Classic Rock conversion

[HTH AMPS]

the Abraxas neck is brighter than the Mule or Crawler neck pickups and isn't very hot either - mine is around 7.6k I recall, its quite bright which makes for a very clear and unmuddy neck humbucker.

if you roll down the tone, its just like a Mule - fat and warm.

the Abraxas set has it all - love the neck AND bridge, they do everything VERY well.

[ztikmaen]

Yes I am thinking a lot about the Abraxas and Black Dog. And I'm not really considering the Holy Diver. I've decided that I'm going for an Abraxas in the bridge, but I still need a warm and clear pickup in the neck for my gentler stuff. I feel the Abraxas would work best with overdrive but my favourite clean tones for the neck pickups would have to to be the Emerald for the brighter sound, but overall I like the Black Dog and Mule for their warm and balanced character. I think the Black Dog definitely sounds more humbuckery but the Mule sounds more transparent and glassy kinda like a single coil? What do you think... I mostly use my neck pickup for cleaner stuff, but maybe that's because my current ones don't have enough bite to handle much else... Name your favourite clean neck humbucker that can also handle some gain and explain why. That would be really helpful! Thanks guys

[HTH AMPS]

here's my Abraxas set clean through an AC30 I modded... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzYzVdtZuYU

[ztikmaen]

here's my Abraxas set clean through an AC30 I modded... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzYzVdtZuYU

Mmm that's nice! I like how it's solid but pretty warm too... However. I would prefer a neck pickup with a leeetle bit less bite and more warmth, but still enough of an edge to keep final definition. Any suggestions on that? Great video though!

[HTH AMPS]

here's my Abraxas set clean through an AC30 I modded... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzYzVdtZuYU

Mmm that's nice! I like how it's solid but pretty warm too... However. I would prefer a neck pickup with a leeetle bit less bite and more warmth, but still enough of an edge to keep final definition. Any suggestions on that? Great video though!

If you want less bite, turn the tone down on the guitar - I've had the Mule and Crawler neck humbuckers and the Abraxas neck sounds just like these if you turn the tone down on the guitar to around 5-7.

[ztikmaen]

here's my Abraxas set clean through an AC30 I modded... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzYzVdtZuYU

Mmm that's nice! I like how it's solid but pretty warm too... However. I would prefer a neck pickup with a leeetle bit less bite and more warmth, but still enough of an edge to keep final definition. Any suggestions on that? Great video though!

If you want less bite, turn the tone down on the guitar - I've had the Mule and Crawler neck humbuckers and the Abraxas neck sounds just like these if you turn the tone down on the guitar to around 5-7.

What if I want a warmer tone? Without having to muddy it up with the tone knob? Don't get me wrong, I think the Abraxas sound awesome in both variations, but I'm looking for other options as well. I like the Black Dog too... Any opinions on that?

[ztikmaen]

I've just listened to a guitar with a Pearly Gate in the neck. It sounded really nice and chimey up at the 12th fret. What BK pickup can make this sound? A nice full, chimey sound in the neck? That would be perfect

[kevinr]

The Pearly Gates are AII, so Stormy Mondays are AII, you will get much the same results with AIV Mule or Abraxas.

[Telerocker]

I would stick to a calibrated Abraxas-set. The inbetween-position will be balanced too. I think this set is best of both worlds: vintagecharacter with some balls and a balanced eq.

[HTH AMPS]

here's my Abraxas set clean through an AC30 I modded... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzYzVdtZuYU

Mmm that's nice! I like how it's solid but pretty warm too... However. I would prefer a neck pickup with a leeetle bit less bite and more warmth, but still enough of an edge to keep final definition. Any suggestions on that? Great video though!

If you want less bite, turn the tone down on the guitar - I've had the Mule and Crawler neck humbuckers and the Abraxas neck sounds just like these if you turn the tone down on the guitar to around 5-7.

What if I want a warmer tone? Without having to muddy it up with the tone knob? Don't get me wrong, I think the Abraxas sound awesome in both variations, but I'm looking for other options as well. I like the Black Dog too... Any opinions on that?

Your tone knob shouldn't muddy your tone - mine don't.  If you have good caps installed, the top end should just smooth off very evenly and musically.  Cheap caps give that muddy tone - do yourself a favour, get some decent caps so your tone pots are useful.

