Can someone please help me make up my mind?

[Whitestrat]

I'm currently looking for something to replace the Duncan APHIIs in my Gibson Slash Les Paul Gold Top. I'm looking for something more open, organic, clear, yet packs a punch when driven hard. I've been advised by Tim to go for the Mule in the neck, and a Black Dog in the bridge. this actually does sound like the best combo to go for.

But I'm not sure. I can't get past the "calibrated set" bit psychologically.

So, I was thinking of a Black Dog set, but I do like A4s, which are what the mules are.

I have a set of Nailbombs in my 7 string S series, and that set rocks! Just that I'd prefer it to sound a bit more delicate on the cleans.

what do you guys suggest?

[Twinfan]

I would look at a set of AIV Stormy Mondays if I were you.  More versatile than the Black Dogs due to their lower output, and clearer than your current pickups as they're BKPs and have an AIV magnet.

Could suit you well?

[99_not_out]

With a "Calibrated Set", they will balance the bridge and neck pickups when winding so they match each other nicely. I believe, and you should perhaps check with Tim, that they do this anyway if you buy two different types for bridge and neck (as long as you specify they are for the same guitar). Tim certainly wouldn't suggest a bridge / neck combo that didn't match, so I would personally go with Tim's suggestion - maybe just double checking on how the pickups will balance in the middle position and volume wise if you are concerned.

Although the AIV Stormy Mondays are very nice too by all accounts :-)
Too much choice ...

[Ivan]

My understanding of calibrated set just means the neck and bridge are matched to go with each other.
It's the same reason you can buy HSS sets rather than buying them individually.

When you order just add a note in the comments section reminding Tim what they're for and I assume they will be a calibrated set as well.

However check with Tim!

[YellowDog]

With a "Calibrated Set", they will balance the bridge and neck pickups when winding so they match each other nicely. I believe, and you should perhaps check with Tim, that they do this anyway if you buy two different types for bridge and neck (as long as you specify they are for the same guitar). Tim certainly wouldn't suggest a bridge / neck combo that didn't match, so I would personally go with Tim's suggestion - maybe just double checking on how the pickups will balance in the middle position and volume wise if you are concerned.

My understanding of calibrated set just means the neck and bridge are matched to go with each other.
It's the same reason you can buy HSS sets rather than buying them individually.

When you order just add a note in the comments section reminding Tim what they're for and I assume they will be a calibrated set as well.

However check with Tim!

+1 on both these posts. Tim will supply whatever you order as a calibrated set, as long as you let him know that they are for the same guitar. Remember, BKP's are not "off the shelf" products (like Duncans or DiMarzios); they are wound to order.

[Whitestrat]

I would look at a set of AIV Stormy Mondays if I were you.  More versatile than the Black Dogs due to their lower output, and clearer than your current pickups as they're BKPs and have an AIV magnet.

Well, the Stormy Mondays seems a little TOO mild? I don't know. I wanted a clear yet punchy set of pups, which is why I considered the Black Dogs. Actually, the APHII set is pretty hot by many standards. I don't know if that's the nature of the pickup, or the characteristic of an LP. (I've only owned one LP so far, my old Epiphones and Edwards notwithstanding). The LP seems to pack a bit more punch into the pickups resultant tone. Is this right? or am I earlucinating?

My experiences with PAFs so far are mainly limited to DiMarzios, and what on my EBMM 20th anniversary Silhouettes (which are also PAF variants). But I've hear some killer tones from ToneRider A4s though they seemed to lack a bit of punch.

[Roobubba]

I'm actually quite tempted to try out some Stormy Monday's just to see if they can be made to work in a metal setting. My inclination is that it would be possible to get some pretty nasty filth out of them with the right settings ;)

With a 5150-II, I can get very far into brootalz territory out of a black dog bridge (and indeed this is pretty much the only territory of tone on which I focus). The lower output of the pickup in practical terms means that you have more versatility than a really high output pickup, and not really any lack of ability to get truly, brutally nasty. That's all IF you have a high gain amp, of course :)

Still, if Tim suggests BD/Mule, I'd say go with it - the man knows his pickups! :)

Roo

[Dr. Vic]

Are you expecting here someone to contradict Tim's advices ?  :lol:

Anyway, if you are looking for an alternate choice of a calibrated set...

