Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

[Simon_F]

I've been doing some reading up on these 'buckers and I have stirrings of GAS - Mule GAS! :fart:

They get some great reviews at the BKP forum and on HC, but has anyone here tried them?

I'm thinking I might like to try a set in one of my LPs. :naughty:

I know Brow's tempted.

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

check their forum. Most of hte guys there are very cool.

 

[Brow]

Re: Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

I know Brow's tempted.

Damn you read my mind

I'm perfectly happy with the tone of the Seths in my Gibby LP, but I've noticed that sometimes when I'm playing relatively loud (or with a Boost on) that they start to squeal. I don't really use much gain, so I don't know what it could be.

I hear so many good things about AlnicoIV magnets in a PAF style pickup that I'm going to give the Mules a try. When I can afford them that is

 

[theodie]

Re: Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

I got a mule everyone can try!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

It's a great pup. Get one, Simon!

 

[gripweed]

Re: Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

Damn you read my mind

I'm perfectly happy with the tone of the Seths in my Gibby LP, but I've noticed that sometimes when I'm playing relatively loud (or with a Boost on) that they start to squeal. I don't really use much gain, so I don't know what it could be.

I hear so many good things about AlnicoIV magnets in a PAF style pickup that I'm going to give the Mules a try. When I can afford them that is

Fralins are a4. I have a 7.5 Fralin in my "V" in the neck position and its *fantastic*! I'm also interested in the Mules, but I think I may try more of the Fralins first. I have a feeling that the Mules are more of a vintage voiced pickup than the Fralins.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

Get one, Simon!

No half measures here - it's two or none! :dammit:

Fralins are a4. I have a 7.5 Fralin in my "V" in the neck position and its *fantastic*!

Can you comment on how an a4 pup compares with an a2 in the neck position? I found the a5 '59 too bassy in the LP neck position, and much prefer the softer bass of a2 (specifically Seths, Ants and APH-1s). My main concern about trying a4 is that I might find it too bassy in the neck position.

Thanks guys.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

Simon..I've not tried any, but everytime I hear a BK clip..there is just *something* about them that really really appeals to me and I've not heard in any other pickup...thick...and warm...but perfect clarity....

I'm savin' my pennies for a set of BKs..as soon as I find *the* guitar to put 'em in..wanna make sure I'm puttin 'em in an axe I'm gonna keep for a long long time..cos to get 'em over here in the states costs a bundle of cash ($400 USD)

If this Hamer I'm getting ready to order works out, they'll go in there....

I wouldn't hesitate to try a set in your paula...but you gotta put a Cold Sweat in your Paula's bridge

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

you gotta put a Cold Sweat in your Paula's bridge

A Cold Sweat is probably too 80s for me. I'm a 70s man - don't have to play as fast. :laugh2:

I was interested by the Emeralds. I think they're voiced for a 70s Lizzy tone. It's odd that they're 11K though - Scott & Robbo both started out on mini HBs then went to PAFs. 11K seems a bit high. Guess that's a question for the BKP forum. :boggled:

The Mules look like just my kinda thing though. :32:

 

[Brow]

Re: Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

Can you comment on how an a4 pup compares with an a2 in the neck position? I found the a5 '59 too bassy in the LP neck position, and much prefer the softer bass of a2 (specifically Seths, Ants and APH-1s). My main concern about trying a4 is that I might find it too bassy in the neck position.

Thanks guys.

AN A4 magnet is more balanced than an A5 magnet. It has a little more power and slightly more treble, but on the whole makes for quite a balanced sounding pickup. That's what I'm led to believe anyway

 

[Brow]

Re: Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

The Mules look like just my kinda thing though. :32:

The Stormy Monday is based on a slightly higher output of a 50s PAF and is a little brighter sounding, whereas the Mule is based on a 60's PAF and is slightly hotter and more balanced

Craig

 

[JeffB]

Re: Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

Sykes Custom is a 77 or 78..and he had the DF in it during Tygers of Pan Tang and Lizzy..OK so..he was IN lizzy in the 80s, but...

But I know what ya mean Simon. It's a hot ceramic pup and I *was* teezin

I actually think the "emeralds" were voiced after the Peter Green Paula/tone (now Gary, obviously)? I'm not positive...but I thot as well too about Lizzy when I first saw them, and then after some reading on their forum, got the Petey G reference..but you are right...11K is high...regardless if its Lizzy or PG. Then again, that's not always the best indicator either...my 498T's are not that hot, yet they are rated that way... 14K i think? And the BB pros rated at 8.5 or so sound just as hot..... :shrug:

 

[Brow]

Re: Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

I actually think the "emeralds" were voiced after the Peter Green Paula/tone (now Gary, obviously)?

