something supernatural about them
the complexity and detail level are unbelievable
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In this video have Steve Steavens The mules?
Friedman SS100 Steve Stevens Amplifier with Steve Stevens Demo and Interview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfbSyG05fHw#ws)
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Bridge in the vid is indeed a Mule, neck a Lollar. I think you'd be very happy with Mules if you're looking for authentic, yet versatile PAF's. Like Eric mentions, Mules are very detailed and complex. Balance is good too.
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I don't like a lot the sound that I hear in the vid. I prefer a more tight sound on bridge, while the Mule play more rounded...
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You should look at a set of Emeralds then. They will give you the 70's sparkle in the bridge and will give you an AIV neck to go with it and to get the clarity.
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Phil I don't think that Emerald is good for me. Prefer vintage type.
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That leaves the RiffRaff.
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mhh.... at this point I can think to Mule + Riff Raff. With this solution is there too much difference when I switch from neck to bridge?
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I have not (yet <g>) tried the RR in a Les Paul but I have them in a semi-hollow Hofner Verythin and also tried the bridge in a SG. I had the Mule neck in the same SG and now have a Mule set in a Les Paul (early 90s Studio, well balanced with snappy highs, deep lows and the right amout of mids in between). The RR bridge is indeed a bit tighter than the Mule under hi gain (I mean HI gain - think Soldano etc) but really not not by much - I'd rather describe it as "more focused" in fact - but the Mule bridge is still quite bright (way brighter than I expected, almost tele-kind-of-twangy) and can really handle much more gain than you'd expect.
wrt/ neck pups, the Mule is rather sweet and warm where the RR (_great_ neck pickup in it's own right and very underrated IMHO) is (once again) more focused and very clear and defined, almost single-coilish. I know the RR bridge / Mule neck is one of Tim's own favorites, but I think the Mule bridge / RR neck could be a killer combo too.
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I remember there were some videos where Steve Stevens mistakenly stated some guitar had mules, but it had rebel yells instead
he had mules since 2005, but I'm pretty sure he's a constant pickup switcher
in another video, a couple months later, he says that guitar has motor city pickups
anyway, that's definitely not a good representation of how a mule sounds at all (or rebel yells, or even motor cities)
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My fear is that RR neck isn't good for warm lead solos like Santana or Gary Moore.
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My fear is that RR neck isn't good for warm lead solos like Santana or Gary Moore.
Well, the Mule might indeed be a better choice for these kind of tones, but a dark guitar may benefit from the extra clarity of the RR neck.
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I'm wondering if the Emerald set might be worth considering? It has a vintage flavour, and should be good for those leads, but it might be too hot for you. The main issue with going hotter is that it can overdrive the tubes a bit and warm up the sound, but if your amp can take it then it won't matter. It's only with more gainy amps that this seems to be a real issue. The other issue that people have with hotter pickups is them being dark, but the Emeralds seem to be bright, and would balance well in a darkish Les Paul. It also seems to have quite a bit of PAF character. Doesn't seem to me that it is a typical hot pickup.
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On this forum I saw a video of russian boy with Gibson Flying V with Mule/RR combo. Can someone link this video?
Agent Orange I'd get a real PAF pickups. Emerald are probably a different pickups...
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One of the great things about having a Les Paul with regard to BKPs is that its easy to find clips of each humbucker in a Les Paul - all of the sample clips on the BKP site were recorded in one. This means that it is much easier to trust your ears as to which one one you like best.
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Yes, but on rock samples are used almost only bridge pickups.