Mules or Abraxas for a bright SG

[Deafcat64]

I'm looking for something for my SG Standard that isn't so bright as the Riff Raffs. I really like AIVs. I was looking at a set of Abraxas or Mules. Anyone have any experience with either of these in an SG?

[Telerocker]

Not in an SG, but my Saint Blues is all mahogany bolt-on, so some referencepoint. It has Mules and they are absolutely fab for many styles, from clean funky stuff (in between position) to classic LP-tones, these pups can do a lot of styles. They're very balanced, dynamic, fat, warm and crispy with a lot of depth at the same time. I had already a Crawler and a VHII, but Mules are the most versatile hb's of the bunch.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I think I would go Mule.

[darkbluemurder]

I only have experience with the Abraxas set and can highly recommend it. Never played the Mules unfortunately. I would go about it this way:

1.) If it's mainly the bridge pickup that is too bright for you, and you don't mind a bit of extra output in the bridge, go Abraxas set.

2.) If both pickups are too bright for you, go Mule set.

Cheers Stephan

[Deafcat64]

Thanks for the help gents! I use my volume pot to clean up constantly and I'm really leaning toward the Abraxas set. I like the extra power. I want to keep the vintage feel readily available. I switched to a set of overwound pups that are supposed to have less highs and more mids and bass, but it still sounds bright and looses it's feel when I roll back the volume. I think the A-V magnets may have some bearing on that. A-IVs were not an option with the pups that are in it now.

[ericsabbath]

both are quite bright pickups
how about a black dog set?

[Deafcat64]

Eric, have you tried them in an SG? I have to keep in mind that it has to work with my gig setup. I have several amps but my "working rig" has to be relatively small. I build amplifiers and the amp that I built myself is a Dumble style amp based on the Fender AB763 circuit (Robben Ford, Lowell George, Carlos Santana, Joe Bonamassa and David Lindley are good examples of Dumble users, not to mention Stevie Ray Vaughan's Dumble, Steel String Singer). It doesn't boost or take away any frequencies but it gives what your guitar has more focus.  I listened to all the clips I could find of the Black Dogs. I LOVE the tone of them, and may use a set in a mahogany body with a padauk top that I'm working on but I think they would be too dark in my SG. My amp would make it super mid heavy.