New guy: Les Paul and Marshall -pickup question

[olssonboards]

Whats up guys. Im a  Les Paul in to a Marshall 1987 kind of guy. I run it bridged, both volumes around 5.5-6 (power tube breakup start to get noticed) and control volume with a PPIMV.....More dirt is added with an overdrive pedal. Absolutely killer sound coming out of my 1960b with 4 UK made Greenbacks.


Anyways, nice to be here. My favorite Les Paul has mini buckers. Love how the neck pick up has less boominess and can actually be heard, and the bridge sounds great too. They came stock in my 70's reissue Goldtop Studio.

Anyways. I just got a Edwards 98lts....FANTASTIC guitar and it came with Duncan Jb in the bridge and the 50 in the neck.

That is the problem guitar for me. The JB reminds me of a Vintage 30 basically, overbearing and fatiquing mids. The neck (59) is better.

I grew up with Lizzy, Deep Purple and that kind of music. Love Gary Moore, John Norum, Schenker,Bonamassa, Warren Haynes, and so many more. Many of my favorite artists actually seem to have "signature" pickups in this Bareknuckle line.

Anyways. Im looking for something medium hot, PAF like but with BITE, snarl (think mini buckers/P-90's) that cleans up well, and drives hard.....with NO over bearing mids, but certainly not scooped.....Im not a shredder/metal player. Standard tuning or Eb, with the rare Drop D.

I want my Neck pickup to be balanced volume wise, but noticeably clearer than your typical Neck pick up, but also be able to "snarl" at command.

I use the volume button a lot to clean up.

The guitar has solid mahogany slab I believe, rosewood beck and is ever so slightly dull (dark) compared to my other less pauls.

Grateful for any help:)

[GuitarIv]

One word: Mules! I installed them in a LP for a friend of mine and the sound I got was amazing. They do everything oh so well and have something special going on that makes them a perfect match for a fat slab of mahogany that the Les Paul is. No overbearing mids there. 

[olssonboards]

Thanks.....Dont you think they are a little on the low side, output wise?

I play 70's hard rock, blues, blues rock, improv/jam music....But I also love old school 80's hard rock/metal


In my mind i WANT to love The Emeralds, ( i havent read much about them?, not popular I guess???) since Im such a huge Lizzy fan, but then again. They probably used PAFS in their Les Pauls in to an old Marshall...Just like me

[ericsabbath]

It does sound like you want an emerald set indeed

But going mule is never a bad move

[Telerocker]

I would go Mules here. I use them for a blues/bluesrock-project, also with some Bonamassa and even Deep Purple-songs. They're fabulous PAF59-replica's: balanced, dynamic, crisp, able to clean up, clean almost 3D tones, capable of handling loads of gain. Emeralds won't hurt either. When I remember well, the neck is slightly darker than the Mule-neck.

[pcarrion]

I had a set of Holydivers in a Les Paul Std and swapped them for Mules (Holydivers went to a LesPaul custom). At first I was afraid because I wanted versatility but I grew up (musically) in the 80s so I lean to the heavier side of versatility. I'm completely happy with Mules; they cover perfectly from vintage blues to 80s hard/heavy rock. If you wanted to go more metal, maybe they lack some tightness in the lows, but it doesn't seems to be your issue here. DC resistance and alnico IV magnet might induce some "low gain" fear but once you plug the guitar... they have presence and bite (when needed), I wouldn't know how to explain, they have character.

[PK]

I have an Emerald in my Mayones Setius and a Mule in my PRS Singlecut (both in the neck).
Both can do what you ask.
I'd say the emerald is somewhat clearer (I've tried both pickups in both guitars).
Can't speak for the bridge versions though.

[olssonboards]

Wish I could hear an emerald in a Les Paul through a NMV Marshall

[Slartibartfarst42]

Given your musical tastes, the Holydiver would be a good option. It has the 80s Metal thing covered but is also versatile enough to do other things.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T26RqvH3YBA

Another option with a more vintage feel but also good at more modern material while keeping some of the core characteristics of the Holydiver would be the Black Dog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaqEET376-I

Finally, if you're afraid the Mule might be a bit too light, try the Abraxas as an alternative as that's really a beefed up Mule

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e2cRu6um6I

[Telerocker]

I seldom disagree with Slarti, but Mules don't have to sound light. I played them last week all balls out, wow Kravitz on steroids. 

[Dave Sloven]

The guitar has solid mahogany slab I believe, rosewood beck and is ever so slightly dull (dark) compared to my other less pauls.

If this is in fact the case I would indeed recommend the Emerald.  It needs a bass heavy guitar with a lot of sustain

[olssonboards]

Thanks Agent Orange...and thanks everyone. That is kind of what I was thinking> Its not extremely bass heavy, but it is certainly duller than my other Pauls.

How is BK with exchange procedures? Should I order them and flat out hate them I mean....

[Slartibartfarst42]

I seldom disagree with Slarti, but Mules don't have to sound light. I played them last week all balls out, wow Kravitz on steroids.

I was referring to the OPs comment that he was a little concerned about the Mule only being a vintage pickup so I meant it was a light wind rather than a light sound so the Abraxas seemed the obvious way of keeping what everyone likes about the Mule but giving it a bit more balls. I'm sorry, I didn't make that very clear.

[Telerocker]

I seldom disagree with Slarti, but Mules don't have to sound light. I played them last week all balls out, wow Kravitz on steroids.

I was referring to the OPs comment that he was a little concerned about the Mule only being a vintage pickup so I meant it was a light wind rather than a light sound so the Abraxas seemed the obvious way of keeping what everyone likes about the Mule but giving it a bit more balls. I'm sorry, I didn't make that very clear.

Oh nothing to be sorry for  , this forum blossoms with a little debate. Anyway, the Abraxas is a very good choice too.

[GuitarIv]

Exchange policy is all cool as far as I know. If you don't like the pickups you can still send em' back and get another set instead. Just make sure you don't do any physical harm to them (cutting the wires, filing down tabs)