New PUs for my Edwards LP

[dave2008]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to replace the pickups in my Edwards 98LTS, a Japanese Les Paul replica. I have Gibson Burstbuckers in it, and I have read much about BKPs on the net. The consensus seems to be that BKPs can be an  improvement over the usual pickups.
Now I'm facing the usual dilemma of potential BK customers - there are so many BKP types and all of them seem to be awesome. So I don't know which one to choose, at least not precisely.
I know it is not really imaginative, but the idea that it might be great to become a guitar player came to my mind when I saw a well-known guitar player with a top hat and probably a cigarette in his mouth soloing in front of a church in a desert, so that is the sound I am primarily looking for, especially from the neck pickup. I also like bands such as Led Zep or Aerosmith along with other classical hard rock bands. Sometimes I play some 80s metal. That new metal stuff (i.e. high distortion) is not really my cup of tea.

As far as I understand it, the best options would probably be:

1.) a set of calibrated Mules
2.) Riff-Raff bridge in combination with a Mule neck - Tim suggested this as a very good option for classical rock.
3.) Stormy Mondays - Tim said they would best do the Slash tone. Should I place Stormy Mondays in both neck and bridge position, or should I put something else into the bridge, maybe a Mule?
4.) an option I have overlooked so far?
 :?

It would be nice to hear your comments and suggestion, any help is much appreciated!

Cheers,
David

[Canadian Steve]

Calibrated Stormy Mondays!

[dave2008]

Calibrated Stormy Mondays!

Thanks for your suggestion, Steve. Do you also play an LP?

[kellar]

Alnico 2 Stormy Monday all the way in the neck. It is Slash!! Nails the Sweet Child and November Rain tones.
As far as the bridge, if you want something a little hotter than try out a Riff Raff. I have a Stormy Monday/Riff Raff combo and it does everything I need. The Riff Raff is great for Led Zeppelin, ACDC, classic rock tones. And the Stormy Monday is pure blues/classic rock bliss!!

[Canadian Steve]

Thanks for your suggestion, Steve. Do you also play an LP?

I had an LP for about 13 years then gave it to my bro who is just starting out!  I have a set of RY in my Guild S-100 though.

[hunter]

Personally I think VHIIs do a pretty good Slash tone, although it might be the wrong magnet type...

Stormy Mondays might be a bit weak? Huh but I never tried SMs ...

[Prawnik]

For what it's worth, Slash is notorious for preferring low-output AII pickups.  

For years, his favorite pickup was the Seymour Duncan AII Pro, which are not much hotter than Strat single coils.  His signature pickups are based on the AII Duncans.

So Stormy Monday might not be a bad choice for Slash tones, provided that you let the amp do the work and not the pickups.

[Spat]

Iv'e got a black dog in the bridge of my Epi Les Paul and a Mule in the neck these pull off all the clasic rock tones you could ever want from Schenker to Page, Slash and beyond. I'd highly recomend this combination to anyone.

[dave2008]

Thanks to all of you for your recommendations. Still not quite sure what I will be choosing, but I have already heard so many great samples here and in other places, so I think I can't go completely wrong, no matter which option I choose.

[Twinfan]

I agree with the AII Stormy in the neck position.  That will give you the singing blues/rock Slash tone.

For the bridge, I think an AII Stormy won't be rock enough.  I would suggest an AIV Mule or the AV Riff Raff, although Tim doesn't recommend an Alnico II and IV mix.

The Riff Raff / Stormy Monday combo sounds like the best bet to me.

[kellar]

I agree with the AII Stormy in the neck position.  That will give you the singing blues/rock Slash tone.

For the bridge, I think an AII Stormy won't be rock enough.  I would suggest an AIV Mule or the AV Riff Raff, although Tim doesn't recommend an Alnico II and IV mix.

The Riff Raff / Stormy Monday combo sounds like the best bet to me.

+1

[Philly Q]

+2, I think.

If you're leaning towards the AII Stormy Monday in the neck, it's quite bright and clear so I'd go for a relatively bright bridge pickup too - Riff Raff should be just the ticket.

[Fourth Feline]

+3 !

(  to Twinfan's suggestion of the  AII Stormy Monday neck and AV Riff Raff bridge).  

I only own SMs and Mules but having recently heard the voice / character of the Riff Raff Bridge, feel it would be an ideal pairing with the SM for your slightly  wider  requirements. Philly Q has already summed it up well.

The Riff Raff  has a clarity, open-ness and edge that contrasts well with the clarity, open-ness and  sweetness of the Stormy Monday neck.  It's like the same character, but with TEETH . :twisted:

I found that I could still play a contrasting flavour of bluesy with the  Riff Raff compared to the SMs - a luxury not afforded by the VHII. There was just that something that sounded like the Riff Raff and Stormy's would be a good double act - good cop / bad cop routine ...