Wich bare knuckle to replace my duncan's

  • Thread starter Thread starter MKibanez
  • Start date Start date
MKibanez

MKibanez

Member
I have the standard combination of Duncan on a strat, Jb on the bridge and 59 on the neck, what bare knuckle would you replace with that are similar to my duncan's? I'm playing mostly 80's hard rock and metal, mostly standard 440 or Eb tuning, I would say I like that my Jb cleans well with the guitar volume know!

Thanks
 
MKibanez":2b89q12d said:
I have the standard combination of Duncan on a strat, Jb on the bridge and 59 on the neck, what bare knuckle would you replace with that are similar to my duncan's? I'm playing mostly 80's hard rock and metal, mostly standard 440 or Eb tuning, I would say I like that my Jb cleans well with the guitar volume know!

Thanks
Clarify please - this is on a Stratocaster? And can I ask what amp(s) you're using??

Tim's a strat player - he'll know for sure, but let me know the answers to the above two questions and I'll offer whatever I can.

GREAT forum here too:
https://forum.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/
 
Yes an american standard that I changed the pickguard and pups, Mesa Boogie rectoverb 50, vintage mode and also Marshall DSL 40 sometimes
 
I believe the Crawler is the BK that is supposed to be closest to a Duncan.
 
MKibanez":34k9lyui said:
I have the standard combination of Duncan on a strat, Jb on the bridge and 59 on the neck, what bare knuckle would you replace with that are similar to my duncan's? I'm playing mostly 80's hard rock and metal, mostly standard 440 or Eb tuning, I would say I like that my Jb cleans well with the guitar volume know!

Thanks

Just asking...but if you like the JB why switch? The JB is a tried and true classic.
 
sutepaj":5zr71rv3 said:
MKibanez":5zr71rv3 said:
I have the standard combination of Duncan on a strat, Jb on the bridge and 59 on the neck, what bare knuckle would you replace with that are similar to my duncan's? I'm playing mostly 80's hard rock and metal, mostly standard 440 or Eb tuning, I would say I like that my Jb cleans well with the guitar volume know!

Thanks

Just asking...but if you like the JB why switch? The JB is a tried and true classic.

Good question, I have another strat and I want to try something different but not too much at the same time, same kind of flavor but hot sound
 
I'm far from an expert on BKPs but I believe a good JB style pickup for brighter guitar like a strat is the Holy Diver.
 
I would go alnico nailbomb. I liked the overall mids of the holy diver, but had nowhere near the lows of a JB. I went back to a JB in my les Paul; it just had more character. I like the ceramic nailbomb, and painkiller for my metal use, but still kept that JB for rock.
 
There is no Bareknuckle that sounds like a Duncan JB. The Riff Raff, Black Dog, Abraxas, and Holy Diver will get you in that range. Probably especially the Holy Diver or Black Dog. The JB is an off/on love kind of pickup. Sometimes I love it and sometimes I don't. Dimarzio makes something called a Norton which is a lot like the JB, but a little bit better. However, if I had to choose between a Duncan, Dimarzio, or Bareknuckle, I would go with Bareknuckle just because I've always gotten exactly what I want from Bareknuckle pickups. I've never felt like there was something missing, too compressed, not enough output, etc. Duncan and Dimarzio are the original greats, but Bareknuckle has stepped up the game a notch.
 
Ok so... SavageRiffer is kinda correct, NO BareKnuckle sounds like a JB. However the Black Dog and Holy Diver are very different from each other. I'd say the JB is closer to the Holy Diver or Emerald, maybe even a Rebel Yell output wise... I've had them all in my PRS Tremonti but not in a Strat.
 
lowmantotempole":f1oaqd8x said:
Ok so... SavageRiffer is kinda correct, NO BareKnuckle sounds like a JB. However the Black Dog and Holy Diver are very different from each other. I'd say the JB is closer to the Holy Diver or Emerald, maybe even a Rebel Yell output wise... I've had them all in my PRS Tremonti but not in a Strat.

It depends on how you perceive the JB. Some people fault the JB for spiky high mids, other people perceive it as having a prominent low mids and very tight low end. If you're in the first camp, you'd probably like the Holy Diver. If you're in the 2nd camp, then you'd probably like the Black Dog.
 
Black Dog is far from the JB ....That is my experience in several guitars..It has lots of bite in a vintage way it has this really crunchy angry sound to it the JB does not have. Voicing is world's apart.

As far as BKs go , the Holy Diver and Abraxas have more of a JBish tone going on to my ears. With that being said none of them sound or feel very close to a JB . Bare Knuckles have a different vibe to them compared to Duncans.
 
SFW":1z5j6jej said:
Rebel Yell set.


Rebel Yell has a little JB type flavor but a lot tighter bass, and Less low mids ...also brighter . The Emerald is similar and actually a bit closer in voicing to the JB than the Rebel Yell but once again leaner , tighter bass and an overall brighter tone. I like the Emerald a little more.

Another one worth mentioning is the Crawler , it has a little JB flavor too but darker, fatter and has a nice growl in the low mids the JB doesnt have ,.....nice smooth and fat highs for leads with the Crawler .....Can be better than Rebel Yell and Emerald for leads in some guitars they can be thin on the highs where the Crawler has nice weight to single notes up the fretboard.
 
Have the Aldrich and a Nailbomb they both do there things my favorite is MCP Afwayu I also have a JB with a A/8 mag and that sounds great too..all in Les Paul's
 
the4thlast1":12rjucdt said:
Black Dog is far from the JB ....That is my experience in several guitars..It has lots of bite in a vintage way it has this really crunchy angry sound to it the JB does not have. Voicing is world's apart.

As far as BKs go , the Holy Diver and Abraxas have more of a JBish tone going on to my ears. With that being said none of them sound or feel very close to a JB . Bare Knuckles have a different vibe to them compared to Duncans.

I never said the Black Dog sounds like the JB. Maybe you didn't notice the first sentence in that statement which was "There is no Bareknuckle that sounds like a JB." The pickups I listed would "get him in that range." I was first to mention the Abraxas as well. What does the JB have? Lots of mids, high output, tight low end, spiky highs. It's pretty versatile. I've heard the do smooth blues and have heard it do raw aggression. Like I mentioned, people's perception of the JB is fairly split along 2 camps. If we're talking about strong mids, tight low end, rather bright, good output, then you can't rule out the Black Dog.
 
BKP Nailbomb works well in a superstrat IMHO. I have the ceramic version. I use SD SH-6 in another guitar and feel right at home with the Nailbomb.
 
Back
Top