Mick Ronson, Earl Slick Pickup....

[Ouroboros777]

I am a hug Bowie fan and I just love Ronson and Slicks tones....particularly Slick's on David Live at the Tower....

My Les Paul is my pride and joy I slaved forever to get it and it deserves better than the cr@p hums gibson put in it....

 As of now I really like the Abraxas bridge , but fear its too Santana like.....I want glam rock Bowie....not Santana....(ill use a prs for that)

What is the pickup for the job?

[AndyR]

Hiya - I reckon Riff Raffs might be what you want, nearest to what those guys would have had in their guitars themselves?

My understanding is that the RRs are modelled on the 60s-70s "patent received" type of humbucker that much 70s rock/pop was done with.

They do a good job for me anyway :D

[Rock Pig]

My understanding is that the RRs are modelled on the 60s-70s "patent received" type of humbucker that much 70s rock/pop was done with.

Isn't that the Emerald, according to the website?
I think that either the Emerald or the Riff Raff would work, but I wouldn't know which so I'll leave that for everybdy else to chew on.

[AndyR]

Don't think it says that about either on the product pages Rock Pig...

I think I got the info from here on the forums (actually, where I else would I have got such info? :lol:)

But like all internet "facts"... I could be wrong here! :oops:

Someone who knows for certain, put us out of our misery! :D

[PhilKing]

I believe the Riff Raffs are meant to be more like the Pat Number humbuckers and the Emeralds are really an extra kick of power over a humbucker, not something that was stock.  Having said that, Emeralds might be the trick, especially if you have a Les Paul custom. 

[Jimmyjazz]

I have uncovered Riff Raffs in a Les Paul & I get wicked Ronno tone from it. When I emailed Tim asking for advice, I cited Mick Ronson, Steve Jones and Brian Robertson as the sounds I was shooting for and Riff Raffs were his recommendation.

Bang on! 8)

A raging non-MV 70's Marshall helps a wee bit ;-)

[Rock Pig]

Aha, this is what I was remembering (poorly):

We have long admired the Bare Knuckle Emerald pickups which are based on the higher output pickups that were found on the Les Paul Customs of the early to mid 70s but always fancied putting them in a guitar that suited them.
And they sound just great!

I was thinking of early seventies "patent" 'buckers as opposed to later PAFs which I believe the Riff Raffs were modelled on (60s PAFs had much more kick and grit than 50s versions, as in the Riff Raff as opposed to the Mule)
And that in mind I'm going to stick my colours to the whatsitcalled (the exact phrase eludes me right now) and reccomend the Emeralds, albeit closely folowed by the Riff Raffs.

[Ouroboros777]

that makes it real tough for me to decide lol.....if anyone knows Bowies recordings really well.

 The tone thats always haunted me is Earl Slicks at David Live at the Tower. Especially on Sweet Thing at about 1 57 I think....I might be wrong my ipod just died  :shock: