fat PAF tone...

[oilpit]

My #1 Les Paul is a custom build '59 Les Paul replica made by a luthier in Nashville.  The entire guitar is built entirely to 1959 specs, old growth mahogany, Brazilian rosewood, the whole nine yards. 

It currently has a set of custom shop Seymour Duncans, a Brobucker in the bridge (essentially an overwound PAF, 10k of 42AWG) and a Seth Lover in the neck.  The guitar sounds fantastic through my Mesa Boogie Lonestar, it really gets to be what I consider to be a perfect Les Paul sound.  However as I spend more and more time on this forum I wonder if it couldn't be improved by a set of BKPs!  So I figure I would get a feeler from you guys and possible email Tim and possible splurge for a new set if it seems like they will improve the tone of my guitar.

The Seth Lover I currently have is really great, it's super dynamic, gets a wonderful liquid, fat, creamy lead sound and has beautiful clean tones.  There are just a few things I would change about it if I could.  The pickup is just slightly too dark, this is especially apparent when I roll down the volume for a semi clean sound, I just wish it was a little more open and sparkly when played clean, but with the same super thick tone I get when playing with high gain.  I'm thinking a Mule neck might do the trick.

The bridge is a bit tougher, I've been back and fourth between high output pickups and PAFs my entire life.  I love the tone of PAFs, however in the bridge they never have enough fattness and punch for me.  This is what has lead me to the Brobucker, which does a very good job of balancing girth and classic, open PAF tone.  I like my bridge pickup to sound really thick and chewy with LOTS of harmonics but still being open and uncompressed.  The Brobucker lacks harmonics and is just a hair on the aggressive side for my taste.  I don't like a particularly crunchy pickup, rather one with really punchy bass, thick mids and smooth highs.

Do you guys think that a set of BKPs would improve my tone over the Duncans?  If so, which set should I choose?  Or should I stick with the tone that I already know and love?

[ztikmaen]

Others will have to comment, but this sounds like a Mule or Abraxas (a slightly hotrodded Mule)
Maybe even a Black Dog

I need an answer too see :P

[kevinr]

The Mule sounds very different to the Seth lover! the Stormy Monday would be nearer to the SLs, how close I'm not sure as I have a set in an Epi jazz box, not in a LP, they sound great in that, compared to the SLs! I don't know, the SLs have a good paf tone.

[Mr. Air]

I'm no expert in the BKP territory, but to me it sounds like a mule neck. Maybe a Crawler bridge for a fat tone - often described as a PAF on steroids.

[Brow]

I had a set of Seth Lovers (still my favourite Duncan pickup) in my Gibby LP for years and always loved the tone they gave.

I tried 1 of Tims LPs at a tradeshow with AIV Mules and had to get a set straight away! Give a set of mules a go, you may find you don't need a higher output bridge pickup :)

[Telerocker]

+1 for Mules. A hotrodded Mule would be the Abraxas.

[PhilKing]

I swapped out a set of Seth Lovers for PG Blues in my goldtop and love the sounds I can get from the BK's.  They aren't a really fat set, but with some overdrive, come out with great sustaining notes.

[HTH AMPS]

I like my bridge pickup to sound really thick and chewy with LOTS of harmonics but still being open and uncompressed. 

I don't like a particularly crunchy pickup, rather one with really punchy bass, thick mids and smooth highs.

You have described the Abraxas bridge pickup to a tee.

You'd probably like the neck Abraxas too - it's brighter and retains clarity better than the Mule neck from my experience.

I would even consider an MQ neck if you want more clarity with the volume down, but a gorgeous bluesy tone when wound up.

[ztikmaen]

Others will have to comment, but this sounds like a Mule or Abraxas (a slightly hotrodded Mule)

+1 for Mules. A hotrodded Mule would be the Abraxas.

Wow! Telerocker actually agrees with me xD

[BigB]

Maybe a Crawler bridge for a fat tone - often described as a PAF on steroids.

Might be a tad to hot and dark IMHO - I think the OP would be better with a slightly cooler and clearer pup,

[Telerocker]

Others will have to comment, but this sounds like a Mule or Abraxas (a slightly hotrodded Mule)

+1 for Mules. A hotrodded Mule would be the Abraxas.

Wow! Telerocker actually agrees with me xD

Isn't it fantastic? But mate, I'm not aware I was in opposition with you.  :?

[ztikmaen]

Haha, it's just that I finally understand enough (technically) to link up sounds with pickups :D

And as I read this thread, why don't people suggest the Black Dogs? (More learning for me)
They sound quite nice in the neck and not too middy... Spongier sounding than the Abraxas neck from what I hear on the demos

[Telerocker]

I would favour BD's in a guitar that lacks some mids, but in balanced Les Paul-type of guitars I think Mules are more versatile, balanced and deliver the goodies. Or RiffRaffs, bec of the punch and chime they have.

[Ronnie Robinson]

The problem with changing from one high quality pickup to another is that as always sounds is very subjective.

From what you describe a bridge mule I think would suit you to a tee - will they be better than the SD's ..well maybe but that is very subjective.

A use the Mule set in my PRS McCarty and am just about to order another bridge mule for my Les Paul to replace my classic 57 which just is nt doing it for me- the mule is very versatile and can handle a multitute of styles,  it can produce nice bright and balanced clean tones through to metal although excells at classic rock. The pickups sounds are articulate with plenty of treble if u need it.

Decisions decisions