If I like the Duncan Distortion and Black Winter...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rex Rocker
  • Start date Start date
Rex Rocker

Rex Rocker

Well-known member
... which Bare Knuckles would I like?

I like those kinda grindy, upper-mid-focused, tight, ceramic monsters. I went through a phase where I was like "yeah, my amps have enough gain", and I really liked the Whole Lotta Humbucker, but once I threw a Black Winter into one of my guitars, I realized how much I dig the aggression of high-output pickups.

So I'm curious about trying some BKP's. Which of them would I like? I prefer tight and cutting with an upper-mid focus over bassy and dark. I don't like scooped either, which is why I moved away from low output PAF-types and back into high output. So which of them would you suggest trying out?

Also, anything else from other companies worth looking at?

Thanks. :)
 
Rex Rocker":11b1adzr said:
... which Bare Knuckles would I like?

I like those kinda grindy, upper-mid-focused, tight, ceramic monsters. I went through a phase where I was like "yeah, my amps have enough gain", and I really liked the Whole Lotta Humbucker, but once I threw a Black Winter into one of my guitars, I realized how much I dig the aggression of high-output pickups.

So I'm curious about trying some BKP's. Which of them would I like? I prefer tight and cutting with an upper-mid focus over bassy and dark. I don't like scooped either, which is why I moved away from low output PAF-types and back into high output. So which of them would you suggest trying out?

Also, anything else from other companies worth looking at?

Thanks. :)
Click to expand...

Painkiller. It’s a mean mofo. To be fair I like the nazgul better, as the mid grind on those are perfect for what I do. The painkiller and the black winter were very similar to me. The painkiller a little less compressed, and tight as hell.
 
I like the DD and I’ve hated every BK pickup I’ve tried....and I’ve tried 4-5 of them.
 
BK Miracle Man. It's closest to the SD Distortion... but not the SD BW. The BW is darker, and more bass heavy.

I'm not a big BKP fan either. Usually prefer SD, EMG, Suhr pickups over them.
 
I need to try a Black Winter. I really like the Nazgul though. I used BKP for about six years, but switched back to Duncan and I'm much happier.
 
Thanks for the replies, dudes! The Painkiller looks interesting. 15.something K and triple ceramic magnets make it seem pretty close to the BW and Gibson 500T, which I also dig.

To you guys that say you don't like BK's, what is it that you don't like about them?
 
I love the Black Winters.................for BKP's, I love Miracle Man. The Aftermaths were very good too but I prefer Miracle Man
 
Painkiller based on what you like. Rebell Yell is also aggressive and grinding in the upper mids, just a SLIGHTLY rounder low end, but still tight. C-pig is awesome as well with great mid/lower mid grind and tight as hell. I have a MM waiting to go in my guitar, just need to get it in.

Of the ones I've tried I think the PK is closest to the DD. The DD kills also!
 
I've been looking for an "improved" Duncan Distortion for years (and spent quite a lot of money in the process), but nothing has topped it yet for raw, grindy, saturated goodness.

If you don't mind actives, the Loomis Blackouts have a somewhat similar vibe and even more output, shockingly.
 
Rising Farce":2u7nduz9 said:
I've been looking for an "improved" Duncan Distortion for years (and spent quite a lot of money in the process), but nothing has topped it yet for raw, grindy, saturated goodness.
Click to expand...
^^^
I'm finding myself coming to this same realization :yes: I started with the "boutique" stuff only to wind up at the DD.

My problem with most BK so far is that there almost too clear, defined, and articulate for me sometimes. I find them difficult to play if I'm not up to the task if that makes sense. I look forward to trying the MM as I gather it's a bit more compressed than say the Painkiller.
 
Like said above, Painkiller.

Also, depending on what it’s going into, Warpig.

Also also, if you can get down with actives, check out the Fishman Fluence Moderns.

I know I know. EMGs suck and active this and that. They’re NOTHING like EMGs dood. They rule so fuckin hard for metal.
 
I've been playing a PRS Holcomb the last few days, and the Omega bridge is pretty cool. TONS of clarity and note separation and upper mid grind all day long! Tight bastard too! FYI, 'm talking thrash/death not djent.
 
Thanks for the replies, dudes!

The Painkiller looks interesting.

How about the Aftermath? Is it any good for what I want?
 
Rex Rocker":3pr77ymy said:
Thanks for the replies, dudes!

The Painkiller looks interesting.

How about the Aftermath? Is it any good for what I want?
Click to expand...

Painkiller>aftermath for that upper mid grind. The aftermath is cool too, just has a slight scooped modern feel too.
 
I've been somewhat curious about BKP's as well, though the price coupled with my high level of satisfaction with the Duncan Distortion has deterred me from taking the plunge. I did just buy a KM-6 mkii that has a nazgul in the bridge- so far, I still prefer the DD, going to give it a bit longer before a swap though. Also curious about the Black Winter bridge.
 
indespise":odfee6kd said:
I've been somewhat curious about BKP's as well, though the price coupled with my high level of satisfaction with the Duncan Distortion has deterred me from taking the plunge. I did just buy a KM-6 mkii that has a nazgul in the bridge- so far, I still prefer the DD, going to give it a bit longer before a swap though. Also curious about the Black Winter bridge.
Click to expand...

I wasn't a big fan of the Black Winter :scared: It was just too "self-overdriven" if that makes sense. I would definitely give it another go as I have completely different amps than I had at the time I tried it. I REALLY like the DD though! Just hard to beat for thrash/death metal/and more I'm sure.

BK pups are the shit though. But they are different in that they're much less compressed and saturated than Duncans IMHO.
 
I must admit the Black Winter was kind of an acquired taste for me. When I first tried it, I was underwhelmed. But the more I play it, the more I like it. I feel that it being so upper-mid focused, it's sorta like a more mix-ready Duncan Distortion. I love it now.
 
Rex Rocker":1uypiucv said:
I must admit the Black Winter was kind of an acquired taste for me. When I first tried it, I was underwhelmed. But the more I play it, the more I like it. I feel that it being so upper-mid focused, it's sorta like a more mix-ready Duncan Distortion. I love it now.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup: I am considering giving it another go in a new build I'm putting together.

You should check out the Omega! Pretty dang cool IMO.
 
mchn13":1lekcp0u said:
Rex Rocker":1lekcp0u said:
... which Bare Knuckles would I like?

I like those kinda grindy, upper-mid-focused, tight, ceramic monsters. I went through a phase where I was like "yeah, my amps have enough gain", and I really liked the Whole Lotta Humbucker, but once I threw a Black Winter into one of my guitars, I realized how much I dig the aggression of high-output pickups.

So I'm curious about trying some BKP's. Which of them would I like? I prefer tight and cutting with an upper-mid focus over bassy and dark. I don't like scooped either, which is why I moved away from low output PAF-types and back into high output. So which of them would you suggest trying out?

Also, anything else from other companies worth looking at?

Thanks. :)
Click to expand...

Painkiller. It’s a mean mofo. To be fair I like the nazgul better, as the mid grind on those are perfect for what I do. The painkiller and the black winter were very similar to me. The painkiller a little less compressed, and tight as hell.
Click to expand...

Steve is right!
PK for sure!
Killer in my custom
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top