Got a Black Dog, but not really working for me. Any advice for replacement?

[tremolo arm]

Hello
I would welcome the forum's advice on a Les Paul matter.
A couple of years ago I bought a set of BKP's for my Les Paul. Following consultation with Tim himself I chose The Mule for the neck and a Black Dog for the bridge. Whilst I've been extremely happy with The Mule, I can't really get used to the Black Dog, which I am now looking to replace. I know that in theory it should emulate a Jimmy Page solo tone but to me it sounds fuzzy and unbalanced, as if it's going through a wah pedal tilted forward. This becomes more extreme when I roll back the guitar volume.  Hard to explain really, but not the sound I was looking for.

I play through a Marshall Vintage Modern 2266 - 50W and generally play classic rock - Black Crowes, Deep Purple, Led Zep, AD/DC, Aerosmith, Primal Scream, Gary Moore, etc. and am looking for a more balanced, natural sound. The best way to describe it would be an acoustic / wood sound, which still sounds natural, resonant and smooth with a bit of overdrive. I need to cut through the mix in a 5 piece band, so would need something which sounds big and present, but without the fuzziness.

The person in this video used the same amp I've got and he's got a sweet overdrive sounds. You may notice how he retains excellent tone definition even at relatively high gain:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJMUAoiT-sk

I have listened to some of the clips on this site and can't seem to be able to decide. Theoretically, what should complement my neck Mule would be a bridge Mule, but not sure if this will work. I have also checked out clips of the SD Seth Lover and that sounds interesting, but would rather remain with BKP.

Any advice from the forum would be much appreciated.
Thanks

[kevinr]

I'm surprized! as my BD sounds great, are you sure there is not another problem? as I would never call my BD fuzzy, it should cover your requirements with ease.

[tremolo arm]

I'm surprized! as my BD sounds great, are you sure there is not another problem? as I would never call my BD fuzzy, it should cover your requirements with ease.

Yes, I was surprised as well. May be it's my guitar. Don't get me wrong - the Black Dog sounds OK, but given the vast choice out there I would rather get something which I feel more comfortable with, something which is more natural and acoustic. The Mule sounds superb with all EQ settings, whereas the Black Dog sounds ok with a very narrow range of settings. What pickup would you choose for the sound in the video?

[BigB]

I can't really get used to the Black Dog (snip) to me it sounds fuzzy and unbalanced, as if it's going through a wah pedal tilted forward. This becomes more extreme when I roll back the guitar volume. 

Err... reading this, I can't help but suspect some problem with the wiring or the pup itself.

[kevinr]

If your not happy with the BD then perhaps the Mule will be the way to go! many use and recommend them in LPs, they certainly will be better than the Seths when using high gain settings and will have a tighter bottom end, I have two guitars fitted with Seths and rather like the sound, however they don't work as well as Mules.

[tremolo arm]

I can't really get used to the Black Dog (snip) to me it sounds fuzzy and unbalanced, as if it's going through a wah pedal tilted forward. This becomes more extreme when I roll back the guitar volume. 

Err... reading this, I can't help but suspect some problem with the wiring or the pup itself.

Could be, although I doubt it as the pups were installed by a pro shop and anyway my description may have given a more extreme impression. I will try to upload a clip tonight to illustrate the sound I am getting.

[PhilKing]

I have an Emerald/Mule combination which is great for classic rock.  Also a Mule with an Alnico 5 magnet is one of the best rock bridge pickups out there (think Mr Big by Free).

[gwEm]

i agree with the idea of changing the bridge to a mule. its alot more transparent than a black dog, and may solve your problem.

[Telerocker]

You can't go wrong with Mules. Kravitz likes them too.

[fr33man1]

I'm surprised as I fitted my les paul custom with a set of BD in replacement of the stock C57 gibson pickups. I dont get any fuzz but just a massive growly rock sound out of those bareknuckles.

I'm even playing some metal and tuning down for some old SOAD tunes and its perfect sounding. Wiring could make it tiny or fuzzy or more simply its just not to your taste. Even the popular nailbomb pickup is not liked by some fellow bkp users. Even I after being so fond of it went tired of its sound.

A less powerful and compressed pickup might help you get a more woody , open tone.

[ericsabbath]

I'd say riff raff, then

[BigB]

Err... reading this, I can't help but suspect some problem with the wiring or the pup itself.

Could be, although I doubt it as the pups were installed by a pro shop

Well, I've seen rather "strange" (yes, it's an understatement) things coming out of "pro" shops.

[darkbluemurder]

Well, I've seen rather "strange" (yes, it's an understatement) things coming out of "pro" shops.

Indeed - wasn't it here that someone mentioned a pro shop replaced EMG pickups but did not replace the 25k pots?

[BigB]

Well, I've seen rather "strange" (yes, it's an understatement) things coming out of "pro" shops.

Indeed - wasn't it here that someone mentioned a pro shop replaced EMG pickups but did not replace the 25k pots?

Yeps, this one is probably the all times winner.

Now I've also seen wrong wiring scheme on a strat (resulting in very funny interactions between the volume and tone pots), wrong color codes on splittable humbuckers, inane pots and cap values (500K / 0.022uF on a single coil Tele), quite a few soldering issues, and let's not talk about guitar setup issues :(

[tremolo arm]

Well, I've seen rather "strange" (yes, it's an understatement) things coming out of "pro" shops.

Indeed - wasn't it here that someone mentioned a pro shop replaced EMG pickups but did not replace the 25k pots?

Yeps, this one is probably the all times winner.

Now I've also seen wrong wiring scheme on a strat (resulting in very funny interactions between the volume and tone pots), wrong color codes on splittable humbuckers, inane pots and cap values (500K / 0.022uF on a single coil Tele), quite a few soldering issues, and let's not talk about guitar setup issues :(

Slightly off topic. BigB (or indeed everyone else here), are you based in the UK (London)? If so which place would you recommend for guitar set ups / retrofitting parts, etc. ?

The place that installed the pickups was Chandler Guitars in Kew (London). Come to think of it, the guy who installed them looked like an apprentice and my Les Paul is kind of unusual in that it has three pickups, so there is a chance he may have made a mistake. I remember him commenting that he was not impressed with BK pickups in general, to which I just shrugged. But I don't want to lay blame on him for what could turn up to be my own personal opinion about the pickup sounds.

Back to topic, I will try to upload some audio clips of the Black Dog.