cardinal
Well-known member
Duncan and Dimarzios work for me. Tried one BKP (Holy Diver), and I hear what people say about the BKP clarity, but to me it was gutless. Dimarzio PAF and Air Norton work for me.
Tone Monster
Well-known member
They are great pickups. They are overpriced.
angelspade
Well-known member
Duncan JB or Gibson 500T in the Bridge and be done with it
C
Classic
Active member
I have a set of Bareknuckle miles in my #1 LP and they're winners.
They beat out WCR goodwood; American steele and Crossroads. They also beat out Throbacks, Wolftone legends and DR V's.
They beat out WCR goodwood; American steele and Crossroads. They also beat out Throbacks, Wolftone legends and DR V's.
sinnersmoon
New member
I have BKP Painkiller in my Jackson SL1 and SD Custom in Jackson SL3 (I switched them too).
Painkiller reacts better to pick attack in lower gain situation and the clarity is much better in hi-gain (I use ENGL Invader 100 and Savage SE - which are fairly articulate amps).
But SD Custom is not a bad pickup by any means. If it were as clear as Painkiller, I`d be quite happy with it.
Painkiller reacts better to pick attack in lower gain situation and the clarity is much better in hi-gain (I use ENGL Invader 100 and Savage SE - which are fairly articulate amps).
But SD Custom is not a bad pickup by any means. If it were as clear as Painkiller, I`d be quite happy with it.
SFW
Well-known member
Ive tried the Rebel Yells twice. I didnt care for them either time. Check out either the Duncan Full Shred or Suhr Aldrich.
shred-o-holic
Active member
My favorite Bareknuckle is the one that isn't a Bareknuckle. It's Dimarzio's take on a Bareknuckle...the Titan. I also like my Nailbombs which sound alot like the Titan. Well I guess it's the Titan that resembles the Nailbomb. I do want to try the Blackhawk. But I refuse to remove any pickups from my current guitars to try one lol.
S
Snowblind56
New member
Rezamatix":1gf1wb5p said:
Pickups from the Seymour Duncan Custom Shop start at $160, which is the same or a few dollars more than what you can get a BKP or any other boutique pickup for.
Personally, I've had mixed results with BKPs. Actually I've had mixed results with pickups of all makers. It all depends on the guitar, application, which way the wind is blowing from and if you are wearing a blue shirt that day, but to say that they are overpriced is insane. Overhyped? Maybe, but blame that on the djent kiddies.
C
C1-ocaster
New member
Snowblind56":16lxpi4m said:
I'm with you on this.
Given the varying results with same pups liked and disliked by different players it all demonstrates that the sum of all the gear reveals how each part plays a role. A certain pup may sound great to one player who has a different amp, speakers, tone woods, etc... yet that same pup in a different rig may just suck.
I only change pups if the stock ones just really suck. But if the guitar and pups sound good, then why bother changing?
But that's just my take on it, others love to tinker in that area.
T
timeroo
New member
I bought into the hype I had a few guys tell me that I needed to try the Aftermaths and this was prior to the flood of clips on youtube so I thought sure why not. I put a set into my 8 string and right off the bat I hated them. I tried and tried and tried to EQ things properly and change settings as well as also trying lots of different VSTs on my recording set up.... nothing that I liked at all. Even now when I listen back to the 3 song demo I did at that time the tone bugs me.
V
VegasMD
New member
I have a pair of the mules in my Les Paul. Great all-around PAF pickup, but if you're looking for a hotter pickup, you'll need to look at some of the other bk's people have suggested.
the4thlast1
Well-known member
Rezamatix":2xreybdm said:
This is not true... I just ordered a custom Duncan...Cost $160 for a single open coil humbucker. This is right around the same price of a Bare Knuckle purchased in the US.
The high price of the BKs is mostly because you are buying a product made in the UK...Our US dollar value is in the shitter so the conversion rate stinks. If you lived in the UK the cost of a BK pickup would be like buying a Duncan or Dimarzio here maybe just a touch more expensive.
In my experience having tried most of the Dimarzio, Duncan, Anderson, Suhr, MotorCity and Emg pickups on the market I prefer Bare Knuckle. If you are someone who plays in a band you will notice the clarity and openness more than if you only play at home. Im not knocking guys that play at home only its just that I understand why some people dislike BKs. Its because you dont get that super wet and compressed tone that a lot of other pickups offer. A lot of other pickups actually make playing a little easier where you have to work a little harder with BKs. Some people will find them a little dry compared to a Duncan or a Dimarzio which I understand,
Dont get me wrong I still love the Duncan JB and Distortion. I have a JB in one guitar that sounds great, I do not plan on putting BKs in that guitar. Its just that I personally think that overall as a pickup company offering many different models there product lineup is superior to any other pickup winder I have tried thus far.
A final note : Matching the right model with the natural sound of the instrument also plays a big factor in how happy you will be.
Rock on guys
shred-o-holic
Active member
the4thlast1":p4drdofr said:Rezamatix":p4drdofr said:
This is not true... I just ordered a custom Duncan...Cost $160 for a single open coil humbucker. This is right around the same price of a Bare Knuckle purchased in the US.