1 of my 1st posts on the BK Forum was to guess what all the pickups were voiced after, and I was told I was correct when I guessed at Thin lizzy for the Emeralds

I contemplated a set of Emeralds for my Epi LP, but I'll probably justs ell it instead

 

[gripweed]

Re: Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

No half measures here - it's two or none! :dammit:



Can you comment on how an a4 pup compares with an a2 in the neck position? I found the a5 '59 too bassy in the LP neck position, and much prefer the softer bass of a2 (specifically Seths, Ants and APH-1s). My main concern about trying a4 is that I might find it too bassy in the neck position.

Thanks guys.

I can't comment on an a2 pickup in the neck position, but to my ears the Fralin has the perfect amount of bass for a neck pickup. I think (if I understand the term correctly), that the a4 magnet is *tighter* than a2.

I have Duncan Jazz pickup in the neck of my Paul. It reminds of the Fralin although it is not quite the same. One area in which it is different is the bass. The Jazz has more bass than the Fralin, although the Jazz has less bass than the '59. The '59 is too boomy for my ears. The Jazz is closer to what I like, but it also has a little more bass than I like. I'm not sure if that made any sense, or if it helped, but I tried.

The midrange in the Fralin is *unreal* though! It is truly beautiful. It doesn't have as much mids as my Seth (and the Seth is in the bridge as opposed to the neck).

 

[JeffB]

Re: Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

1 of my 1st posts on the BK Forum was to guess what all the pickups were voiced after, and I was told I was correct when I guessed at Thin lizzy for the Emeralds

I contemplated a set of Emeralds for my Epi LP, but I'll probably justs ell it instead

well hell..that tears it for me....I'll be going w/ some emeralds then when the time comes...Mule is a little too smooth for my tastes, and the CS, VHII and crawler too hot...

 

[Peterku]

Re: Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

I have a calibrated set of Mules in my Artist (see my avatar). To me they're THE pickups for that guitar. Not boomy like an A5 PAF, not mushy like an A2 PAF, just perfect. The luthier who made my guitar also praised them: they sounded perfectly balanced and clean. According to Tim at BKP, using plain enamel wire, scatterwinding and leaving the pickups in the wax bath for a really long time help develop this nice balance and unique openness of the sound.

One of the advantages of getting a calibrated set rather than a mixed set is that the pups will perfectly complement each other. For instance I get heavenly quack sounds in the middle position of the switch, which is quite surprising of a thick all-mahogany guitar. Check my signature, the clip's called 'Closer'.

 

[Peterku]

Re: Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

Simon..I've not tried any, but everytime I hear a BK clip..there is just *something* about them that really really appeals to me and I've not heard in any other pickup...thick...and warm...but perfect clarity....

I agree. I think 'lively' is the right word.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

I have Duncan Jazz pickup in the neck of my Paul. It reminds of the Fralin although it is not quite the same. One area in which it is different is the bass. The Jazz has more bass than the Fralin, although the Jazz has less bass than the '59. The '59 is too boomy for my ears. The Jazz is closer to what I like, but it also has a little more bass than I like. I'm not sure if that made any sense, or if it helped, but I tried.

Yes, that does help, thanks! So what you are saying is that the a4 Fralin has less bass than the a5 Jazz which in turn has less bass than the a5 '59. Good, that's encouraging in terms of figuring out where a4 sits in relation to a5 pups!

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

I have a calibrated set of Mules in my Artist (see my avatar). To me they're THE pickups for that guitar. Not boomy like an A5 PAF, not mushy like an A2 PAF, just perfect. The luthier who made my guitar also praised them: they sounded perfectly balanced and clean. According to Tim at BKP, using plain enamel wire, scatterwinding and leaving the pickups in the wax bath for a really long time help develop this nice balance and unique openness of the sound.

One of the advantages of getting a calibrated set rather than a mixed set is that the pups will perfectly complement each other. For instance I get heavenly quack sounds in the middle position of the switch, which is quite surprising of a thick all-mahogany guitar. Check my signature, the clip's called 'Closer'.

Thanks Peterku, that's very helpful. Nice clip!

 

[Brow]

Re: Anyone tried Bare Knuckle Mules?

well hell..that tears it for me....I'll be going w/ some emeralds then when the time comes...Mule is a little too smooth for my tastes, and the CS, VHII and crawler too hot...

I have a Crawler in the bridge of my Fender Strat with 2 Irish Tours in the middle and neck, and it doesn't seem to 'act' like other semi high output pickups I've used in the past.

Even though it's got a relatively high DC Resistance (around 15K I think) it's still a very 'clean' and open sounding pickup, until you wind up the gain that is When you add gain, it still keeps it's vintage voice and retains clarity.