Would AIV Mules handle heavy rock/drop tunings?

[broknstrngz]

Hi mateys,

Tim has recommended a pair of Mules for my very well balanced R8. I play classic and modern rock, a lot of grunge, I go anywhere from Aerosmith to GNR to Godsmack and Black Stone Cherry. I'd like to know how these pickups handle higher gain scenarios. Do they get muddy at all? Do they get lost in the mix?

I'm looking for something that would give me a tight bottom end without losing the vintage, (upper)midrangey growl, while having a smooth but firm top end.

Fellow forum member Hunter, whom I thank once again, also pointed me to Mules or even Black Dogs but since Tim suggested the Mules as well, I figured I'd look around to find some heavier applications before I hit the buy button.

Thanks guys, great community here!
 

[Roobubba]

I've not used mules, but I have experience with the black dog, and that can certainly handle low and heavy. From what I know of the BKP range, it sounds spot on (and Tim's recommendations are essentially never wrong :)).

Roo

[gwEm]

you can get very heavy with mules. they wouldn't be my first choice for modern br00talz, but even slayer levels of are fine on them. 80s rock is bread and butter to mules, but that equally applies to jazz and blues too.

I'm looking for something that would give me a tight bottom end without losing the vintage, (upper)midrangey growl, while having a smooth but firm top end.

you don't mention your guitar or amp, but this is all very much on the mule lines.

(edit: I should say, although Mules will play Slayer and be OK, I'd prefer something like a Painkiller :) )

[broknstrngz]

you don't mention your guitar or amp, but this is all very much on the mule lines.

You're right, sorry. I mostly play through a Koch Pedaltone preamp nowadays, but own a Koch Twintone II as well. They're not quite modern sounding, but not overly vintage either. I also have an ENGL Screamer which I sometimes use, but it's not my cup of tea anymore - I feel it sounds very European while I like British/American tones more. My guitar is a Gibson R8.

My most modern sounding song would be this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqKSV6tqw4U, I don't plan going further than that, gain wise.

[gwEm]

you don't mention your guitar or amp, but this is all very much on the mule lines.

You're right, sorry. I mostly play through a Koch Pedaltone preamp nowadays, but own a Koch Twintone II as well. They're not quite modern sounding, but not overly vintage either. I also have an ENGL Screamer which I sometimes use, but it's not my cup of tea anymore - I feel it sounds very European while I like British/American tones more. My guitar is a Gibson R8.

My most modern sounding song would be this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqKSV6tqw4U, I don't plan going further than that, gain wise.

you will be very happy with mules then. those mids will be very achievable, and they can easily handle that level of gain with potting.

(Sorry, you did mention your guitar after all)

[broknstrngz]

Thanks gwEm!

Is it worth having Alnico V in the bridge position?

[gwEm]

Thanks gwEm!

Is it worth having Alnico V in the bridge position?

not on an LP of traditional construction in my opinion. i have an a5 mule in a V and its great though, gives extra bite.

[broknstrngz]

Thanks gwEm!

Is it worth having Alnico V in the bridge position?

not on an LP of traditional construction in my opinion. i have an a5 mule in a V and its great though, gives extra bite.

Hm, I'll think about what you said. In the LP I used to record the song on YouTube I had a WCR Godwood - Alnico V (am I allowed to say that here?) in the bridge, I always liked how it felt and sat in the mix. I skimmed through every IV vs V topic I could find here but didn't learn anything new. Wish I found an A/B test of the same pickup on the same guitar, but with different magnets  :)

[gwEm]

Thanks gwEm!

Is it worth having Alnico V in the bridge position?

not on an LP of traditional construction in my opinion. i have an a5 mule in a V and its great though, gives extra bite.

Hm, I'll think about what you said. In the LP I used to record the song on YouTube I had a WCR Godwood - Alnico V (am I allowed to say that here?) in the bridge, I always liked how it felt and sat in the mix. I skimmed through every IV vs V topic I could find here but didn't learn anything new. Wish I found an A/B test of the same pickup on the same guitar, but with different magnets  :)

depends how bright your les paul is i guess :)

[broknstrngz]

Thanks gwEm!

Is it worth having Alnico V in the bridge position?

not on an LP of traditional construction in my opinion. i have an a5 mule in a V and its great though, gives extra bite.

Hm, I'll think about what you said. In the LP I used to record the song on YouTube I had a WCR Godwood - Alnico V (am I allowed to say that here?) in the bridge, I always liked how it felt and sat in the mix. I skimmed through every IV vs V topic I could find here but didn't learn anything new. Wish I found an A/B test of the same pickup on the same guitar, but with different magnets  :)

depends how bright your les paul is i guess :)

It's just right. In fact this is the most balanced LP I've ever played.

[PhilKing]

I like the A5 Mule as a bridge pickup.  I have it paired with a Stormy Monday neck and can get a great set of sounds from them.   The A5 has a bit more open punch (if that makes sense to you - think of Paul Kossoff's tone). 

[gwEm]

Sounds like you could choose either A4 or A5 and get a good tone.

The nice thing with the A5 Mule is it keeps almost all of all the nice mids of the regular mule. Like Phil, I'm a big fan of the A5 version. I won't say I sound like Kossoff with the particular V I have the A5 Mule in, but its punchy in the mids, but with near riff-raff bite. I think the A5 does sounds more open as Phil says, but they are generally speaking both open sounding pickups.

[ericsabbath]

the godwood is a lot hotter than the mule, especially the AIV mule
so if you're not confident that you want to tame things down, you better pick the black dog instead
the mules will sound just as good, though

[broknstrngz]

the godwood is a lot hotter than the mule, especially the AIV mule
so if you're not confident that you want to tame things down, you better pick the black dog instead
the mules will sound just as good, though

Thanks Eric,

I did want to tame things down a bit, while I loved Godwood's sound, I always felt I could use slightly better dynamics, so slightly lower output pickups are what I'm after. I'll go for an AV bridge Mule for now.

Late edit: Hm. Or the Black Dog. Damn, so many options! I'll let you guys know what I finally bought :)

[HTH AMPS]

the godwood is a lot hotter than the mule, especially the AIV mule
so if you're not confident that you want to tame things down, you better pick the black dog instead
the mules will sound just as good, though

Thanks Eric,

I did want to tame things down a bit, while I loved Godwood's sound, I always felt I could use slightly better dynamics, so slightly lower output pickups are what I'm after. I'll go for an AV bridge Mule for now.

Late edit: Hm. Or the Black Dog. Damn, so many options! I'll let you guys know what I finally bought :)

I've heard that WCR Godwood pickup and I thought the same - compressed (thats how the tone was so fat).

If you want something in the same vein, but a more open character, try the BKP Abraxas... (in action)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDQ2twawdIk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e-vNNMyWMU