Vintage pickups recommendation [southern / classic rock]

[The Man In Plaid]

Got the itch to make a more "vintage" style guitar to cover a more classic rock and southern rock feel [Molly Hatchet, Blue Oyster Cult, ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Etc]. I've been looking into Mules, Black Dogs & Riff Raff and it seems the more I do research, the harder the choice gets  :?.

If I was going rock over blues, would Riff Raff be what I want? I've heard Black Dog bridge and Riff Raff neck but I'm not completely sure if that is what I'm after either. Anyone care to impart some advice on what pickups would be best? Much appreciated!

Oh! Guitar specs:
Mahogany neck and body
Kingwood fretboard
Zebrawood laminate

[Mr. Air]

I would say a mule set would do you well. If you want a more punchy and brighter bridge tone then either a riff raff set or pair the riff raff bridge with a mule neck. If you want something different than a humbucker have a look at the Mississippi Queen humbucker-sized p90 which can deliever blues and rock in spades.

[Telerocker]

Def. Mules when you want full, balanced, dynamic, complex, 3D tones with a delicate crispines. They kill in mahogany. I have a calibrated set and this provides genuine '59 PAF-tones.
RiffRaffs are a good choice if your guitars natural voice is a bit darker then average. They are brighter and tighter then Mules, though not as complex to my ears.
Black Dog if you need a middier bridge pickup.

Bottomline: you can't go wrong with Mules, unless you need extra brightness or extra mids. Btw, Kravitz has a Mules-loaded Vee.

[The Man In Plaid]

Well, that looks like two solid votes for Mules. I suppose my main worry was it seemed all the clips or demos for it were a bit bright for my needs but if it is that versatile then it might be worth checking out.

[darkbluemurder]

ZZ Top = Mules
Molly Hatchet = Dave Hlubeck used to play Gibsons uncustomized = Mules. Duane Roland used a Lawrence L 500 = Miracle Man or Cold Sweat. Bobby Ingram uses PRS = probably Holydiver then.
Blue Öyster Cult = Mules I guess.

Don't know where to fit SRV here - never heard him play humbuckers but low output would be the way to go = Mules or Riff Raff.

Overall Mules should cover the tones you want best.

Cheers Stephan

[BigB]

Blue Öyster Cult = Mules I guess.

RiffRaff might be a better fit for early Buck Dharma tones - he mainly used a SG in the first albums.

[ericsabbath]

mules  :D

[Telerocker]

Strat-afficionado Stevie Ray has been seen on some occasions (on this picture in Japan) with the Gibson Flying V Medallion Edition.  This 1971 V was made famous by Lonnie Mack. Only 350 were made.


 

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Same as everyone here, Mule or Riff Raff, though I'd lean towards the RR.

[darrenw5094]

The SRV thing is a spanner in the works.

Maybe a Mule bridge with a Riff Raff neck is the ticket. The RR in neck can sound a tad single coil-ish for the SRV thang.

[Telerocker]

The inbetween sound from a Mule-set is quite crispy, yet no too bright. I use it for SRV-tones. The Mule-neck is nowhere near SRV, it's quite full and warm, a true neck-PAF. I doubt if a RR will get you there, but it's certainly more jangly then the Mule. Anyway, if you want SRV, use a strat.

[AndyR]

Another Mules here :D

[The Man In Plaid]

The inbetween sound from a Mule-set is quite crispy, yet no too bright. I use it for SRV-tones. The Mule-neck is nowhere near SRV, it's quite full and warm, a true neck-PAF. I doubt if a RR will get you there, but it's certainly more jangly then the Mule. Anyway, if you want SRV, use a strat.

I'll agree SRV is a poor example as he does play strat. I was thinking more of the style / era rather than getting the exact tone.

That aside, Mules seem to be in the overwhelming majority. I can take a hint, looks like mules are the way to go.