^ Yep, I think Telerocker could be right, although I've no direct experience of Abraxas - they are on my list though.
Btw - If you were staying vintage, Mules and Stormies are very close to each other, they both put a big smile on my face, it's just the Stormy smile is bigger for me, they suit the character of my playing better.
It's possible Serratus's suggestion of Mule bridge and SM neck might be a good idea? (Mule neck is tasty too, though, if not quite as bell-like).
I've been wracking my brains to try and remember where I've used the Mules (audibly) on recordings. It's these two I think.
http://alonetone.com/andyr/tracks/meet-me-at-the-crossroads - fairly certain the lead break in the middle was 335 Mule Bridge (I'd bust a string on the SG by then! I used an SG with MQs and an Explorer with Riff Raffs to double track both rhythm parts then, when I was doing initial takes of the lead break, I bust a string... and the 335 suggested "Angus" to me more than the Explorer did). This one was Laney mic'd up.
And this - something called Muletide(!), just remembered it.
http://alonetone.com/andyr/tracks/muletide - all the guitars are a Tokai Love Rock with the same set of Mules a few years earlier. I was playing through a Vox Tonelab LE into a little Boss MBR pocket-sized multi-tracker. I (probably) used one amp patch without changing it for all the parts.
I add those clips because it's possible Mules might be as "something more modern" as you need? And they'll still give you chime and mellow when turned down (though slightly drier/harder than Stormies).
Another possibility is Riff Raffs - they are much more "70/80s" than the other two. BUT, for your purposes, I find them "thinner" and less pleasing when turned down.
However, I understand Abraxas are "Mules in character but more" - so they could be the best bet.
