New pickups for my Les Paul?

[Gabel]

First I'd just like to say hello to everybody, those from UG or The Tavern probably know who I am (Dave for an example).

Anyway my birthday is in the next month and I have decided to get some new pickups for my Les Paul. I think the ones I have now ain't "open" enough . I have began thinking about putting a pair of Mississippi Queens in. I really like the sounds of P90s and love the way they sound. I haven't tried an MQ, but does it sounds similar or very close to a real P90? I basically want a pickup with more "sparkle" and top end, feeling that my LP can lack that.

I play classic rock and blues mostly. My amp is an Orange Rocker 30 with an Eminence Red Fang.

[HTH AMPS]

Having recently bought a P90-loaded guitar, I can confirm that P90s do indeed have that sparkle in the top end you're talking about.  

MQ's have a great reputation - I think you'll be very happy with 'em.

I've got Mules in my LP and while I love them, they don't sparkle like P90s do.

 :twisted:

[Gabel]

Well I was thinking about Mules, but I find humbuckers to lack some of the spark and top end and string separation that single coils has. I'm also a huge fan of P90s.

The only thing is, how "real" does the MQs sound? I hear that some humbucker sized P90s doesn't sound like real P90s.

[Twinfan]

MQs are quite hot.  They do a great early Black Sabbath tone.  But they don't sound like my 'true vintage spec' Bare Knuckle P90s in my Les Paul Special.

You might like Riff Raffs in your Les Paul.  Humbucker tone with extra clarity and top end edge....

[dave_mc]

i was just going to say that twinfan took his MQ out (didn't you?) as it was too hot, though I haven't tried one myself.

Welcome to the forum, gabe! :D

[Twinfan]

It's still there.

For now...

[ericsabbath]

You might like Riff Raffs in your Les Paul.  Humbucker tone with extra clarity and top end edge....

+1 for Riff Raffs :P

[Gabel]

Well I remember the P90s I tried were quite hot.

But is the MQ good for classic rock and blues?

[dave_mc]

It's still there.

For now...

oh ok, sorry about that dave.  :oops:

[PhilKing]

The MQ's are nice and very P-90 like, but for classic rock and blues in  a Les Paul the PG Blues set is hard to beat.  They are specially wound Stormy Mondays with an out of phase neck pickup.  They can drive but also get all the Peter Green sounds.  I have them in my goldtop and they really do sound great.

[TwilightOdyssey]

I think the PG Blues would be perfect, or an Alnico II Stormy Monday set. You can get a LOT of grind out of the Stormy Monday. I think that the Riff Raff might have too much high freq energy for your taste, as I read in another thread, a fizzy top end is not to your liking. Not that the Riff Raff is fizzy (No BKs are), but with the wrong amp combination it could be really, really, really bright.

That being said, I've been playing my Riff Raff/Stormy Monday LP clone exclusively the past 2 months. :)

[WezV]

if people are finding MQ's a bit hot why not try a manhattan instead.  Its humbucker sized p-90 but its underwound for more of a jazzy flavour that might translate as the 'openness' you seek

nice covers too

for comparison my manhattan neck pickup is 6.1kohms and the MQ is 7.9 bridge, 7 neck.

I havnt tried it out yet because the guitar its for is still being sprayed

[Gabel]

Can you link me to the Manhattans?

Couldn't find anything on the BKP site...

[WezV]

There isnt anything on the main site - just a picture in the gallery

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1732

Dont know why tim hasnt added them to the main page :?

[Gabel]

Ah.

But I guess you can order then?  

What's the price for a set?

I really liked the stock P90s in most Gibsons I have tried, one being a '77 LP Special DC with two P90s, which were pretty hot. I wanted to check their specs and this is what I grabbed from Wikipedia:

"Various sources generally agree that DC impedance is around 7-8 kΩ for neck pickups and 8-9 kΩ for bridge pickups."

The Mississippi Queen might be the closest then?