Mules with Alnico III ?

[Aqualung]

This is my first post, so first of all I'd like to say hi to everyone. Been lurking for a little while, lots of great info on here.

Now to the crux of my question. About 18 months or so ago I bought a set of Mules for my 59RI Les Paul, and I am extremely pleased with the result. The Mules are an exceptional pickup, everything from clear and articulate cleans to gritty, dirty rock, and everything inbetween. I absolutley love them.

Now I am looking at getting a set of Mules for my 57RI Les Paul, and was wondering what your thoughts on what they would be like with Alnico III magnets compared to the Alnico IV they usually come with, assuming Tim can do Mules with Alnico III. I'm looking for more of a Snowy White kind of tone, on the cleaner side but with just a little bit of bite and grit. I guess I'm looking for something just a little bit different sound and tone wise. Maybe Stormy Mondays are the way to go?

All suggestions and opinions are appreciated, and thanks in advance.

Cheers,

Peter.

[Telerocker]

Hi welcome here. You'd better ask the BKP-teams about AIII-Mules. If possible, they should sound soft, warm and clean. I guess Stormy's fill this gap already.

[kevinr]

How about AV Mules! I have a neck AV and it could be what you are looking for.

[Telerocker]

How about AV Mules! I have a neck AV and it could be what you are looking for.

Isn't AV a tad brighter and cutting then AIV?

[kevinr]

Yeah! and more bite and grit which is what he is after, AV Mules sound great in a LP!

[Telerocker]

I know they sound great, but I have the impression he's after something more like the early Gibson HB's, like the Stormy's or PG Blues.

[kevinr]

Yeah you may be right! I could have read it wrong :roll:

[Aqualung]

Thanks for your reply guys. Its getting late in the evening here Down Under, and maybe my description of the sound I am chasing is a little vague. I'm looking for something which will do the cleans more than the crunch end of the spectrum, but still retaining some warmth to the sound without getting too muddy. Something that's getting towards a warm jazz kind of sound but with the ability to get some mild distortion happening when rolling on the volume. The AV is probably a bit too bright for what I'm chasing, which is why I was wondering about an AIII in the Mules. I just checked out Tim's guitars in the Gallery section, and he has AIII Mules for the 12 string part of his Gibson Doubleneck.

You are right Telerocker, I guess I'm after an early Gibson HB tone, something like a 57 PAF. I'm not sure how much the specs of PAF's changed during the 57-60 period.

[kevinr]

Stormy Mondays!

[FELINEGUITARS]

I have used Alnico 3 mules before on one of my Tabby Thinline guitars

This one


The pickup was much clearer and transparent sounding - less mids than either the alnico IV or Alnico V but still good with overdrive although not as thick sounding

We deliberately went for alnico 3 to compliment the semi hollow nature of this particular guitar.

I think it would work for an early spec PAF tone, although I would usually just go for a Stormy Monday with it's alnico 2 magnet

[gordiji]

your post reminded me of snowy white, great tone indeed

 http://youtu.be/RBXTNAdvGKI             bird of paradise, love it.

[PhilKing]

I have AIII mules for a 12 string on Tim's recommendation.  I don't think you'll get what you want out of them.  I would put a set of PG Blues in your goldtop.  I have them in my 86 Darkback goldtop and they sound great.  They give you a nice gritty sound and work with pedals really well, and then they clean up and get almost strat like tones when you have both pickups together.

[Philly Q]

I have AIII mules for a 12 string on Tim's recommendation.  I don't think you'll get what you want out of them. 

Do they work well on the 12-string Phil, or are you just not keen on them at all?

[PhilKing]

I have AIII mules for a 12 string on Tim's recommendation.  I don't think you'll get what you want out of them.

Do they work well on the 12-string Phil, or are you just not keen on them at all?

They work great for a 12 string - but they are a cleaner pickup and I think Snowy White has more grit in his tone.

[Aqualung]

Thanks again guys for your thoughts and input. This has given me something to consider, I hadn't really considered the PG Blues, but now I think I may need to explore that possibility. Decisions, decisions............ :lol: