XR-16 in a Mullen G2

[Roger Crawford]

Have any of you Mullen players experienced an XR-16 in your G2? My new house gig has noise out the wazoo, and I’m looking at going to a humbucker. My guitar is pretty bright, so taming the highs is on the radar as well.

[Quentin Hickey]

What are you using now for pickups?

[Richard Sinkler]

I had a Mullen Royal Precision SD12 that buzzed so bad in some venues I regularly played at. I put an XR-16 in it and wired in a switch to go from humbucker to single coil. I also have them in both necks of my Carter. My favorite pickup.

They can be tamed easily with amp tone controls.

[Roger Crawford]

Mullen single coils are in it at the moment. Richard, how does the single coil version sound compared to the Mullen single coil?

[Dan Rollans]

Hey Roger, I play a 1991 model preRoyal SD12. I had similar issues with the factory single coil. Tone has always been spot on but noisy in some venues. I installed the XR-16 2 years ago. Noise issue gone. Tone to me is great. Close to the single coil. I only use it in the humbucking mode. Real good clarity top to bottom. Single coil side is not to my liking at all. I give it a thumbs up.
Dan @ Steelers Choice

[Richard Sinkler]

The Mullen single coil sounded great when there was no buzz. But 2 clubs I played at, the buzz was almost as loud as the sound of the guitar. I use my XR-16 in single coil mode as much as possible as I prefer single coil sound over humbucker. I don't remember specifics on sound difference as it was 7 or 8 years ago. By the way, those gigs also had the Tele lead player and bass player with single coils buzzing as bad. Not a Mullen specific problem. No single coils would be quiet there.

I still run into the occasional place where I have to use it as a humbucker.

[Roger Crawford]

Thanks, guys! Dan, you still have the seat of choice!

[Ken Metcalf]

Another vote for XR-16.
Also has a very slight compression that I like.
My MSA has quick change pickups and I have tried a bunch.

[Marco Schouten]

I have a XR-16 in my JCH. A bit warmer and silkier highs than the BL710.

[Quentin Hickey]

I had XR16 in a Carter and found that the pickup was very tame in general and more tame as you go higher in pitch.

[Graham Bland]

I’ve heard our friend BF with his Carter with the XR-16 in the top neck and it sounded excellent with no hum at all!
I’m sure you’ve heard that guitar too!

[Roger Crawford]

Yeah, I’ve heard it once or twice!

[Richard Sinkler]

I’ve heard our friend BF with his Carter with the XR-16 in the top neck and it sounded excellent with no hum at all!
I’m sure you’ve heard that guitar too!

Was he using it in humbucker or single coil mode? In most places I play now, single coils are fairly quiet but there is a slight bit of noise you can hear between songs. I sometimes will use a noise gate which totally quiets it down. Humbucker mode is dead silent.