Author Topic: DOWNTUNING MULES? (Read 3571 times)

nathan · « **on:** April 13, 2006, 12:08:33 AM »

Firstly, please excuse my rambling.

Ok, I've got a slightly unusual set-up:

1x JCM 800 2203 (100) into a matamp 4x12 with a keeley modded rat for a bit of mid-boost and saturation.

1x Musicman 130 into another matamp 4x12 with some modulation effects.

I a/b between the amps for my heavy and clean tones. My guitar of choice is a '77 LP custom tuned down to drop b flat, currently fitted with Wolftone pickups which while very powerfull are way too saturated and mushy.

Now, I've considered all the usual suspects: nailbomb, miracle man etc. My concern is that they will distort too much when they go through the musicman. The band I'm in is a very 'dynamic' two guitar/bass/drums set-up and often switches between monstrous heavyness and mellow cleans in a heartbeat so I don't really want to be messing around with the guitar volume knobs too much.

I'm now thinking the Mules are the best candidate for this situation. Do y'all think they can carry the bottom end well? Will they handle palm-mute crunch and heavy mid-grind? A friend of mine plays in a British heavy metal band that tunes down occasionally and he swears by Mules. However, I never seem to get to his gigs tp hear for myself! Any opinions will be appreciated.

screamingdaisy · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2006, 04:19:23 AM »

I don't yet own a set of Mules, but I've used other low output PAF style pups before (I tune to C# and drop B). They handle down tuning very well. They aren't as middy as an overwound pickup if that's an issue for you, but they do sound great.

maxingwell · « **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2006, 11:47:31 AM »

I have a set of MMs and the neck pup cleans up really nicely - even on a distored tone (rolling back the volume pot).
Haven't used Mules though so not sure what they'd sound like.

Skybone · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2006, 06:18:12 PM »

Black Dog's & Emerald's handle it very nicely indeed... ;)

Tim · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2006, 07:42:56 PM »

I play my Mule loaded LP in Eb and it handled a drop D tuning at this pitch really well.

The thing the hotter pickups, particularly the ceramic models, will do better is keep the bottom end tighter and more responsive.

nathan · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2006, 08:38:21 PM »

Thanks for your reply's everyone. So Tim, you think Cold Sweat's or MM's might be a better choice in a Bb tuning? How do they sound through a 'clean' amp with high wattage such as my musicman?

Zinguera · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2006, 09:37:44 PM »

i use a Mule in neck position.
When i play songs in Drop D, it works really well for me