What's a ballsier alternative to Mules?

[Ivan]

Firstly I apologize over how vague this post is.

I have the Mules in a Gibson Les Paul which I like but I find that they lack 'something'...
I'm not too sure what that 'something' is, but I find the Mules sound a bit thin (perhaps its my Les Paul which is on the bright side). It's not the big PAF sound I was expecting.

So what would people recommend for a set that are similar to the Mules but stronger on bass and mids for a fuller sound?

Stormy Mondays? Riff Raffs? or Black Dogs?

[Dr. Vic]

Crawlers.

[Ratrod]

What amp are you using?

[kevinr]

What style of music are you playing?

[hunter]

Hmm, i would say RiffRaffs or Black Dogs.

RiffRaffs for a bit more open and spikey tone, BlackDogs for a bit more compressed and meaty tone, whichever you prefer.

[Philly Q]

Not Stormy Mondays, they're a bit polite.

And from what you've said, I think you might find Riff Raffs too bright.  But Black Dogs, yes, they could fit the bill.

If you want higher output, as well as a fuller sound, then maybe Crawlers or Abraxas?

[ericsabbath]

I never heard a BIG true paf tone
that's a myth
PAfs are very low output and not middy
they CAN sound big in some circunstances, but they are not big sounding by themselves
they are "mild" and articulated
and that's what's cool about them
if you want a BIG tone, get a medium high output model, like the crawler
but black dogs would be more than enough

[Ivan]

Yea I wasn't too sure how to articulate my problems with the Mules.... and I stil don't!

but it's not the output I have a problem with. The level of output is fine. So perhaps Im wrong to ask for a ballsier alternative.

When I run the Mules clean or at mild drive, they lack 'omph' - that thick, full growl I associate with humbuckers; kind of but not exactly like early 60s Clapton.

Initially I looked at the Stormy Mondays which sound nice but Im not sure they have cut and definition I want (which the Mules do).
so now Im looking into Black Dogs....

[Dr. Vic]

well if the Black dog would probably be a solid choice, with what you said here, I would second the Abraxas option.


The Stormy Monday is an AII, with a very sweet and clear tone (that you seem to like). 

The abraxas neck is powered by an AIV, like the Mule, the Emerald, and the crawler. The bridge is an AV

The BD neck and bridge are AV.

The difference between thoses magnets are explained in the first topic of this section. And here are the words from Tim about the abraxas :

"The Abraxas humbuckers are voiced for a hot, sweet and singing vintage tone.As you all know, original PAFs were all in the DC8-9K region but I wanted to create a pickup that had a similar vibe but more power......a mix of early and modern Santana I guess. The tone is bright yet sweet.............the clarity extends through the bass too and it's a medium output humbucker. In the right hands it'll still rock though. As those of you who are used to the tone of Alnico IV now will know, it's a better balanced version of Alnico II............bottom line, no mush in the bass, balanced mids and sweet highs-not syrupy though! The overall tone is pure vintage but with some extra power for those singing latin leads. For the Abraxas neck I've been doing an Alnico IV version of the Emerald...balanced output with extra sweetness." 8) 8)


So wait for more people to tell you more about those BD and AB. But don't let the latin quarter description fool you : thoses pups rocks !


And at the end : ask Tim !

[Philly Q]

I'm really starting to GAS for an Abraxas set.  I wonder how they'd sound in a korina guitar?

[Dr. Vic]

no idea  :lol:

Maybe ask HTH I think he has a high knowledge of them,

If you want to GAs more for them, then check out Jeff Makor Myspace, here,

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=17611.0

well, I think that gives a good overall view (even if it's very very santana-ish-esque)

[kevinr]

Stormy Mondays do sound very full with a great treble sound, I have Mules as well and although the Mules do sound a little more articulate I find that for certain real paf sounds the AII SMs sound more correct to my ears through my valve amps(Marshall & Laney) I have not tried Abraxas so I can't give any first hand advise!

[Brow]

I have a pair of AIV Abraxas in my PRS CU22 and to my ears they sound like higher output Mules for the most part. Not quite as open and a little more compressed (due to the hotter wind I'd guess) but definitely in the same ballpark.

[bewithdennis]

ive had a set of PG blues in my 1982 Tokai loverock since april last year,lately i wanted a bit more oomph,a bit more balls if you know what i mean a liitle moore Billy f Gibbons,after a long thread on this very forum and a chat with Tim himself i went for a calibrated Abraxas set,,to me they are the answers to ALL the questions,the tone is there and the power when needed,im mainly just using the volume control now instead of my Hotcake pedal, i cannot recommend these enough......

[hunter]

a liitle moore Billy f Gibbons

what now, Moore or Gibbons?

:O)