Guitar and Pick-up question/advice/ideas

[lifted]

MUUUUUUUULES!  Bridge and Neck, seen?!

[BleedMarshall]

Nailbomb bridge, Mule neck...Most versatile pickups in the BK range!

I have another buddy that is dieing for the nailbomb. Dieing for it.

[BleedMarshall]

The NB/Mule combo is excellent, have them myself in a LP. But when its comes to the genres you play, I would rather go for a calibrated set of mules. The NB  will just be too damn powerful.

As long as the power is there if I need it, then a caled set of Mules would do from all the posts, and most I ahve yet to answer. Thanks.

[BleedMarshall]

Mule neck huh? My buddy recommended that and a War Pig, but he said the War Pig was more high gain than the Mule. Thanks brother. 8)

For what you like, avoid the Warpig......too high output.

Check out the stuff in the Vintage and Vintage Hot lineups.  Most of the stuff you listed has some good pickin' action and the lower output pups will be more open/dynamic sounding.

I suggest you find some clips for the Mule, Black Dog, and Rebel Yell.

Mule neck/Black Dog bridge

Mule neck/Rebel Yell bridge

You do know about my styles Brother, and thanks for the post up here.

[BleedMarshall]

I play too many things/styles really, but mostly heavy blues, classic rock, X-country, rock....basically what anyones plays for fun, but I play it all the time. I don't need a pick-up to make Slayer look weak, but I do love a good cutting humbucker if I need it. My two main influences are Billy F. Gibbons, and Warren Haynes, but I do love me some Waylon Jennings, Jerry Reed, and Brian Setzer too.

IMO, you want the calibrated Mule set.  The Warpig, though extremely cool, is not the tool for the job you describe. :)  If you wanted to go hotter than the Mule for some reason, I'd say go with the Crawlers (I replaced the 498/490 pups in my LP Std with Crawlers), but given you influences and styles, I'd say the Mules are right on the money!

This is the first mention that I have heard about the Crawlers.

*makes note to check out them as well.

Thanks.

[BleedMarshall]

I don't think you could go wrong with Mules. There's plenty of power in them for all the styles you play.

I have heard the Mule in the neck, and it did sound damn sweet.

[BleedMarshall]

MUUUUUUUULES!  Bridge and Neck, seen?!

Definatly Mules must be the democratic winner huh? :lol:

[BleedMarshall]

Thanks goes out to everyone who has posted thus far. I appreciate all the help. Thanks.

[TwilightOdyssey]

Hmmm, interesting ...

[fps_dean]

Mule neck huh? My buddy recommended that and a War Pig, but he said the War Pig was more high gain than the Mule. Thanks brother. 8)

War Pigs are super loud where Mules are vintage loud.

[fps_dean]

The NB/Mule combo is excellent, have them myself in a LP. But when its comes to the genres you play, I would rather go for a calibrated set of mules. The NB  will just be too damn powerful.

Or a Black Dog in the bridge!  Remember this is not a democracy, so that is what you shall do lol ;)

The Black Dog is a tad louder than the Mule so it will be a good bridge option.  The VHII would also be a good bridge option.

[Jp.]

Not to go against the grain here but,

have you tried an equalizer pedal.

Just thought I'd throw that in being as we are in the "Guitars, Amps and EFFECTS" are of the forum :lol:  :lol:


I had to recheck I wasn't in the pickups area.

[Searcher]

Just thought I'd throw that in being as we are in the "Guitars, Amps and EFFECTS" are of the forum :lol:  :lol:


I had to recheck I wasn't in the pickups area.

It's all a pickups area here, man.  The whole site!   8)

[Searcher]

Hmmm, interesting ...

Share it with the whole class, eh?   :)

[Fourth Feline]

Another vote for a calibrated set of the 'Mules'. I had a set of 490R and 498T in my Les Paul and initially tried a set of 'Stormy Mondays'. These were great for Blues and country - any clean/sweet/detailed style.

Good heavens, I had not heard my Les Paul's true/sweet/clear voice until I threw the Gibsons and bought the BKP's !

When I then wanted to try a slightly contrasting set for my S.G. (I.E a little more ooomph - but not sacrificing the clarity and flexibility) - Tim recommended I move the Alnico II SMs to the S.G. as the looser sound would compliment the thinner body. For the Les Paul, he had no doubts that the Alnico IV 'Mules' would be optimum and flexible without losing the ability to still play 'cleaner' styles when needed. Many people on this forum (as well as Tim) have confirmed that the Alnico IV 'Mules' can handle overdrive with equal aplomb.

P.S.
I also found that taking out the 300K volume pots and replacing them with the 'vintage' 500K type did the BKP pickups even more justice. It takes the load off and lets them breath properly.....

I (eventually) found best results by using  Linear taper types. Other guitars sometimes use  Logarithmic (a.k.a audio taper).

To check which yours are before buying the wrong sort of replacement, lift out the pot(s), disconnect the wires and measure the outer two lugs with an ohmeter. If the reading is approx 300k and when you turn the pot half way - each half reads around 150K you have a linear. If one half reads around  >250K and the other half reads about < 50K you have 'Log' types.

In an ideal world they would all be the 'correct'  type of log taper (i.e. a slope ration of about 60:40) - but the newer CTS ones seem to have something nearer to a 80:20 slope  ratio. This resulted (for me ) in an 80% increase in volume between 0-3 and the last 20% between 3 - 10 !

Tone controls stayed Log/audio taper.

Finally, check the shaft length. To reach the body surface of an arched top Les Paul body, you will need the 3/4" shaft. For a flat body (like an S.G.) you need the 3/8" shaft.

I do not mention these things to patronise you ,  I just want to save you from blowing cash on the wrong goods like I did the first time round in my impatience !      

Regards.

Derek.

 :D