Which Bare knuckle for my LP Std

[melodymaker]

As said in th other topic I am planning to replace the current APH1 I have on my LP with Bare Knuckle pickup.

I apologize to ask maybe a question coming back several time, but when i made some research, there wereso many topic that I was loosing myself

So At the moment, this LP sounds nice for Guns 'n roses tones, but to bright for me to play ZZ TOP. Then which could be the nicest set up to have similar warm tones.

My amp is a Blues Junior with Celestion Greenback + GUV'NOR pedal.

From some vids I seen on youtube (I know this is not the most reliable source due to compressed video) the stormy monday seems nice in distorsion, but bright and twang in clean, as the APH1.

The mule seems nice, but maybe to bright, at the moment, the closest from what I heard was the VHII. Am I right

May you have any advise please let me know

[il˙ti]

Mules is the ZZ Top sound, and they do a good GnR aswell. And I believe they are warmer sounding than both SM and VHII, but don't quote me on that. Someone else back me up on this.

[kellar]

The Stormy Monday is definitely not bright and twangy. It just has less of the humbucker low end and is extremely clear and defined. It does well under distortion and is ideal for Guns N Roses type tunes, singing blues leads.
If you are looking for something a little thicker, than the Mules would be the way to go. They have more low end and more of that humbucker thump. I think the Mule AIV/AV combo has worked very well for many players on this forum. Maybe they will chime in.

[melodymaker]

I think the Mule AIV/AV combo has worked very well for many players on this forum. Maybe they will chime in.

Many thanks for your answer, but bwhat is Mule AIV / AV? is there different types of mule?

[zf]

I think the Mule AIV/AV combo has worked very well for many players on this forum. Maybe they will chime in.

Many thanks for your answer, but bwhat is Mule AIV / AV? is there different types of mule?

AIV / AV refer to two different magnet types in the pickups:

AIV = Alnico 4 magnet
AV = Alnico 5 magnet

[Elliot]

I'm going through a Texas/Southern Rock phase at the moment using a Blues Junior and I would agree Alnico IV mules are the way to go for that tone.

[Miracle Man]

I have a set of alnico IV Mules in a gibson SG supreme, and let me tell you! Through a Marshall, instant ZZ-top! Well ok, a Les Paul would probably be even better, but Mules are spot-on for ZZ-top.
I don't really like GNR, but I can get close to Slash's sound with ease.
Mules are great all-rounders but are especially good at classic rock sounds. I highly recommend them!  :D

[Twinfan]

If it's bright with an APH1, I think your guitar may be too bright with Mules.  I had a pair in a bright sounding guitar and they were really, really bright.  I had to sell the Mules.

I would think about trying a pair of Stormy Mondays.

[Elliot]

If your problem is brightness - have you considered the Blues Junior may be a problem?  I personally think they are great amps - but stock they are very bright.  Do BillM's mods - especially his power supply cap mod and you suddenly have a much less bright, more tweedy amp. Great for Billy Gibbons and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

[melodymaker]

OK thanks, the last question will be which one for bridge the alnico 4 or 5?

Also, regarding brightness of the amp, I would have said it comes from the amp some month ago, but since I have changed the original speaker for a greenback, and original preamp tubes for 3 ECC 83, it became definitly another amp.

[il˙ti]

OK thanks, the last question will be which one for bridge the alnico 4 or 5?

Also, regarding brightness of the amp, I would have said it comes from the amp some month ago, but since I have changed the original speaker for a greenback, and original preamp tubes for 3 ECC 83, it became definitly another amp.

Alnico 4 is the standard, the A5 versions are generally just made when you want extra treble and bass. But if bright is the enemy, why not alnico 2?

[melodymaker]

Brightness is not 100% the enemy, but twang, this is the aspect I dislike in the APH1 (which are alnico 2) in clean, even neck or bridge.
My LP 56 is bright on bridge pickup, but without twang.

Also I would have like something warmer, and smoother, but also without any twang.

I know my searchs are quite strange, but since months I have tried several distorsion pedals, even an expandora without any success regarding the sound I look for.
I was about to purchase some SD pearly gates but I really want the top quality for my LP. Also I forgot to say that I have a RS guitarwroks electronic set up in order

[shaman]

I just lucked into a pair of A II Mules for a LP Custom..thought I would try it out..price was nice..if I didnt like, I could easily ssell...
they are Keepers!!!!I was worried it might be too vintage sounding, but it really gives my Custom a bite-it isn't mushy with the gain applied like I thought might happen-I wanted this Paul to be a mid to low gain tone machine, and these are happenin'...I think Black Dogs would be close to this tone as well-the AII Mules=Slash tone to me,no doubt!!!

[PhilKing]

I put a set of AII Mules into a bright sounding guitar to tame it and they worked a treat.  They still have definition but all the annoying cheap sounding treble has gone.  They are the Slash tone too, but they can do much more than that.  Having said that, Black Dogs are also great sounding pickups in a Les Paul, nailing the Zeppelin sound instantly, but I think that AII Mules might be just what you need.

[_tom_]

My Mules are pretty bright in my Epiphone which has an alder cap instead of maple apparently. That guitar actually sounded brighter than my ash strat with BG Pickups v60s in it :o