Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: TonyGibson on September 05, 2006, 07:02:19 PM
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I'm basically looking for a "bluesy" neck pickup for the following guitar:
Gibson Les Paul Studio with:
1) Mahogany body and neck
2) Ebony fingerboard
3) Maple cap
I have an MM in the bridge currently. I'd like a bluesier pickup than the MM neck but with clarity.
Should I grab the Mule or the Black Dog? What's the real sonic difference between these too? Thanks to all those who reply!
P.S. I have a pair of Mississippi Queen's in my Les Paul special which I love, but I want humbuckers in this particular Les Paul.
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I think some people say the Mules have a smoother and more "creamy" tone (whatever thats supposed to mean :lol: ), whilst the Black Dogs have more bite, and I think philking said the neck BD can nail Page's tone on Since I've Been Loving You.
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The Black Dog has more mids and as i hear on the sound clips people posted have more attack, i have the Mules and they are very warm and smooth with a balanced tone.
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I 2nd this question! Mules or Black Dogs for my baby!?
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And I 3rd that question!
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neck LP + blues = Mule
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For general "bluesy rock", the Mules have always sounded like a good choice (though for even more classy laid-back blues or blues/rock, the Stormy Mondays are very cool). The BD clips to me all sound more midrangy, harder bite -- very Page, who often had a quite .... frenetic sound.
The Abraxas and Crawler I might think of as "hot blues/classic rock" and "heavy blues/classic rock" respectively. They're still definitely aimed at a blues rock vibe, but are markedly hotter than real PAF-style pups.
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don't know how well a mule would balance with a MM though guys... :?
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As much as I love the sound of those black dogs I would have to say Mules :wink:
RorySRV,
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It's been said; albeit not by me, that the Mule is the “work-horse” or Mule to handle all jobs/styles well. My vote is for the Mule. However, let it be known that I opted for a Warpig Bridge / MQ neck (ouch!), I might not be a great player but I can be aggressive.
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Hey, If it helps, i was asking something similar to this, and from what i was told (and from my own opinion from what i have heard from clips):
The Mules: have less output than the BDs, To me they have a sweeter tone and sound brighter and clearer.
The Blackdogs: have more output than the mules, and to me they give a darker kind of sound but they provide better distorted sounds and great bite. kinda a warm sound...
Im not sure if that helps, but it was worth a mention incase u didnt know any of that...
CS
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Tim used to use a Stormy Monday with a MM bridge, and to me the Stormy Monday is best BK HB neck blues pickup. I have my SM neck with a Riff Raff in my Les Paul and with another SM in my 335.
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Yea I think that would be a better idea than a mule :wink:
RorySRV,
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Yea I think that would be a better idea because as someone has kind of hinted earlier a mule probably wouldnt mix well with a Miracle Man because of the difference in gain etc :wink:
RorySRV,
a stormy monday has less output than a mule
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It does :P :!: :?:
What a fool I am :D
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When PhilKing weighs in, I would listen. He's actually played loads of these pickups in his guitars, whereas I've just listened to loads of clips (which is not quite the same thing! :)).
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Tim used to use a Stormy Monday with a MM bridge, and to me the Stormy Monday is best BK HB neck blues pickup. I have my SM neck with a Riff Raff in my Les Paul and with another SM in my 335.
Hi Phil,
Have I deciphered this right? You have a set of two SMs in your ES-335?
Just interested to hear your feedback as I am currently eagerly awaiting delivery on a set of SMs for my ES-347 (basically the same as a 335). It's going to be as wonderful as I think isn't it!
:lol:
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Excuse the tangetnt/thread hijack by the way. :oops:
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Mule vs. Blackdog discussion is getting boring. I replied to SO MANY threads about this topic.
CAN'T someone make this a STICKY please?
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Mule vs. Blackdog discussion is getting boring. I replied to SO MANY threads about this topic.
CAN'T someone make this a STICKY please?
+1. I thought it would be pretty obvious of the differences if you listen to some Zeppelin, then some Gov't Mule :P
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Tim used to use a Stormy Monday with a MM bridge, and to me the Stormy Monday is best BK HB neck blues pickup. I have my SM neck with a Riff Raff in my Les Paul and with another SM in my 335.
Hi Phil,
Have I deciphered this right? You have a set of two SMs in your ES-335?
Just interested to hear your feedback as I am currently eagerly awaiting delivery on a set of SMs for my ES-347 (basically the same as a 335). It's going to be as wonderful as I think isn't it!
:lol:
You have, my 335 has unpotted aged alnico II Stormy Mondays. The sound is perfect. Anything from Crossroads to jazz. TO had it cranked with his Twilight Drive and there was no squeal, just great tone and harmonic feedback.
This thread shows them:
http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4881
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Tim used to use a Stormy Monday with a MM bridge, and to me the Stormy Monday is best BK HB neck blues pickup. I have my SM neck with a Riff Raff in my Les Paul and with another SM in my 335.
Hi Phil,
Have I deciphered this right? You have a set of two SMs in your ES-335?
Just interested to hear your feedback as I am currently eagerly awaiting delivery on a set of SMs for my ES-347 (basically the same as a 335). It's going to be as wonderful as I think isn't it!
:lol:
You have, my 335 has unpotted aged alnico II Stormy Mondays. The sound is perfect. Anything from Crossroads to jazz. TO had it cranked with his Twilight Drive and there was no squeal, just great tone and harmonic feedback.
This thread shows them:
http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4881
I've actually just been able to find out first hand as my SMs arrived this morning. I have not been disappointed. Mine are Alnico II magnets too but wax potted.
I'll get back and post a bit more later, record a clip etc. but at the moment my back is aching from bending over that bloody F-hole.
Good job BK make the best pickups in the world because I'm not going through the chore of changing pickups in an ES again ever in my life!!!! :lol:
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Mule vs. Blackdog discussion is getting boring. I replied to SO MANY threads about this topic.
CAN'T someone make this a STICKY please?
+1. I thought it would be pretty obvious of the differences if you listen to some Zeppelin, then some Gov't Mule :P
Well I sure wouldn't use that as my deciding metric. :lol:
Anywho, problem is solved...I picked up a Cold Sweat neck per Tim's recommendation and it was exactly what I was looking for. Happy days are here again. :D
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Hey im gonna change the point a bit:
Is it possible to have one of the Pickup sets, and then, if its not what your looking for, would it still work ok if you replaced (for example) the bridge pickup with anther pickup?
OK, now back to the point of the topic, does anyone notice how bass-ey the mule neck pickups is?? It can do some really deep sounds! . .Or is that just me??