Bare Knuckle Guys: Question/Concern

[Aristocat]

So I bought a Rebel Yell over four months ago. I first put it my Lester and I really did not like it. I chalked that up to being so used to a different pup and thought I had to give it time.

The pup has always felt subdued. Sure, the output is there but there's always been a total lack of clarity and harmonic content. No overtones whatsoever nor does anything 'feel' fluid. Maybe it's because it's wax potted and I've never messed too much with potted pups before. I tried it in my Strat (I know RY is meant for a Lester) but the same feeling/problems are there.

I've played Nailbomb, VHII, Mules, Cold Sweat and Holy Divers in customer's guitars or my own and they all killed. I think I may just have a bad pup.

I've tried everything from Duncan, Lawrence, DiMarzio, WCR and I've never felt this way about a pickup.

Anyone else ever get a bad pup or have this problem?

 

[Steinmetzify]

Sounds like something is way off, man. Can you measure it? If it's off, contact Tim/Ben and let em know.....they're good about this stuff. Had a buddy do a custom order, and when they did the covers wrong, they told him to keep the first ones and made him a new set and shipped em overnight. Damn fine CS from BKP.

 

[Aristocat]

Sounds like something is way off, man. Can you measure it? If it's off, contact Tim/Ben and let em know.....they're good about this stuff. Had a buddy do a custom order, and when they did the covers wrong, they told him to keep the first ones and made him a new set and shipped em overnight. Damn fine CS from BKP.

Just contacted BK a little while ago. I think it's just the sound that I'm not crazy about. I fell for the hype and I don't dig them.

 

[animal]

I'd just stay away and use the regular proven stuff thats done an excellent job for years

 

[snowdog]

Pretty much all modern pickups are wax potted unless they say otherwise. If you don't like the sound of it sell it.

 

[Aristocat]

Pretty much all modern pickups are wax potted unless they say otherwise. If you don't like the sound of it sell it.

Uploading pics now

 

[Mr. Willy]

I'm gonna ask a dumb question...are you using 500k pots? I'm sure you are, but I have to ask. I know some Les Pauls have 300k pots and Strats usually have 250k. Maybe that might be the problem. Seems to me though (barring no problems with your pot ) that if you really like the other BK's you tried, this one shouldn't be so far off the mark. If it's still under warranty, I'd send it back for another one. Then, if you still don't like it, sell it.

 

[Aristocat]

I'm gonna ask a dumb question...are you using 500k pots? I'm sure you are, but I have to ask. I know some Les Pauls have 300k pots and Strats usually have 250k. Maybe that might be the problem. Seems to me though (barring no problems with your pot ) that if you really like the other BK's you tried, this one shouldn't be so far off the mark. If it's still under warranty, I'd send it back for another one. Then, if you still don't like it, sell it.

I bought it from an NJ dealer back in September. I don't know what BK's policy is regarding that. I am using 500K as well.

I think I just do not dig the sound of this pup.

 

[Mr. Willy]

I'm gonna ask a dumb question...are you using 500k pots? I'm sure you are, but I have to ask. I know some Les Pauls have 300k pots and Strats usually have 250k. Maybe that might be the problem. Seems to me though (barring no problems with your pot ) that if you really like the other BK's you tried, this one shouldn't be so far off the mark. If it's still under warranty, I'd send it back for another one. Then, if you still don't like it, sell it.

I bought it from an NJ dealer back in September. I don't know what BK's policy is regarding that. I am using 500K as well.

I think I just do not dig the sound of this pup.

Welp, there you go. Sell that sucker and get something you know you like. Good luck, bro.

 

[Aristocat]

I'm gonna ask a dumb question...are you using 500k pots? I'm sure you are, but I have to ask. I know some Les Pauls have 300k pots and Strats usually have 250k. Maybe that might be the problem. Seems to me though (barring no problems with your pot ) that if you really like the other BK's you tried, this one shouldn't be so far off the mark. If it's still under warranty, I'd send it back for another one. Then, if you still don't like it, sell it.

