Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Sidewinder on January 14, 2008, 11:08:00 PM

Title: Apache vs Mother Milk - Please help
Post by: Sidewinder on January 14, 2008, 11:08:00 PM

Hi there,

I'm new to the forum and was hoping someone could help me with this.  I'm looking for new pickups for my US standard strat and can't make me mind up.

I play mostly clean or medium overdrive,  I see that the apaches have an awful lot of fans but think the MMs might be more my thing as they have a bit more bass and thwack when played clean (?).

Can anyone who's played both tell me which they prefer and why and how they compare to stock PUs?

Title: Apache vs Mother Milk - Please help
Post by: Philly Q on January 14, 2008, 11:13:03 PM

Hi, I don't have either set I'm afraid, but have you seen the thread below, which includes audio clips comparing the Apaches, MMs and Irish Tours?  It's very informative:

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1625&highlight=apache+milk

Title: Apache vs Mother Milk - Please help
Post by: Sidewinder on January 14, 2008, 11:45:24 PM

Hi, thanks for that.  Those are definitely useful clips.  To my ears the apaches sound better with some dirt but  lack a little something when fully clean at the neck (maybe a bit thin?) .  I think i prefer the MMs clean - I think they have a bit more low end and definition which i want from my clean rythm.

that said I've heard some really nice apache clips and they seem to be  the more popular all round strat choice.  I feel like I'd be missing out if I didn't try them.  Are mother's milks the apache's ugly sister?

Title: Apache vs Mother Milk - Please help
Post by: hunter on January 15, 2008, 06:02:22 AM

Hmmm, although this might not be an official rule, I was somehow thinking Apaches are for 54 strats (maple neck) and MMs for 62s (rosewood board), but this might be nonsense...

Title: Apache vs Mother Milk - Please help
Post by: Elliot on January 15, 2008, 10:12:06 AM

I don't think the difference is too great - I'm nothing more than a bedroom player, but I've put some quick - pre-work recorded - clips in the players area of each pickup doing clean.

Title: Apache vs Mother Milk - Please help
Post by: lulusg on January 15, 2008, 01:45:50 PM

Like Hunter said, Apaches were designed to work on a 54th strat, MM 62 strat, rosewood fretboard. But that is not a last word either, if you like to mix things a little, or to look for an otherwise interesting sound.

Title: Apache vs Mother Milk - Please help
Post by: 38thBeatle on January 15, 2008, 10:30:02 PM

I can't offera comparison between the two however I have a rosewood board Strat with Apaches and they sound just fine but I think the general rule stands of MM's being more 1960's where the Apaches are 1950's. Quite honestly I would gladly get another Strat to get some MM's in at some point.

Title: Apache vs Mother Milk - Please help
Post by: Peter Antal on January 15, 2008, 11:32:47 PM

Alnico III has a lot less string pull than Alnico V, which gives the Apaches more sustain and "air". You can also adjust them closer to the strings for more punch.

Title: Apache vs Mother Milk - Please help
Post by: badgermark on January 16, 2008, 01:07:39 PM

The MM set is very 'woody'. I wasn't too happy with the sound in my MIM strat with a maple neck. Just not the sound for me.

Title: Apache vs Mother Milk - Please help
Post by: Sidewinder on January 17, 2008, 10:24:24 PM

Hi guys,

Thanks for all your posts.  All very helpfull, particularly the clips.

 I guess what i really want is a good all round strat tone.  How did you find the BKs compared to stock tone?  Are apaches a good deal brighter or MMs noteably bassy / woodier than the stock pickups?