Recommend some Bare Knuckle Pickups....

[bobbtoz]

My guitar is a Musikraft/ Charvel type w/ 2 humbuckers and floyd Rose. I'm looking to replace the Dimarzio Super Distorion bridge pickup.

My amp is a 100 watt JMP (PURPLE) modded by Mike Fortin- Cali Mod. Love the gain/ saturation/ sustain this amp has. The super distortion pickup is compressing my tone a bit to much. I'm digging how I have the JMP set up, but need a pickup that is more open sounding. I'm guessing I don't need a high output pick up since I have loads of gain available on the amp. One of the main reasons I'm looking into Bare knuckle pickups is aesthics (trying to stay w/ the Charvel double cream look). Would also like a pickup that is dynamic and cleans up fairly well, but being open is the main thing.


What do you guys thing would work w/ my set up.

Thanks
Bob T.

 

[Qweklain]

I would probably say either the Miracle Man or Holydiver.

 

[glassjaw7]

Rebel Yell if you don't need a super high output bucker. It sounds very, very good indeed

 

[Variable]

Above suggestions of course, +1 on the HD if you want JB+ level of output.

If you want really open overwound PAF style with a glassy top end (and a shitload of presence), try a VHII. I'm really digging mine. Not high-output at all, but it is very tight and great for high gain. Really singing lead tone. It says it's only 9.2k, but it has so much OOMPH and tone that I don't really notice. Overall, you're probably going to want lower output if you want a more open and less compressed tone.

Honestly, I'm finding you can't really go wrong with any of Tim's pickups. It's just that some are going to be much more suited to your style/guitar than others.

 

[HerbieTheRadDorklift]

I have a Miracle Man in my Explorer and it's amazing. Really clear; cleans up well too.

 

[hunter]

+1 on the VHII

Here is a pair in my Edwards LP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArxQRfsETM0

Here a VHII in a similar guitar as yours through a Splawn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziAo1zhkJiU

 

[Dazza1004]

not a fan of ceramic magnets so would go for either the Holy Diver or Nail Bomb (don't be put off by the name).

The Holy Diver bridge and Cold Sweat neck is a great combo

personally, I would find the VHII too bright in your guitar. The rebel yell is very good at old school tones, it's a very high mid focussed pickup, not too much bottom end.

 

[luxxtone]

+1 on the VHII, or go for a Rebel Yell for a hotter tone but far less compressed than the Super Distortion. Can't go wrong with either. The Miracle Man and Nailbomb will be too compressed for you, both are even hotter than the Super Distortion....they are both great and blow away the DiMarzio, but they are super hot pickups still and wont get you what you want.

 

[killertone]

+1 on the VHII, or go for a Rebel Yell for a hotter tone but far less compressed than the Super Distortion. Can't go wrong with either. The Miracle Man and Nailbomb will be too compressed for you, both are even hotter than the Super Distortion....they are both great and blow away the DiMarzio, but they are super hot pickups still and wont get you what you want.

My Nailbomb measured at 15.4k, much lower than a Dimarzio or Duncan Distortion and I don't remember it being compressed at all. I used that pickup live for over a year. Loved it and wish I had never sold it.

 

[sebby123]

Holydiver + Alder = Amazing gobs of sustain.

 

[nbarts]

any bkp is open sounding IMO.

I'd take a nailbomb over a hd any day, especially if it was the only bkp set I had. Coil tapped bombs are my favorite pickups.

 

[Nolly]

+1 to the Nailbomb. It really is very open and dynamic considering its output.

 

[aeroic]

Rebel Yells all the way!

 

[luxxtone]

+1 on the VHII, or go for a Rebel Yell for a hotter tone but far less compressed than the Super Distortion. Can't go wrong with either. The Miracle Man and Nailbomb will be too compressed for you, both are even hotter than the Super Distortion....they are both great and blow away the DiMarzio, but they are super hot pickups still and wont get you what you want.

My Nailbomb measured at 15.4k, much lower than a Dimarzio or Duncan Distortion and I don't remember it being compressed at all. I used that pickup live for over a year. Loved it and wish I had never sold it.

A DiMarzio Super Distortion is about 13.5k, BKP Nailbombs are about 15.5k. I was under the impression Bobbtoz was looking for a pickup that was not high output, and especially not hotter than what he already has.....maybe I'm wrong

 

[bobbtoz]

I'm guessing that I would not need a high out put pickup because the way the Dimarzio super distortion compresses my tone, however, if a high out put pickup gave me the goods I would be fine w/ that. Basically this is what I'm looking for (in order

1. Open sound- My amp can take care of as much compression as I need. And I love lots of compression, but w/ the Cali Mod I don't need the pickup adding to it.
2. Good cut- will puch/ cut through very well.
3. dynamic
4. Cleans up fairly well

Tim at Bare Knuckles recommended the VHII. I've read allot of rave reviews on most of the BKP's. It's going to be difficult to narrow it down.

 

[sebby123]

I'm guessing that I would not need a high out put pickup because the way the Dimarzio super distortion compresses my tone, however, if a high out put pickup gave me the goods I would be fine w/ that. Basically this is what I'm looking for (in order

1. Open sound- My amp can take care of as much compression as I need. And I love lots of compression, but w/ the Cali Mod I don't need the pickup adding to it.
2. Good cut- will puch/ cut through very well.
3. dynamic
4. Cleans up fairly well

Tim at Bare Knuckles recommended the VHII. I've read allot of rave reviews on most of the BKP's. It's going to be difficult to narrow it down.

Allways trust tims word people that go against it usually dont end up liking there choice as much as following his advice.

 

[sebby123]

Great clip of the VHII's

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/i ... ic=12530.0

 

[sswanson]

I have a VHII in a PRS CE24 and a Rebel Yell in a Les Paul Custom right now. I am going to swap them around, the VHII is a little bright in the PRS but not too bad, That's something to keep in mind depending on how bright your guitar/amp/speaker cab is. I would still recommend either one of these for the sound you're after. Favoring the VHII slightly because of the lower output, they have great dynamics.

 

[hunter]

Tim at Bare Knuckles recommended the VHII. I've read allot of rave reviews on most of the BKP's. It's going to be difficult to narrow it down.

Thou shalt not doubt the master's words!

I have a VHII in a PRS CE24 and a Rebel Yell in a Les Paul Custom right now. I am going to swap them around, the VHII is a little bright in the PRS but not too bad, That's something to keep in mind depending on how bright your guitar/amp/speaker cab is. I would still recommend either one of these for the sound you're after. Favoring the VHII slightly because of the lower output, they have great dynamics.

Exactly what I did. I now have RYs in my McCarty and VHIIs in my Les Paul. Good choice!

 

[AdamB]

If Tim says the VHII, go for the VHII

If you want something hotter though, Nailbombs!