Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: littleredguitars2 on February 01, 2014, 05:40:42 PM
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well its almost tax return time and i decided quite a while ago that i want to finally make the jump to a gibson les paul custom. to do that though, i'll have to part ways with my les paul classic. which is okay. its been a great guitar but i want something different now. i'm likely to sell it WITH the rebel yell pickups in it. i like the RY's for sure, but i want a different sort of sound when i get the custom and i really have no guitar to put the RYs in at the moment. probably want a little less output. i want something that will sound smooth and crunchy. thoughts?
i like the mule in my 335 but i think i was something a little hotter than that. i was thinking maybe the VHII. i would love to get a tone reminiscent of the early van halen tones except a little fatter which i'm sure the les paul body will take care of . maybe even the emeralds. i want something that can handle a lot of different scenarios. but not really anything brutal.
and if anyone is interested in my LP classic let me know.
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Medium hot would be an Emerald for sure. The VHII would also work.
The Abraxas would be a darker choice with more mids than the Mule, smother highs and feels a bit hotter than the vintage Mule.
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yeah i feel like quite a few options would work for me. like someone said in another topic, "i want it to still sound like a les paul custom"
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yeah i feel like quite a few options would work for me. like someone said in another topic, "i want it to still sound like a les paul custom"
A Mules-set would be great in there, but a Black Dog/Mule-neck would be fine too if you want a bit of extra chunk from the bridge. VHII is another option for uncompressed crunchiness and screaming solo's when you dig in. It's very touchsensitive.
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i definitely want more than the mule. though the mule is great in my 335. i never really looked into the black dog but i'll do so.
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I have Emeralds in one of my LP Customs and I have a custom set in the other, with what is essentially an AV Stormy Monday and the original Pat# pickup. Emeralds are a great choice for an LPC.
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Yeah I had a feeling the emeralds would be a good choice. Can you tell me more about that one?
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I'll throw another one in the mix.
i like the mule in my 335 but i think i was something a little hotter than that.
Look into the Abraxas. It is all that is said about it (Mule on steroids, etc). It's smoother and PAFier than the Black Dog, but not loosing any of it's clarity.
There, we've recommended the whole vintage hot range.
What do you want from the neck pickup?
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If I had a les paul id definitely go for the riff raff / mule combo. Both pickups seem mega versatile.
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yeah i know the abraxus is mule on steroids but i think i want something a little different.
when it comes to neck pickups, i dont really care too much about it as long as it matches whichever bridge i get well. the only bkp neck i've used was the rebel yell and i do enjoy that one
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Emerald then............unless you are a Eddie Van Halen fan 8)
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WHAT !! No RY's ?? IMO you should keep them just incase later on you get guitar to put them in, ya never know. I must say the RY's are a different breed of pickup. First pickup change that forced me to up my playing abilities. Its kinda love hate right now LOL !!
Well Im not the BKP's expert around here by no means but Id suggest the Blackdog for your custom LP. I believe the BD is smooth and crunchy.
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smooth is definitely a big factor that i'm looking for. if i could find a used 10 anniversary set, i'd probably go for that to be completely honest
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I have all the sets you are looking at in different guitars (including an anniversary set). I haven't anything more powerful than Emeralds in my LP's, but I do have Abraxas's in a Hamer Sunburst and a PRS Singlecut. In my LP's I have the following:
53 Goldtop to 58 Sunburst Conversion - Black Dogs - great tones and if you are a Jimmy Page fan then this is the sound of Rock n Roll. This guitar is the lightest LP I have though. I tried Abraxas's in it and they really didn't work as well as I expected. However they work really well in my heavier Hamer & PRS.
Fake 59 LP - this was built by a UK Luthier and has a really nice sustain. It's had an Emerald/Mule set, followed by a Riff Raff/Stormy Monday set and currently has the 10th Anniversary set. It's a great LP tone, and I have to say that I know why Tim loves this set. They have nice aggression on the bridge but can drop off to such a sweet tone on the neck.
86 Goldtop - PG Blues set - Peter Green until you turn up the gain and then Gary Moore steps up! I really like this set for 60's rock and blues, though it doesn't have the aggression of the anniversaries (I would think that Gary would have loved the anniversaries).
Custom built LP Custom - this has an all mahogany body and has a set of Emeralds, which to me are like more powerful Black Dogs with tons of harmonics. Listen to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKyzfh3nOaU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKyzfh3nOaU) - Gary Moore has an anniversary tone and Brian Robertson has the Emeralds.
Feline Anniversary Lion - custom Mule set - this is the rock sound, but the pickups aren't available anymore - though Tim's Riff Raff/Mule set will sound really similar, and possibly the same depending on the guitar (though I have to say that the Lion is a tough one to top for feel and looks and acoustic tone!).
70 LP Custom, BK rewound Pat # PAF bridge (AV Long rough cast magnet) and Patent # neck. I love the sound of this, but a lot of it is in the wood and the guitar - the closest sound would be something like a Riff Raff set I think.
Hope this helps (but it probably will just confuse more!).
