New pickups, versatilty needed...

[charlie1234]

Hello Chaps.

New on this forum. Apolgies for the familiar line of questioning.

Anyway, my birthday is coming up and I am going to put some BKPs in my Les Paul...

I am keen on a Guns N' Roses soloing sound, so would like a Mule in the neck. The clips sound dead-on. However, I occasionally venture into hotter Van Halen/Metallica-esque tunes, which I think might need a hotter bridge pickup.

My questions are:
1. Which bridge pickups would you recommend?
2. Is it possible to order 2 different pickups as a calibrated set (not too sure what 'calibrated' means)?
3. Or would a Mule in the bridge give an approximate Eddie VH with my amp (Mesa Boogie DC-10) on high gain?

Thanks in advance.

Charlie.

[indysmith]

i'd go for a calibrated set of mules - they are the kings of versatile - you can squeeze any sound out of them, due to their great dynamics play softer for G'n'R and dig in for your metallica (and probably crank the gain on your amp a lot too)
calibrated means that both neck and bridge pickups are made specifically to complement the other. For this reason you can't get a calibrated set of two different pickups.

[Ced777]

I would go with Mule neck and VH2 bridge.

[_tom_]

I would go with Mule neck and VH2 bridge.

+1, although my Mules are versatile I think the VHII bridge would be better for your metallica and van halen needs  :)

[carlaz]

Yeah, Mule neck is great for Slashy tones and the VHII is (clearly) great for Van Halen.  Then, for Metallica, just crank yer amp! :)

[fps_dean]

I would go with Mule neck and VH2 bridge.

+1.  What I was thinking.

[Fourth Feline]

Hi Charlie,

I have just seen/heard a rendition of "Panama" played on a set of Mules near the top of the 'Players'page. As a fellow Mule user, ( in a far different context) it surprised me just how EVH they can sound when cranked - especially the harmonics and top end etc.  Check it out, soundclips speak louder than words  :D

Regards,

Derek.

[charlie1234]

Thank your for the opinions. Seems to be cut down the middle.

I have just seen/heard a rendition of "Panama" played on a set of Mules near the top of the 'Players'page.

Cheers Derek. Sound clip was pretty good, but (at the risk of sounding fussy) IMHO it didn't seem to have the smoothness it might have had on a hotter pickup. Still sounded a little like Angus was playing it on his SG!

Loved the tone and love ACDC (that’s why I'm intent on a neck Mule), but I am probably looking for even more versatility that a pair of Mules can provide.

Question 1: Although VHII seems to be the popular choice for the bridge, what are its particular sound qualities compared to the other vintage-hot pickups such as Black Dog, Emerald and Abraxas? Have heard some rather sexy Emerald clips on the Players' forum.

Question 2:

calibrated means that both neck and bridge pickups are made specifically to complement the other.

OK. But it seems that BKP do 'neck' and 'bridge' versions of their pickups. So would I be able to order a 'neck' Mule and (say) a 'bridge' VHII? Would there be a smooth transition from one pickup to another, hence avoiding running over to the amp and tweaking things every time I change pickups? (apologies for this one, new to modding)

C.

[_tom_]

Loved the tone and love ACDC (that’s why I'm intent on a neck Mule), but I am probably looking for even more versatility that a pair of Mules can provide.

From what I've read on here, and my own experiences, the Mules are probably the most versatile Bareknuckles. With the right amp setup, I can go from big fat cleans, to blues, 70s rock, 80s rock to all kindsa metal.

I think Tim says Mules are his favourite Bareknuckles even for playing in his Ozzy tribute.

[Philly Q]

OK. But it seems that BKP do 'neck' and 'bridge' versions of their pickups. So would I be able to order a 'neck' Mule and (say) a 'bridge' VHII? Would there be a smooth transition from one pickup to another, hence avoiding running over to the amp and tweaking things every time I change pickups? (apologies for this one, new to modding)

In a word, yes.

In a lot of words, there are indeed Neck and Bridge versions of each pickup - they're NOT the same as other, but designed to work well as a pair.  And you can order different Neck and Bridge models separately, although you won't get the small financial saving you get by ordering a calibrated set.

As for whether there'd be a smooth transition between a Mule neck and a VHII bridge, I think you'd be fine because the VHII (bridge) isn't hugely more powerful than the Mule (bridge).  They're both essentially beefed-up PAF variants.  You might have a problem with, say, a Warpig bridge and a Stormy Monday neck, but somebody probably uses that combination!

I can't promise you won't still feel the need to run over to your amp and tweak things though - that's going to be entirely down to personal preference!  :)

Phil

[charlie1234]

And out of interest, why isn't anyone suggesting Crawlers? Would these go well with a neck Mule?

c.

[Philly Q]

And out of interest, why isn't anyone suggesting Crawlers? Would these go well with a neck Mule?

If you went with the Crawler bridge, I'd say get a calibrated set - i.e. stick with the Crawler neck (which is the same as the Abraxas neck).

Must admit it's the only BKP neck pickup I've actually got  :oops: , but I can't imagine anything sounding better.  It's a little more powerful than vintage, great for sustainy Santana-style leads, and I'm sure it would get that November Rain kind of tone.

Carlaz has Crawlers in his LP.  From what I've read, I think the Crawler bridge might be a bit dark for VH-style tones, but maybe not...

[blue]

i've got a set of crawlers in a les paul and i find them incredibly bright!  i don't know if it's the pickups or the guitar, but i've just bought a second hand warpig to try in the bridge.  my point is, i don't think the crawlers are overly dark.  in fact, i find bareknuckles generally tend to have more high end than other pickups, but not in a harsh shrill way, rather in a more clarity and definition way.

[carlaz]

If you went with the Crawler bridge, I'd say get a calibrated set - i.e. stick with the Crawler neck (which is the same as the Abraxas neck).
Must admit it's the only BKP neck pickup I've actually got  :oops: , but I can't imagine anything sounding better.  It's a little more powerful than vintage, great for sustainy Santana-style leads, and I'm sure it would get that November Rain kind of tone.

I'm there with all that.  With a bridge Crawler, get a neck Crawler!   It's a fabulous pickup, and will do the Santana-ish thing and those Slashy type tones brilliantly for all that it's hotter than Slash's actual pups.

Carlaz has Crawlers in his LP.  From what I've read, I think the Crawler bridge might be a bit dark for VH-style tones, but maybe not...

Crawlers are hotter than VHIIs and, mmm, maybe darker -- but I don't think Crawlers are really that dark.  Crawlers are very much like hot Mules with a bit more mid-grunt.  The Crawler neck being the same as an Abraxas neck (AFAIK), you might go with an Abraxas set: the Abraxas really is like a hot Mule, and is sweeter than the Crawler. (Hotter than the Abraxas, the Holydiver might actually be another contender?).

All those are definitely hotter than the VHII, though, which is really only a bit beyond PAF level. If you like the VHII bridge, go with the calibrated VHII neck or the Mule neck, I'd say. If you want to go hotter than the VHII ... Then the Crawler might do (my Crawler clips don't have the amp sims designed for VH-type tones!), or perhaps the HD?  I don't know a lot about the HD, admittedly ....

[Philly Q]

i find bareknuckles generally tend to have more high end than other pickups, but not in a harsh shrill way, rather in a more clarity and definition way.

Amen to that - I suppose it's the magic of scatterwinding.  They certainly seem to sound more "open" than most humbuckers.
Interesting points about your Crawlers, Blue and Carlaz - I'd always been under the impression that they were relatively dark-sounding.  Judging by the clips I've heard, my Rebel Yell (for example) seems quite a lot brighter.  But I stand corrected.