Pickups for vintage Les Paul tone

[Simon D]

Bit of an exploratory thing this, but I'm planning to take my Epi Les Paul back to an old school Les Paul sound once i have some cash, after having a Nailbomb in it for over a year.

I'm wondering whether Stormy Mondays or Mules would suit best, The kind of tone I'm after is that real old school smooth, creamy bluesy LP - low output, big tone.

Any input or ideas very welcome. I'd be especially interested to ear from anyone who has both Stormy Mondays and Mules.

Thanks guys,

Si

[_tom_]

I'd say Mules although never tried Stormy Monday. I think fourth feline has tried both so hopefully he replies..

The neck mule is really smooth. I could try to get some clips of mine tomorrow through a my Laney if you'd like? I have nothing better to do :lol:

[Peter Antal]

The guys at the local BKP shop have tried both Stormy Mondays and Mules in a vintage LP. The SM's have a balanced, very pure, clean sound. The Mules, while being balanced, are a little bit more focused in the mids - classic LP tone. Both are excellent PAF's. I have Mules in a custom Artist, I think that 'kick in the rear' ;) the Mules have over the Stormy Mondays really helps to achieve that raw, open but smooth LP sound we all love.

[carlaz]

For "old school smooth, creamy bluesy", I'd lean more towards the Stormy Mondays than the Mules, though both are excellent for classic LP vibes.  (The SMs are, I believe, named in honour of the rendition of the song found on the Allmans' Fillmore live album, which is pretty durned old school creamy-bluesy).  

Maybe also we need PhilKing to weigh in with suggestions on Peter-Green-tone electronics mods?

[_tom_]

Did a quick neck mule clip, not amazing though as my mic positioning needs some work :P

http://www.mp3lizard.com/download.cfm?id=23413

[Simon D]

Cheers guys, handy bits of info there.

Thanks for the neck clip Tom, I'm liking that tone a lot, sounds to be just what I'm after. Was that pickup in a Les Paul by the way?

[_tom_]

Yeah its in my Epiphone LP custom, although it has an alder cap rather than maple I think so it might sound brighter with the proper woods?

[Fourth Feline]

Hi there  :D

As Tom mentioned, I have tried both Alnico II SMs and Alnico IV Mules in a Les Paul Standard.

Whilst both are good, I definately recommend the Mules due to:

1) A slight mid range 'hump' which personifies that creamy L.P. sound.

2) A bit more gain (both in the windings and the Alnico IV magnet) which also seems to to 'punch' sweetly in a characteristic LP way.

Both types of pickup are sonically very well balanced, and sweet sounding in the higher registers. The S.Ms are however more transparent sounding and totally  balanced, giving an almost acoustic quality. A set of S.Ms in a Les Paul therefore seemed to make it sound more S.G. like.

I was told by Tim in an e:mail that he uses the Stormy Mondays as a basis for his 'Peter Green' specials, but I can confirm that when I took the Alnico II Stormy Mondays out of the Les Paul (for my S.G.) and fitted instead the Alnico IV Mules, it immediately sounded like a 'proper' Les Paul - without the annoying mud or harsh top end of the Gibson stock 490R / 498T pickps.

Also if you wire one pickup out of phase with the other via a push/pull pot on one of the tone controls to do the 'Peter Green / Snowy White sounds in the middle toggle position'  trick, it seems to work better with Mules.

For me it is generally Mules, due to the modest midrange boost = creamyness.

Finally, (phew) I gather that the 'Mules' are closest in build and sound to a late 50s pickup,, whereas the Stormy Mondays are closest to an early sixties (i.e. Gibson S.G. era ) type.

Regards,

FF.

[carlaz]

Well, there it is -- perhaps Mules are indeed the way to go.  Sometimes, the simplest, obvious answer is the best. :)

[Twinfan]

Finally, (phew) I gather that the 'Mules' are closest in build and sound to a late 50s pickup,, whereas the Stormy Mondays are closest to an early sixties (i.e. Gibson S.G. era ) type.

That's right for the PAFs, and Riff Raffs are the mid-sixties onwards Patent Number pickups  ;)

[TonyGibson]

Did a quick neck mule clip, not amazing though as my mic positioning needs some work :P

http://www.mp3lizard.com/download.cfm?id=23413

For whatever it's worth, that sounds killer!

If I ever get another LP, I'm ordering a set of Mules.

[Simon D]

Thanks for all the responses guys. Particular thanks to Fourth Feline, your input cleared up quite a few things I was wondering about.

Having read all of the above and listened to as many clips as I could, once I've sold my various bits and pieces (Take a look in Seconds Out if you're interested - http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6827), I think I'll be ordering a set of zebra Mules.

Cheers,
Si

[zigmund]

Good man!
As a BKP and Mule convert of all of 5 days, the light is dawning as to why many of yous guys BKP all of your guitars. My only issue with Muling my LP would be that I'd have to be prised off the Yamaha. Sheesh...decisions, decisions...

[keith]

+++++1 for the Mules
Keith

[Doog]

hey, sorry to up this topic but I thought I'd look for an existing one rather than start a new one on the same subject

basically I want to buy a new pickup for my ibanez rg.  I already have a nailbomb in the bridge (which I bought at music live at the tail end of last year) but I was looking for something with a more vintage tone for the neck.  the sound I'd like to get from it would be similar to slash's lead sound, but with a nice and balanced tone when you clean the signal up, so I'd guess my choices would be based around the pickups discussed in this thread.  obviously the majority seem to recommend the mule, so what I'd like to know is will that recommendation cover my needs, and would the output of the mule balance adequately with the nailbomb?

also, can anyone tell me the output of the neck nailbomb?  I assume that the 16k quoted on the website is for the bridge model

cheers