My guess is that you want the Abraxas !

- Ultra sweet singing Alnico IV vintage neck perfect those Slashy kind of lead sound
- Hot PAF Alnico V bridge, with I think the right amount of punch you want !

AND do not be fooled by the "latin quarter" description : This set if packed with true vintage / rock PAF-ish sound !

here are tim's words about the abraxas set :

"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) 8)

Check with him !

And good luck ! :good:

[tomjackson]

I'm actually quite tempted to try out some Stormy Monday's just to see if they can be made to work in a metal setting. My inclination is that it would be possible to get some pretty nasty filth out of them with the right settings ;)

With a 5150-II, I can get very far into brootalz territory out of a black dog bridge (and indeed this is pretty much the only territory of tone on which I focus). The lower output of the pickup in practical terms means that you have more versatility than a really high output pickup, and not really any lack of ability to get truly, brutally nasty. That's all IF you have a high gain amp, of course :)

Still, if Tim suggests BD/Mule, I'd say go with it - the man knows his pickups! :)

Roo

I think you could get some great filth out of them but I don't think AII SM's would be defined or tight enough for modern metal.  I've not tried A4 SM's but certaily AII's might be too dynamic and would not have the bass you would need.  That said, I doubt you'd be using an AC30 or Super Reverb i.e. through the right amp who knows?

Now I wonder what NB's or warpigs would sound like for sweet blues and jazz through a Princeton Reverb?

[Prawnik]

I'm actually quite tempted to try out some Stormy Monday's just to see if they can be made to work in a metal setting. My inclination is that it would be possible to get some pretty nasty filth out of them with the right settings ;)

With a 5150-II, I can get very far into brootalz territory out of a black dog bridge (and indeed this is pretty much the only territory of tone on which I focus). The lower output of the pickup in practical terms means that you have more versatility than a really high output pickup, and not really any lack of ability to get truly, brutally nasty. That's all IF you have a high gain amp, of course :)

Still, if Tim suggests BD/Mule, I'd say go with it - the man knows his pickups! :)

Roo

I don't spend much time with teh brewtalz, but I get some of my best mettul tones from Strats with vintage-voiced pickups boosted to the max (except my MM set doesn't like high gain much). YMMV.

[Whitestrat]

Are you expecting here someone to contradict Tim's advices ?  :lol:

My guess is that you want the Abraxas !

- Ultra sweet singing Alnico IV vintage neck perfect those Slashy kind of lead sound
- Hot PAF Alnico V bridge, with I think the right amount of punch you want !

Hahaha... No no... not contradict. But just seeking further opinions.

The Abraxas is an A4 neck and A5 bridge? really? That's interesting!

Oddly, pursuing a different line of questioning with Tim brought forward the Riff Raff and Rebel Yell choices... ARRGGGHHH!!!!!!

[Dr. Vic]

The Abraxas is an A4 neck and A5 bridge? really? That's interesting!

Yeah, As well as the Emerald and Crawler set.

you can ask HTH, Philly Q or JEFF MAKOR, about the Abraxas set. If I remember well, I think they are VERY happy to play them ! 

Oddly, pursuing a different line of questioning with Tim brought forward the Riff Raff and Rebel Yell choices... ARRGGGHHH!!!!!!

Dunno what your questionning was about and if you were still on those Slashy kind of sound, but it will be interesting to let us know with what combo / calibrated set you end up with him at the end !

And remember forum rule n°1 is : Do what Tim advise you to do !

 PDT_006

[PhilKing]

I thought the Abraxas has AIV for both pickups (at least that's what my set are)?

[Dr. Vic]

ooops yes you're right Philking, sorry whitestrat : both are AIV, (which is not a bad thing still for the slash tones...)

The emerald and crawler are AV (B) / AIV (N) if you're interested in that combination of magnet in a calibrated set.

[dheim]

I don't spend much time with teh brewtalz, but I get some of my best mettul tones from Strats with vintage-voiced pickups boosted to the max (except my MM set doesn't like high gain much). YMMV.

oooh, Mother's Milk... i'm not used to single coil abbreviations... for a second i thought that you were talking about Miracle Men, and that you were absolutely crazy... :)