I bought it from an NJ dealer back in September. I don't know what BK's policy is regarding that. I am using 500K as well.

I think I just do not dig the sound of this pup.

Welp, there you go. Sell that sucker and get something you know you like. Good luck, bro.

Thanks man. I'm selling a Sheptone Blue Sky as well. Love that pup, just wanting a change.

 

[Devilinside]

Yeah I like my rebel yell ok but you may consider a wolfetone marshallhead. Cannot say enough good stuff about these, prob my all time fav pickup!

 

[K-mark5]

hmmm I've had a similar issue with one of my BKP pickups.. the output was meh, it sounded thin, weird.. then I realized my 3way switch has gone kamikaze - whenever I switched to the bridge position it did not disengage the neck pickup so I've either had it in the neck position, bridge/neck or again... bridge/neck

 

[ibenhad]

I'm sure you have tried this but aren't the usual hot/grnd different on those than most pups? I recall having a similar problem. Can't hurt to reverse the red/green I believe and try it. Might just be a wonky phase issue. Have them in a Les Paul and I can say for sure they don't sound like what you are hearing.

https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/main/schematics.php

 

[PWE Amplification]

Measure the value of the pots. You'd be surprised at how off spec they can be. Also clean your switch and as Kmark mentioned, make sure it's working properly.

 

[Erock]

I'm gonna ask a dumb question...are you using 500k pots? I'm sure you are, but I have to ask. I know some Les Pauls have 300k pots and Strats usually have 250k. Maybe that might be the problem. Seems to me though (barring no problems with your pot ) that if you really like the other BK's you tried, this one shouldn't be so far off the mark. If it's still under warranty, I'd send it back for another one. Then, if you still don't like it, sell it.

Like mentioned, probably a good idea to measure the pots. I would also measure the pickup itself to make sure you didn't get a neck pickup or something. I really wish his pups were labeled in some way. I've ordered a lot of pickups from BK, and I've gotten a couple mixups going thru dealers. Easily remedied, but still a PITA. If this were your first BK, then yeah, I would say hype and just not your thing. Since you've tried and liked those other models though, I would think something is up. It's really not that far away from the other pups you've tried IMO. I think it's even a tweaked version of the NB iirc.

Since you bought it new, I think Tim will even tweak the wind for you if you ship it back to him.

 

[metalmaniac93]

I am not a huge fan of the BKPs. Just could not gel with the four that I had (RY, HD, NB-A5, and MM). Just get a Detroiter and be done with it!!

 

[Shandog]

4 conductor lead? Single braid wire?

I ask because are you sure its wired correctly?

 

[Aristocat]

Alright to clear everything up:

All four pots read between 490-524.

The black and bare are grounded to the pot and red it to the lug. Green and white are heat shrunk together. This is how it arrived to me new in the box.

The switchcraft switch is new and I've had it for seven months. I clean all if my pots/parts (electronically) every six to eighteen months. Since the Lester got some fresh pots (when I bought the pup) I checked everything over.

I just do not dig the sound of this pup. I remember texting HThomas the day I bought it saying I didn't like it. Yeah, overtime I grew on me but I just wasn't floored at first-given the hype.

And as far as BK customer support, they gave me a good rant in terms of their testing methodology and how since their pup is so popular and organic, there's no way there could be anything wrong. In fact, because of the caviler response, I won't buy from them again. Really fucked up that they were more interested in protecting their rep instead of trying to troubleshoot.

CTS pots. .22 WCR caps. It's not like I'm putting walmart rims on my caddy.

 

[MattyDread]

I've got a couple of sets of BKPs including some RYs and they are very sensitive to height changes. I have a set of holy divers I was really disappointed with until I played around with the height. You might want to try that first before you flick them off. Crappy response from bkp customer service though

 

[Aristocat]

I've got a couple of sets of BKPs including some RYs and they are very sensitive to height changes. I have a set of holy divers I was really disappointed with until I played around with the height. You might want to try that first before you flick them off. Crappy response from bkp customer service though

I almost thought about posting the e mail because I was amused/surprised.

I've done the height thing. Just not my thing.