What BKP's would suit me ?

[James_Rhoads]

Hi, I'm thinking of getting a new set of pickups for my guitar and my search has led me here ( I tend to research all my purchases for a long time before biting the bullet to avoid disappointment so to speak   ). I've kinda been neglecting my guitar for the last 6 months cause i've been very busy but getting back into it now for the summer and hopefully will put some kind of band together for a few gigs!

Anyways, my guitar is a Tokai Love Rock Standard (2004 model i believe) which is currently completely stock. Usual les paul standard type specs. My Amp is currently a Marshall AVT50 (all i can afford right now but may upgrade to a full tube during summer if i can swing it).

The type of music I'll be playing will generally be classic to hard rock, think bands like Thin Lizzy, early Ozzy, Zeppelin, Whitesnake, Guns N Roses etc. etc. the list goes on but that gives you a rough idea :D I really the tone of players like John Sykes ,Gary Moore and Jake E Lee (patriculary his Badlands stuff can't get enough of his tone there) as well as more (slightly) modern players like Slash, Zakk Wylde etc.

I'm also a big progressive metal fan so i would like to be able to pull off some heavy tones also but the primary concern is for that hard rock/heavy blues tone with the option to make it heavier etc. I'll also be playing in Standard/Half Step Down tuning on this guitar (No D standard or anything   ) if that makes a differance :D

Thanks for any advice in advance I've been reading this forum for the last few days and it seems to be full of information and a cool place to hang out!

James

[Twinfan]

Hi James - greetings!

Les Paul?  Check.
Rock tones?  Check.
Versatile?  Check.

You'll be wanting the Mules :)

A calibrated set will give you that classic Les Paul tone.  My own personal preference (in my Tokai Love Rock Relic)  is to have an Alnico IV Stormy Monday in the neck for a clearer, more single coil style tone.  You may prefer the slightly fuller-fat Mule, so it's your decision......

What model number Tokai do you have?  Here's my little beauty  ;)

[Yamhammer]

A Mule neck pickup (Alnico IV) and Crawler bridge pickup (Alnico V) would be an awesome combo for the tones you're searching for. I certainly recommend going for 'hotter' bridge pickup. The Mule neck is pretty loud and big sounding, so you'll have to stick with a hotter pickup like the Crawler for the bridge position if you want to have the best balance in terms of volume and bigness between the two pickups. The Crawler is just like a Mule on steroids and it's great for that heavy blues sound.

[James_Rhoads]

Hey nice guitar Twinfan  8) Actually upon closer inspection mines a 2002 model, i have no idea which actual model it is (anyway to tell from number?) i just know its a japanease one not a Korean one.

I'd prob want a nice fat neck tone i think (i'm into those Slash type solo's ;) )

So the Mules would be a good choice ? Whats the deal with putting 2 different BKP's (One bridge one neck) would there any problems with output level etc. or is all that basically sorted upon installation?

Whats the main differance between the Crawler and the Mule tone wise?

Thanks for all the advice guys :D

[Twinfan]

No idea re. Tokai model numbers as they change all the time!  You'll need to post a pic  ;)

Mules are a good choice  :)  You can mix and match pickups but some work OK with others, some don't.  It's best to discuss what you're thinking here on the forum first, or do it directly with BKP.

I've no experience of the Crawler so can't comment on that.

[il˙ti]

Hey nice guitar Twinfan  8) Actually upon closer inspection mines a 2002 model, i have no idea which actual model it is (anyway to tell from number?) i just know its a japanease one not a Korean one.

I'd prob want a nice fat neck tone i think (i'm into those Slash type solo's ;) )

So the Mules would be a good choice ? Whats the deal with putting 2 different BKP's (One bridge one neck) would there any problems with output level etc. or is all that basically sorted upon installation?

Whats the main differance between the Crawler and the Mule tone wise?

Thanks for all the advice guys :D

I'd rather go for a calibrated set of Crawlers. The neck model is very vintage sweet sounding and only a little hotter than the mule neck. Also AIV magnet.
Oh, and the crawler neck can nail that buttery, singy Petrucci-esque tone too.

[Yamhammer]

I'd rather go for a calibrated set of Crawlers. The neck model is very vintage sweet sounding and only a little hotter than the mule neck. Also AIV magnet.
Oh, and the crawler neck can nail that buttery, singy Petrucci-esque tone too.

Agreed. +1 for a calibrated set of Crawlers...

I mentioned earlier about the bridge pickup, but the neck pickup seems to be very smooth too. It's a calibrated set. The neck pickup is around 8k and the bridge pickup around 15k. Perfect.

[Zaned]

Hi,

I might confuse you more ( 8) ), but check out my thread which I started two days ago:

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12261

-Zaned

[James_Rhoads]

Hey thanks for the responses. So the crawlers are definatly starting to sound like the pick ups for me. I really love Petrucci's playing and tone and if they help with that lovely neck lead tone he get's they are becoming even more tempting  8) Will they be able to handle high amounts of gain if nesscary ?

Once again thanks for all the responses  8)

[il˙ti]

Will they be able to handle high amounts of gain if nesscary ?

Yes.