Stormy Monday vs PG Blues

[Hammerheart]

They look pretty similar spec wise. Apart from the reverse wound effect being available how different are they tonewise? Are they both pretty similar to a 57 classic?

[djl]

Hi

They're pretty similar to each other - I've got a couple of stormy mondays (In a PRS Hollowbody and a Gibby 175) and a PG Blues set (in a Les Paul). I would say (although it could be the difference in the guitars of course) that the PG Blues is a little brighter than the Stormy Monday, comparing the bridge pickups. They're both great - of you like, I'll do a head to head comparison - what sort of style do you play?

Comparing to a 57 classic, they're both slightly underwound I think, so will sound more open and dynamic. The 57 classic is also potted, whereas both the BKPs are available unpotted (which I prefer). I actually swapped the 57s out of my gibson for the BKP stormy mondays - the BKPs are way better IMHO

['Ash' J. Williams]

I had both set in a LP (although my SMs were potted and the PGs by default are not).
Pretty much what djl said.

The PGs are a little brighter and have a tad less push.

[Hammerheart]

Thanks for the replies. Had my mules a couple of weeks now and not sure if I want to keep them. I think what I'm looking for is 57 classics but with a better bridge pup.

Initially I just wanted an excuse to give some more BKPs a try and get some pups with some aged nickel covers. I think I should have perhaps gone for Stormy Mondays. Mules have removed some of the guitars dark sounding vibe for me. They sound good but it's just not what I was looking for.

Anybody wanna buy some two week old aged nickel mules?  :D

[darkbluemurder]

Thanks for the replies. Had my mules a couple of weeks now and not sure if I want to keep them. I think what I'm looking for is 57 classics but with a better bridge pup.

Initially I just wanted an excuse to give some more BKPs a try and get some pups with some aged nickel covers. I think I should have perhaps gone for Stormy Mondays. Mules have removed some of the guitars dark sounding vibe for me. They sound good but it's just not what I was looking for.

I think the Black Dog is what you are looking for if you want to go darker than the Mule. They would probably still be a lot clearer than the 57 Classics. I would rather stay away from the Stormy Monday and PG Blues - they may even be brighter than the Mules.

Cheers Stephan

[djl]

I agree with Stephan - I've got Mules too, and they're less bright than the PG Blues and SMs - if you find the mules too bright I think it's unlikely you'll get on with the sms or pgs.

What guitar/amp is it and what sound are you looking for?

[Hammerheart]

Orange or15 head.

Does it make any sense if I was to say the 57 classics make the les Paul sound more vowel sounding (almost scooped) and the mules make it sound more dog barky? The Stormy Monday sound chart looked like it had less mids and a similar spec to the 57s.

[HTH AMPS]

Thanks for the replies. Had my mules a couple of weeks now and not sure if I want to keep them. I think what I'm looking for is 57 classics but with a better bridge pup.

Initially I just wanted an excuse to give some more BKPs a try and get some pups with some aged nickel covers. I think I should have perhaps gone for Stormy Mondays. Mules have removed some of the guitars dark sounding vibe for me. They sound good but it's just not what I was looking for.

Anybody wanna buy some two week old aged nickel mules?  :D

BKP have a return policy - contact them and tell them the Mules are not cutting it for you.

['Ash' J. Williams]

Classic 57' have way more symmetrically winded coils than any BKP p.a.f hence the more closed/darker voicing. That's what some people don't like about them but then again many digs it. Nothing wrong with that.
The Abraxas may be what you're looking for.

[darkbluemurder]

Does it make any sense if I was to say the 57 classics make the les Paul sound more vowel sounding (almost scooped) and the mules make it sound more dog barky? The Stormy Monday sound chart looked like it had less mids and a similar spec to the 57s.

It is a long time since I had the 57 Classics but the last attribute I would find for them is "scooped". In addition, a midscoop (did you mean that?) is not what I associate with a vowel characteristic - just the opposite.

As regards specs: the 57 Classics have A2 magnets and about 8k DC resistance (9k for the 57 Classic +). As far as I can see there is nothing exactly like this in the BKP range. The only humbuckers with A2 magnets in the BKP range are the Stormy Monday and the PG Blues but they have lower DC resistances and asymmetrical coils. The ones with similar DC resistances have all different magnets.

If the Mule does not deliver the vowel like characteristic then I doubt that the Abraxas would suit you - I have read everywhere that it's basically a hotter Mule. I like it very much though. The Crawler would be the next step up. Still I think you should consicer the Black Dog.

Cheers Stephan

[ericsabbath]

the 57 classics do sound dark and a little hollow in the mids in some guitars, but aren't scooped like a duncan '59, for example
I believe the monday and PG might have give you the subtle midscoop back, but are likely to sound brighter than the 57's anyway

have you tried messing with the mules height?
the bridge pickup sounds fatter, more compressed like 57's and a little less sparkly when set very close to strings, although you get more midrange

[Hammerheart]

Thanks for the replies. Had my mules a couple of weeks now and not sure if I want to keep them. I think what I'm looking for is 57 classics but with a better bridge pup.

Initially I just wanted an excuse to give some more BKPs a try and get some pups with some aged nickel covers. I think I should have perhaps gone for Stormy Mondays. Mules have removed some of the guitars dark sounding vibe for me. They sound good but it's just not what I was looking for.

Anybody wanna buy some two week old aged nickel mules?  :D

BKP have a return policy - contact them and tell them the Mules are not cutting it for you.

no returns on aged parts. (according to T&C)

[Hammerheart]

the 57 classics do sound dark and a little hollow in the mids in some guitars, but aren't scooped like a duncan '59, for example
I believe the monday and PG might have give you the subtle midscoop back, but are likely to sound brighter than the 57's anyway

have you tried messing with the mules height?
the bridge pickup sounds fatter, more compressed like 57's and a little less sparkly when set very close to strings, although you get more midrange

"Hollow mids"... yeah.. that rather than scooped. The eq chart in the shop shows the stormy monday having a bigger bass and treble level bar than the mid level bar. Apologies for dodgy terminology.

[Hammerheart]

After chatting with BKP they have agreed to get me sorted out (after checking the returned pups are ok of course). After hearing my description of what I was looking for it was agreed that it was the stormy monday i was looking for as "the highs are sweet and mellow while the mids are slightly scooped"

Great customer service. Lesson learned. So as they said... ALWAYS RING THEM if you are not sure what you are looking for.

[REDBOBGUITAR]

Hi I'm after some mules - I have a stormy Monday aged set- Want to swap?