Picked up a new Les Paul GT Traditional. I think it needs some Bare Knuckles.

[PINKBITS]

My new baby, and I think she is beautiful.





I actually quite like the 57 Classic and Classic plus but they are just  quite what I'm after. My other Lester has some hotter pickups in it so wanted to keep this one more true Lester tone.

I am after that unmistakeable Lester growl and sustain. Clear and punchy, smooth yet not dull. I love my Gary Moore styles hard blues and ACDC style hard rock.

From what I've seen on the website "the Mules" look fantastic. PAF neck and overwound PAF bridge. I have never used an AIV magnet pickup though. If the best way to describe it is just the middle road between a5 and a2 that could be just what I'm after. A5's sometimes are a bit harsh in the highs where as a2's can be a bit rounding in the highes IDK?

Anyway lads. What do yas think?

[PINKBITS]

[lulusg]

Man that's a beautiful guitar, I like GT! It could use Emeralds too!!

[Keven]

Wow. Looking very sweet. this screams for mules. unpotted ;)

[Ivan]

If you like the Gibson 57 pickups and you want Bare Knuckles then Mules is what you're after.

By the way, AMAZING goldtop! Thats one of the new Gibson Traditionals right? I played one in the shops and they are fantastic. I'm now GAS'ing for one!

[Henk]

I have a set of unpotted and underwound AIV Mules in my maple neck 3pu Custom LP.

Really a very versatile set, the neck pu is a dream for any kind of music, BIG sound en wonderfull sustained overtones. The bridge pu is a bit thin in comparison but when messing with effects a clean base can be just what you need.

Obviously i play solos on neck and rythm on bridge, if you dont you need a stronger bridge pu, im unsure if just an overwound mule would be enough in that case.

I also have a classic/classic plus set(now in my '73 SG) and man will you be amazed in how much better the mules set sounds. Problem with the classic set is that they overwound an AII magnet which makes it sound much darker then an AIV Mule, if you choose to underwind the Mules youll get an even clearer sound.

From what ive heard around here a Black dog bridge pu might be worth considering if you like the sound of the classic pu's.

Anyway, i personally have no problem boosting my bridge mule to bestiary levels, if you need something versatile go with mules, unpotted.

Greetings Henk

[PINKBITS]

Thanks for the reply's and complements lads. Yep it's one of the new Traditionals. I deliberately looked for one with a bit of weight to it. She weighs in at 10.2lb.

The first Lester I purchased was an 01 Ebony Standard with 50's neck. I love that guitar. It's nearly 10lb and I just love the fat necks.

I knew when I was in a position to get another that the Traditional was the only way to go. IMO a Lester should be pretty heavy and have that fat neck. Tone.

I haven't heard back from Tim as yet but will surely have a bit more of a look at the Emeralds. I do want the bridge to have a bit of shove and thickness too it. It's funny the classic plus bridge pu I currently have measures out at 7.9 ohm. Not much but it still has plenty of power.

[PINKBITS]

Thanks for your reply too Henk. Really good to hear from someone that acutally has the 57 classic and plus.

I'll also check out the black dog. Black dog bridge and Mule neck could be nice.

I agree with the overwound a2, they are a bit on the dark side. There is a fine line in getting it right.

[indysmith]

That's a BEAUTIFUL guitar- I played one of those LP Traditionals recently and I was very impressed indeed. Enjoy it.

[HTH AMPS]

Mules are pretty much all things to all people - they'll do the lot.

I played with Mules in my Les Paul for over a year and love them to bits, however I did sometimes feel like I wanted a bit more grunt from them... enter the Axraxas.  the bridge has all the PAF tonality you could ever want, but is FAT and crunchy.  The neck is alot like a T-Top Gibson 'bucker with good clarity.  I'm essentially a PAF guy all the way, but the Abraxas set just does the business for me.  The neck humucker can be a little bit on the thin side with the tone all the way up on the guitar, but this is cool as you can easily turn the tone down to around halfway and get that fat 'singing' neck humbucker tone.  The middle position has some nice jangle to it, though I'd say the middle position on the Mule set is nicer to my ears (not as jangly).

[shobet]

I preferred the traditionals to the new standards. As you said the big neck is lovely and comfy and they felt a whole lot more substantial. I've had mine for a few weeks now and it was the first guitar I ran to when I got back from a week at the in-laws in Bavaria.

I'd have to hear some other pickups in a trad before I'd change mine as they work for me. 

[Dr. Vic]

I have never used an AIV magnet pickup though. If the best way to describe it is just the middle road between a5 and a2 that could be just what I'm after. A5's sometimes are a bit harsh in the highs where as a2's can be a bit rounding in the highes IDK?

Tim describes pretty well each magnet type in the first topic of this section :
http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=8005.0

And here is what he says about the AIV qualities :
« Alnico II is the softest and generally has a smooth bass and treble although this is more pronounced the hotter the windings get .... Alnico IV is probably the best vintage tone IMHO and along with II and III was used in the earliest PAFs-this is a fact and not myth as we've had them analyzed and a colleague of mine has also seen original Gibson purchase orders that clearly state AIV bar stock being purchased. The tone of AIV is balanced and extremely organic, it produces the most authentic vintage tone and sits better in slightly hotter vintage winds than AII which tends to get very mushy if used incorrectly. »

The stock models designed with an AIV magnet in the neck are : Mule, Abraxas, Crawler, Emerald (if I am not mistaken)

If the Mules seem to be the first call, you're right,  also check out the Black Dog bridge and the ones mentionned above.   

Dunno if this helps....so many options  :lol:

So good luck and congrat' for this beautiful Lady!  :good:

[PINKBITS]

Thanks for the reply Doc, still haven't decided yet.