BK Rebel Yell vs. Wolfetone Marshallhead

[MetalHeadMike]

Anyone have direct experience with these two bridge pups in an LP?

I currently have a RY in my 04 LP Studio and love it for classic to hard rock through a pushed Germino club 40. Considering the Marshallhead but based on specs I feel like it might be similar enough that a swap wouldn't be warranted.

 

[mooncobra]

both are awesome. I have a set of rebel yells I am about to put in my knaggs kenai and I am fired up! I have a les paul with the marshallhead and another les paul with the wolfetone dr vintage. the marshallhead is better than the dr vintage for harder rock. but, the marshallhead and rebel yell are similar.

 

[braintheory]

I never tried a rebel yell, but have played most of their other models and for my taste I much prefer the marshallhead. The marshallheads are much more raw and organic than bareknuckles tend to be and will also have a more complete growl on chords than what I've tried from bkp. The one thing it'll lack compared to bkp's and probably the rebel yell too is tightness and focus in the bottom end, which can be a deal breaker depending on what you want, but other than that I much prefer it to any bkp I've tried. The neck marshallhead is also by far the best neck pickup I've tried

The rebel yell is also hotter than the marshallhead (it's 9k). The marshallhead has a lot of mids and upper mids (I hear the rebel yell is also like that) with nice, musical highs

Like I said though, I haven't tried the rebel yell, but most of their other models l, so take it for what it's worth

 

[nigelpkay]

I would say you are going to get a similar EQ with more push and saturation from the Rebel Yell.
The Marshallhead was cool, but I found I needed more mid push for what I played at the time.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

I've played the Marshallheads... not the BKP Rebel Yell yet.

The MH is a hot PAF wind... lower output... more mushy... a bit warmer. And the RY... well you know what that does.

I did just put a Wolfetone MH neck and Blisterbucker bridge in a LP... and it kills. Really great combo for metal. Like a more vintage sounding SD Distortion, with a touch less bass and more clarity. I vote Blisterbucker.

 

[ChurchHill]

The marshallheads are much more raw and organic than bareknuckles tend to be [...].

Pickups can be so subjective and I'm honestly just curious. Which BKPs have you tried and it what applications?

While I, too, have tried at least 2/3rds of the BKP lineup, I think The Mule (HB), The Nantucket (P90), the Flat '50 (Tele), and the Apache (Strat) are all quite warm but still with enough bright but smooth high to be articulate, too. I can cover at least 95% of what I play with just these four.

If these Marshallheads are warmer than The Mule, I want to take a look at them. I've never played or knowingly heard one (haven't seen any clips).

Disclaimer: I replaced the bridge pup in the Apache set with the neck pickup from the Trilogy. I just like a just little more beef than the stock Apache bridge (think David Gilmour vs. Hank Marvin). Also, I prefer the Stormy Monday neck with The Mule bridge, but I have sets of The Mule with The Mule neck pup, too.

 

[braintheory]

The marshallheads are much more raw and organic than bareknuckles tend to be [...].

Pickups can be so subjective and I'm honestly just curious. Which BKPs have you tried and it what applications?

While I, too, have tried at least 2/3rds of the BKP lineup, I think The Mule (HB), The Nantucket (P90), the Flat '50 (Tele), and the Apache (Strat) are all quite warm but still with enough bright but smooth high to be articulate, too. I can cover at least 95% of what I play with just these four.

If these Marshallheads are warmer than The Mule, I want to take a look at them. I've never played or knowingly heard one (haven't seen any clips).

Disclaimer: I replaced the bridge pup in the Apache set with the neck pickup from the Trilogy. I just like a just little more beef than the stock Apache bridge (think David Gilmour vs. Hank Marvin). Also, I prefer the Stormy Monday neck with The Mule bridge, but I have sets of The Mule with The Mule neck pup, too.

