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Author Topic: Switching pickups between bridge and neck  (Read 1277 times)

headcreeps

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Switching pickups between bridge and neck
« on: January 30, 2008, 02:31:51 PM »
I bought a Cold Sweat (bridge position) and a Mule (neck) for a Les Paul, and have been using them quite happily for the past year.

But now that I'm about to move them to a different Les Paul, I'm wondering how each of them would sound in the other position (Mule bridge, CS neck).

My question is, are the Mule or CS pickups designed differently depending on which position they are meant to (for example magnet, DC, etc) ?

Thanks.

headcreeps

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Switching pickups between bridge and neck
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2008, 02:48:59 PM »
Sorry for replying to my own post, but I did a bit of searching and found out that there are differences between Cold Sweat bridge and neck (ceramic and alnico magnets respectively). So I'm guessing that putting a ceramic CS in the neck will probably sound like rubbish.

But what about the Mule ?

Philly Q

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Switching pickups between bridge and neck
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2008, 05:52:33 PM »
The bridge models are always wound a bit hotter than their neck equivalents.  And, as you've already noted, they're often completely different pickups with different magnets etc.

With a vintage-style pickup like the Mule, the neck model should be perfectly useable in the bridge position, but it'll sound a little brighter and weaker than a Mule bridge model.  Perhaps a bit more like an AIV Stormy Monday, I'd guess.
BKPs I've Got:  RR, BKP-91, ITs, VHII, CS set, Emeralds
BKPs I Had:  RY+Abraxas, Crawlers, BD+SM