blackdog or mule to replace 498t

[dingleberry]

Howdy folks!

I've recently picked up a 2008 Les Paul Custom w/ebony board, it needs BKPs!  Stock pickups are the 490r/498t (from what I've read Hellstyle's favourite pickups lol) and I've got the usual complaints, neck is dull, bridge is harsh and compressed.

I'm thinking lower output since I like the mule neck so much it's a lock, but can't decide between the mule set or a black dog in the bridge.  One thing I'm really hoping for is a bridge pickup that isn't too bright but can't be too bassy either, the guitar is 11.2 lbs it's got some low end to it.  I would love a medium to low output bridge pickup that notes higher on the fretboard to still have enough of body/sustain with no shrillness.

Basically worried the mule might be too thin/bright/not push amp hard enough and the black dog might be too middy, too loose and woofy in the lows.  Have also considered abraxas but worried it wont be as open as I'm looking.  I've got experience with the holydiver and emerald bridges and I want some more open sounding than these pickups.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[bandmaster188]

What about an Abraxas in the bridge, it will go perfectly with the mule. Don't be put of by the dc resistance, it's still a very vintage sounding pickup.
I have a mule in my 335 and an abraxas set in my lp standard so have been able to compare the two pickups, although a les Paul and a semi is probably not the best way of doing an accurate a/b test I know but you get an idea. The Abraxas has definitely got some more midrange weight to it but still very open in my mind, but certainly a thicker sounding pickup but not massively so.  I think the Abraxas would sit perfectly in a Lp custom. Was actually considering either mules or Abraxas for my Lp custom which I use for slide!

[BigB]

Basically worried the mule might be too thin/bright/not push amp hard enough

The Mule bridge is not on the fat side but it's not thin, and while it's obviously lower output than a Nailbomb it still pushes my amp's front hard enough. Now it is indeed quite bright - but well,  you do have a tone control on your guitar, don't you ?

[dingleberry]

Yep got the tone pots however I find you lose some push if you have to roll them down all the time.  Ideally would have the perfect amount of treble content with the tone wide open, then i can use the tone control to get a fuzzlike sound

So to contrast the bridge pickups we're talking about here from most to least...
(Please correct me if I'm off base with any of these)

output & compression
abraxas / black dog / mule
(I've read that the abraxas is similar output to 498t, can anyone confirm?)

brightness & sweetness
mule / abraxas / black dog

mids
black dog / abraxas / mule

lows
black dog / abraxas / mule

I think wifey is getting me some bkps for our anniversary in september so there will be a review pending once I'm able to decide so keep the discussion going, I need all the info I can get.  Thanks for all responses

[bandmaster188]

I think as far as dc resistance goes the 498t and the Abraxas are quite similar. I had a 498 a few years ago which I had in my Lp custom to replace a broken bill Lawrence pup. I then moved it into my strat as I was using that for slide. From memory though I think the 498t was quite a loud and obnoxious pickup.

[Telerocker]

Black Dog/Mule-neck would fit your needs. The Black Dog is not woofy in the low end. It's quite tight for a vintage(hot)pickup. Several metalplayers use the BD in downtuned guitars. The mids are there, but at the same time we're talking an open, relatively low output pickup.

[dingleberry]

Black dog was my first thought but as always its a tough call to make when not having experience with the pickups, I guess pickup swapping is always to some degree a faith based decision.  My experience leads me to believe that no matter what model it will clean up very well and have great string seperation.  I've posed the question to BKP staff too just waiting to hear back, I'll post some clips of whatever I end up getting in hopefully the near future.

[darkbluemurder]

Can't go wrong with the Black Dog bridge IMHO.

Cheers Stephan

[dingleberry]

I'm definitely leaning that way myself, however I heard back from the BKP guys and Tim recommended Riffraff!  Listening to the clips again it sounds really nice however reminds me of the emerald a lot, which has a top end that I'm trying to avoid.

Here's the link he sent as an example of the RR tone, sounds awesome but it might be brighter than I'm looking for.

https://soundcloud.com/bare-knuckle-blues-band/bridge-to-better-days


Any comments on riff raff relative to the field we've discussed so far?

[fhn_lopes]

Well as you mentioned Eric Hellstyle in your comment, I'll suggest you what he propbably would. RIFF RAFF.

Very balanced pickup, not too bright, not too bassy, focused and very versatile. Cleans up nicelly too.. I'd go for it if you want a more rounded tone. If you want something similar to it but with a little bit more edge, I'd say a VHII, even though it has a huge bass response.

I think the riff raff would pair nicely with the mule neck, or the abraxas, as the guys said.

[dingleberry]

lol I did a number of searches before posting and Hellstyle's opinion the stock gibsons are well documented.  I'll have to do a bit more research before ordering I think, any good youtube vids of riff raff metal tones?

[fhn_lopes]

Try to PM Eric, I think he can help u on this one, as he uses a riff raff in his custom LP, very similar to your case. The riff raff is very versatile and holds high gain aplications very well, as it is very clean and open sounding.

As your guitar is THICK, I woudn't discard the Emerald bridge too... it's a very good balance between vintage and modern, but it is a bit brighter (what actually helps it holding lower tunings and heavier aplications though) than the riff raff and the mule (bright, not thin). the neck pickup is sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet, alnico IV as the mule, but with a fatter but very clear and open tone.

[ericsabbath]

Stock pickups are the 490r/498t (from what I've read Hellstyle's favourite pickups lol)

well, I'll give you 5 quids for the set!  :lol:

the riff raff is bright indeed, but not as treble heavy like the emerald seems to be
it has a fair amount of mids, although it's no near as middy as a black dog or holy diver as some may assume by looking at the tone charts
the mule isn't overbright as well
those are hard to beat when it comes to clarity, dynamics, openness and versatility

the black dog is fatter and more fluid, but also more dense sounding
it has this not so subtle half c--ked wah impression in the mids (like the holy diver), which is actually awesome for a lot of things, but might not be your thing
it's not a bassy pickup like some expect, though
I wouldn't even say it's bassier than the riff raff, although it has meatier low mids
it delivers a lot of weight on single notes

[dingleberry]

I have noticed the wah thing on my diver from time to time.  Interesting the hear that the dog isn't bassy, that was one of my concerns about it.

I've had the emerald in a guitar before, traded that guitar for the custom actually lol.  Great sound but not what I want from this ax.  The emerald had a lot of crunch to it without much punch I found, and I prefer the punch.  I've heard the riff raff referred to as punchy in the upper mids before, is this what everyone's experience is?

Also, for the riff raff compared to the emerald, which would have more bass?

I found these vids that seem like pretty decent demos of what the bridge raff can do (outside of metal at least)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF26pitcMYI


Cool looking guitar tho I bet the pickup would sound darker in a wooden guitar vs an aluminum one


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3_fOE-M9Xo