Author Topic: Gibson Classic 57' vs. the Mule? (Read 14431 times)

Mavet · « **on:** May 25, 2007, 10:57:08 AM »

Hi
a friend of mine is building a Les Paul and wants it to sound as authentic as possible (he is a vintage kind of guy).
since he and computers don't get along very well I'm posting on his behalf.

can enyone who's had first hand experiance with bouth the Gibson Classic 57' and the Mule (in a les paul)comment on how they compare, which one achieves the original vintage Les Paul sound better and the pros/cons (if any) for each.

thanks

Ratrod · « **Reply #1 on:** May 25, 2007, 11:15:50 AM »

I haven't had the privilege to compare 'em head to head but I do know this:

Back in the old days Gibson wound their pickups by hand. The '57 Classic is wound by a machine.

The Mule is wound by hand.

I don't know how the measurements of the Gibson pups are but BKP's components (baseplate, covers etc.) are specced exactly like the old PAF's.

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #2 on:** May 25, 2007, 11:24:05 AM »

I would have thought it you want a vintage sound then you would keep the original pickups in there... i'm probably wrong but that seems to be the easiest way.

Mavet · « **Reply #3 on:** May 25, 2007, 11:25:19 AM »

Quote from: Crazy_Joe

I would have thought it you want a vintage sound then you would keep the original pickups in there... i'm probably wrong but that seems to be the easiest way.

He is building it from scrach 8)

Crazy_Joe · « **Reply #4 on:** May 25, 2007, 11:57:33 AM »

Ahhh, i am blind :lol:

PhilKing · « **Reply #5 on:** May 25, 2007, 11:57:56 AM »

I had a classsic 57's in my LP and swapped them for an Emerald and Mule. The sound was worlds different. It started me on changing all my pickups, I have now about 25 guitars with BK's. He should go with the Mules, he will be really happy.

Philly Q · « **Reply #6 on:** May 25, 2007, 01:28:44 PM »

Because the old PAF pickups were handwound there isn't just one authentic vintage sound - some were overwound, some underwound, some might have an offset between the two coils. And they used different magnets - Alnico II, III or IV (as Tim has mentioned elsewhere).

57 Classics are good pickups but they're only one "flavour" of vintage PAF - Mules, Stormy Mondays or many other manufacturers' PAF replicas are no less "authentic", they're just different. I think you should get whatever sounds best to you.

Tellboy · « **Reply #7 on:** May 25, 2007, 04:23:30 PM »

My '62 SG Reissue came with classic '57s. I thought they were quite good - definetely better than those that were on my 1989 Les Paul Standard (which were assembled on PCBs! and sounded s**t) but not as good as the Riff Raffs I replaced them with.

IMO if you want real vintage LP sound I would go for a set of unpotted Mules in nickel covers plus an aluminium stop tailpiece (just ordered one from Jonathan at Feline).

steve · « **Reply #8 on:** May 25, 2007, 04:26:32 PM »

Quote from: PhilKing

I had a classsic 57's in my LP and swapped them for an Emerald and Mule. The sound was worlds different. It started me on changing all my pickups, I have now about 25 guitars with BK's. He should go with the Mules, he will be really happy.

+ 1.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #9 on:** May 25, 2007, 05:45:56 PM »

I've had...

* SD Seth Lovers (played these for best part of ten years)
* SD Antiquities (very Angus, but slightly too weak for me)
* SD '59s (ok if you've never tried any of the better PAF repros)
* DiMarzio Virtual PAFs (much like 'SD '59s, average)
* Timbuckers (wound by a guy on the LPF, very nice pickups)
* WCR Fillmores (no comment)
* Gibson T-tops from 70s (alot like SD Antiquities)

I now have Mules and they're far better than any of the above (except the Timbuckers which are only slightly pipped by the Mules being a bit sweeter - might be the magnet choice).

:twisted:

Mavet · « **Reply #10 on:** May 26, 2007, 10:00:57 PM »

thanks for all the replies.
can enyone compare the classic 57' and the Mule EQ-wise
thanks?

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #11 on:** May 26, 2007, 11:55:18 PM »

Quote from: Mavet

thanks for all the replies.
can enyone compare the classic 57' and the Mule EQ-wise
thanks?

oh, I missed out the classic 57s I had - thinner, brighter and harder sounding than the Mules.

:twisted:

sskint · « **Reply #12 on:** June 11, 2007, 06:56:38 PM »

why no comment on the fillmores?

ericsabbath · « **Reply #13 on:** June 12, 2007, 04:54:13 AM »

Quote from: PhilKing

I have now about 25 guitars with BK's.

:!: :!: :!: :!: :!:

give me one!
just one! :oops: