Author Topic: Black Dogs as blues rock pickups (Read 2386 times)

fbloke · « **on:** February 10, 2008, 12:56:16 AM »

I'm aware that Black Dogs are great for classic rock, but do they have enough vintage clean tone and subtle clip for blues and blues rock? I've heard sound clips and they seem to be the most amazing pickups in terms of individual sound. Do they have enough range to give a Peter Green/Billy Gbbons tone? Your opinions ae most welcome.

Many thanks.

PhilKing · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2008, 12:55:24 PM »

The short answer to your question is yes, but because Peter Green and Billy Gibbons both used a variety of tones, especially BG, it's hard to say what sound you are looking for. Black Dogs will do some of the blues sounds, but not the more Fender like tones. For them you need either Stormy Mondays or PG Blues. A set that some people use to get the coverage is a Black Dog bridge with a Stormy Monday neck, though I like the Black Dog neck pickup too.

You don't say what guitar you are putting the pickups into, or which tracks you like. ZZ Top had very different sounds in different decades.

fbloke · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2008, 01:06:38 PM »

Quote from: PhilKing

The short answer to your question is yes, but because Peter Green and Billy Gibbons both used a variety of tones, especially BG, it's hard to say what sound you are looking for. Black Dogs will do some of the blues sounds, but not the more Fender like tones. For them you need either Stormy Mondays or PG Blues. A set that some people use to get the coverage is a Black Dog bridge with a Stormy Monday neck, though I like the Black Dog neck pickup too.

You don't say what guitar you are putting the pickups into, or which tracks you like. ZZ Top had very different sounds in different decades.

Phil,

I'm putting them in a Les Paul Standard. I like the natural, woody PAF tones of Peter Green - I want to make sure the Black Dogs can sound "vintage" when clean. I'm not looking for any Fender type sounds, it's big fat Gibson tones which do it for me. The BFG tones I like are the early distorted tones on the first album, Fandango and Tres Hombres. A sort of PAF with a nasty edge. I'm aware that I'm looking for the best of both worlds but the commonality here is PAF so I'm sure BKP has something suitable.

Thanks,

Mike.

PhilKing · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2008, 02:11:09 PM »

The early PG and BG tones were both from PAF's with AII magnets. The PG Blues set will get all of the sounds you are after, or for a little more fatness to the tone, go for a set of AII Mules. The Black Dogs have more of a mid range fullness, they will clean up when you turn down (all BK's do this really well), but for the PG 'woody' tones, the PG Blues are the pickups.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2008, 06:53:20 PM »

I wouldn't go with Black Dogs for those tones, too dark in the low-mids/bass imo.

I'd go with Mules the cover absolutely everything then Stormy Mondays if you want to err on the lower output/sweeter side or Riff Raffs if you play more gnarly texas blues.

fbloke · « **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2008, 11:42:27 PM »

O.K., thanks for the advice - looks like PG Blues or Mules with AII's are going to be the best bet.