Pick Up advice for Les Paul Standard

[NotSoEasy]

Hello Folks!   :)

I've been an avid reader of this forum a few weeks now and finally decided to join!! Anyways, I hope you can give me some advice as I've raised enough cash to afford some BKPs.

I have a Gibson Les Paul Standard Faded with a mahogany body, maple cap and a 60s mahogany neck.

The guitar's stock pick ups are Burstbucker Pros. I'm happy enough with the bridge pick up even though it is a tad thin sounding, but I really hate the neck pick up as it seems dull and lifeless to me, as well as being a tad muddy... also, with both pick ups selected, I find that it is pretty unusable..

I mostly prefer to play classic rock and tend to play mostly from these bands:

Guns N Roses
Led Zeppelin
AC/DC
Aerosmith

I tend to enjoy sitting around playing riffs and bluesy rock kinda styles. I want a bridge pick up that will be great for this kind of style while sounding a bit "fuller" and "chunkier" than the Burstbucker Pros. 

From the neck pickup I would like a Slash kind of tone, you know that kind of "sweet and full" sounding tone he has in some GnR solos... also a pick up that is quite "clear" sounding when clean...

Having trawled through the forum I have got the impression that a set of Mules or Stormy Mondays may be the best for me... I am thinking on settling on the Mules as I get the impression they may sound edgier than the Stormy Mondays....

Is this the right choice? I have also emailed Tim but he is out of office so I thought I'd get some opinions on here too..

Many Thanks

NotSoEAsy  :)

[kellar]

Welcome to the forum! :D

Your assumption's are pretty accurate. For all those bands you listed, the Stormy Monday or Mule is the way to go. The Stormy Monday would do those all very well, especially Gun's N Roses. The Mule is a bit rounder, definitely more low end, and can be pushed a bit harder than the SM. Very versatile indeed. It just depends on what you like.

I personally love the SM neck. I like to play a lot of clean blues and the SM cannot be beat for that. I think for what you described, that would be perfect. The bridge really depends on if you want more power or not. I use a Riff Raff in the bridge of my LP.  8)

[Twinfan]

Greetings  :D

I would go for a pair of stock Alnico II Stormy Mondays.  They're what I find to be the best all-rounder to fit into Gibson-style guitars for blues-rock.

The neck will be that Slash sweet-yet-full-and-clear tone.  You say you're after a "fuller" and "chunkier" tone from the bridge which may lead you towards hotter pickups, but I would say the sweetness of the Alnico II Stormy Monday will fill your tone out and allow your amp to do the talking.  Don't think they can't rock out when required, they can.

What amp are you using by the way?

[Catalyst77]

You cant go wrong with Mules, i think Stormy Mondays mack lack the attack you need for rawwwk like AC/DC and the harder zep stuff.  I'd def look into Riff Raffs I have a set in my lespaul feline (which i never would have chosen) and they are spot on.

[NotSoEasy]

Thanks for all your responses guys...

I have a Marshall DSL 401, but I'm considering selling it as I'm moving into a small flat and I think it may be too big and loud for a tiny box room!! Anyone played a Peavey Valveking Royal 8?? Or any of is obvious competitors?

Anyways, back to the matter in hand!

I'd never actually given the idea of mixing and matching much thought until I read your responses...

Are there particular combos that work best together? ie like an SM Neck and a riff raff or black dog at the bridge? or is it best to may be just stick to a set of Mules for pure versatility... To be honest from what I have heard of the Mules on youtube and the clips on here, they sound perfect. However, I'm still very tempted with an SM at the neck though... Think I'd prefer something with a tiny bit more output at the bridge

Again thanks for your help

NotSoEasy  :)

[PhilKing]

I have a few mixed sets that I really like, but the Riff Raff bridge and SM (AIV) neck really do work together well.  I also have an Emerald/AIV Mule set that I like for the more rocky stuff.  I have an AV Mule with AIV SM neck too, that is an awesome sound,  possibly one of my favourite combinations that is not a real set.  For something more heavy, the Cold Sweat bridge and Abraxas neck are a good combination, as are the Nailbomb bridge and Cold Sweat neck. 
A combination that I wouldn't have thought of, but which does work well is a Mule bridge with VHII neck.  My friend has it is a 62 SG and it sounds great.
BK are very good and they will advise you if you are going down the wrong path.  The thing to do though, when you order is to tell them that they are going in the same guitar, and also tell them what guitar. 

[kellar]

I agree with the above, the SM neck and Riff Raff bridge are an outstanding combo. I have that set and it does everything I need. I would also think seriously about the SM calibrated set. I wouldn't worry too much about them not being hot enough. I find the SM to be very suitable for most blues and classic rock. Anyway, a certain guy named Slash uses AII pickups that are roughly along the same lines as the SM's. :D

[NotSoEasy]

Thanks again guys... so essentially I've narrowed to down to these options.

1. Set of SMs

2. Set of Mules

3. SM in the Neck and Riff Raff in the bridge

Christ... decisions decisions!! I don't really know what to do!! hahaha I'm guessing option 3 would give greater versatility overall??

 I'm guessing all 3 would be great decisions... I'm leaning towards option 3 now for a more versatile range...

Would and SM(AII) or SM(AIV) be best for this combo??

Thanks again  :)

[hunter]

Well to complete the confusion, I throw in the Rebel Yell neck pickup. It's underrated and I really love it, very transparent but can get down and dirty!

[il˙ti]

Hmm you said you wanted a "fuller and chunkier" bridge pickup. Riff Raff isn't exactly the first to come to mind here, it's got a very dominant top end bite. But I haven't tried it so I can't say. I think a Mule or maybe even a Black Dog would be more suitable for adding chunk in the bridge position.

More confusion, I know, and I'm sorry.

[NotSoEasy]

Thanks guys, don't worry about the confusion, the more opinions the better!! hahaha

I did say I was after a chunky kind of sound your right... Is it fair to say the Riff Raff is essentially an AC/DC specialist pick up?

would an SM in the neck and a Mule at the bridge work do you guys think?

As for the rebel yell, is that a high output or medium kind of output? I know nothing about Billy Idol hahaha

 :)

[il˙ti]

Riff Raff isn't just for AC/DC but it is a bright pickup.

Tim will likely advice against a Mule/SM set. There's a reason the sets are the way they are. But ask him about it.

Rebel Yell seems to be medium output but it's a more modern sound than the others mentioned in this thread.

[FELINEGUITARS]

I would be tempted to suggest a Mule for the bridge position and either a Stormy Monday or a Riff Raff for the neck.

[NotSoEasy]

Essentially, the sound I really want to nail is that GnR Appetite for Destruction kind of sound... if it does the pick ups do that then I'll be really happy haha

I think I definitely will go for an SM in the neck... I'm just umming and arring over the bridge now... I'm thinking maybe an SM again but will it definitely rock out decently?? I know Slash uses Duncan alnico II Pros and he seems to alright in the rocking out department I guess!!

[il˙ti]

Essentially, the sound I really want to nail is that GnR Appetite for Destruction kind of sound... if it does the pick ups do that then I'll be really happy haha

Alnico II Stormy Mondays. It will be a little floppier in the bass than the rest of them but it will NAIL that sound (both rythm and lead) and much more. Probably not any higher gain stuff but for the tones mentioned, they will deliver.