Pickups for Les Paul Custom

[jamesp]

Hi everyone,

I'm after some advice please!  I'm considering changing pickups on my 89 Les Paul Custom.  It currently has stock pickups - Bill Lawrence "The Original" HB-L and HB-R, and I'm considering treating myself to a new set.  I generally play hard rock (gnr, AC/DC, Led Zep) with some blues and some metal (NOT modern/scooped etc!!).

what would be a good recommendation for me??  I've heard good things about Bareknuckle "mules".  Considering the price of these, am I really going to see that much of an improved tone compared to the original pickups??   

Any advice would be appreciated.  Thanks!

[Dave Sloven]

Emeralds might do it for you

[Kiichi]

Hi and welcome.

The Mules certainly are beauties. Nailing that famed 59 LP sound. For you however, I might consider the Riff Raff a bit more. They are a bit more harder edged and brighter than the Mule, which makes them great for your application. Obviously great for AC/DC and pretty much all rock tones. Plus they have the added advantage of being able to go more high gain than the Mule. Though that one still can confidently do Ozzy Osbourne type stuff the RR can take it much further. Thus, it should cover the metal front a tad better.

Final alternative would be the Black Dogs. Those are a bit hotter than the other two, fitting the hard rock thing amazingly, and Led Zep most of all.

Problem is that all three of these, and others too, will do the job probably equally brilliantly, but in different ways. That is the main BKP issue, you just have too many viable choices. It is best to get listening to soundclips and check out the Review Collection Thread sticky here.

I am not familiar with your current pickups, but BKPs are something very special imho. The clarity is staggering. You just get so much beautiful detail, string separation, and more. Also just the right kind of mojo. In the end they make you want to play better and reward you for it too.

[Lucas]

Black Dogs? You might achieve more metal tones as well.

[Telerocker]

Nolly the Great played some terrific metal with Mules. They can do that with the right amp. They can handle gain with authority. I play all kinds of music with Mules, from jazz, funk, blues, classic rock to hardrock. They're very good balanced, dynamic and detailed. Clean almost 3D-tones. The neckpickup is one of my fav's.
The BD's are the least PAF-ish of the BKP vintagepickups. They do rock in a good vintage way. If you need the mids, go BD's.
If you need more oomph, mids and less cut from the bridge you might want to consider a mixed combo like the Abraxas-bridge and Mule-neck.

[ericsabbath]

a friend of mine has an 89 lefty lp custom that had those hbl pups
he recently replaced them with cold sweats with great results, but he's into heavier hard rock stuff and metal

I have a '73 lp custom that had over a dozen different pups (mostly bkp) and I've been keeping a riff raff/mule set in it for years
I can't remember anything I couldn't play with these (except for lack of skill)

if I was playing only guns/dc/zep and classic metal stuff, like early judas priest, or even modern opeth, I'd be happy with stormy mondays or mules

but the riff raff is a bit more useful for heavier stuff, as it keeps all the definition that's usually associated with more modern voiced pups, but with flawless clarity

[jamesp]

Thanks for all your interesting suggestions guys!!  I think I may go for a set of Mules as they seem to be recommended as a good all rounder.  Although a Riff Raff in the bridge is tempting!!!

[_tom_]

Mules were my old favourites and they're great in a Les Paul. In my SG I prefer the Black Dog though. I guess it just needed the extra output and mids from the BD to shine. Thus I may have a Mule set for sale if you're interested :P

[jamesp]

Hi Tom,
I'm interested...what colour are your mules?  And how much please?
Thanks!

[gwEm]

Mules were my old favourites and they're great in a Les Paul. In my SG I prefer the Black Dog though. I guess it just needed the extra output and mids from the BD to shine. Thus I may have a Mule set for sale if you're interested :P

  

I can't believe you are selling your famous Mule set!

[_tom_]

haha I just don't have a guitar for em any more, they were great in my Epi LP but I sold that ages ago and the BD is a better match for the SG.

James they're black covers with gold poles, not really sure what the going rate is for them at the minute so I'll have to get back to you on the price.

[jamesp]

OK, I'll probably want gold covers in keeping with the look of my guitar....thanks anyway!

[Slartibartfarst42]

You could probably have the pickups sent to BKP for the covers to be changed to gold easily enough and they'd still work out cheaper than a new set.

My first thought was Black Dogs but really, anything from Mules to Cold Sweats could probably do a decent job.