I've had the mules, vhii neck, stormy Monday neck, juggernauts, crawler bridge, cold sweat neck, miracle man bridge, aftermath bridge, painkiller set, warpig set, black hawk set, sinner bridge, trilogy bridge and middle, sultan neck, Irish tour middle and have tried the nailbombs and a few others, I've never tried their tele pickups or p90's

To my ears the marshallheads just breathe more and sound more organic and lively than any bkp I've tried. If you like the mule, I'd definitely consider marshallheads. I much prefer them, but as I said before they aren't that tight or focused sounding. Wizard of ozz also said they're mushy and I can see that. The other wolfetones I've tried (caretaker and blisterbucker) are much tighter, but not quite as organic, but imo still more so than the bare knuckles. Wolfe himself also told me the marshallheads would be more organic than the others I've had by him, but they're also great.

The bkp's are obviously fine pickups, don't get me wrong, but I'm very picky about having an organic sound, and not many are as organic as the marshallheads. You may hear it differently though

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

The marshallheads are much more raw and organic than bareknuckles tend to be [...].

Pickups can be so subjective and I'm honestly just curious. Which BKPs have you tried and it what applications?

While I, too, have tried at least 2/3rds of the BKP lineup, I think The Mule (HB), The Nantucket (P90), the Flat '50 (Tele), and the Apache (Strat) are all quite warm but still with enough bright but smooth high to be articulate, too. I can cover at least 95% of what I play with just these four.

If these Marshallheads are warmer than The Mule, I want to take a look at them. I've never played or knowingly heard one (haven't seen any clips).

Disclaimer: I replaced the bridge pup in the Apache set with the neck pickup from the Trilogy. I just like a just little more beef than the stock Apache bridge (think David Gilmour vs. Hank Marvin). Also, I prefer the Stormy Monday neck with The Mule bridge, but I have sets of The Mule with The Mule neck pup, too.

I've had the mules, vhii neck, stormy Monday neck, juggernauts, crawler bridge, cold sweat neck, miracle man bridge, aftermath bridge, painkiller set, warpig set, black hawk set, sinner bridge, trilogy bridge and middle, sultan neck, Irish tour middle and have tried the nailbombs and a few others, I've never tried their tele pickups or p90's

To my ears the marshallheads just breathe more and sound more organic and lively than any bkp I've tried. If you like the mule, I'd definitely consider marshallheads. I much prefer them, but as I said before they aren't that tight or focused sounding. Wizard of ozz also said they're mushy and I can see that. The other wolfetones I've tried (caretaker and blisterbucker) are much tighter, but not quite as organic, but imo still more so than the bare knuckles. Wolfe himself also told me the marshallheads would be more organic than the others I've had by him, but they're also great.

The bkp's are obviously fine pickups, don't get me wrong, but I'm very picky about having an organic sound, and not many are as organic as the marshallheads. You may hear it differently though

If anyone is wanting a slightly hotter, boosted PAF tone, the MarshallHeads are worth trying. Very organic, open, and they have great clarity. Very authentic PAF sounding.

I've tried several BKPs... but they just never wowed me. Nice pickups, but not mind-blowing to me as some users have described in various reviews. I think the scatterwinding technique BKP uses gives them a lot less output and kick than their DC Resistance specs would seem to indicate. I liked the BKP Miracle Man bridge and VHII neck the best of his pickups.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Thanks gents there's lots of great descriptions/comparisons here! From what I'm hearing it sounds like the Marshallhead will be less focused less tight than the RY and maybe more open/raw. I feel like the RY is pretty very tight/focused but also its pretty raw in its own right.

I've been really happy with it in a classic rock context (Hendrix [overdriven], SRV, Zeppelin inspired tones) but have been curious to try the Marshallhead too. Sounds like it would be different enough in feel if not in eq that I might pick one up. I will say the articulation, growling mid crunch and focus of the RY is pretty awesome, but the "organic" "raw" "lively" adjectives being used above definitely have me even more interested in the MH.

 

[thegame]

For a focused, tight, lively, organic, definitely UN-mushy, slightly hot (just shy of 10K) PAF type of pickup, look no further than the Jim Wagner (WCR) Icebucker. I immediately ordered a set after trying it in a friend's guitar. Quite expensive but their excellence in quality exceeds the price tag, a rare occurrence in the boutique world.

