Black Dogs Vs Abraxas

[Machek]

Hi guys,

I've learn something talking to Tim lately, it's sort of counter-intuitive so I thought I'd share it here.

As you may have read in a previous thread I'm currently thinking about changing my trusted set Crawlers.
Not that I don't like them anymore but it's just that my band is evolving towards a more dynamic style and the powerful Crawlers are a bit too compressed for it.

So I been looking for something similarily EQ-ed: fat lo and center mids with maybe a bit more trebles, overall less compressed and lower output. The Black Dogs have been my first guest but I wanted to double check asking Tim himslef.

According to him, the 14k Alnico IV Abraxas would be a better fit in my chambered all-mahogany LP through treble-boosted AC30 than the 9,5k Alnico V Black Dogs for that kind of tone.

"they're a totally different wire guage so have a much more balanced mid range compared to the BDs. They are very dynamic too with a much more open high end compared to the Crawlers." Were his words.

Did you see that coming? What do you guys think? Would you agree?

Anyways, there's not that much infos about the Abraxas here so just adding my borrowed 2 cents...

[Telerocker]

Listen to Tim, he knows his pu's best. The Abraxas is a sort of hotter hotrodded Mule, with more midrange and output, but the same treble-characteristics (a bit less then a Mule). The BD is a kind of a middy middy pickup. In certain guitars very powerful and thick, but not as versatile as Abraxas I think. In a Les Paul the BD could be too middy. I think, for what I read, the Abraxas is somewhat underrated. (I use a Crawler too and I recognize what you wrote. Mine is in a swampash-strat and I'm happy with it. I can understand you want something more open sounding.)

[Nolly]

I would certainly agree - the Alnico IV magnet and plain enamel wire offers an articulation and open-ness that will be a very pleasant surprise.

[BigB]

Dynamic and output level are not a simple function of DC resistance - magnet type AND wire material and gauge are also involved (which explains why the Crawler neck and bridge balance well despite the huge diff in DC resistance - not the same magnet and, moreover, not the same wire).

Also and IIRC, the Crawlers were more or less based on the Abraxas (please someone correct me if I'm wrong) so Tim's advice would make sense.

My 0.2 cents

[paulmapp8306]

Basically, If I read the EMail I got from Tim correctly, the Mule is a 59 PAF.  The Crawlers are very similar Neck, but with a similarly voiced but much hotter bridge PU.  The Abraxis can be described as a Crawler light.  Kind of a half way house in output between the Mules and Crawlers but similarly voiced.

[Philly Q]

So I been looking for something similarily EQ-ed: fat lo and center mids with maybe a bit more trebles, overall less compressed and lower output. The Black Dogs have been my first guest but I wanted to double check asking Tim himslef.

According to him, the 14k Alnico IV Abraxas would be a better fit in my chambered all-mahogany LP through treble-boosted AC30 than the 9,5k Alnico V Black Dogs for that kind of tone.

"they're a totally different wire guage so have a much more balanced mid range compared to the BDs. They are very dynamic too with a much more open high end compared to the Crawlers." Were his words.

That's interesting.  I've never tried the Abraxas (bridge) but for some reason I always imagined it would be very sweet-sounding with a "soft" high end.  Got that completely wrong!  :lol:

[Machek]

That's what I thought too Philly... But having a listen to HTH videos of the Abraxas changed my mind (especially the AC30 one). They seem really open, dynamic and touch sensitive for 14k pups. And the neck and bridge sound more 'of the same vibe' to me than the crawlers. That can sound a bit 'night and day' in that departement.

I think that once again I'll follow Tim's recommandation (always had, never been disappointed) and have a go with the Abraxas... I can always go and change 'em If I don't like them anyways... But I doubt I will...

[Nolly]

That's interesting.  I've never tried the Abraxas (bridge) but for some reason I always imagined it would be very sweet-sounding with a "soft" high end.  Got that completely wrong!  :lol:

Yeah, that was very much the impression I had until I tried it. While "sweet" is definitely a good word for it, it doesn't come at the expense of articulation. As with the Mules, the voicing is very balanced across the whole range - Tim explained this as a characteristic of the Alnico IV magnet.
It's a great pickup, I think you will enjoy it alot Machek!

