Burny Les Paul Custom

[Marco78]

Probably in the next days I'll trade my amp with Burny Les Paul custom model (black beauty), classic LP custom with mahogany top but with rosewood fretboard. In it are installed zebra Fralin pups (that I don't like in LP custom), I'll sell it and will get BK pups with gold cover. I'll use this guitar for rock and hard rock music, no metal at all. I prefer vintage voicing, no modern sound.

For the neck pickups I want PAF type pup with smooth sound for old Santana tone (not modern ones with PRS guitars!). Generally paf style pickups that I have had in the past are too muddy with poor clarity on heavy string (probably depends of wood and short scale) and/or not enough smooth on high string. Does exist a pickups clear on heavy string without any muddyness but with smooth vibe on long bending?

For the bridge pickups generally I prefer a meaty sound (but with vintage vibe, NO metal or modern stuff) and I hate a lot of treble in this position typical of PAF underwound pups. In this position I would a not smooth pickup but some that can "roar" for '80 hard rock sound (Randy Roads, Van Halen and similar).
I would a good balance between muddy neck and treblish bridge. I prefer a calibrated set, if is it possible, otherwise I can get different pickup, no problem.

PS: I know that the sound depend on the amp and pedal too. ;)

Thanks a lot

[darkbluemurder]

Crawler bridge = not too much treble, can roar, but is quite smooth. VHII would not be smooth, could still roar but has quite a lot of treble. Abraxas would be a good choice.

For the neck pickup it depends what you choose for the bridge. If you go Abraxas, get the full set. If you go Crawler, get the VHII neck. I have this combination in my LP Standard.

Cheers Stephan

[Marco78]

Crawler bridge = not too much treble, can roar, but is quite smooth. VHII would not be smooth, could still roar but has quite a lot of treble. Abraxas would be a good choice.

For the neck pickup it depends what you choose for the bridge. If you go Abraxas, get the full set. If you go Crawler, get the VHII neck. I have this combination in my LP Standard.

Cheers Stephan

If I listen the sample on BK site, is the neck on rhythm part and bridge on solo?

[BigB]

If I listen the sample on BK site, is the neck on rhythm part and bridge on solo?

If you pay attention you'll notice that you usually a sample of all (or most for the strat sets) positions for the lead parts. Can't tell about the rythm parts...

[Marco78]

The boy have change his mind and don't sell the guitar anymore!!  :chain:

I have to find another custom!!!  :?

However, the crawler bridge seem very good from sample, but Crawler, Abraxas and Mule neck are very similar on the spec. Is it the sound very similar?

[ericsabbath]

black dog bridge, mule neck

[Marco78]

Black Dog bridge from the sample is good for my taste!

So Crawler, Black Dog or??
I don't like the Abraxas...

[darkbluemurder]

The Black Dog bridge is indeed a fine pickup, and it would tick the boxes you mentioned.

The Black Dog neck is a fine pickup, too, but it's not particularly vintage sounding. Hence Eric recommended the Mule for the neck, and I think it is a good suggestion.

The Crawler bridge/VHII neck combination would have a bit more output than the Black Dog bridge/Mule neck combination.

Just curious: what did you not like about the Abraxas?

Cheers Stephan

[Marco78]

The Black Dog bridge is indeed a fine pickup, and it would tick the boxes you mentioned.

The Black Dog neck is a fine pickup, too, but it's not particularly vintage sounding. Hence Eric recommended the Mule for the neck, and I think it is a good suggestion.

The Crawler bridge/VHII neck combination would have a bit more output than the Black Dog bridge/Mule neck combination.

Just curious: what did you not like about the Abraxas?

Cheers Stephan

I think that is a combination of AIV and overwound pickup... too "muffled"

For the neck pickup I think that Riff Raff is better... I have had a AIV PAF in my Suhr standard clone, and the AIV is a little "flat"... Tim, some time ago, suggested the Riff Raff for old Santana sound. Also I would a little "contrast" between neck and bridge.

What do you think?

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I don't agree with the Crawler recommendation personally... BD seems like a much better choice.

[darkbluemurder]

OK, if you found the Abraxas too muffled, then stay away from the Crawler - it would be more "muffled" (I had both in the same guitar). Black Dog for the bridge then.

If Tim recommends the Riff Raff neck for old Santana tones then go for it. I believe there is at least one forum member with the Black Dog bridge/Riff Raff neck combination.

Cheers Stephan

[Marco78]

If Tim recommends the Riff Raff neck for old Santana tones then go for it. I believe there is at least one forum member with the Black Dog bridge/Riff Raff neck combination.

Cheers Stephan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaqEET376-I

The bridge is very meaty!!! and very good balance with neck!!

[darkbluemurder]

Well - the neck pickup is not featured a lot in this one but it's a great demo of the Black Dog bridge. Of course - being able to play like this helps a lot!

I think the best representation of the pickup (or should I say the way it matches what I hear from it in my guitar) is the riffing. A lot of the meat in the solo comes from the wha but the clarity of the pickup shows how well the wha works with it. If you have an overriding midresponse from the pickup the wha will not work as well.

Cheers Stephan

[Cpt_Gonzo]

Just a short question, and I don't mean to offend here.

have you actually tried the Abraxas neck or are you just assuming that Alnico IV magnets with a "hotter" wind will sound muffled?
Because you can't generalize it like that. It's more than just the magnet type and DC res in kOhms. The wire, the way the coils are wound and the used materials equally have an influence, and I would steer away from calling the Abraxas neck "muffled". Same goes for the Mule neck.

[Marco78]

Well - the neck pickup is not featured a lot in this one but it's a great demo of the Black Dog bridge. Of course - being able to play like this helps a lot!

I think the best representation of the pickup (or should I say the way it matches what I hear from it in my guitar) is the riffing. A lot of the meat in the solo comes from the wha but the clarity of the pickup shows how well the wha works with it. If you have an overriding midresponse from the pickup the wha will not work as well.

Cheers Stephan

There are other some video of this guy, but the quality is low! ;)

Just a short question, and I don't mean to offend here.

have you actually tried the Abraxas neck or are you just assuming that Alnico IV magnets with a "hotter" wind will sound muffled?
Because you can't generalize it like that. It's more than just the magnet type and DC res in kOhms. The wire, the way the coils are wound and the used materials equally have an influence, and I would steer away from calling the Abraxas neck "muffled". Same goes for the Mule neck.

I don't have tried any BK pups, but I can't buy all to have an idea. I don't like the sample of this pickups, I don't think that can have a tone that would be good for me. I don't say that a bad pickups, but that isn't good for me. I have had a barfuss PAF with A4 in it, and don't like, so I can choose, I will not get this type of pickups.