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If you want something more than the Mule, then Emeralds, VHII or Black Dog are the main choices.
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Emeralds.
I installed them in my friend's Les Paul and they sounded the shiznit through my Peavey. You will be very happy with them.
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thanks for all the help so far. still unsure what i'll do. i'll have to decide when i actually get the guitar and get used to it more. a little while back i made a post about the seymour duncan slash pickups and asked if there was anything in the bk line similar because they sounded awesome. and i was told that the 10 anniversarys were actually the most like that. so maybe i'll keep the LP stock for a while and hope i eventually find a set on ebay. and hopefully gold haha. i've certainly seen a few sets on there in the past few months.
but then again who knows what i'll do. i'm always changing my mind
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i think this video might have sold me on the riff raff/mule combo
http://youtu.be/D756154qUdo (http://youtu.be/D756154qUdo)
definitely the sort of vibe i'm going for.
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That's a very nice video. I liked the Riff Raff in particular.
Cheers Stephan
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Sounds good! The RR can kill in a balanced Les Paul.
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finally have my gibson les paul custom. it DOES sound nice. but i do think i'll be going the BKP route again. the riff raff/mule combo does sound nice. but i'm wondering if it really is the best for an all around type guitar. i like the warm crunch, but sometimes i want my sound to punch someone in the face. granted, i'll be running either through my mesa dual rectifier roadster or my peavey 5150 so maybe with those, i dont really need to go for a higher output pickup.
thoughts?
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We're on the same boat. I was told to go for a riffraff set. The vintage pickups are warm but at the same time i'm not sure they have that bite/mid scoop or in your face sound you( and I) are looking for
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Yeah, in one sense, I would love the classic crunch but I play heavier stuff more often. Think like foo fighters or something. They have a very classic sound but it's quite big at the same time. I have a juggernaut pup coming in for one of my strats. I may have to try it in my lp first. Or I could put the Gibson dirty fingers in it which is what I'm swapping the juggernaut with. The dirty fingers is definitely a nice pickup. Never tried it in an lp though
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For me the 1980's is not old enough to be vintage is not near enough to be modern. :)
The Holy Diver has got to be the most versatile BKP, and with the lower bottom end, it would balance nicely in a LP.
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I also play that stuff.. Some say the nailbomb are good for both classic and modern but i never tried them
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I tried the abomb in a strat which I know is world's away from a les Paul but I didn't like it much.
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i think this video might have sold me on the riff raff/mule combo
http://youtu.be/D756154qUdo (http://youtu.be/D756154qUdo)
definitely the sort of vibe i'm going for.
Bridge covered, neck uncovered !
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The dirty fingers is definitely a nice pickup. Never tried it in an lp though
But I did - wandering in the footsteps of Blue Murder ... in an LP Custom.
It really has something going - loud, in your face, not as rizzy as the DiMarzio high output offerings but also not really tight in the low end. Not recommended for bass heavy guitars - you would be asking for trouble - and not only with your bass player.
Cheers Stephan
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Your Mesa has enough gain to squeeze some burning tones out of a RR/Mule-combo.
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Yeah, in one sense, I would love the classic crunch but I play heavier stuff more often. Think like foo fighters or something. They have a very classic sound but it's quite big at the same time. I have a juggernaut pup coming in for one of my strats. I may have to try it in my lp first. Or I could put the Gibson dirty fingers in it which is what I'm swapping the juggernaut with. The dirty fingers is definitely a nice pickup. Never tried it in an lp though
The rebel tell wasn't good for foo fighters and vintage and modern sounds?
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it was great. dont get me wrong. but for some reason i just want something a little different. plus the set i have now is black covered with gold bolts and i'd REALLY like to use gold covers. i mean i could try to swap the covers but i dont want to screw something up
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I tried the abomb in a strat which I know is world's away from a les Paul but I didn't like it much.
Just watched your video and you said you like it alot. :)
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Lol it was nice overall but it didn't suit my play style very much. Didn't belong in that strat either
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The Riff Raff / Mule combo is awesome, I have that in my PRS McCarty. The guitar sounds big and warm, but not muddy. If your LP is something similar, I bet you'd really like those pickups.
The neck is warm, detailed, uncompressed but singing, but doesn't turn to mush. Bridge can punch, snarl and bite, awesome clarity. Every pickup position shines, both clean and driven. In a balanced sounding LP, you really can't go wrong with them.
My review: https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=29247 (https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=29247)
-Zaned
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thanks for the input. still really trying to figure out what i want to do. my juggernaut should be in today so i'm going to see how it sounds in the LP before it makes it way to the intended guitar. but i'm curious about a few others. holy diver, vhII etc
any suggestion what pickups just DONT work well in les pauls? id say this one is pretty balanced overall.
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any suggestion what pickups just DONT work well in les pauls? id say this one is pretty balanced overall.
Well I would always advice caution for the Crawler in LP types. Can work, sure, but can easily not. Warpigs are also sometimes now the best choice, especially when downtuning. The woods, the short scale, that booty and downtuning? Can easily go wrong.