[Telerocker]

That's what I thought too Philly... But having a listen to HTH videos of the Abraxas changed my mind (especially the AC30 one). They seem really open, dynamic and touch sensitive for 14k pups. And the neck and bridge sound more 'of the same vibe' to me than the crawlers. That can sound a bit 'night and day' in that departement.

I think that once again I'll follow Tim's recommandation (always had, never been disappointed) and have a go with the Abraxas... I can always go and change 'em If I don't like them anyways... But I doubt I will...

As Nolly says: the Abraxas will be a pleasant surprise. Personally I think Crawlers excel in bolt-on guitars like my strat. Sweet, thick, clean up great, growling when pushed, but never dull. I finally got rid of unpleasant highs.  In a lot of mahogany guitars they can be too warm with too little sparkle in the highend. Maybe I get myself an Abraxas to experiment in my strat. I'm growing into AIV-magnets. Heard so many great Mule-clips too.  :)

[Machek]

Well I never lacked highs from the Crawlers, eventhough I could do with some more sparkle yeah.

It's more this compression thing. I really like it at first as it's really 'in your face' but now I' looking for something a bit more subtle...

And again don't get me wrong, if I could keep the Crawlers in there and simply get another guitar I think i would.
But nah, just got this one and I have to make the most of it.

[Telerocker]

I just wanted to emphasize that in a percussive bright guitar like my swampash-strat/ ebony fingerboard (makes it more snappy then rosewood) the Crawler is spot on. I do notice the compression compared to Mules (a friend has them in his Les Paul), but for me that's fine since I'm playing in my current band a lot of driven leads and clean rhythms (on the IT's). The Crawler delivers and btw pairs splitted fine with the IT's. However the AIV magnets intrigue me more and more.

[Machek]

I get what you're saying.

The Crawlers may be the best pups to do just that, especially paired with single coils in a strat.
They do split very well and they are amazingly polyvalent too...

I just moved sideways in my standards of expectation ;)

[HTH AMPS]

Abraxas all the way, they are GREAT pickups.  The 14k bridge is not stupid-hot like you'd imagine.  It's liking having the PAF tone you always dreamed of but with a bit more muscle so you're not fighting to get things going all the time (as I feel I was with the Mules). 

[Philly Q]

Personally I think Crawlers excel in bolt-on guitars like my strat. Sweet, thick, clean up great, growling when pushed, but never dull. I finally got rid of unpleasant highs.  In a lot of mahogany guitars they can be too warm with too little sparkle in the highend.

That's what I've been thinking - I found the Crawler (bridge) a little dark in my Edwards LP, but I have a feeling it would work very well in a bolt-on.

(Interesting you used the word "growling", that's how I always described it too!  :)  )



Returning to the Abraxas, I just re-read you first post, Machek, and noticed your LP is all-mahogany.  Makes me wonder how Abraxas would sound in korina (like a PRS McCarty).....

[Telerocker]

Personally I think Crawlers excel in bolt-on guitars like my strat. Sweet, thick, clean up great, growling when pushed, but never dull. I finally got rid of unpleasant highs.  In a lot of mahogany guitars they can be too warm with too little sparkle in the highend.

That's what I've been thinking - I found the Crawler (bridge) a little dark in my Edwards LP, but I have a feeling it would work very well in a bolt-on.

(Interesting you used the word "growling", that's how I always described it too!  :)  )



Returning to the Abraxas, I just re-read you first post, Machek, and noticed your LP is all-mahogany.  Makes me wonder how Abraxas would sound in korina (like a PRS McCarty).....

It growls on my Orange Rockerverb, more people describe it that way.  :) Abraxas in korina should be best of both world: vintagecharacter with a bit more power, thick mids, nice chimey, but rounded  topend. More open then a Crawler for sure.