Crawler set for my 2001 Les Paul Standard

[PINKBITS]

G'day from Australia lads. I was just after some advice from the BKP pickup gurus  8)

I've currently got a 01 Les Paul Standard with a Seymour Duncan SH-1 59 in the neck and a Seymour Duncan SH-14 Custom 5 in the bridge. I play this through a Laney GH50L head and a Laney Celestion v30 loaded 4x12 Cab.

Laneys rock by the way!

I generally play classic rock, rock, hard rock and hard blues ala Gary Moore. I do like the Duncans but do find they are a little harsh in the top end and they generally just seem to lack something which I can't put my finger on. I think the fact that they are both neutral in the misdz may have something to do with it as well.

Anyways I emailed Tim and he suggested that I try out a Crawler set or Rebell yell bridge and mule neck.

At this stage I am leaning towards the crawlers per what I have been able to research thus far but am concerned they may be a little dark.

What do you guys suggest would work best for my styles and the rig I have?

Thanks for the help!

[PINKBITS]

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk260/DAFSTRAT/LPSTANDARD.jpg

Pic of my baby. This is the photo of when I got her. The board needed a real good oil, she's nice and dark now. I also don't have the pu covers anymore. I just prefer it without.

Hope the pic works

[Ratrod]

They can be a little dark on American voiced amps but they sound awesome on British voiced amps.

[Philly Q]

I replaced a Duncan '59 and JB in an Edwards LP with a set of Crawlers and found them quite noticeably darker, so they'll almost certainly sound darker than your '59/Custom 5 set.

Not saying that's a bad thing...

[Mr Arkadin]

i have a Rebel Yell in my Fernandes Ravelle and i have to say that's it's a great improvement over my Seymour Duncan that was in there. i am having some Crawlers on my Fender Jags, but haven't got them yet so can't compare. The Rebel Yell has a little mid-lift i believe so that Steve Stephens would cut through the keyboards at live gigs.

[PINKBITS]

Thanks for the replies guys. Maybe the crawlers aren't what I'm looking for. I don't need my tone to be darker just smoother and more refined than my current pu's.

Althought the Laneys are a bright amp by nature I have retubed it with SED Winged C 6L6GC power tubes. Tungsols in v1 and v2 a JJ in v3 and another tungsol in v4. These tubes have darkened the amp a bit and taken away the fizzines.

However as said I am a little concerned that the Rebell Yell would accentuate the upper mid spike that the v30's give you? The Mule however does sound like it would be a beautiful neck pickup.

Do you guys have any other suggestions that might provide me with what I'm after.

[Philly Q]

If you want smoother and more refined, but still want higher-than-vintage output, maybe the Abraxas set?

I've only owned the neck model (which, like the Mule and Crawler neck models, has an Alnico IV magnet and lies inbetween the two output wise).  But from what I've read, the bridge model has a smooth, not-too-edgy sound which might be what you're after.  I don't think it's as dark or growly as the Crawler.

One to check with Tim, perhaps.

[PINKBITS]

If you want smoother and more refined, but still want higher-than-vintage output, maybe the Abraxas set?

I've only owned the neck model (which, like the Mule and Crawler neck models, has an Alnico IV magnet and lies inbetween the two output wise).  But from what I've read, the bridge model has a smooth, not-too-edgy sound which might be what you're after.  I don't think it's as dark or growly as the Crawler.

One to check with Tim, perhaps.

Isn't the Crawler neck an Abraxas?????  :?

Yeh I do want higher than vintage output in the bridge anyway. I do like how punchy the SH-14 is in the bridge.

[Philly Q]

Isn't the Crawler neck an Abraxas?????  :?

No, for a long time we thought it was, but it isn't:

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=10194.msg133039#msg133039

[HTH AMPS]

I wouldn't say the Crawlers are dark, they have sufficient cut and work perfectly in a Les Paul.

otoh, I'm sure the Abraxas set would work too.

[PINKBITS]

Thanks again guys. Tim did suggest the Crawlers and I would like to think he knows what he's talking about.  :lol:

What's the Crawler neck like? I am tempted to go a Crawler bridge and Mule neck.

[HTH AMPS]

fwiw, I wanted a 'slightly' hotter than stock Mule neck pickup and Tim suggested the Crawler - sounds really nice.  Tim told me the Crawler neck is a smidgeon hotter than the Mule, like 500ohms. 

[Philly Q]

Having only recently tried my first BKP calibrated set (Cold Sweats, FWIW), I've finally realised Tim knows what he's doing when pairing neck and bridge models!

I'd go with the Crawler neck, which as HTH said is only a wee bit hotter than the Mule anyway.

[PINKBITS]

Brilliant, thanks guys. Looks like the Crawler set for me  8)

I actually only got onto BKP pus as i picked up a Trilogy bridge pu for my Strat off Ebay. I have a couple of hand would BG Phatty singles in the neck and middle that measure around the 10k mark so they match up really well with the hot Trilogy.

I mainly play hard blues and rock with that particular Strat and the Trilogy is the best Strat bridge sinlge I have ever used for the type of tunes I'm playing.

Tim makes fine, fine pu's that's for sure.

[ailean]

Nothing to add expect welcome to the forum and that's a nice looking LP!

Tim does know what he's doing with the calibrated sets (hence the 'calibrated' bit).