Can't decide on pickups for my 86 Custom....

[Gunmetal86]

Been using the JB/59 combo for a LONG time. Has always worked really well, but one day, I tried out some Duncan Seth Lovers on a whim. GREAT pickups. Had a nice breathy voice, decent amount of grunt, great clarity. So, I sold them to fund some BKP Riff Raffs, but it's back to school time and all my pickup money went to school supplies. So, a buddy of mine swapped out some pickups in his new LP Traditional for the Duncan WLH set. He loves it, can't sing praise high enough. So, for a while, he's been letting me try out the BB3/57 combo that he had removed. I'm actually pleasantly surprised by these. They have a good amount of girth, clarity and great tone. Maybe a little raunchier than the Seth Lovers, but I wish they had some better bite.

So, here are the pickups I have been considering, what can you guys tell me about them?

BB1/2 set
57/57+ (never tried the bridge version, I do like the neck though)
BB Pro
BKP Mule
BKP Riff Raffs

I was really gunning for the Bareknuckles, but after trying the Gibsons, maybe spending half the money on a used set would work just as well?

 

[tazzboy]

What is your spending Limit?

 

[ARandall]

There are some talented winder on this forum who could tailor make a set for you. Even some of the PAF replicas/lookalikes end up cheaper than BKP.

 

[kboman]

I would definitely talk to some of the winders around here, plenty of good eggs to choose from! BKPs are expensive, but also high quality and you know what you get.

 

[Johnny_Sokko]

I love my Mules! I would choose those or the ECP Hybrid set.

 

[Gunmetal86]

What is your spending Limit?

For now, around $150.

 

[Gunmetal86]

I love my Mules! I would choose those or the ECP Hybrid set.

I've heard lots of great things about the Mules. From what I've read the Riff Raff would be fairly similar, but with a little extra bite.

Never heard of the ECP Hybrid. May have to look into them.

 

[Johnny_Sokko]

Electric City Pickups (ECP) one of the winders on this board. His set won the PAF shootout. I've heard nothing but the highest praise for his work.

 

[tazzboy]

For now, around $150.

Well that narrows it down to Zhangbucker since David is having a sale on his pickups Zhangbucker Pickups - Home

If you save up some more there is Brandonwound Pickups his are $175.

brandonwoundpickups.com -- your source for custom wired guitar pickups!

 

[Gunmetal86]

I had some Zhangs a while back. GREAT pickups, just making the rounds with some different stuff. Still high in contention. Those Brandonwounds sound great! Hmm. Things are getting tricky.

 

[Zhangliqun]

I had some Zhangs a while back. GREAT pickups, just making the rounds with some different stuff. Still high in contention. Those Brandonwounds sound great! Hmm. Things are getting tricky.

You'll be back....MWA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!!

 

[bluefrog]

Id go Seth 2nd hand or SD WLH - maybe one by one.
So this is the same for the fantastic winders connected to the forum.
so many excellent PUPs around...buy a brigdge and then the neck

 

[tazzboy]

I had some Zhangs a while back. GREAT pickups, just making the rounds with some different stuff. Still high in contention. Those Brandonwounds sound great! Hmm. Things are getting tricky.

I might be putting my Zhangbucker Duanebuckers up for sale here soon. Don't get me wrong I Think they are great pickups it's just that I like to try out different ones to see what I like I don't like.

 

[yeppedeppdepp]

Used mules or riff raffs. You wont regret spending the money.

 

[bluefrog]

Manlius Pickups maybe fit yr budget excellent Pickups what I heart...

 

[Gunmetal86]

Id go Seth 2nd hand or SD WLH - maybe one by one.
So this is the same for the fantastic winders connected to the forum.
so many excellent PUPs around...buy a brigdge and then the neck

I had the Seths not too long ago. REALLY nice set. I really like how they interact with high gain, except that they tend to feed back a little easily. It's expected from unpotted pickups, but the tones was really nice. Besides the squealing, the only complaint is that the bottom end was a little on the loose side. It's a vintag-style A2 pickup, so again, it's somewhat expected.

I was considering the WLH set, but I'm a pain in the ass with OCD, so I would have to do a floor-custom order to get the braided wire, long leg base and chrome covers. For the money that would need to be spent to have all that changed, I might as well go all out for the Riff Raffs.

 

[Gunmetal86]

Used mules or riff raffs. You wont regret spending the money.

Do you have experience with both? Inquiring minds would like to know. If it's worth the cash, I'll just wait until I can afford them, since the Riff Raffs are still #1 on my list...Mules being a close second.