BareKnuckle vs. Custom pickups

[PsychoholicSlag]

Ok, so I've been back and forth on pickups lately.



From all the reviews I've seen, I really like the NailBomb. Sounds like the pickup for me.



But as we all know .... the price.


Ok, so what makes some of these boutique pickups better that some of the "working man" customs.


Like,

http://www.highorderpickups.com/
vs.
http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/
vs.
http://www.manliusguitar.com/index.html
vs.
http://www.andersonguitars.com/customcontent/pickups_0609.pdf (I like the H3 also)



In the uk, is there something in the air that makes them so much better?


HighOrder sounds like it might be a good shot, get him to make a NailBomb clone with some tweaks, and because I can get them made with black slugs and black screws.




I've been looking at different enamels, SPN (what HighOrder uses) vs. plain (Bareknuckle) ... wire guage size ... quality of craftsmenship,though I finally decided on an Alnico V.


But I don't wanna waste my time and money if they suck.

 

[stefvorcide]

IMHO, Bareknuckles are worth the price asked, Tim is the man. period. I see this as an investement (i.e. you keep them for a few years) it's not like socksé

That said, there's other good and interesting pickups, but if you dont wanna waste your money on something you may not like....well you know what to do.

 

[luxxtone]

All the pickups you mentioned are great companies with great product. (never heard of manlius before). It's all about choosing the right pickup for what you need.

But if you have a $1000 + guitar....it's really not a a big deal to spend $200 or $300 for a complete set of pickups that makes it sound amazing and the way you want it. It's all about getting the right ones for you.

And the reason the pickups that come from England are more expensive is because the US dollar is weak compared to the English pound...so the exchange rate sucks, and they have to be shipped from England which is more expensive by a few bucks. But the Bare Knuckles do rock, you really should check them out if you're interested.

 

[sebby123]

IMHO, Bareknuckles are worth the price asked, Tim is the man. period. I see this as an investement (i.e. you keep them for a few years) it's not like socksé

That said, there's other good and interesting pickups, but if you dont wanna waste your money on something you may not like....well you know what to do.

+ 1 and to the comment above

 

[scottcrud]

I've got 4 pickups from Mick at Manlius, and would highly suggest his pickups to anyone. He'll make you anything you want, and he's extremely affordable, like $100.00

 

[PsychoholicSlag]

I can see what ya'll are getting at.

Especially the $1000+ part, I'm putting them in my ESP Eclipse II standard. Why should I cheap out now on a very nice guitar.

I was just wondering if these custom builders could hold a candle to BareKnuckles. Not saying there is anything wrong with them, but anyone can buy a pickup winding machine, a few parts, open a website and BAM, ya got a "custom" builder right there.


Some distributors are starting to carry BareKnuckles in the states right? I need to look some up. My friend Mark Briody got a SEXY set made with black covers that I've been drool'n over for a while now.

I've got 4 pickups from Mick at Manlius, and would highly suggest his pickups to anyone. He'll make you anything you want, and he's extremely affordable, like $100.00

He's actually dropped the price, I think to $75.

 

[tehuk]

I have a High Order A2 Assymetrical that is almost as good as my Seymour Duncan '78 pickup. The High Order is double cream and half the price.

 

[luxxtone]

We have a lot of Bare Knuckles in stock, and we do special orders....

http://www.luxxtone.com/home.php?cat=9

 

[PsychoholicSlag]

You forgot to add Motor City Pickups to the list.

To be honest, never really heard that much about them. I'll check them out.




Awesome luxxtone, I really like your prices. I'll contact you about specs if I decide this route.

 

[nbarts]

All I can tell you is that I've gotten so spoiled with BKPs that I can't stand playing a guitar without them. I have 3 perfectly fine guitars right now that I adore, but they are staying untouched until I have the money for some BKPs on them.

 

[scottcrud]

Manlius stock pickups are $75.00, but he charges a little more for custom jobs.

 

[PsychoholicSlag]

O, so I did ALOT of research last night on this site.


I've "narrrowed" it down to three pickups.




BareKnuckle : NailBomb

Motor City : Afwayu

Suhr : Aldrich



I'm probably going to go with the Afwayu, but it's not set in stone yet.

You forgot to add Motor City Pickups to the list.

Didn't you return the Afwayu? What did you swap it for?

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Motor City is the way to go ! Wade is a genius. I am loving my motor city pickups, I will eventually get em for all my guitars.

If you really want the BKs the best BK prices in the states Ive seen are here:

http://www.peerlesstone.com/node/94

 

[troublehead]

No mention of WCR here

I have used the MC Afwayu and a couple of Bareknuckes (Holy Diver and Cold Sweat) and for me its a no brainer...............the WCR Godwood

 

[scottcrud]

I gotta say I like the WCR Warpig an awful lot...But they ain't cheap.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

I gotta say I like the WCR Warpig an awful lot...But they ain't cheap.

If you mean the BK warpig try a motor city nuke and save a few bucks!

As for the WCR ironman, never heard it.

 

[scottcrud]

Yea, my bad, Talking about the Iron Man. Some people don't like em, the trick with the Iron Man is to use a 1Meg volume pot.

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

I have a High Order A2 Assymetrical that is almost as good as my Seymour Duncan '78 pickup. The High Order is double cream and half the price.

No more double creme's from Highorder, I spoke with Jeff a while back and it seems that Dimarzio has put some heat on him about that. The Dimarzio tm is total bull but I wouldn't want to fight them in court either. Zebra's look way better anyway , I've only tried one Highorder so far but it is really nice, I've got a new set coming very soon.

 

[luxxtone]

Motor City is the way to go ! Wade is a genius. I am loving my motor city pickups, I will eventually get em for all my guitars.

If you really want the BKs the best BK prices in the states Ive seen are here:

http://www.peerlesstone.com/node/94

Luxxtone's prices on BKP are as low as BKP will allow....and we have them IN STOCK and available on the website. We also special order if it's something we don't have.

http://www.luxxtone.com/home.php?cat=1

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Motor City is the way to go ! Wade is a genius. I am loving my motor city pickups, I will eventually get em for all my guitars.

If you really want the BKs the best BK prices in the states Ive seen are here:

http://www.peerlesstone.com/node/94

Luxxtone's prices on BKP are as low as BKP will allow....and we have them IN STOCK and available on the website. We also special order if it's something we don't have.

http://www.luxxtone.com/home.php?cat=1

I do realize you have in stock pickups and peerless does orders only i think, but he is still cheaper than you are according to the prices at the link I posted.

If the prices you have posted on your site are the lowest possible (allowed by BK) how is peerless getting away with cheaper???

for examples:
your open singles: $159
peerless: $139

your covered:?
peerless: $150

your open sets: $309
peerless: $259

your covered sets: $329
peerless: $279

In no way do I mean offense, I was only trying to help my fellow rig talkers find the lowest prices/value which peerless DOES have, so I am confused why you quoted my post? PRICE was the defining factor for the original poster. I have heard good things about your customer service and I see you contributing to the community here so in no way am I criticizing your business practice, just confused.

I am actually a person with no patience and would much rather order something in stock for more money in the USA rather than wait four weeks! Maybe this is was your point?