Best Bareknuckle pickup sets?
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Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: Best Bareknuckle pickup sets?
They sell most of their pickups with a neck and a bridge model that are actually a different wind instead of just adding a couple thousand more turns to the bridge. I got the chance to play a Les Paul style guitar that had an Emetald neck and Mule bridge. It sounded phenomenal, but then again it was a $4k guitar with like five different exotic woods on it.
They sell most of their pickups with a neck and a bridge model that are actually a different wind instead of just adding a couple thousand more turns to the bridge. I got the chance to play a Les Paul style guitar that had an Emetald neck and Mule bridge. It sounded phenomenal, but then again it was a $4k guitar with like five different exotic woods on it.
Re: Best Bareknuckle pickup sets?
What are your musical tastes/playing style???
Or indeed do you want to buy a guitar for maybe a new type of playing you want to try out.
Otherwise you're going to get just about every set recommended if you leave it long enough.....which won't narrow things down that much.
What are your musical tastes/playing style???
Or indeed do you want to buy a guitar for maybe a new type of playing you want to try out.
Otherwise you're going to get just about every set recommended if you leave it long enough.....which won't narrow things down that much.
Re: Best Bareknuckle pickup sets?
I'm totally fine with that as I play just about everything. Well, except for Metalcore and stuff along those lines.
So I'll consider any set that any of you all really thought stood out as superior.
I'm totally fine with that as I play just about everything. Well, except for Metalcore and stuff along those lines.
So I'll consider any set that any of you all really thought stood out as superior.
metlking
Well-known member
Re: Best Bareknuckle pickup sets?
I bought a Mule bridge and had high hopes for it based on all the reviews I read about it. I was underwhelmed. It was rather weak. I discovered I pretty much HATE Alnico 4 magnets. Too "hi-fi" to my ears. I had a Miracle Man bridge at one time too but I sold that as well. Too hot and compressed/congested. I'm sure some of the others would have worked better for me. I like a hot PAF type with Alnico 2 magnets but I don't see anything quite like that. I could probably hang with the VHII or Black Dog set.
I bought a Mule bridge and had high hopes for it based on all the reviews I read about it. I was underwhelmed. It was rather weak. I discovered I pretty much HATE Alnico 4 magnets. Too "hi-fi" to my ears. I had a Miracle Man bridge at one time too but I sold that as well. Too hot and compressed/congested. I'm sure some of the others would have worked better for me. I like a hot PAF type with Alnico 2 magnets but I don't see anything quite like that. I could probably hang with the VHII or Black Dog set.
TVFV
Well-known member
Re: Best Bareknuckle pickup sets?
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Look into the Slash set.
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metlking
Well-known member
Re: Best Bareknuckle pickup sets?
I have a Les Paul with a Slash bridge. Its fantastic!
I have a Les Paul with a Slash bridge. Its fantastic!
Re: Best Bareknuckle pickup sets?
So I've better conceptualized the tone I am going for. I just got a sweet deal on an Epi Lucille that comes with the stock mudbuckers and was thinking about going for a blues/ hard rock tone. Picture ZZ Top or Led Zeppelin (please don't lecture me on Teles and soundboards) at the most and a pretty decent clean tone as well.
The SD pickups closest to what I want could be described as a 59 neck and a Whole Lotta Humbucker bridge. I might use a bit more mids than that, but clarity under distortion and a nonboomy neck are a must for this set. I am also a fan of A4 magnets, if that makes a difference.
I'll post tommorow some of my online findings for common sets if anyone wants to provide commentary on them.
So I've better conceptualized the tone I am going for. I just got a sweet deal on an Epi Lucille that comes with the stock mudbuckers and was thinking about going for a blues/ hard rock tone. Picture ZZ Top or Led Zeppelin (please don't lecture me on Teles and soundboards) at the most and a pretty decent clean tone as well.
The SD pickups closest to what I want could be described as a 59 neck and a Whole Lotta Humbucker bridge. I might use a bit more mids than that, but clarity under distortion and a nonboomy neck are a must for this set. I am also a fan of A4 magnets, if that makes a difference.
I'll post tommorow some of my online findings for common sets if anyone wants to provide commentary on them.
Thundermtn
New member
Re: Best Bareknuckle pickup sets?
Check out the riff raff's
Check out the riff raff's
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
Re: Best Bareknuckle pickup sets?
+1 on the Rebel Yell set. Aggressive enough to rock hard, still cleans up quite well. Cuts through a mix well without ever sounding thin or harsh. A really special neck pickup, one of the sweetest around.
+1 on the Rebel Yell set. Aggressive enough to rock hard, still cleans up quite well. Cuts through a mix well without ever sounding thin or harsh. A really special neck pickup, one of the sweetest around.
Re: Best Bareknuckle pickup sets?