 

[ChurchHill]

To my ears the marshallheads just breathe more and sound more organic and lively than any bkp I've tried. If you like the mule, I'd definitely consider marshallheads. I much prefer them, but as I said before they aren't that tight or focused sounding. Wizard of ozz also said they're mushy and I can see that. The other wolfetones I've tried (caretaker and blisterbucker) are much tighter, but not quite as organic, but imo still more so than the bare knuckles. Wolfe himself also told me the marshallheads would be more organic than the others I've had by him, but they're also great.

The bkp's are obviously fine pickups, don't get me wrong, but I'm very picky about having an organic sound, and not many are as organic as the marshallheads. You may hear it differently though

Thanks for the great description! These definitely sound like something I'd be interested in. Not being that tight or focused is completely OK for my uses. I've got other guitars that can be as tight as I need them to be, but I like to have a few from various points across the spectrum, too. I'm mostly a blues/rock/metal guy. What I really don't like is thin, brittle, or weak sounds, but sometimes a soft, warm squeeze is better than a bash over the head... sometimes...

If anyone is wanting a slightly hotter, boosted PAF tone, the MarshallHeads are worth trying. Very organic, open, and they have great clarity. Very authentic PAF sounding.

I've tried several BKPs... but they just never wowed me. Nice pickups, but not mind-blowing to me as some users have described in various reviews. I think the scatterwinding technique BKP uses gives them a lot less output and kick than their DC Resistance specs would seem to indicate. I liked the BKP Miracle Man bridge and VHII neck the best of his pickups.

Hot, boosted, organic, open, clear PAF...

Yeah, I've got several friends that aren't overly impressed with BKP, too. It's all so subjective, not to mention that some otherwise great pickups just don't work in some guitars. I've got a Miracle Man bridge that was just awful in an alder/maple/ebony super-Strat, but is perfectly at home in an all mahogany Explorer. I agree, too, that the VHII neck is a great pickup.

I wish more manufacturers would publish specs like inductance, wire type, and guage. I've just never found DC resistance and magnet type to be a good indicator of output or tone without knowing the something of the inductance, at least. For example, I've got a Burstbucker 2 that sounds almost as hot as a Duncan Distortion, but only measures 8.2k ohms DC. I've never made an actual output voltage comparison, though, mostly because I don't have adequate test equipment. So, it may be the result of frequency emphasis tricking my ear into believing that one is as loud as the other.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Think I'm gonna throw the Riff Raff and the Mule in there for consideration along with the Marshallhead. While I like the RY a lot for 60's/70's rock tones, I think I want to try something less focused, less tight, and less modern.

 

[ChurchHill]

Think I'm gonna throw the Riff Raff and the Mule in there for consideration along with the Marshallhead. While I like the RY a lot for 60's/70's rock tones, I think I want to try something less focused, less tight, and less modern.

FWIW and IMHO, while The Mule is not as hot as the RY, it's still got quite a bit of thrust for a vintage-type PAF. I think it's great for rock tones from just about anything up through the mid-90s. Less focused, less tight, and definitely less modern, definitely warm, but still has a nice bite to it.

Also FWIW, the Riff Raff is one of the few BKPs I haven't yet tried. I really want a set to put in my SG instead of the Emeralds that I have in there now. Maybe I just need another SG...

BTW, I have a set of potted Mules and two other un-potted Mules either in the bridge with a Stormy Monday at the neck or in a 1-Hum Warmoth Strat. The un-potted ones do seem a tiny bit more open like there's a little more harmonic swirl going on. I don't know how loud you play, but I've never had any problems with uncontrollable feedback unless I'm using way too much gain or enough volume to compete with a brutal drummer, and not really any problems then, either. Of course, YMMV.

 

[ChurchHill]

Not to confuse this any further, but... after looking more thoroughly at the Wolfetone site, I was wondering about the following bridge pickup comparisons. I haven't (yet) tried any Wolfetones, so this is just based on DC resistance, magnet type, and product descriptions.

