Neck Pickup for ‘61 SG: Riff Raff vs Stormy Monday vs The Mule?

[Daddy D-Rock]

Hey all,

I’m looking to replace the ‘61 Burstbucker neck pickup in my SG Standard ‘61.

It’s way too muddy. I struggle to get good tones out of it, even after raising the pole pieces.

I want something that cleans up well, and remains articulate with great note clarity.
I also want something that can fatten up when playing distorted, fuzzed out leads on the neck.

It also squeals like a banshee at loud volumes — so I need something potted.


If someone could provide me with some tonal comparisons of the Riff Raff, Stormy Monday, and the Mule neck pickups (especially in an SG),
It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Daddy D-Rock]

Bump

[b.gandt]

I’ve used only the Mule, but it was in a single cut Korina PRS.

I say with a good deal of confidence that the Mule will solve your Gibson neck humbucker mud issue.  I can’t speak to the fuzz issue, but it did work well under low level overdrive.

I’ve read plenty of posts in the past that indicate that the Riff Raff may be BKP’s brightest neck humbucker.

[timmy_pix]

@Daddy D-Rock

Bit of a rush job, and in hindsight I should've used less gain, but here you go.

https://soundcloud.com/tim-smith-7/bkp-neck-pickups/s-1u4VZvDaPW9?si=b928a9f41d214c729ff970574985aef2&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Stormy neck in my Les Paul, then Mule neck in another Les Paul, then Riff Raff neck in my SG.

Each opens with crunch chords, then roll the volume back a bit so you can hear it cleaning up. Then some noodling on the crunch, then a fuzz kicked in. All just through a quick Plexi patch on my POD GO.