I had both Blackguard '50 and '52 Tele sets which both were exceptional! I soon settled with 50 bridge and 52 neck, as I liked the hotter/angrier bridge and very stratty neck pickup. I still have the 52 neck in my Warmoth swamp ash/roasted maple tele that has been installed there for 3 years. That's quite a long time as I normally go thru different pickups every few months.
I've also played Aftermaths that were too hot for my taste and Juggernauts, which have sort of hi-fi sound to them. I much preferred the Jugs since they have less compression and much more natural tone.
I had both Blackguard '50 and '52 Tele sets which both were exceptional! I soon settled with 50 bridge and 52 neck, as I liked the hotter/angrier bridge and very stratty neck pickup. I still have the 52 neck in my Warmoth swamp ash/roasted maple tele that has been installed there for 3 years. That's quite a long time as I normally go thru different pickups every few months.
I've also played Aftermaths that were too hot for my taste and Juggernauts, which have sort of hi-fi sound to them. I much preferred the Jugs since they have less compression and much more natural tone.
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: Best Bareknuckle pickup sets?
If you want a bit more mids but clarity under gain and a non boomy neck (I find the 59' neck boomy), you're describing the Slash set to a T. Fabulous set of pickups. For something just a bit more vintage, the Seth Lover set would be brilliant. The Seth neck may be the sweetest one out there with incredible chime and a great clean tone. The bridge is crunchy without being too bright and handles the gain you're talking about so well. Brilliant set.
I know you asked about Bare Knuckles pickups, but I don't think they have anything that is just exactly what you want, while SD has several.
If you want a bit more mids but clarity under gain and a non boomy neck (I find the 59' neck boomy), you're describing the Slash set to a T. Fabulous set of pickups. For something just a bit more vintage, the Seth Lover set would be brilliant. The Seth neck may be the sweetest one out there with incredible chime and a great clean tone. The bridge is crunchy without being too bright and handles the gain you're talking about so well. Brilliant set.
I know you asked about Bare Knuckles pickups, but I don't think they have anything that is just exactly what you want, while SD has several.
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Re: Best Bareknuckle pickup sets?
I would go for Rebel Yell as well, or maybe Riff Raff in neck and Mule in bridge for more classic rock stuff.
I tried a Black Dog in my Les Paul, and I didn't like it. It had too little output and power. But it sounded fantastic in my SG 61RI for AC DC stuff. So it really depends on the guitar.
They are great pickups though. Very open and dynamic.
I would go for Rebel Yell as well, or maybe Riff Raff in neck and Mule in bridge for more classic rock stuff.
I tried a Black Dog in my Les Paul, and I didn't like it. It had too little output and power. But it sounded fantastic in my SG 61RI for AC DC stuff. So it really depends on the guitar.
They are great pickups though. Very open and dynamic.
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Re: Best Bareknuckle pickup sets?
I won a raffle for any free set from them, and I want to try a new brand anyway.
I won a raffle for any free set from them, and I want to try a new brand anyway.
Re: Best Bareknuckle pickup sets?
I've had the VHIIS, Abraxas, Mules and now Riff raffs , all in recent (2016 and 2017) Gibson Les Paul Traditionals. Overall, the most versatile set was the Abraxas, if Tim had never made anything but that wind he would still be in business. It's the ultimate hot paf type, the bridge behaves so nicely on clean tones, but has such a great crunch tone as well. The Mules as some previously mentioned are incredibly clear, too much so for my tastes, the lower wind A4 bridge pickups always have this "Steely" thing in the upper mids that I can't get past. The VHIIS might be a little modern for what you are thinking, I love them, but Thin Lizzy and ZZ Top are probably the lightest style I play with the Les Paul's. The riff raff set I have currently, and it's really versatile as well, very similar in tone to the Dimarzio 36th bridge, the Riff raff neck might be a little brighter. Really not too far off from 59's, just more midrange, and less bass. Duncan makes a lot of great pickups in this realm too, but if you are getting free BKPs my first choice would be the Abraxas or Riff raff.
I've had the VHIIS, Abraxas, Mules and now Riff raffs , all in recent (2016 and 2017) Gibson Les Paul Traditionals. Overall, the most versatile set was the Abraxas, if Tim had never made anything but that wind he would still be in business. It's the ultimate hot paf type, the bridge behaves so nicely on clean tones, but has such a great crunch tone as well. The Mules as some previously mentioned are incredibly clear, too much so for my tastes, the lower wind A4 bridge pickups always have this "Steely" thing in the upper mids that I can't get past. The VHIIS might be a little modern for what you are thinking, I love them, but Thin Lizzy and ZZ Top are probably the lightest style I play with the Les Paul's. The riff raff set I have currently, and it's really versatile as well, very similar in tone to the Dimarzio 36th bridge, the Riff raff neck might be a little brighter. Really not too far off from 59's, just more midrange, and less bass. Duncan makes a lot of great pickups in this realm too, but if you are getting free BKPs my first choice would be the Abraxas or Riff raff.
