New User: Which BKP's for me??

[I am Incinerator]

Hey,

I am wondering what BKP's for me and my 94 LP Studio?  I was leaning towards the following three options: Mules, Black Dogs, and The Abraxas.

I am looking for vintage PAF tones obviously.  Looking to get tones similar to Page LP tones, Billy Gibbons from the Early ZZ Top albums, Slash, Clapton/Cream, and tones from a band called Hacienda (haciendaonline.net) off of their newer album (Big Red & Barbacoa).

My amp is currently a TopHat Club Royale, 18-20 watt EL84 Vox/Marshall/Hiwatt influenced amp.  I do plan on getting into a 63 Blonde Bassman inspired amp in the next few months and maybe a 62 Brown Deluxe influenced amp.  I play mostly through fuzz pedals and a rangemaster type boost with a trem and analog delay.

Looking forward to the insightful replies!


Cheers!

[Telerocker]

The three you mention will deliver those classic rock tones. It's a matter of taste how mid-emphasized your tone should be. Personally I like Mules in Gibsons. The Abraxas is, at least what I hear, a hotrodded Mule, but still openvoiced. The BD has quite some mids. I would count in RiffRaffs too, to me they sound punchy with a nice chime too it. Great for all classic rock.

[darkbluemurder]

Given the fact that all of the guitarists you mentioned have lots of mids in their sound, and that your amp is probably on the brighter side, my vote goes to the Black Dog. This is based purely on the descriptions of the pickups - have not yet tried any of them.

Cheers Stephan

[Nolly]

I'd choose Mules - they're the best all-around PAF-style pickup in the range, and a great place to start for someone new to the brand. They should absolutely excel at any of the tones you have mentioned

[I am Incinerator]

Thanks

The Mule is what first made me notice Bare Knuckle in the begining, and I've had in them in mind to replace a SD APH II and JB set that I have in my Gibson now.  I looked at the vintage hot offerings and the Black Dog and Abraxas caught my eye.

The things I dislike about the pups I have in now are the JB seems kind of thin compared to the APH II and for being a higher output "hot PAF" style pickup it just seems lifeless.  The APH II is surprisingly pretty meaty and has some output to it, and it's pretty great at one or two sounds, but it seems pretty sterile otherwise. 

[BigB]

I'd choose Mules - they're the best all-around PAF-style pickup in the range, and a great place to start for someone new to the brand. They should absolutely excel at any of the tones you have mentioned

Can't comment on the Mule bridge, but the neck is just awesome - perfectly nails these vintage PAF tones and also has the best clean tones I ever heard from a 'bucker neck (using it on a '80 SG Standard plugged in a Fender HRDx with TS808 and OCD clones).