Author Topic: A Mule question... (Read 8949 times)

skay · « **on:** October 07, 2005, 03:17:58 PM »

Hi there, great forum, glad to have joined up :D

I've been contemplating replacing the pickups on my Historic Les Paul for a while now, the Burstbuckers are good for stock pickups but suffer from the usual muddy/flabby bass and harsh treble on the bridge in certain situations, and the Bareknuckle Mule pickups sound like what I'm loking for...

One thing the Burstbuckers have going for them is their ability to clean up, for a humbucker, and when playing through my Vox AC30 I achieve a pleasing clean sound. Has anyone got any experience with the Mule pickups in a clean setup?

The harmony-central reviews all mention how great these pickups are for rock etc and I'm really looking forward to using them in this situation, but I don't want to lose the ability to clean-up when I want to jangle along.

Will going for a lower powered pickup be the answer? I'd prefer the amp to give me the grit when required and have the option of running clean occaisionally as I'm not a fan of those HOT pickups that only have the 1 sound.

Of course tone is subjective, but any advice will be appreciated, especially if you also have experience with Burstbuckers to compare them with.

Ratrod · « **Reply #1 on:** October 07, 2005, 04:34:44 PM »

I haven't got a Mule (yet) but I do have a set of Crawlers. Similar to the Mule but way hotter. They are one of the best clean sounding humbuckers I've ever heard. I think the Mule will be even better.

skay · « **Reply #2 on:** October 07, 2005, 04:42:25 PM »

Thanks for the boost of confidence! This is all sounding very promising. They are fast becoming everything I've been looking for in a replacement humbucker for my Goldtop.

Can anyone answer me this then, why haven't I got Bareknuckle pickups in my guitar already!!!

Elliot · « **Reply #3 on:** October 07, 2005, 04:52:12 PM »

Mules are great - they clean up very well and have a classic tone when they do, so you have no fear there!

chris o'donnell · « **Reply #4 on:** October 07, 2005, 04:56:40 PM »

Welcome to the forum.

I replaced my Les Paul Burst buckers with a Mule bridge and Stormy Monday neck. Like you I prefer the lower output pickups for that open grinding tone. My experience is that both pickups are sensetive to subtle volume changes and clean up for a sweet tone. They can also do Heavy Rock no problem. The Burstbuckers were just as you desribed them, but Tim gave me great advice and I now have an outstanding guitar.

Chris.

skay · « **Reply #5 on:** October 07, 2005, 05:11:14 PM »

Hi Chris,
I'm interested to know, why did you go for the Stormy Monday neck pickup? Isn't this a bit higher gain than the Mule? Does this offer any benefits to the style of music you play, especially when using that pickup position? How does your guitar sound when played clean(-ish) with both pickups selected?

Also, have you changed your vol and tone pots? What model is your Les Paul (for reference, not to compete btw). The stock Gibson ones are all-or-nothing at the moment, and I was wondering if this would be necessary after the pickup change to improve things a little more...

Sorry for the barage of questions but I'm on a mission!

chris o'donnell · « **Reply #6 on:** October 07, 2005, 05:29:10 PM »

Hi Skay.

I actually had the Stormy Monday first, which has a lower output than the Mule, because my Burst Bucker was so muddy. I was so impressed with the results that I changed the bridge for a Mule. My style of Music is Blues rock and I mainly use the bridge for heavier riffs but switch to the neck for cleaner sweeter blues tones. with both pickups I get great lead tones which respond well to volume changes. An interesting combination here is to have an Alnico V and IV magnets in a set for a quirky in between tone, but thats another story. My Les Paul is a 2002 standard HCSB which is not too heavy and rings out when unplugged. the volume and tone pots are original as I found the new pickups made all the difference. I think the Burstbuckers were good pickups, but this scatterwinding process defenetly makes a big difference.

As for the clean tone, both pickups are clear and very well balanced. I don't think you will be dissapointed if you go for it.

I have just received a Riff Raff neck pick up which I'm fitting at the weekend. I'll let you know what thats like.

Chris.

skay · « **Reply #7 on:** October 07, 2005, 05:35:50 PM »

So you're changing out the Stormy Monday (lower output) from the neck position and installing a Riff Raff (Higher output) . Why not go for another Mule (medium output if i'm not mistaken) or am I missing something?

I'm under the impression from reading the product description and reviews that installing a calibrated set in my guitar would be the way to go, but I'm very interested in your journey.