The high price of the BKs is mostly because you are buying a product made in the UK...Our US dollar value is in the shitter so the conversion rate stinks. If you lived in the UK the cost of a BK pickup would be like buying a Duncan or Dimarzio here maybe just a touch more expensive.
In my experience having tried most of the Dimarzio, Duncan, Anderson, Suhr, MotorCity and Emg pickups on the market I prefer Bare Knuckle. If you are someone who plays in a band you will notice the clarity and openness more than if you only play at home. Im not knocking guys that play at home only its just that I understand why some people dislike BKs. Its because you dont get that super wet and compressed tone that a lot of other pickups offer. A lot of other pickups actually make playing a little easier where you have to work a little harder with BKs. Some people will find them a little dry compared to a Duncan or a Dimarzio which I understand,
Dont get me wrong I still love the Duncan JB and Distortion. I have a JB in one guitar that sounds great, I do not plan on putting BKs in that guitar. Its just that I personally think that overall as a pickup company offering many different models there product lineup is superior to any other pickup winder I have tried thus far.
A final note : Matching the right model with the natural sound of the instrument also plays a big factor in how happy you will be.
Rock on guys
Which BK sounds dry? The only one that I've had that might was the Pain Killer. The rest to me not at all. And I have owned alot of them.
the4thlast1
Well-known member
I personally do not find them dry...My point was that I hear other people say that about them and I understand why they might feel that way. It's because they are clearer and less compressed then a lot of your typical Duncan and Dimarzios which most people are used too. I actually find BKs to have a boatload of character , they're aren't everyone's cup of tea though.
Mr. Willy
Well-known member
I've got a VHII bridge. Freakin' love it. Clarity and dynamics galore. I don't think Dimarzio's or Duncan's are in the same class. At least the ones I played weren't. And I played a lot of them.
shred-o-holic
Active member
the4thlast1":1f5e4m4k said:
People do form their opinion based on price and yes hype. Like any pickup its the sum of parts for the whole instrument as you know. I recall the first BK I bought was a Nailbomb. Was disappointed as I thought it was going to revolutionize my tone lol. I think it was the 4th guitar that tried it in that I really began to enjoy it. I do now get some of the character assessments after finding the right combinations. But then the Dimarzio Titan......the Duncan Nazgul...are examples of the other manufacturers improving or at least evolving and offering comparable products to what BK is doing. But heck I played a friends LP recently that had a Duncan Custom and it sounded every bit as good as my BK loaded Horizon. I have a Schecter lp type solo 6 with a Duncan custom custom and that thing rules.
C
C1-ocaster
New member
the4thlast1":3z29t49a said:
That's interesting what you say.
I see/hear it differently.
I've played live, home, and studio and have been around players hearing their rigs at home, practice spaces, and various live and stuido settings. To my ears, playing live you hear much less difference in the nuances of rigs compared to playing at home or in the studio where you can really dial in to the tone and all the variables that make changes.
Studio and home is a micro environment, live is a macro experience filled with loud PA spillover and your band mates gear too, not to mention the drummer.
Plus when playing live the sound the audience hears is mostly your rig mic'd and eq'd the way the sound guy decides to dial it in. As long as they hear the band the audience couldn't tell you if it's a Dimarzio or Duncan or if you wrapped the wire yourself.
the4thlast1
Well-known member
C1-ocaster":x9t0xywq said:the4thlast1":x9t0xywq said:
That's interesting what you say.
I see/hear it differently.
I've played live, home, and studio and have been around players hearing their rigs at home, practice spaces, and various live and stuido settings. To my ears, playing live you hear much less difference in the nuances of rigs compared to playing at home or in the studio where you can really dial in to the tone and all the variables that make changes.
Studio and home is a micro environment, live is a macro experience filled with loud PA spillover and your band mates gear too, not to mention the drummer.
Plus when playing live the sound the audience hears is mostly your rig mic'd and eq'd the way the sound guy decides to dial it in. As long as they hear the band the audience couldn't tell you if it's a Dimarzio or Duncan or if you wrapped the wire yourself.
Ok that's cool....What's interesting is when I say something in this thread it gets misunderstood. I never said someone in the audience would be able to tell what pickup is being used or notice the differences ....Most people in the audience have little to no knowledge about gear anyways but yeah ..
The point was I find that the openness and clarity of BK pickups pays off live for me. Its something that impresses me even more when I get a 100w tube amp up to band levels. I personally find that a pickup swap makes a big difference at home , in the studio or in a live environment. For me it can be a make or break part of the puzzle.
I have tried most of the pickups out there in all of those environments and I'm not gonna sit here and say BKs are the best ever for everyone...I actually love certain Duncan and Emg pickups so I don't discrimenate...I'm just pointing out that as good as BKs are I understand why it's not everyone's be all and all..I personally think they are great. Once again it comes down to the particular guitar and experimenting , most people will try one or two pickups in a guitar. I am a nutso who will try several different makes and models till I get a perfect match for my preferences and what I want the particular guitar to acomplish. I've had guitars that I prefer a Duncan in over anything else and vice versa.