What would YOU do? Pickups for Les Pauls Thoughts

[Brow]

Hi Guys.

Just thought I'd get your opinions on what you would do in my situation, I'm not necessarily asking what I should do 

I've had a pair of Mules in my Cherryburst LP Standard for a long time now. I've done hundreds of gigs and recordings with it and that pairing of guitar and pickup just works. Anyways, a few months ago I got my Custom shop 58 Reissue R8 and I'm thinking of changing the pickups for something else. Not that there's anything wrong with the current pickups it has, they're just a tad bland I think.

Here are the current options I'm thinking of:

1. Leave the Mules in the Cherryburst LP and get something like PG Blues for the R8 for something a bit different. Although I'm not sure how much I really need 2 LPs both with PAF type pickups. But I am a huge Gary Moore fan so this would be a different PAF type option I'd have available.

2. Put the Mules in the R8 and get a set of double cream Dimarzio Super Distortions for the Cherryburst. I did always want to be Ace Frehley after all 

3. Keep the Mules in the Cherryburst and get something lower output on the PAF scale for the R8. Again, not sure how much I really need 2 guitars with slightly different versions of similar sounding pickups but it's another option.

4. Put the Mules in the R8, move the black Dimarzio Super Distortion/Super 2 pair from my Firebird into the Cherryburst and then get something new for the Firebird (that'd be a new thread).

5. Keep the Mules where they are and just get something altogether different for the R8.

6. Move Mules into the R8 and get something altogether different for the Cherryburst.

7. Other options altogether?

Incase it helps with recommendations for other pickups etc I also have another LP with Black Dog (b)/Riff Raff (n) and a pair of customised pickups from another manufacturer in my Tokai LP that are more along the lines of the Suhr Doug Aldrich pickups.

For reference as it sometimes helps to know: Musically I mainly play 60s/70s/80s Classic Rock and Punk with the odd bit of metal chucked in through Splawn (Marshall-ish) and SLO style amps.

A shot of the LPs just because I can 


Thanks for any opinions!

[darrenw5094]

Option 6.

Move Mules to the R8 and Alnico Nailbomb for the Cherryburst LP for a hot modern touch

[blue]

If the Mules work well in the cherry, I'd be inclined to leave them where they are.  Unless you want to see if they're even better in the R8?  Personally, I'd go with your idea of PG blues, or maybe Stormy Mondays, for the R8.  They just seem like the right pickups for that guitar.

Failing that, just stick a set of Ceramic Warpigs in it and scare people! 

[AndyR]

What would I do? Stormy Mondays for both. No, actually, just the new one at first... then compare the two, to see what to do next... but I suspect I'd end up wanting Stormies in both.

[Kiichi]

PG / Stormies or Mississipi Queens. Bäm. Get some P90 lovin. ;)

[Slartibartfarst42]

While I was reading your post I consistently thought I'd leave the Mules in the Cherryburst and put Black Dogs in the R8 but then at the end you said you already had Black Dogs! So much for that idea. My next choice would be to put an Abraxas set in the R8. You love the Mules but might want something a bit hotter and the Abraxas just seems to fit the bill perfectly for me. Without a doubt, that's what I'd do. If you really wanted something with a more modern tone, I'd go for a set of Cold Sweats but for now, the Abraxas remains my top suggestion.

[Brow]

Thanks for your opinions so far guys!

I've had Abraxas in my PRS  for a while and never really gelled with them. I do still have them kicking about though si guess I could try them in the Cherryburst.

I've also had Nailbombs before and didn't like them at all. As with the Abraxas maybe it just wasn't a good fit for that guitar?

I currently have a Stormy Monday bridge in neck of my SG, but as I'm not gelling with the Riff Raff I currently have in the bridge then that may already have a new home.

I'm also considering Cold Sweats too but have a bridge CS in a Strat and a neck CS in my PRSso I could try them without too much hassle too I guess.

[Brow]

Forgot to mention I have P90s covered with my JJ Jewel so MQs are also out.

Again i've had 1 before and didn't like it! 

[Telerocker]

Get another Mules- or a PG Blues-set. You're obviously looking for a vintage-PAF tone.

[Brow]

Get another Mules- or a PG Blues-set. You're obviously looking for a vintage-PAF tone.

Well, I'm not sure what I'm after tbh! Which I guess is part of my problem.

I have 80s Rock style pups in my Tokai LP, and Miracle Man/Holydivers in other guitars for the higher output side of things so I do kind of have all the bases covered that I need.

[AndyR]

[chant*]stormy... Stormy... STormy... STORMY... [/chant*]


* Think Animal House and toga

[Dave Sloven]

I'm also considering Cold Sweats too but have a bridge CS in a Strat and a neck CS in my PRSso I could try them without too much hassle too I guess.

I would try this first.  At least then you will have a benchmark

[richard]

You have too many guitars. Sell a few to me (cheap) and have a short holiday. Craig, how many bands do you play in ? How many guitars do you take to a gig ? How do you decide which ones to take ? I own three guitars. I'm soon to be taking early retirement/redundancy and am considering treating myself to another guitar but the thought of owning four guitars seems rather excessive to me.

I'd be inclined to try the Mules in the new LP - they may sound even better.

[Brow]

[chant*]stormy... Stormy... STormy... STORMY... [/chant*]

* Think Animal House and toga

Depending how I go with my SG I may try the bridge Stormy from there in 1 of my LPs :)

I'm also considering Cold Sweats too but have a bridge CS in a Strat and a neck CS in my PRSso I could try them without too much hassle too I guess.

I would try this first.  At least then you will have a benchmark

Although its the 1st time since owning it that I actually like the sound of the PRS, so I may not change it just yet 

You have too many guitars. Sell a few to me (cheap) and have a short holiday. Craig, how many bands do you play in ? How many guitars do you take to a gig ? How do you decide which ones to take ? I own three guitars. I'm soon to be taking early retirement/redundancy and am considering treating myself to another guitar but the thought of owning four guitars seems rather excessive to me.

I'd be inclined to try the Mules in the new LP - they may sound even better.

I am trying to sell some to reimburse myself for the R8! 

I currently play in 2 bands, 1 in Standard tuning and 1 in Eb, and tend to take 2 or 3 guitars to a gig.

As regards choosing which to take: I have specific guitars setup for standard tuning and specific 1s for Eb. Alot of it depends on the freshness of strings, and just what takes my fancy at any given moment and what I think will work.

For the 60s - 90s Rock and Metal covers band I tend to have 1 Les Paul with mid output pickups and then something with a Floyd Rose (Peavey Wolfgang, Jackson or 80s Kramer usually) and then any 1 of the others for the 3rd as a spare if I need it. If I do only take 1 guitar to a gig, something like a botb or a short support set etc then it's usually a Les Paul to avoid the hassles Floyd Roses can bring.

For the Punk and Indie band my main guitars are the Gibson and Gordon Smith LPs, a single humbucker Strat that I cobbled together myself, my JJ Jewel for P90 moments and my cheapie Firebird with Dimarzio Super Distortions in it. I also sometimes use my roadword PRS or other Peavey Wolfgang if I want something a bit flashier and for the odd tune where I need a whammy bar.

I don't use much in the way of SSS Strats in either current band so they don't get much gig use, but I do sometimes record with them and play them at home.

Pickup wise at the minute I'm leaning more towards the Mules in the R8 and something else in the Cherryburst or leaving Mules where they are and going for something PGish for the R8.

[lulusg]

I almost bought a vintage 58 about 6 years ago, I thought in requesting Tim around that time to windup a pickup representing that year, vibe and the guitar.