Looking for new neck pickup

[RustInPeace]

I recently received my semi-custom Agile AL-3200 in the mail and found a couple sets of BKs on the local kijiji ads - a CS bridge/unpotted Mule neck and a MM bridge/HD neck.  I tried the CS/Mule first and i didnt like the CS very much, too much treble and not enough thickness.  The mule was VERY nice though, although more suited to clean/light overdrive situations. 

I switched out to the other set, and the MM bridge is FANTASTIC!  A bit less bright than the CS but just enough to feel crunchy with more thickness overall.  The HD is a decent neck pickup with very nice clean tones and a smooth lead tone, but a bit too much presence in the mids. It almost sounds muffled in a way...not a good match to the crispy MM bridge.

So i am going to keep the MM/HD set in here for now and sell the other to a friend of mine, but im not 100% on the neck pup.  I really liked the balanced tone of the mule for clean and dirty tones but seemed to lack a bit of thickness or growl for hi gain stuff, so something in between might be what im looking for. 

Has anyone used a Mississippi Queen or any other hp90 in the neck for hi gain leads before? I've also read that the VHII is a very nice neck pup.  I have a CS neck in one of my other guitars thats been OK - not totally sold on those either but seems to be a fan favorite here.

I use a Mesa Mark V so you kinda get an idea of what kind of tone I have.

[RustInPeace]

Oh and I have an anonymous review here of the Agile:

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/electric_guitars/agile/al-3200_neck-thru/index.html

The first one listed.

[ericsabbath]

get the mule back

[RustInPeace]

I do like the mule, but unfortunately its in a different finish and doesnt match this set, plus my friend really wants it.  What about the Abraxas for a neck pup? Its listed as having a pretty similar DC resistance, but the description is that of a hotter mule? A bit more compression in the mule would be perfect...

[Telerocker]

I love my (potted) Mule-neck. It takes highgain very well too. If you want something more modern/fluid I would look for a CS-neck.

[RustInPeace]

I have a CS neck paired with a c-bomb in my old LTD DV8R Mustaine that hasnt impressed me.  Although I think that   the problem with that guitar is its very dark and the c-bomb hasnt worked out well either which left me dissapointed overall.  Its weird though because the LTD is a mahogany neck-thru guitar and the Agile is as well, but the Agile is suprisingly bright, maybe because of the ebony fretboard compared to the rosewood on the LTD?  Maybe I should try the CS neck in the agile and see how that swings. 

It seems that the Abraxes is often overlooked here.  If it really is a bit hotter than the neck Mule I might swing for that.

[Telerocker]

Check out the Crawler-neck too!

[darkbluemurder]

It seems that the Abraxes is often overlooked here.  If it really is a bit hotter than the neck Mule I might swing for that.

I never played a Mule but I doubt the Abraxas neck is hotter.

For a bright guitar I also think Crawler neck would be good.

Cheers Stephan

[Philly Q]

It seems that the Abraxes is often overlooked here.  If it really is a bit hotter than the neck Mule I might swing for that.

I never played a Mule but I doubt the Abraxas neck is hotter.

For a bright guitar I also think Crawler neck would be good.

The Mule, Abraxas and Crawler neck pickups have very similar specs - all Alnico IV, similar DC resistance, probably the same 42 AWG wire (I am guessing).  I think the latter two are ever-so-slightly hotter than the Mule, but there's not much in it.

I've never owned a Mule, but the Abraxas neck was a little brighter than the Crawler - I can't remember enough to describe the differences in more detail.

The difference may be in the amount of "stagger" between the coils (again, I'm guessing!)

[darkbluemurder]

.. but the Abraxas neck was a little brighter than the Crawler - I can't remember enough to describe the differences in more detail.

I don't know exactly how they differ spec wise but in my guitar the Abraxas neck was significantly brighter than the Crawler neck.

Cheers Stephan

[RustInPeace]

I tried adjusting the neck pickup lower last night and wow! Such a difference.  More clarity and bite from the pickup is what just what I was looking for, and a simple 1/16" adjustment is all it took.  Its a bit annoying that BKs are SO sensitive to height....

[Philly Q]

.. but the Abraxas neck was a little brighter than the Crawler - I can't remember enough to describe the differences in more detail.

I don't know exactly how they differ spec wise but in my guitar the Abraxas neck was significantly brighter than the Crawler neck.

That's interesting, I never tried both in the same guitar, although both were in LP-types.

At one point - going back a few years - it was widely believed on the forum that they were the same pickup, but eventually Tim confirmed they are different.  I don't think he went into the detail, though.

[Telerocker]

I tried adjusting the neck pickup lower last night and wow! Such a difference.  More clarity and bite from the pickup is what just what I was looking for, and a simple 1/16" adjustment is all it took.  Its a bit annoying that BKs are SO sensitive to height....

Scatterwound pickups are sensitive, so you need to fiddle a bit to find the sweet spot.