Author Topic: Thinking of switching my BKP's in my Les Paul. (Read 1994 times)

ledzettervall · « **on:** February 27, 2008, 05:43:26 PM »

I just love the sound in my guitar. The BKP mules sound great but I think they're kinda hot. My favourite setting is to turn up the amp to 3 o'clock and turn down the volume on the guitar to like 5 which makes me wonder if there isn't a more suitable alternative... I wouldn't want to loose the tone though so I'm still considering it.

My Les Paul is very bright and snappy with good bite and twang even on the low wound E which I love. The question is what pickup combination and wound to what DC would be good do you think? The guitar is bright as it is with the mule A4's so I don't want it to be brighter. Basically I guess I want lesser gain and a slightly warmer bridge pickup than it is now.

A few questions: How do you think SM's with A4 in neck and A2 in bridge would sound?
Does anyone have experience of lower gain PAF-type with A3, how does that sound?

I know I can mail Tim and maybe I will if i settle that I want to exchange pickups as I'm not sure yet. I still tweak and mess around with settings and stuff to make it sound good and I do get awesome sounds, it's just that I think the gain is too much as well as the bridge pickup could use some more beef and less treble - is that possible at the same time as lowering the gain?

Would like to hear some thoughts and ideas about this! Yup:)

/ Ledzettervall

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #1 on:** February 27, 2008, 06:06:07 PM »

Sounds like you've already nailed what you need - AII Stormy Monday bridge and AIV Stormy Monday neck. What a SWEET pair they will make.

:twisted:

Scotty477 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 27, 2008, 06:17:12 PM »

If I were to get another Les Paul I would be going for a pair of A2 Stormy Mondays ... I think :D

Twinfan · « **Reply #3 on:** February 27, 2008, 06:23:46 PM »

I'd go for a pair of AII Mondays in both positions :)

kellar · « **Reply #4 on:** February 27, 2008, 06:34:23 PM »

Funny, I was in exactly the same position as you about a month ago. I had a pair of AIV Mules in my Les Paul and loved them but wanted something a bit smoother in the neck and a little different in the bridge. I actually wanted a bit more bite in the bridge than what the Mule gave me.

Anyway, Tim suggested an AIV Stormy Monday in the neck and a Riff Raff in the bridge and it is spot on.

The SM is super sweet in the neck, great for clean blues. I really love the low end which is a bit cleaned up in comparison to the Mule, very tight and poppy. That pickups shimmers, almost rings when played. Beautiful.

The Riff Raff may be a little hotter than what you are looking for but I love that combination. :D

ledzettervall · « **Reply #5 on:** February 27, 2008, 06:34:55 PM »

Quote from: Twinfan

I'd go for a pair of AII Mondays in both positions :)

Well, as it is now I get a good match between the pickups if I lower the tone to like 5 on the bridge pickup to get the kinda balance I like between the pickups. I don't mind using the controls - I think it's great but it seems like there could be a better balance to start with. Isn't AIV brighter? So that's why I'd like the 4 in the neck and 2 in the bridge. But maybe there are other options? Any particular reason for going AII in the neck?

ledzettervall · « **Reply #6 on:** February 27, 2008, 06:41:55 PM »

Quote from: kellar

Funny, I was in exactly the same position as you about a month ago. I had a pair of AIV Mules in my Les Paul and loved them but wanted something a bit smoother in the neck and a little different in the bridge. I actually wanted a bit more bite in the bridge than what the Mule gave me.

Anyway, Tim suggested an AIV Stormy Monday in the neck and a Riff Raff in the bridge and it is spot on.

The SM is super sweet in the neck, great for clean blues. I really love the low end which is a bit cleaned up in comparison to the Mule, very tight and poppy. That pickups shimmers, almost rings when played. Beautiful.

The Riff Raff may be a little hotter than what you are looking for but I love that combination. :D

Great to hear your thoughts. I would probably like that combo in another guitar, however not in this one. This guitar is really awesome and I love it, but it has tons of attack, lots of sparkle and treble so it doesn't really benefit from pickups that are bright or edgy in the bridge.. Also, I mostly play clean sounds or SLIGHTLY crunchy, just on the edge of breakup.

I love distorted sounds and all that but I just have NO use for them right now as I play pop and pop/rock and my marshall 1974x breaks up pretty early so it has proven to sound best with low output pickups. Everything may have been different if I used a fender amp.

Anyway. I'm waiting on a rewind of my p90's pickups for my les paul custom that Tim is making and when I get them I'll know how it feels to use low output pickups, so it might help me decide on the pickups for the other Les Paul. Perhaps I feel by then that I will need the extra gain in that guitar so that the two guitars will compliment each other better. On the other hand they won't ever sound the same anyway cuz it's p90's in one and humbuckers in the other.

Twinfan · « **Reply #7 on:** February 27, 2008, 10:49:20 PM »

Quote from: ledzettervall

Any particular reason for going AII in the neck?

I think it'd be a better match for the AII bridge. I think you'll end up with too powerful/bright a neck pickup in comparison.

Your choice though!

ledzettervall · « **Reply #8 on:** February 28, 2008, 01:15:34 PM »

Quote from: Twinfan

Quote from: ledzettervall
Any particular reason for going AII in the neck?

I think it'd be a better match for the AII bridge. I think you'll end up with too powerful/bright a neck pickup in comparison.

Your choice though!

Well. I usually keep bridge tone at 6 so I don't think it'll be too bright in comparison but if it gets too powerful that ain't good. Can't you compensate that with the number of wounds then so that the neck is underwound as well?