What would YOU do? Pickups for Les Pauls Thoughts

[Simon_F]

Craig, as you know, I've got Mules in a '96 Standard and am very happy with them, so my first thought is leave yours where they are 

Also, you'll have seen in my earlier PM that one of the options I'm considering for my other LP ('91 Classic) is a set of PG Blues.

So if it was me I'd probably go for option 1!

I like PAF-style pickups in my LPs but then my style is more 60s/70s influenced than 80s. It does seem you've got the higher output options covered in your other guitars.

I think a couple of different flavours of PAF would be nice in your classic-style LPs - A4 potted, A2 unpotted...

[Dave Sloven]

I think I would be tempted to put Rebel Yells in a Les Paul if I had one.

[38thBeatle]

I'd say option 5 but I can't suggest what to put in the R8 but I'd be looking at Stormies if it were me based on the spec/rep.

[darrenw5094]

If the OP thinks the Mules in the Sunburst are a 'tad bland', then he should try them in the other guitar.
Sounds like the OP is not fully happy with the BKP in the Sunburst.

[Alex]

Never change a winning team. I'd leave the Mules in the guitar.

[PhilKing]

Hi Craig, leave the Mules, put either PG Blues or an Emerald/Stormy combo in the R8.  Depends on what you want from it and how it's acoustic tone differs from the cherryburst.  Emeralds are a very underrated p/u - they have a ton of harmonics and cover a wide range of sounds.  The other set to see if you could get would be a 10th anniversary set, but I'm not sure if you'll find any now.  They are like a rockier set of Mules (if that makes sense).  Cheers

[Yellowjacket]

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!

See, because this is an R8, it completely changes the answer I would have otherwise given.  I realize that this is a real LP so I'm going to assume it doesn't have any of the problems that are apparently with my 2002 LP Standard that has the swiss cheese body.   

If I had an R8 I'd most likely leave it stock =-o   If I was forced the change the pickups, I'd probably go for an Abraxas bridge and a mule neck.   Another pickup combo I would like in a LP would be a Rebel Yell bridge with a VHII neck or may be a Riff Raff bridge and a Mule neck. 

If I ended up with an LP studio, there would be a Riff Raff bridge and a Mule neck. 

[Brow]

Craig, as you know, I've got Mules in a '96 Standard and am very happy with them, so my first thought is leave yours where they are 

Also, you'll have seen in my earlier PM that one of the options I'm considering for my other LP ('91 Classic) is a set of PG Blues.

So if it was me I'd probably go for option 1!

I like PAF-style pickups in my LPs but then my style is more 60s/70s influenced than 80s. It does seem you've got the higher output options covered in your other guitars.

I think a couple of different flavours of PAF would be nice in your classic-style LPs - A4 potted, A2 unpotted...

Cheers Simon!

I'm just as much in the 70s camp as I am the 80s so the Mules cover the 70s stuff just as much as the other customised pickups I have in my Tokai have the 80s thing covered 

I think I would be tempted to put Rebel Yells in a Les Paul if I had one.

I had Rebel Yells in my Tokai for years and never really got on with them. I've swapepd them out for another set that I'm a lot happier with.

I'd say option 5 but I can't suggest what to put in the R8 but I'd be looking at Stormies if it were me based on the spec/rep.

Stormies are still an option that I'm considering at this point 

If the OP thinks the Mules in the Sunburst are a 'tad bland', then he should try them in the other guitar.
Sounds like the OP is not fully happy with the BKP in the Sunburst.

It was the current pickups in the R8 that I said sounded good but a bit bland, not the Mules in the cherryburst.

The Mules in the Cherryburst have been my longest running Guitar and Pickup combo, couldn't be happier with them 

Never change a winning team. I'd leave the Mules in the guitar.

The more I think about it the more I'm starting to believe this is the best course of action!

Hi Craig, leave the Mules, put either PG Blues or an Emerald/Stormy combo in the R8.  Depends on what you want from it and how it's acoustic tone differs from the cherryburst.  Emeralds are a very underrated p/u - they have a ton of harmonics and cover a wide range of sounds.  The other set to see if you could get would be a 10th anniversary set, but I'm not sure if you'll find any now.  They are like a rockier set of Mules (if that makes sense).  Cheers

Thanks Phil.

I've always been quite interested in the Emeralds, and they would've been the 1st set Id've put in the Cherryburst to take the Mules for the R8, but I tried them in a mates LPC and really didn't like them. They seemed very thin and overly bright, no balls at all. At the minute I think I'm leaning more towards the PG type of pickup.

See, because this is an R8, it completely changes the answer I would have otherwise given.  I realize that this is a real LP so I'm going to assume it doesn't have any of the problems that are apparently with my 2002 LP Standard that has the swiss cheese body.   

If I had an R8 I'd most likely leave it stock =-o   If I was forced the change the pickups, I'd probably go for an Abraxas bridge and a mule neck.   Another pickup combo I would like in a LP would be a Rebel Yell bridge with a VHII neck or may be a Riff Raff bridge and a Mule neck. 

If I ended up with an LP studio, there would be a Riff Raff bridge and a Mule neck.

I'll be keeping the stock pickups incase I ever *need* to sell it, but I tinker with all my stuff, I can't help it! :D

I currently have a set of Abraxas kicking about that I had in my PRS and I never really got on with them. I've also had Rebel Yells before and didn't like them either. I also have a Riff Raff/Stormy Monday combo in my SG that I had in my V and liked but not really liking in the SG.

[Yellowjacket]

I'll be keeping the stock pickups incase I ever *need* to sell it, but I tinker with all my stuff, I can't help it! :D

I currently have a set of Abraxas kicking about that I had in my PRS and I never really got on with them. I've also had Rebel Yells before and didn't like them either. I also have a Riff Raff/Stormy Monday combo in my SG that I had in my V and liked but not really liking in the SG.

Yes.  The Rebel Yell bridge was a bit of a 'miss' in my LP but in my solid mahogany axe, it is absolutely killer.  In a darker and more bass heavy instrument, it really comes alive.
 

[Toe-Knee]

EMG 57/66 

[lulusg]

If you can find the 10 th anniversary set that would be great. PG's are up there too.

[Brow]

Yes.  The Rebel Yell bridge was a bit of a 'miss' in my LP but in my solid mahogany axe, it is absolutely killer.  In a darker and more bass heavy instrument, it really comes alive.

My Tokai was the only guitar I ever tried it in tbh so not sure how well it fairs in others. I hear people have good experiences with them in PRSi etc.

EMG 57/66 

Tbh I am quite interested in how an active PAF would work for me! Not for the R8 though eh 

If you can find the 10 th anniversary set that would be great. PG's are up there too.

Probably easier to get a pair of PG Blues than trying to find a pair of those 2nd hand!

[lulusg]

1 set on sale on eBay in the US 375$.