Lower output p/ups for metal

[Nolly]

To answer the OP, the Mule is a '59 PAF clone. You should find it to be tighter, clearer and richer than the Duncan '59. I've had good results using a Mule for metal (here's a clip if you're interested: http://soundcloud.com/nolly/blackmachine-b2-burl-high-gain), but you could also consider a Riff Raff for a brighter, more focussed and more punchy slant on the PAF sound.

[mbchepburn]

Alnicos actually do boost the mids in terms of it being the same pickup. If you had 2 of the exact same pickups, one with the ceramics and the the other with alnicos, the mid will appear boosted since its not as compressed. That doesn't go to say you can;t get a scooped sounding alnico pickup though. I just suggested the alnico since he doesn't want it to sound as compressed.  8)

This is completely false.  For one, you're grouping all alnicos together, Alnico 2,3,4,5 and 8 all sound totally different and have different levels of midrange.

Ceramic magnets generally have plenty of mids, whereas certain alnicos (3, 5 and to some extent 4) sound quite scooped.

Hey I'm just saying what Tim told me when I was choosing the Nailbomb for me new guitar. He said when you sway an alnico pickup for a ceramic magnet, the ceramics smooth out the mids, tighten the bottom end gives it a good cut in the top end. So really I'm just saying it's what I heard from the horses mouth. That's not to say you can't get a ceramic pickup with plenty of mids, just look at the Aftermath and Painkiller stats. I'm just pointing out if you swap a pickup that's designed with an Alnico magnet to Ceramic, it WILL smooth out the mids unless you rewire to compensate for the difference.

[artypaul]

Hey Nolly - that tone you're getting is great! If that's a Mule, then I have no problem with output issues. I'm not sure I want anything brighter or more focused. Airy and organic with power is what I'm after, and that seemed to have it to me. Screaming metal with a touch of southern rock, if that makes any sense at all...

P.