Wolfetone Legends (A2 @ 8.5k, un-potted) +/- BKP The Mule Un-Potted (A4 @ 8.4k)
Wolfetone Marshallhead MKII (degaussed A5 @ 9.0k) +/- BKP Riff Raff (A5 @ 8.2k)
Wolfetone Marshallhead (A5 @ 9.0k) +/- BKP VHII (A5 @ 8.9k)

This is, of course, assuming similar wire, but I think they're all AWG42.

 

[Skolphy]

Just chiming in on the BKPs....I have the Juggs..Cold Sweat..Emerald..and both the Cbomb and Abomb...

I used Dimarzio and SD for years...Then I heard about the BKPs...first one I got was the Cbomb bridge...now every guitar I have has BKPs. My love for BKPs relates to the sensitivity of them...Best way to describe it is that the volume knob actually has 50 different sounds rather than maybe 3...each little turn has an effect on the amp/guitar sound...With the SD/Dimarzios...rolling back didn't do anything til about 7..then the high end seemed to roll off..then the bottom dropped out at around 4 or 5...with the BKP the volume knob just seems to offer so much more..small adjustments yield more nuance without the loss of the pickup voice so much as the others.

I really don't even have any desire to try other pickups...not that i wouldn't..seen some great vids for the Wolftones..

That said...as far as pickups go..One man's trash is another man's treasure...they all have the same features but no two..even the same model/type are alike...same as women!!

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Think I'm gonna throw the Riff Raff and the Mule in there for consideration along with the Marshallhead. While I like the RY a lot for 60's/70's rock tones, I think I want to try something less focused, less tight, and less modern.

FWIW and IMHO, while The Mule is not as hot as the RY, it's still got quite a bit of thrust for a vintage-type PAF. I think it's great for rock tones from just about anything up through the mid-90s. Less focused, less tight, and definitely less modern, definitely warm, but still has a nice bite to it.

Also FWIW, the Riff Raff is one of the few BKPs I haven't yet tried. I really want a set to put in my SG instead of the Emeralds that I have in there now. Maybe I just need another SG...

BTW, I have a set of potted Mules and two other un-potted Mules either in the bridge with a Stormy Monday at the neck or in a 1-Hum Warmoth Strat. The un-potted ones do seem a tiny bit more open like there's a little more harmonic swirl going on. I don't know how loud you play, but I've never had any problems with uncontrollable feedback unless I'm using way too much gain or enough volume to compete with a brutal drummer, and not really any problems then, either. Of course, YMMV.

Yeah your description of the Mule sounds good I would definitely give a Mule or Riff Raff a shot considering how much I like the other BKPs I've owned/still own; there awesome pups indeed and top notch guys over there from my past experience with them. Its not that I dislike anything about the RY really and I do quite like it in this LP for 60s/70's rock tones, I'm curious more than anything how these other pups will sound.

I also came across info on OX4 pickups today which I had never heard of before today. Definitely something I'm gonna look more into also before making a decision. There is probably only minute differences between these "boutique" pups, and I'm sure any of these would sound awesome.

Whatever pups I go with are going to be strictly for playing through a Germino (60's JMP clone) either straight in cranked up a bit or pushed with the new Timmy I got for xmas. I have all my metal needs covered with other gear, so this pup swap will be strictly for pure 60's/70's rock n rolla

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Think I'm gonna throw the Riff Raff and the Mule in there for consideration along with the Marshallhead. While I like the RY a lot for 60's/70's rock tones, I think I want to try something less focused, less tight, and less modern.

FWIW and IMHO, while The Mule is not as hot as the RY, it's still got quite a bit of thrust for a vintage-type PAF. I think it's great for rock tones from just about anything up through the mid-90s. Less focused, less tight, and definitely less modern, definitely warm, but still has a nice bite to it.

Also FWIW, the Riff Raff is one of the few BKPs I haven't yet tried. I really want a set to put in my SG instead of the Emeralds that I have in there now. Maybe I just need another SG...

