RY/VHII in a Les Paul?

[oilpit]

I've been getting fed up with the pickups in my Les Paul Custom (Duncan Custom 5/'57 Classic).  The bridge is too crunchy and grainy and the neck sounds really good, but it's just a hair on the muddy side for what I like, especially when switching from the very bright bridge pickup.

From the bridge I want something bright, smooth (that one is important, I don't want anything with a lot of crunch or hair, just a nice smooth, articulate tone) with lots of harmonics that is really aggressive.  The RY came to mind, but I am open to just about anything as long as it does what I want.

From the neck I want something with a PAF flavor, but with more mids and pick attack.  If I want aggression from the bridge, I want the exact opposite from the neck, I want something polite and dynamic that really sings under high gain without getting muddy

Would the RY/VHII work? Or would I be better off with a different set?

[Telerocker]

It will work, but I don't know if the RY will be smooth enough for what you want. It's quite agressive and peaky in het higher midrange. The VHII in the neck is to die for. Let's wait till forummember Nolly chimes in. He has a lor of experience with these puppies.

[Yellowjacket]

I was told the Abraxas bridge is a creamier pickup.  The Rebel Yell bridge is huge, phat, and even.  I have one in my Les Paul and it is very clear, open, with tones of string separation.  There is an upper mid spike but I don't hear it with my Dual Rectifier because of the upper mid scoop characteristic of the amp.  It sounds much like the sound clips do.  If you're down with that, AWESOME!  I have a Duncan Custom Custom in the Bridge of another guitar.  (Custom wind with an Alnico II magnet)  It has much more hair in the tone and it is far thicker sounding or even a bit muddy.  The Rebel Yell imparts a certain 'marshall' like crunch character to the Dual Rectifier and it really cleans up well.  The pick attack is wide and the pickup is very articulate.   I'd say the high end of this pickup has a harmonic 'halo' to it.  It just sings. 

If you tell me what you want it for, I can give you a better idea of whether it might work or not.

[oilpit]

My first love is heavy blues with a modern edge, however I cover a lot of heavier styles as well.  Some of my favorite players are Slash, Brian May, Andy Timmons, Gary Moore etc. I play into Mesa Boogie amps (a Lonestar and an Electra Dyne).  I like a really smooth, thick, creamy lead sound that still cuts through the mix.  In the past I have played dark pickups installed in dark guitars plugged into dark amps to get the kind of girth and fatness that I like but in a band setting that's just a nightmare to be heard over the rest of the players so I am looking for a set up pickups that will have enough high mids and top end to really cut.  My problem with bright pieces of gear in the past have been that they all sound too crunchy and hairy.  I hate that kind of sound, I like my tone to be smooth without any sharp edges or grainy top end.

[Telerocker]

I have the Crawler in a swampashstrat, which is brighter of course then a Les Paul, but the pu is creamy and fat, which the right amount of treble. Despite the output it has a PAF-ish-tone and cleans up great. Sort of similar but with les output is the Abraxas. It has less compression and more air in the highs. Real 59-tones are delivered by the Mule and if you're looking for that tone with some extra chime, check out the RiffRaff. Considering the players/tones you mention, I would stay in Mule/RiffRaff-terrority.

[Nolly]

Honestly for what you've described, I'd recommend a set of Mules. To me the tones you've referenced are best served by a clear and open PAF, dialling back the tone controls on your guitar a touch to get into the real creamy lead tone territory if need be. The Mules are capable of more or less any style and the sheer depth of the tone they put out in a live context is incredible.
A Riff Raff in the bridge would give you a brighter and punchier sound that might be worth going for if you're after a tone that will cut through a dense mix. The Black Dog will give you a good deal more girth and power but is noticeably more focussed than the very open sounding Mule and Riff Raff.

[oilpit]

I tend to stray away from vintage output bridge pickups, I love PAFs in the neck but in the bridge they never seem to have the mids and harmonics that I like.  However I have heard nothing but fantastic things about the Mules and there are some very impressive higher gain clips with them on this forum so I will definitely consider them...

[oilpit]

What about the Abraxas? 

The description makes it sound like a slightly wamer, hotter, smoother Mule with more harmonics...
Is this correct? Because if it is my decision has been made...

[Telerocker]

I think your description is quite accurate. As is the Crawler a hotrodded Abraxas.

[oilpit]

I think your description is quite accurate. As is the Crawler a hotrodded Abraxas.

I've been playing with my rig today, really thinking about what I want from a new set of pickups.  I think what I have settled on is a darker bridge pickup, and a brighter neck pickup.  This idea makes the crawler a very valid option in the bridge spot with a Mule or VHII in the neck...

I think I need to shoot Tim an email...

[Philly Q]

I think what I have settled on is a darker bridge pickup, and a brighter neck pickup.  This idea makes the crawler a very valid option in the bridge spot with a Mule or VHII in the neck...

As far as I know, the Mule neck isn't particularly bright - in fact there's not a huge difference between the Mule and Crawler neck models, the Crawler is just a fraction hotter. 

One neck model which is definitely relatively bright is the Riff Raff.