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Author Topic: Choosing Humbuckers  (Read 1785 times)

Eric12

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Choosing Humbuckers
« on: June 07, 2011, 10:27:00 AM »
I heard about the Bare Knuckle pickups and I would like to put them on my PRS SE Custom 24 25th Anniversary but I got a problom with choosing the pickups.
I play some blues, SRV to BB King, and RockN'Roll(somthing like Steirway to heaven solo), a bit pink floyd and heavier rock, this is important that it will be fine with Zakk Wylde sound!
I search some warm, sweet tone, which can be bluesy/RockN'roll tone, but can get distoration for punk to hard rock, again, it should handle zakk wylde tone.

I would like to know which humbukers would you recommend to put in bridge and neck, The first one I though about was Mule, from youtube it's wat I'm looking after, but I'm not sure yet.

thanks for the help :)

Telerocker

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Re: Choosing Humbuckers
« Reply #1 on: June 07, 2011, 02:38:53 PM »
Hmm, tough one. Mules will do everything, except extreme metal. Black Dogs keep tight with lots of gain. They have more mids then Mules, which I consider more versatile then BD's.
Mules, VHII, Crawler, MM's, IT's, BG50's.

Eric12

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Re: Choosing Humbuckers
« Reply #2 on: June 07, 2011, 02:53:46 PM »
thank for the replay  :)

Some people in other forum recommended me to put the Mule at the neck, and Riff Raff at the bridge.
The Mule sound good for what I'm searching, but from youtube, I heard that Riff Raff will do only AC/DC-Led Zeppelin sound, which I dont want, I just want the pickup to be able to do AC/DC, not to be the same sound.

what do you think about it?
does the Riff Raff can do other things? like Zakk Wylde or Pink Floyd?

Nolly

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Re: Choosing Humbuckers
« Reply #3 on: June 07, 2011, 11:19:48 PM »
The Riff Raff is an excellent pickup that can do any tone under the sun in a decent guitar. Tim himself uses the Riff Raff/Mule combination in his no.1 Les Paul(s) and he plays in an Ozzy tribute band so you can be certain they are capable of Zakk Wylde style tones. The Mule neck is as open and clear a neck pickup as you're likely to hear, so while you are never going to find a humbucker that sounds like a single coil (ie SRV and Floyd), it will sound truly excellent for blues through to all out metal.

Don't forget to check the Bare Knuckle website for in-depth descriptions and comparison clips of every pickup.

BigB

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Re: Choosing Humbuckers
« Reply #4 on: June 08, 2011, 12:36:12 PM »
Some people in other forum recommended me to put the Mule at the neck, and Riff Raff at the bridge.
The Mule sound good for what I'm searching, but from youtube, I heard that Riff Raff will do only AC/DC-Led Zeppelin sound,

Duh ??? :scratch:

I've had a RR bridge in my SG and it can certainly do MUCH more than "only AC/DC-Led Zep" tones.
Have: Crawlers, BGF 50/52s, Mules, ABomb, RiffRaff
Had : Slowhands (n&m), Trilogy (b)

Eric12

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Re: Choosing Humbuckers
« Reply #5 on: June 08, 2011, 07:17:49 PM »
Thank you for your help! :)

I have now four humbuckers that I LOVED and I dont know what should I choose between them.

The Mule, Abraxas(thank to Tim reccomendation), Riff Raff and the Black Dog.

should I use set of one of them? or maybe combine two of them?
This is important to me to get varied guitar, for blues to a bit hard rock, sweet vintage overdrive with hot distoration :)

thank you for your help!

Mr. Air

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Re: Choosing Humbuckers
« Reply #6 on: June 08, 2011, 08:34:18 PM »
Mules seem to be a "safe bet" as they are highly praised and very versatile, but if Tim suggests Abraxas I would surely considder a pair. It's often stated that Mules and Abraxas share a lot of common ground, but the Abraxas has a little more oomph. Check out forum member HTH's soundclips of the Abraxas in a LP. He defenitely nails some great hard rock tones.
Mississippi Queens, Stormy Monday/Apaches, Emeralds, Nailbomb (bridge)

BigB

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Re: Choosing Humbuckers
« Reply #7 on: June 08, 2011, 08:42:44 PM »
Well, almost any BKP bucker in the vintage and vintage hot range (which, as far as I'm concerned, includes the Crawler) could possibly work here.

Now, Tim is most often than not spot on - he knows his pups well, obviously tried them in as many guitars and amps as possible, and he's first and foremost a great guitar player himself. Also there's this 15 days return policy, so my advice would be to first try the Abraxas. At least you'll then have a "point of reference" if it doesnt work for you.

Have: Crawlers, BGF 50/52s, Mules, ABomb, RiffRaff
Had : Slowhands (n&m), Trilogy (b)

Eric12

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Re: Choosing Humbuckers
« Reply #8 on: June 08, 2011, 09:04:53 PM »
I'm buying it from a shop in Israel, I dont know if they got this 15 days return policy, I have to check it.
Tim recommended the Mule too, but he gave the idea of the abraxas, I didnt though about them before.

I think it's important to understand what I'm actually playing...

This is the style I'm playing with my band(I'm lead guitar in my band):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiZuNxow4jg
just put it in 1:00, the guitar start there.

Alone at home, I'm playing some rock N' Roll, a lot of blues, BB king to SRV, I like the tone of Gary Moore.
Some hard rock...
Clean important too.

« Last Edit: June 08, 2011, 09:58:41 PM by Eric12 »

Telerocker

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Re: Choosing Humbuckers
« Reply #9 on: June 09, 2011, 01:18:39 AM »
The Abraxas won't disappoint you. It's a hotter Mule with more mids, but still versatile and cleans up well.
Mules, VHII, Crawler, MM's, IT's, BG50's.

Eric12

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Re: Choosing Humbuckers
« Reply #10 on: June 09, 2011, 10:28:47 PM »
Thank you for your commends.

I would like to hear more people, whatever they think about those two pickups  :)

richard

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Re: Choosing Humbuckers
« Reply #11 on: June 10, 2011, 08:30:38 AM »
http://www.myspace.com/uscornfordtonelounge


Scroll down and have a listen to RogMikEnzo: Sue Rick Funk.

Mules sounding wonderful.

PRS Bernie Marsden Abraxas set
PRS S2 Singlecut RY's
JV Strat  IT Bridge
Gibson SG JB bridge
Fender Mex Tele Thinline TV Jones Classics
Fender Bassbreaker 15
Yamaha THR 100 Dual
Quilter Aviator Cub

Eric12

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Re: Choosing Humbuckers
« Reply #12 on: June 10, 2011, 08:37:03 AM »
Yeah... The Mule sound great,

This is too difficult :(

Telerocker

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Re: Choosing Humbuckers
« Reply #13 on: June 13, 2011, 12:05:36 AM »
Stick to Tim's advice. The Abraxas covers a lot of ground and has some Mule-flavour.
Mules, VHII, Crawler, MM's, IT's, BG50's.