Mule set is nice... but I'd need something with a bit more "weight"

[schneidas]

The (unpotted) Mule set in my Les Paul Standard (Tokai actually but it's the same instrument really) sounds great - awesome really.
But I was playing a few tunes (under full distortion always) and the bridge pickup sounds a bit thin (for lack of a better word) on single notes above the 12th fret.
I was thinking of exchanging it with something that has more "weight" when playing single notes on the bridge pickup.

BRIDGE:
I was thinking either Black Dog, Abraxas or Crawler.


For the neck pickup, again, something that keeps the vintage PAF tone but has a tad more output and "weight".

NECK:
I was thinking either Abraxas neck or Crawler neck (seeing, as these are the same pickups, just a bit hotter).

Any help would be highly appreciated!

Thanks in advance,
Chris

[Telerocker]

I always hesitate to recommend the Crawler for a mahogany setneck guitar. It can be a hit or a miss (to much lowmids, centermids, and too little chime). The Abraxas is somewhere between the Mule and the Crawler. It will be the safer bet. I would go for a calibrated Abraxas-set.

[schneidas]

Thank Telerocker!
Yes, I was actually afraid that the Crawler would be way too dark in a Les Paul. But the website says that it was created to sound equally good in LP and Strat-like instruments (or something like that, going from memory here).
Ok so the bridge might be too much for a Mahogany singlecut. Does that go for the neck as well?

The Abraxas was almost my top pick. For some reason, the Black Dog has also gotten my attention. How does the Dog differ from the Abraxas. The Abraxas seems to be a hotter Mule.
And the Dog seems to have the same assymetrical style as the Mule but has more weight in the mids. So again, it seems to be a Mule with "more" muscle?

[Telerocker]

Thank Telerocker!
Yes, I was actually afraid that the Crawler would be way too dark in a Les Paul. But the website says that it was created to sound equally good in LP and Strat-like instruments (or something like that, going from memory here).
Ok so the bridge might be too much for a Mahogany singlecut. Does that go for the neck as well?

The Abraxas was almost my top pick. For some reason, the Black Dog has also gotten my attention. How does the Dog differ from the Abraxas. The Abraxas seems to be a hotter Mule.
And the Dog seems to have the same assymetrical style as the Mule but has more weight in the mids. So again, it seems to be a Mule with "more" muscle?

I don't how bright your Tokai is, but the Crawler can work fine in mahogany, like in most PRS's. The Crawler-neck is one of the warmest and darkest BKP-humbuckers.
The BD is a middy middy pickup without the compression of the Crawler and the Abraxas. Topend is still fairly bright. Of the vintagerange the BD sounds less PAF-ish imo. I would not compare it with a Mule. The BD might work though.

[Dave Sloven]

Sounds like the Abraxas set is what you need.  I wouldn't take the gamble on a Crawler.

[richard]

If you like the Mule but want a little more oomph this is exactly where the Abraxas comes in. I've just had a set installed in my PRS Bernie Marsden which is basically an LP. Have a look a bit further down the pickup forum for more details. I wanted a more vintage sound for this guitar but was afraid that the lower output pups would not have enough output for me. The Abraxas has a tough, meaty sound. I've done two gigs with this set and I love them. They have a real classic sound and the sustain and punch on the high frets is great. These are the pickups you are describing.

[schneidas]

Thanks guys! I think I'm sold on the Abraxas! 

[schneidas]

Ok, one last thing: can anyone compare the Abraxas set to the Rebel Yells?
Would the RY's be maybe better for what I'm looking for?

[Dave Sloven]

RYs are totally different.

Biting upper-mids, very much the '80s hair metal pickup

[richard]

Have a look at my other thread - go to the end:

https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=32836.0

This is a tiny, badly recorded clip from Saturday's gig. Scroll down about 3 entries. Not much guitar going on but listen to the E chord ring out:

https://www.facebook.com/renfaerie?fref=pb&hc_location=friends_tab&pnref=friends.all

Same song at soundcheck a couple of years ago, same amp with RYs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtwUEr8v17Y

The Abraxas definitely has the PAF type sound but it's like it's drunk a bottle of scotch and wants to take on everyone in the pub. I love my RY set but the two sets are different. The RY has less PAF-ish qualities. I can't tell any difference in output levels. I used the same EQ and gain settings on my amp as I do for the RYs and I heard no drop in output. I couldn't say I prefer one set to the other.

Honestly, I think you would find either set wonderful but if you love the Mule sound but want a bit more it would have to be the Abraxas.

[darrenw5094]

Black Dog or the Abraxas. I think the Abraxas is more balanced tbh

[ericsabbath]

I'll suggest the Abraxas bridge paired with the Emerald neck

the black dog might deliver the thickness and output, but it has a more opaque character, with really dense mids instead of the clear openness of the mule

[fdesalvo]

ABRAXASSSSSSSS

[Slartibartfarst42]

Much as I have a real thing about the Black Dog at the moment, it seems to me you're describing the Abraxas and for the neck, I would support Eric's suggestion of the merald. It has the PAF qualities you're after, has a super sweet tone and enough power to live with the Abraxas and split well if needed. You'd have an extremely versatile set there and I doubt there's much it couldn't do.

[Telerocker]

The Emerald-neck is much praised here, but I see no reason why in this case a calibrated set won't do, unless the OP wants a little hotter neck than the Abraxas-neck. BKP spends quite some R&D-time to make balanced sets.