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any suggestion what pickups just DONT work well in les pauls? id say this one is pretty balanced overall.
Well I would always advice caution for the Crawler in LP types. Can work, sure, but can easily not. Warpigs are also sometimes now the best choice, especially when downtuning. The woods, the short scale, that booty and downtuning? Can easily go wrong.
I was thinking just about anything can work in an LP, but you make a couple of good points there.
I did have a Crawler set in an LP (copy), the neck pickup was fine but the bridge was too dark in that particular guitar. I'd like to try 'em in a Strat though.
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Yeah those two were on my no - go list for the lp already. What about holy diver and miracle man?
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Well Zack Wylde uses a LP and the MM is based on his EMG tone, so that should be fine in a LP.
I suggested the HD earlier for your LP. :)
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Tim Mills has (or had?) a Miracle Man set in a custom LP (as opposed to an LP Custom).
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They are way too many options haha
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I'm trying to make a decision too for my Les Paul Custom. I was advised mule/riff raff by the Bk guys. I'm sold on the mule but I'm toying between the BD, HD and RR for the bridge. Although to be honest I think they will all do the job and can handle more aggressive tones if you through the right amp at it.
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you're very right. i always forget to consider how much my amp plays into the equation. i'm sure a few different pickups would get the job done
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well i think the decision is closing in. right now its between the riff raff/mule VS the VHII /(not sure which neck maybe vhII neck) and i think i'm leaning towards the vhII. i've always been more of an EVH fan than a Page fan in terms of tone. to be honest, the VHII was one of the first pickups i ever considered (for my 335 actually). i want something thats very sensitive. that can really hit those squeels when i push for them. and a good bottom end.
if i do choose the VHII bridge, is the VHII neck the best choice?
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Let us know how the riff raff sound on modern rock tone!
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If I even go with the riff raff. I'm leaning more towards the vhII
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Opinions are appreciated also on tge Vh II : )
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if i do choose the VHII bridge, is the VHII neck the best choice?
It is a good choice.
Cheers Stephan
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Does the vhii neck work well with a lot of different pickups?
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I paired the VHII neck with the Alnico Nailbomb, the Holydiver and the Crawler. I liked the combination HD + VHII in a 24 fret guitar but not so much in a 22 fret guitar. The other combinations worked in both type of guitars equally well.
Cheers Stephan
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Does the vhii bridge work well with the mule neck? I imagine it would. At this point I feel like it's a toss up. Riff raff/ mule. Vhii/mule. It's all probably going to suit me fine
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just placed my order. went with the VHII set. it was really a toss up for the neck. i dont play neck pickups that often. and that being the case, i went with the cheaper option. not sure why sets are cheaper than buying mismatched pairs that work fine together. but i know i'll be happy with the VHII neck anyway. here is what sold me on the VHII by the way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfQCGrhHlZ0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfQCGrhHlZ0)
warmoth les pauls are so awesome
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not sure why sets are cheaper than buying mismatched pairs that work fine together.
The price difference is basically only one box and goodies (string pack, etc) for the matched set VS double everything for separate pickups.
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they wouldnt package it together?
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I don't know if it is like that for everyone or only maybe if they are not sure if the pickups are going in the same guitar.
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No.
Calibrated sets come in a box together, everything else is in a separate box with its own coaster, strings, pick, etc
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well the VHII's came today and i was quick to install them. i've only played with them for about an hour so i'll give my first impressions.
they definitely sound the way i expected them to but i will admit they can certainly have a little "boominess" to them. i had the bridge a bit too close to the strings so i adjusted the pickup height and it made a big difference. bringing them further away brought them from more of a rebel yell (modernish) ballpark to a more vintage feel. it definitely has the crunch you'd expect from the old van halen days but you have to really push it. i've only used them on my mesa boogie rectifier so far which isnt as heavy sounding as youd expect. at least not like my 5150 which i'll try soon. i used it with my tubescreamer for a little while and it definitely tightened it up a bit. its definitely a pickup that can handle a lot but its definitely closer to the vintage side than the modern side for output which frankly is something i'm still not used to.
the neck pickup sounds nice. overall i'm not much of a neck pickup player but it does match the bridge pickup well. a bit of a bluesy/rock character to it i think but i can see it working well with a lot of different bridges. both pickups clean up VERY well with the volume knob but still keeps the character. which is awesome.
thats all i've really got at the moment. i'll be posting a video on my page sometime soon so i'll post it here when i get the chance
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heres my video running through the VHII pickups. hope you guys enjoy.
http://youtu.be/m_3FzA-RAwY (http://youtu.be/m_3FzA-RAwY)
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Very nice. I like those pickups in there better than the Juggs or the RYs you had in the other LP.
I especially liked the section where you played the neck through the screamer and the fast riffing also sounded tight. The clean tones were nice too.
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Stick with the mule bridge and do a VHII neck. Mule in a les Paul is perfect for anything. That pick up always amazes me.
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what? my mule is staying in the 335.