Black Dog/Mule...What do you think of this combo for Hard/Heavy Rock?

[AnnunakiMassacr]

I've recently asked to fill in for a hard/heavy rock band whilst the guitarist takes some leave. The style of music is in the veins of Heaven's Basement.

Being a single guitar band, I want to get a huge Les Paul Roar from my ESP Eclipse I. So I was thinking the Black Dog? With the neck, I want a beautiful clean tone, with the ability to play more ballady style solos, so I was thinking the Mule.

What are your opinions on this combo?

[darkbluemurder]

The Rebel Yell would do that better than the Black Dog IMHO. Mule neck should work fine.

Cheers Stephan

[AnnunakiMassacr]

I was actually recommended the Rebel Yell as well, but it's too modern and high output for my taste. It's also a little too upper mid focussed, with not much of a bottom end. With the Eclipse already being bright, it just didn't tick the boxes :/ It's just a shame you can't try these pickups out at stores lol

[ericsabbath]

the dog should work great for hard rock as well
it's a quite center mid heavy pup, like the holy diver, so it's a great lead pickup by nature

I think some heaven's basement dude had a riff raff few years ago

[Yellowjacket]

I was actually recommended the Rebel Yell as well, but it's too modern and high output for my taste. It's also a little too upper mid focussed, with not much of a bottom end. With the Eclipse already being bright, it just didn't tick the boxes :/ It's just a shame you can't try these pickups out at stores lol

Yup, this is totally it.  Rebel Yell is upper mid focused with a very tight and rolled off bottom so it does best with an axe that can support the bottom end. 

[darkbluemurder]

I was actually recommended the Rebel Yell as well, but it's too modern and high output for my taste.

Black Dog has less output than Rebel Yell but definitely not more low end, and it's bright as well. As regards "modern" I believe they are not too far away from each other. Both have vintage and modern elements in their tonal character.
BTW my Rebel Yell is in a LP Custom which of course supports low end but it is a bright guitar due to the maple neck and ebony fretboard, and the RY is far from harsh or strident in it. Cut - yes, piercing - no, icepick - not either.

It's also a little too upper mid focussed, with not much of a bottom end. With the Eclipse already being bright, it just didn't tick the boxes :/

For less upper mid focus Abraxas or Holydiver would be good. Don't let the DC specs mislead - they are wound with thinner wire than the pickups in the vintage category. They have more output than a PAF style pickup but not like twice as much as the DC resistance could indicate.

Cheers Stephan

[Telerocker]

Maybe a Crawler is an option. Sounds like this guitar needs a hugesounding pickup with beefy mids and a round topend, which the Crawler is. The Holy Diver is an good, more modern option too.