Well, don't know really what could be the advantage of an AII Mule over a SM, if Tim often recommend this option, and if yes, in which context... Anyway here is what he said on theses boards about AII and AIV magnet :
« Alnico II is the softest and generally has a smooth bass and treble although this is more pronounced the hotter the windings get .... Alnico IV is probably the best vintage tone IMHO and along with II and III was used in the earliest PAFs-this is a fact and not myth as we've had them analyzed and a colleague of mine has also seen original Gibson purchase orders that clearly state AIV bar stock being purchased. The tone of AIV is balanced and extremely organic, it produces the most authentic vintage tone and sits better in slightly hotter vintage winds than AII which tends to get very mushy if used incorrectly. »
So it may all depends on what applications you are more into. If you are looking for sweetness and clarity over everything else then an AII might fit the bill for you. And in that case if you are looking for a little more power than the standard SM, maybe it would be worth considering an overwound AII SM (at least as well as the AII Mule you are thinking about).
As for me I found the standard AIV Mule almost perfect as it is, but other AIV pickups are available, like the Abraxas, if you'd like to try something else powered with this great magnet ! :good:
Cheers !