Are you buying and selling these pickups as you change them or are these replacements from Tim to find your ideal arrangement/sound?

Please let me know your findings.

big steve · « **Reply #8 on:** October 07, 2005, 05:44:18 PM »

according to steve, the mule and stormy monday neck pickups are pretty much one and the same.

the mule will clean up very well, it's a fairly low output in the grand scale of things...

skay · « **Reply #9 on:** October 07, 2005, 05:53:50 PM »

Thanks guys,

I've read the glowing product review in Guitarist Magazine and had to find out more. These really do sound like world beating pickups!

I'm not under the illusion that installing these pickups will totally transform my sound (or make me a better player, damn!) as the Burstbuckers are nice in their own way, but the Mules do seem to fit my bill a litlle better by the sound of things...

PhilKing · « **Reply #10 on:** October 07, 2005, 07:13:46 PM »

I have 3 LP's with different sets of humbuckers, all of which will clean up perfectly. My Goldtop has an Emerald bridge and Mule neck, the Tobacco Burst has a Riff-Raff bridge with a Stormy Monday (Alnico IV) neck, and my 53 conversion has an Abraxas IV calibrated set.

If you like Peter Green, then I would reccommend a set with Alnico 5 magnet in the bridge and alnico 4 in the neck. This gives that Peter Green sound when both pickups are combined.

For the sounds I think you are after, I would go the Riff-Raff (A5)/Stormy Monday (A4) set. This is perfect for classic rock and blues.

btw. Welcome to the forum.

_tom_ · « **Reply #11 on:** October 07, 2005, 09:54:25 PM »

I have 2 Mules in my Epi LP. They do give me the classic LP tone that I hear Jimmy Page get. They also have less output than the stock pickups, but sound so much more powerful because of the more balanced lively tone, not the output itself. I get a great clean in the middle position, I used to hate the middle position on my LP till I got my Mules!

chris o'donnell · « **Reply #12 on:** October 08, 2005, 10:17:04 AM »

Hi Skay.

I should have said that I have a Les Paul Studio with a set of callibrated Emeralds, and they are fantastic. I posted a sound clip a while back if you want to hear them.

I'm flighty and like to change things around every so often, so I bought an Abraxas bridge and paired it with the Emerald then the Stormy Monday. Both worked well. I then asked Tims advice for a good neck match for the Abraxas, I was thinking about a Mule, but he made me a Riff Raff Alnico Vwound to suit the Abraxas. I intend to get another guitar to put them in, rather than changing them all the time. I would say they all have different qualities, none of which are poor, and allow me options for my band.

I'm not wealthy either, I spend spare cash on my guitars, when I have it.

I couldn't afford a Les Paul until I was 34 and played a strat before that, which i still have. I like building up over time and having options when I feel like a change.

I do love my LP Standard and the classic set up for me is the Mule and Stormy Mondy.

Chris

skay · « **Reply #13 on:** October 09, 2005, 10:41:35 AM »

Hi there again,
Thanks for the tonnes of advice and experiences chaps, It's nice to talk to similar minded people who truely care about these things :)

I must have read the harmony-central reviews a hundred times, plus the various threads on this forum, and have opted for the classic P.A.F humbucker in a Les Paul, The Mule!

I am trying to keep the essence of my Goldtop the same, I'm not trying to 'change' it as much as 'refine' it, and the Mules appear to be the most sensible choice to get me there. I really tried to like the Burstbuckers, and although not a bad pickup, they just were not giving me back what I was putting in.

The sound of the guitar palyed acousticaly is great (a fact I am slowly learning the importance of...), all the right frequences are there and the strings ring-out nice and strong, so I'm hoping the Mule can convey this sound through my Vox. This 'openess' I read of sounds like just the ticket, and I suppose uncovered pickups would be ideal, but I don't want to change the look of my Goldtop, plus maybe the covers will go some way to taming the brightness of my amp.

I'm the kind of player who likes to change his picking attack and strumming position (i.e strum at the bridge for 'bite' or over the neck for warmth) to add some dynamics to the sound, and the promising reviews make me think I'm really going to like these :D

I've only just oredered them moments ago and already I'm gushing over them :oops: I will have to wait till they're installed, and with atleast one full band rehearsal under my belt, I will report back.

Wish me luck...

Johnny Mac · « **Reply #14 on:** October 09, 2005, 11:37:58 AM »

They should sound gorgeous through your vox!