Author Topic: Prog Pups? (Read 4295 times)

RetRockhardt · « **on:** July 27, 2006, 10:09:23 AM »

Hey all. I'm planning on getting a new set of humbuckers to go in a Les Paul, for a 70's prog-rock kinda sound (Zappa, King Crimson, etc).

The Mule seems to have a really nice tone to it, but would it be articulate enough when overdriven to handle more unusual stuff like tapping and jazz chords? Or should I maybe look into something a bit brighter/bitier like the VHII?

Cheers for any suggestions.

Canadian Steve · « **Reply #1 on:** July 27, 2006, 10:50:59 AM »

I think I would go for the Mules. I'm after that Crimson/Gong sort of tone as well. There's a good clip of Mules on the last page in the players section called Windpane.

Elliot · « **Reply #2 on:** July 27, 2006, 10:51:36 AM »

If you want to capture that 70s Robert Fripp tone the Mule should be fine as he was playing two 1959 Les Pauls in 70s King Crimson.

As to versatility - the mule can do it all.

RetRockhardt · « **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2006, 02:44:21 PM »

Cool, cool. Just one more thing: Will using a coil tap change the tone when it's switched off? As in... Would a humbucker sound better without a coil tap installed?

Canadian Steve · « **Reply #4 on:** July 27, 2006, 02:49:48 PM »

It will sound exactly the same. I'm pretty sure as I have phase switch on my guitar and when it's off it is bypassed.

jt · « **Reply #5 on:** July 27, 2006, 11:08:07 PM »

:D I have a set of Mules that are coil tapped. They do have a slightly different sound when tapped but there really good !!!

Very Very useable. The sound is "Jangerly" that`s the only way i can discribe it.

You can drive your amp hard with as much levels of gain as you like the Mules still sound great. Very versatile. They`ll handle the Prog type stuff no problem.

:D 8)

PhilKing · « **Reply #6 on:** July 28, 2006, 12:22:17 PM »

Quote from: RetRockhardt

Cool, cool. Just one more thing: Will using a coil tap change the tone when it's switched off? As in... Would a humbucker sound better without a coil tap installed?

Do you mean split? Coil tap is when you take a feed off the coil part way through the winding process so you can get 2 different outputs (say one at 6,000 winds and one at 7,500). Coil split is when you have 4 conductor wiring and can have series/parallel/screw coil only/slug coil only wiring.

In the first case the pickup will have to be made specially to do this, and I don't know of a humbuker with it as you would need 6 wires off the pickup (unless you only tapped one coil, but then it would not be a humbucker any more). Usually coil tap is on single coil pickups - the PRS 513 has this I believe, but it uses 5 single coils in different wiring.

When you get 4 conductor wiring, there is no sound change in series from 2 conductor, you are moving the connection of the coils about 8-10 inches (whatever the length of the lead out wire is from the pickup), but that will make such a small difference that you won't be able to hear it.

RetRockhardt · « **Reply #7 on:** July 28, 2006, 12:39:42 PM »

Yeah, alright. You got me. I didn't know what I was talking about. Guess it must have been "split" I meant.

Whatever it is that allows humbuckers to mimic single coils, that's what I meant.

PhilKing · « **Reply #8 on:** July 28, 2006, 12:45:49 PM »

Quote from: RetRockhardt

Yeah, alright. You got me. I didn't know what I was talking about. Guess it must have been "split" I meant.

Whatever it is that allows humbuckers to mimic single coils, that's what I meant.

I wasn't trying to get at you - it is an expresion that many people use wrongly. If you want the single coil sound then using a switch to select one coil is the way to go - you will get hum then, but that is part of the single coil sound anyway. I have several BK's set up like this and they give a great split sound. You will not find that the normal tone changes. I actually like the series/parallel option because it keeps the pickup as a humbucker and still gives you more of a single coil sound.

jt · « **Reply #9 on:** July 28, 2006, 04:47:59 PM »

:D Yep your right Phil, we should`ve said coil split, but as you also pointed out every body refers to it as "tapped".

And it doe`s change the sound slightly, both my VHII , Mules & Cold Sweats sounded slightly different when the coil split is active. The difference isn`t drastic but it doesn`t sound the same as when on full H/B mode.

At least to my ears.......but then i have been told i have the ears of a fish :P

:D 8)

Tim · « **Reply #10 on:** July 28, 2006, 08:48:30 PM »

Rebel Yell humbuckers are worth a try too-Steve Stevens is a huge prog fan/player.

PhilKing · « **Reply #11 on:** July 28, 2006, 10:24:28 PM »

Quote from: jt

:D Yep your right Phil, we should`ve said coil split, but as you also pointed out every body refers to it as "tapped".

And it doe`s change the sound slightly, both my VHII , Mules & Cold Sweats sounded slightly different when the coil split is active. The difference isn`t drastic but it doesn`t sound the same as when on full H/B mode.

At least to my ears.......but then i have been told i have the ears of a fish :P

:D 8)

Hi jt, I was saying that it doesn't change the normal sound. If you have 2 wire or 4 wire and have the pickup in series wiring (which is the standard), then the sound will be the same.

jt · « **Reply #12 on:** July 28, 2006, 11:00:21 PM »

:D sorry Phil misunderstood what you`d ment. :D

:D 8)