To be fair, I don't think there is anything else similar in the BKP range to the Abraxas neck - I'm sure its the only alnico 4 PAF type wound with 43AWG plain enamel.  Closest is the Mule neck, but that is 42AWG and I found it a little too muddy on wound strings. 

The Abraxas is perfect as it can be biting in the neck position, but by rolling back your tone pot is can be fat and creamy too.

I'll do a youtube clip showing this once I get a chance.

[Slartibartfarst42]

Choosing pickups is bloody hard. I've had two sets from Bareknuckle now and I go through the tortures of hell every time yet I know where the big problem lies - I overthink it. The problem is that the more I overthink it, the harder the decision becomes because I get bogged down in tiny differences when I should just get on with it. I mention this because I get the impression the same thing is starting to happen to you and believe me, I do sympathise.

You've found the sound you want in the Pearly Gates and you described it as 'perfect' so I guess one option is to buy the Pearly Gates. Of course, like me, you know Bareknuckle pickups are better and that being the case, Stormy Mondays and PG Blues are the obvious equivilants, except that it's never that simple. What people are telling you about the Mules and Abraxas is absolutely true and as evidence I will quote Tim:

"Alnico IV is probably the best vintage tone IMHO(for humbuckers) and along with II and III was used in the earliest PAFs-this is a fact and not myth as we've had them analysed and a collegue 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 soft in the bass and highs if used incorrectly."

What's more, Tim will practice what he preaches because he uses Alnico IV pickups extensively himself. I've played Mules myself and they are incredible pickups that will serve you very well indeed. It's also clear from the posts here, made by those who know the Abraxas well, that the Abraxas will serve you equally well and possibly more so. The Mules are extremely versatile, going from Blues to Rock/Metal and if the Abraxas is basically a hotter Mule, there is no reason to doubt it will do all that the Mule can and possibly a bit more. They'll both work beautifully and you'll have no complaints. If it was me, I'd go with the Abraxas set because I think they'll give that bit more versatility and I think the EQ suggests they'll be well balanced in your guitar. Hell, I'm saving for a mahogany guitar just to put Mules in it and even I'm thinking that an Abraxas set might be a better option!

[ztikmaen]

Great feedback guys, especially Slarti for sympathising. Since I have to wait till my birthday in August to treat myself, I have a lot a dreamspace to think things over in. It's becoming clear that the Abraxas are the way to go, it seems that the characteristics in the neck AND bridge suit well and don't sound ~too~ similar.
Now, pickup covers? (Petty me...)
I have an all black guitar with black components. I'm not saying I want it to stay completely black. I kinda want to break away from that metalhead image that people automatically assume when they see my guitar (unfortunately I can't shred on request :/) so some classy covers may be nice. I was thinking of maybe Aged or Brushed nickel?
Oh and if I have a single coil in the middle that splits the Humbuckers when in 2nd and 4th position, do I need a 4 conductor or is a 2 fine?
Thanks for the immense help guys, maybe you could help me decide on a new guitar by referring to the "Fender Classic Player Jazzmaster Special vs Gretsch Electromatic Pro Jet" thread? Looking for a good middleground between the Tele and Ibbie

[Kiichi]

Now, pickup covers? (Petty me...)
I have an all black guitar with black components. I'm not saying I want it to stay completely black. I kinda want to break away from that metalhead image that people automatically assume when they see my guitar (unfortunately I can't shred on request :/) so some classy covers may be nice. I was thinking of maybe Aged or Brushed nickel?
Oh and if I have a single coil in the middle that splits the Humbuckers when in 2nd and 4th position, do I need a 4 conductor or is a 2 fine?

Got a pic of the guitar? Will help in choosing the cover. (Note on the side: Covers take a tiny bit of edge off the PU).

And yes, I got that wiring to and I needed 4 conductors. (Got the inner bridge coil + single and the outer neck coil + single)
If I´m not mistaken you could still order 4, even if not needed and just tape the two unnececery ones together.

[ztikmaen]

Okay thanks, is the difference with pickup covers very noticeable? Does it sound muted or warmer?
Uh well it's a black Ibanez RG370DXBK
Okay, seems like I'll get a four conductor. Yeah, I think I'll get the same wiring as you. (Neck side of neck pickup + Middle; Middle side of bridge + middle)

[Slartibartfarst42]

The guitar may be black but what about the hardware? Is it black or chrome?