Mules or PG Blues?

[lassie]

Hi,

I own several BKPs and Im now on the search for another set of PAF-style Bareknuckles. I already own a Mules Set, a VHII Bridge and a Black Dog Set and I cant decide between the PG Blues or The Mules set. They would be going into an Epi Tribute Plus with new harness (50s wiring, PIO caps) and I want to use the guitar for bluesy stuff, but on the other hand I dont want to lose the possibility to play Hard Rock and classic Metal (Led Zepplin, Van Halen, Priest and so on...). Do you guys think the PG Blues pick ups could handle this or should I go for another set of Mules?

Thanks!

Regards,
lassie

[Telerocker]

I can do harder rockstyles very well with Mules. I don't own PG Blues.

[Philly Q]

I don't have either, but since you already have a set of Mules why not give the PG Blues a try?

Or with the classic rock stuff in mind, maybe add something else into the mix - Riff Raffs perhaps?

[lassie]

I had a pair of Riff Raffs and they were a bit too harsh in my opinion.  The pg blues are a lot warmer I think, maybe a little bit too much in combination with a medium gain setup.

[Gary_Goo]

Unless you really want the out of phase thing, you'd probably be better off going Stormy Monday rather than PG Blues if that's the route you want to go down. I've had both and even though out of phase option was really cool I felt I missed the standard sounding middle position too much. The unpotted PG Blues are also a bit brighter too. Stormy Mondays will do classic rock, but they're probably a little thin in the mids, don't handle higher gains quite as well and lack the tightness of the Mule in the bottom end to really be the best choice for classic metal.
That said, both the PG Blues and Stormy Mondays are great blues pickups, sound stunning clean and you already have a set of Mules, so you could just accept that this guitar is for your less metal moments and give yourself a some more tonal options.
Riff Raffs wouldn't be my first choice for a maple cap Les Paul.

[darkbluemurder]

and I want to use the guitar for bluesy stuff,

Up to here both pickups would do that well.

but on the other hand I dont want to lose the possibility to play Hard Rock and classic Metal (Led Zepplin, Van Halen, Priest and so on...). Do you guys think the PG Blues pick ups could handle this or should I go for another set of Mules?

From everything I read so far - advantage Mules - just going by the comment that Tim uses them in an Ozzy Tribute band, and so far I have not read of anybody using PG Blues in such context.

Cheers Stephan

[Kiichi]

I agree that the mules can do what you want, but if I recall correctly, arenīt PG Blueses often recommended for GNR tones? So there must be some possibility of them going harder.

[Gary_Goo]

Stormy Mondays and PG Blues are both Alnico II, hence the Slash comparisons. His sound is much more in the classic rock end of the scale though and Alnico II is generally regarded as too soft or smooth sounding for more metal tones and sounds less focused and less tight with more gain added.
Mules are certainly more of an all rounder I'd say.

[Philly Q]

Unless you really want the out of phase thing, you'd probably be better off going Stormy Monday rather than PG Blues if that's the route you want to go down. I've had both and even though out of phase option was really cool I felt I missed the standard sounding middle position too much. The unpotted PG Blues are also a bit brighter too. Stormy Mondays will do classic rock, but they're probably a little thin in the mids, don't handle higher gains quite as well and lack the tightness of the Mule in the bottom end to really be the best choice for classic metal.

Agreed with that.  I only had the SM neck model, but I did find it lacked a bit of push in the mids, it was slightly hard work to make it sing (in a way I liked) at higher gain.

[ericsabbath]

how about riff raffs?

[Mr. Air]

Another option could be a set of MQs if you're not totally set on humbuckers. MQs are quite versatile.

[Philly Q]

how about riff raffs?

I suggested the same, OP felt they were a bit harsh. 

Personally I'd go Riff Raff bridge, Mule neck, although I'm thinking maybe more for an SG than an LP.

[lassie]

how about riff raffs?

I suggested the same, OP felt they were a bit harsh. 

Personally I'd go Riff Raff bridge, Mule neck, although I'm thinking maybe more for an SG than an LP.

Its a LP on the brighter side with maple cap I think a Riff Raff in the bridge would sound too trebly. In the moment Iīd go with a Mules Set, I think they should fit the bill.