Emerald/Emerald or Emerald/Mule for my '91 LP Classic?

[Simon_F]

Hi guys,

I have a '96 Les Paul Standard that I put a set of AIV Mules in last year and I LOVE those pickups!  I'm now considering some BKPs for my '91 Les Paul Classic.  As a massive fan of Lizzy and Robbo I just HAVE to give the Emerald a try in the bridge spot - it looks to be right up my street.

But how is the Emerald neck in a Les Paul?  I want something that's not going to be muddy or boomy and that cleans up nicely with the volume knob.  I like to play funky rhythms on the neck pickup with the volume down on 6 or 7, and roll it back a little further to get something approaching a jazz tone.  The Mule neck in my Standard works brilliantly for this, so I'm torn between trying the Emerald neck and playing it safe with another Mule.

I play mostly 70s-style classic rock, blues and new wave through a Marshall JMP master volume - no clean channel here, it's all done with the guitar volume (500K audio taper of course...).

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

[Scotty477]

I have an Emerald set in My Gibson LP Classic.

The bridge pup is an easy choice. It's warm when needed and punches through without overpowering in solos.

The neck pup is slightly less straightforward. It isn't muddy or boomy but has a tone that I can only describe as BIG - when set at 10. When I'm playing Classic Rock stuff I have it at 10. For Blues I roll back to between 5-7 and for Jazzy stuff or softer Blues I take it down to 3-4.

I'm not sure if the neck would be suitable for funky rhythms but it is great for solo's.

I'm getting around to putting up another Blues clip of some sort, which will show what I'm talking about. I'm getting a Sure SM57 to mike up my amp this weekend, so I'll see what I can do (kids permitting)  :D

I have a couple of clips in the players section already but these were recorded using Boss BR-900 onboard effects. The next clips, as I say, will be done using an amp - with only a little gain and reverb added.

[Simon_F]

Thanks Machinehead. Your Laid Back Blues clip is excellent!

Any more views on the Emerald neck pup in a Les Paul?  I guess I'm worrying it may be a little too hot as I'm used to playing PAF-style pickups, especially in the neck position.  Will I be able to get it clear and clean with the volume knob?

[Scotty477]

No problem Simon.

I haven't had the time to get going with other clips but hope to rectify that this week.

The Emerald neck cleans up really well through my amp but it's only a Roland Cube 30  :oops:

To be honest I can't say if it would do the same on a Marshall JMP master volume.

I've had more time to play about with the guitar and I would describe the neck Emerald - at 10 - as large, slightly hot and verging on dark. This makes it ideal for the kind of Blues/Rock that I like to play. It isn't an overpowering pup, having a DC of 10.0 but it's tone certainly isn't going to get lost in a band, if you get my drift.

On a side note I had my LP running through a 40 watt Fender Hot Rod Deluxe 112 recently and it sounded wonderful on both pup's. The neck tone had no harshness whatsoever and cleaned up nicely. The bridge was simply stunning, although I'm sure most Rock/Blues BKP's would sound good through that particular amp.

I'm on the lookout for a small valved amp as my Roland isn't what the Emeralds deserve.  

I'm sure Emerald pup's would sound brilliant on your Marshall JMP master volume but then again, so would several BKP's. I believe BKP operate a 14 day return service, which you could use if you found that the pup's you choose really weren't for you.

I'll now get on with planning my latest clip.

Cheers  :D