New pickups for LP (long post)

[_tom_]

I keep changing my mind as to wether or not I want to get rid of my Mules in my Epi LP Custom but now I think I'm settled on changing them, heres why..

I took my strat to band practise today (with an SD Custom Custom) in the bridge position, it sounded a lot better in a band context than the Mule loaded LP surprisingly, its more cutting and more agressive, its got more of an 80s rock kinda tone and I think I prefer that.. However it hasnt got the clearness of a BK, so thats why I'm not just gonna get a CC in the LP :P This could be to do with the strats wood/construction, but I dunno, it must be possible to make the LP roar and bite more than it does now :twisted:

So the question is, which BK's should I get to replace the Mules? What I'm looking for is:

-Medium-high output - close to the Custom custom preferably which is 14.4k according to SD's site
-Loads of harmonics, agressive,biting, crunchy (not metal) tone, not overly thick/smooth, not harsh though, no scooped mids.

I guess the kinda tone I'm aiming for is the cheesy rock tone - think Whitesnake, Scorpion, Def Leppard, Dio, Lynch Mob, Bad Company etc.

I'm thinkin its gotta be either Holy Diver, VHII, maybe Emerald, Rebel Yell, or Cold Sweat, maybe even Crawlers?

What do you reckon? Sorry for the long post :)

[Peterku]

HA! Seems like you're not mature enough for the Mules yet! :lol:

[_tom_]

haha dont get me wrong, they are great pickups, and I will probably keep them for a different guitar, or just if I ever want to go back to a lower gain bluesy/smooth tone, but for now its not what I'm looking for after playing with something a bit higher output  :)

[Dakine]

From past talks with Tim, I would imagine HD or RY is ya best bet mate.

[_tom_]

Yeah I just downloaded the RY clip again, its sooo good! Think I may go for those, just a shame they are more expensive than the others :(

[jt]

:D I`ve got to say Tom that I have no probs being heard in band situations with my Mules.

What Amp are you using ? If the CC is 14.7DC then this means that it`s driving your amp. The Mules are 8.5DC Turn your gain up on the amp to help compensate. How are you setting up your amp ? [ EQ etc ]

 :D  8)

[_tom_]

Yeah it could just be the amp.. At the minute I'm using a Behringer TO800 for overdrives, it just sounds better with the higher output pickup, more gain and harmonics.. Current amp settings are bass on about 3, mids full, treble around 7 and presence around 6, on clean channel as Fender HRDx has a horrible overdrive channel  :P

Its not so much being heard in a band situation though, I just prefered the general tone of a more agressive pickup I guess.

Still leaning toward the RY though, so long as it has loads of good harmonics, and will give the good 80's rock tone then I'm sold  :P

[hunter]

I'm not sure if hotter pickups will help your issue, as it seems you like the thinness and treble of the strat, but hotter pickups will rather give you mids and thickness, which is the opposite.

Is your amp setup right for the paul? Potis and everything proper so you have a bright sound with the mules?

Splitting them would be an option.

Or maybe backing off the gain would do as the strat sure has less output than the mules?

[Elliot]

Strats are famous for being able to cut through in a way LPs cant - are you sure its not just the strat thing vs LP thing?

[Ced777]

From past talks with Tim, I would imagine HD or RY is ya best bet mate.

+1.

[sgmypod]

what about the emeralds...got that bite, old rock sounding great on LP's

[Antag]

-Medium-high output - close to the Custom custom preferably which is 14.4k according to SD's site
-Loads of harmonics, agressive,biting, crunchy (not metal) tone, not overly thick/smooth not harsh though, no scooped mids.

I have a HolyDiver in a strat & it has a very thick, smooth, rounded tone (OK, the strat has a Korina body so not as bright as a traditional alder or ash bodied strat).  I would guess the HD would sound even thicker in an LP?  I imagine it would drive your amp more than a Mule (though I've not yet tried mules).

However I have an Nailbomb in my Les Paul & it ticks pretty much all your boxes.  OK, in my review I said it was made for metal, but isn't this as much down to the amount of gain I dial in on my amp?  It certainly has a lot of "cut", gives really good crunch tones & cleans up nicely.  It's not "metal" in the same way the Miracle Man is :)

TwilightOdyssey's comments on this thread in the Player's forum are spot on IMO.

[_tom_]

Hmm yeah it does seem like its kinda a strat vs lp thing, but I dunno, I like the fact that the strat has more drive and harmonics due to the higher output bridge pickup than the LP really..

The amp setup is a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe with some overdrive pedals infront, dont know if thats a good setup for a LP or not really, but I was happier with my tone when playing the strat, I like the extra edge and drive it gives I think.

Seems like the RY would be great after listening to the clips of it religiously :lol: I guess I could always try it and send it back (if possible) if its not my thing though. I thought the NB might be too bassy in an LP guitar, mine doesnt have a maple cap either, its a cheap Epi with a mahogany/alder construction. 16k output seems too high for me aswell I think.

[Antag]

Hmm yeah it does seem like its kinda a strat vs lp thing

I think you're right - it's unrealistic to make two guitars that are so different sound exactly the same & respond to your playing in the same way.

From what I've read, the RY is going to have about the output level you want & tons of mids (how can anyone hear that great Steve Stevens clip & not want to seriously rock? :))

Also, the description of the Cold Sweat on the product page ("The tone is enormous with a detailed intensity and incredible amounts of high end cut and fluid sustain") implies that it would offset the darker sounding Les Paul & make it cut through like your strat does - it's exactly the output level you want too.

However, I've not tried either of those pickups.  YMMV etc...

[gwEm]

why not swap the mule bridge and the duncan around for a bit?

you'll see then if the strat still has the same kind of cut with the mule, and also if you like a higher output pickup in the les paul.

its free, but maybe you already tried it in the past.