BTW, I have a set of potted Mules and two other un-potted Mules either in the bridge with a Stormy Monday at the neck or in a 1-Hum Warmoth Strat. The un-potted ones do seem a tiny bit more open like there's a little more harmonic swirl going on. I don't know how loud you play, but I've never had any problems with uncontrollable feedback unless I'm using way too much gain or enough volume to compete with a brutal drummer, and not really any problems then, either. Of course, YMMV.

Yeah your description of the Mule sounds good I would definitely give a Mule or Riff Raff a shot considering how much I like the other BKPs I've owned/still own; there awesome pups indeed and top notch guys over there from my past experience with them. Its not that I dislike anything about the RY really and I do quite like it in this LP for 60s/70's rock tones, I'm curious more than anything how these other pups will sound.

I also came across info on OX4 pickups today which I had never heard of before today. Definitely something I'm gonna look more into also before making a decision. There is probably only minute differences between these "boutique" pups, and I'm sure any of these would sound awesome.

Whatever pups I go with are going to be strictly for playing through a Germino (60's JMP clone) either straight in cranked up a bit or pushed with the new Timmy I got for xmas. I have all my metal needs covered with other gear, so this pup swap will be strictly for pure 60's/70's rock n rolla

Mike... if you are going to go down the vintage PAF replica pup rabbit hole... add Wizz Pickups to the list. No affiliation to me.

Made by some guy in Croatia and they sounds pretty good for the vintage PAF tone... and he will custom wind them a bit hotter to your specs too.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Think I'm gonna throw the Riff Raff and the Mule in there for consideration along with the Marshallhead. While I like the RY a lot for 60's/70's rock tones, I think I want to try something less focused, less tight, and less modern.

FWIW and IMHO, while The Mule is not as hot as the RY, it's still got quite a bit of thrust for a vintage-type PAF. I think it's great for rock tones from just about anything up through the mid-90s. Less focused, less tight, and definitely less modern, definitely warm, but still has a nice bite to it.

Also FWIW, the Riff Raff is one of the few BKPs I haven't yet tried. I really want a set to put in my SG instead of the Emeralds that I have in there now. Maybe I just need another SG...

BTW, I have a set of potted Mules and two other un-potted Mules either in the bridge with a Stormy Monday at the neck or in a 1-Hum Warmoth Strat. The un-potted ones do seem a tiny bit more open like there's a little more harmonic swirl going on. I don't know how loud you play, but I've never had any problems with uncontrollable feedback unless I'm using way too much gain or enough volume to compete with a brutal drummer, and not really any problems then, either. Of course, YMMV.

Yeah your description of the Mule sounds good I would definitely give a Mule or Riff Raff a shot considering how much I like the other BKPs I've owned/still own; there awesome pups indeed and top notch guys over there from my past experience with them. Its not that I dislike anything about the RY really and I do quite like it in this LP for 60s/70's rock tones, I'm curious more than anything how these other pups will sound.

I also came across info on OX4 pickups today which I had never heard of before today. Definitely something I'm gonna look more into also before making a decision. There is probably only minute differences between these "boutique" pups, and I'm sure any of these would sound awesome.

Whatever pups I go with are going to be strictly for playing through a Germino (60's JMP clone) either straight in cranked up a bit or pushed with the new Timmy I got for xmas. I have all my metal needs covered with other gear, so this pup swap will be strictly for pure 60's/70's rock n rolla

Mike... if you are going to go down the vintage PAF replica pup rabbit hole... add Wizz Pickups to the list. No affiliation to me.

Made by some guy in Croatia and they sounds pretty good for the vintage PAF tone... and he will custom wind them a bit hotter to your specs too.

Thanks man! Yeah, I saw that name pop up in the same forum where I read about the OX4s.

Gonna think on it a bit cause I'm not quite sure TBH if the PAF thing is gonna do it for me (Don't know really as I've never played a PAF style pup ) I say that because I do like a fair bit of bite and brightness and some aggression even in my rock tones which the RY does in spades. It has great spank, percussion, attack and upper mid bite but can also be subdued if desired with the tone knob and or eq.

I like the idea of a more vintage voiced/wound pup, but I don't want a pup that's too polite and polished. I was thinking about something a bit less modern, focused and tight would be fun to try, but damn I plugged into tonight hit the front of the club 40 with the Timmy and dug in and the RY is by no means a slouch for scorching rock n roll tones! Also a unsure if I'd get the breakup I'm currently getting with a lower output PAF style pup. Might go for one of the aforementioned and just see how it turns out or might just leave well enough alone.....see what happens.

 

[braintheory]

Think I'm gonna throw the Riff Raff and the Mule in there for consideration along with the Marshallhead. While I like the RY a lot for 60's/70's rock tones, I think I want to try something less focused, less tight, and less modern.

FWIW and IMHO, while The Mule is not as hot as the RY, it's still got quite a bit of thrust for a vintage-type PAF. I think it's great for rock tones from just about anything up through the mid-90s. Less focused, less tight, and definitely less modern, definitely warm, but still has a nice bite to it.

Also FWIW, the Riff Raff is one of the few BKPs I haven't yet tried. I really want a set to put in my SG instead of the Emeralds that I have in there now. Maybe I just need another SG...

BTW, I have a set of potted Mules and two other un-potted Mules either in the bridge with a Stormy Monday at the neck or in a 1-Hum Warmoth Strat. The un-potted ones do seem a tiny bit more open like there's a little more harmonic swirl going on. I don't know how loud you play, but I've never had any problems with uncontrollable feedback unless I'm using way too much gain or enough volume to compete with a brutal drummer, and not really any problems then, either. Of course, YMMV.

Yeah your description of the Mule sounds good I would definitely give a Mule or Riff Raff a shot considering how much I like the other BKPs I've owned/still own; there awesome pups indeed and top notch guys over there from my past experience with them. Its not that I dislike anything about the RY really and I do quite like it in this LP for 60s/70's rock tones, I'm curious more than anything how these other pups will sound.

I also came across info on OX4 pickups today which I had never heard of before today. Definitely something I'm gonna look more into also before making a decision. There is probably only minute differences between these "boutique" pups, and I'm sure any of these would sound awesome.

Whatever pups I go with are going to be strictly for playing through a Germino (60's JMP clone) either straight in cranked up a bit or pushed with the new Timmy I got for xmas. I have all my metal needs covered with other gear, so this pup swap will be strictly for pure 60's/70's rock n rolla

Mike... if you are going to go down the vintage PAF replica pup rabbit hole... add Wizz Pickups to the list. No affiliation to me.

Made by some guy in Croatia and they sounds pretty good for the vintage PAF tone... and he will custom wind them a bit hotter to your specs too.

I like the idea of a more vintage voiced/wound pup, but I don't want a pup that's too polite and polished.

If anything I found all the bkp's to be too polished or polite for my taste. The marshallhead and Ian Anderson would be the most raw and not polite or polished of the humbuckers I've tried except for actual vintage pickups. Any pickup that's authentic to a paf or meant to sound vintage will have a more raw/less controlled/filtered sound, the opposite or polished and polite, but unfortunately those types of pickups are not usually as focused sounding

Also, the marshallhead is a bright sounding pickup with lots of uppermid growl, so I wouldn't worry about lacking brightness with it. It's actually probably brighter than the majority of bareknuckles (maybe not the emerald or riff raff but never tried em), but it also sounds very full and the single notes have lots of weight to them and the high notes sound musical and full, but it probably won't have the attack of the rebel yell. I think if you are ok with sacrificing tightness and attack, you'll love the marshallhead and for the neck I can't really complain at all about it. Best neck I've tried by far

 

[RockyStar]

The Rebel Yells are great in Les Paul type guitars. Suhr Thornbuckers are great as are Mules and Riff Raffs if you want lower output. Another fantastic pickup for a Les Paul is the Black Dogs. If you like the Rebel Yells and want less output but want to keep the clarity and articulation of the Rebel Yell then the Black Dog would be my suggestion.