Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: Peter Krasov on April 29, 2008, 07:01:31 PM
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Hi there!
I'm new to this forum, and new to Bare Knuckle pickups too. Though I've heard about them earlier, but just recentlly I have decided to try them. Hope I won't be disappointed.
All of my way I've been using both Seymour Duncan and DiMarzio pickups. I like them, but I want something real good, not just good.
So the question is: I got used to some SD's and Dimarzio PUPs and I want to find similar pickups in the Bare Knuckle catalog.
First I'll try to suppose, please correct me, whether I'm wrong.
1) Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound For Tele B&N, Seymour Duncan Hot For Tele B&N, Seymour Duncan Hot Rails For Tele = BK Piledriver?
2) Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro Bridge = BK Stormy Monday Bridge?
3) Dimarzio Red Velvet = BK Irish Tour or BK Slow Hand?
4) DiMarzio Twang King Neck = BK Country Boy Neck?
Thanks
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This annoys me. Why don't you just use the Duncans or Dimarzios? Pickups are such a small part of the overall sound, maybe a tweak of the amp setting is what you need. I only use BKPs because they offer something tone-wise the others don't. Buy what you like the sound of, not cos of the handbuilt name.
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This annoys me. Why don't you just use the Duncans or Dimarzios? Pickups are such a small part of the overall sound, maybe a tweak of the amp setting is what you need. I only use BKPs because they offer something tone-wise the others don't. Buy what you like the sound of, not cos of the handbuilt name.
+1 it is rather annoying matching BKPs with Dimarzios, etc. why not just buy Dimarzios if you're looking for a comparison to them?
Not to lose sales for Tim, but I think it would be a "better feeling" if someone bought thinking:
JESUS POGO JUMPING CHRIST - THESE PICKUPS ARE THE DOGS BOLLOCKS!
Rather than:
Hey, they sound like EMGs. Might buy me a set. Which ones sound like 81s?
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Not to lose sales for Tim, but I think it would be a "better feeling" if someone bought thinking:
JESUS POGO JUMPING CHRIST - THESE PICKUPS ARE THE DOGS BOLLOCKS!
Rather than:
Hey, they sound like EMGs. Might buy me a set. Which ones sound like 81s?
+1
That's the attitude i had when i got my MM's.
Was tired of sterile EMG and needed something that did the scooped tone well, and the MM's sounclips just made me go "f**k me, this sounds rad"
I don't mean to dissuade the OP from buying some bareknuckles, but if you want a Dimarzio tone, get Dimarzio's.
If you want something better, listen to the soundclips in the players forum, and/or ask Tim for some advice.
You won't be dissapointed.
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I see what you guys are saying but I disagree. If all you've played is SD/Dimarzio then that's all you have to reference other pickups to. He wants to try out BK and is just trying to figure out which BK is which. He can find the right BK for him based on what he knows from his experience with SD/Dimarzio. If others have the same experience and also have BK experience they can help him out. He wants an improvement, which most here would agree that BK is. It's daunting to come to this site and try to decide on which pickup to try since it's all very new so you talk about what you know and go from there.
I can see how it is "disrespectful" to ask about other manufacturers on the BK site, but he's simply asking which BK does which particular tones(ballpark).
Peter, you may do better by describing in depth the tone you're looking for and the style you play for each pickup for recommendations. You aren't going to burn in hell for speaking of "those-other-pickup-companies-who-must-not-be-named."
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I think its worth recomending what your style, guitars, and amp is.
What problems are you finding with certain models of other brands? That will help the people that have most types of BKP head you in the right direction.
Is the Hot rails a SC sized humbucker? If so, I don't know if its possible to compare any BKP to it, due to Tim only producing true single coils.
Anyway... the Stormy Monday is refferred to as the Slash sound, and he uses the A2, atleast I can answer part of it, but not through personal experience
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Not to lose sales for Tim, but I think it would be a "better feeling" if someone bought thinking:
JESUS POGO JUMPING CHRIST - THESE PICKUPS ARE THE DOGS BOLLOCKS!
Rather than:
Hey, they sound like EMGs. Might buy me a set. Which ones sound like 81s?
Totally agree with that statement. I bought my BKPs because they give 'that' sound - can't put it any better than that - it's just right.
However, go easy guys, we were all new here once. :wink:
To the original poster - it's worth bearing in mind that BKPs aren't necessarily modeled after existing pickups. They're aimed at helping to nail a particular kind of sound or sounds. That's not to say they're one-trick ponies - they're not, but they aren't imitating other manufacturers' stuff either.
In terms of asking for advice: instead of comparisons to other makers' pickups, it might be better to talk in terms of the tone you want to achieve, as I've certainly found that tends to elicit some very helpful responses.
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When someone wants a BKP which sounds like another. I think they've already made their decision rather than need to ask what pickups to get.
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I can't answer the question but the traditional warm BKP welcome should at least be extended and therefore I would say welcome.
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I can't answer the question but the traditional warm BKP welcome should at least be extended and therefore I would say welcome.
Alas. I must admit. I was a bit rude.
Apologies Peter. Welcome to the forum.
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I think that the first few replies here were very disrespectful of what is a basic inquiry. There are many people who want to know which BK to get and without going through the players pages and reams of other questions, they can only ask in reference to sounds that they know. I see nothing wrong with the questions, and other than the fact that I have very little experience of DiMarzio pickups (and then only in the 70's), would be happy to answer.
There is no real BK version of a 'rails' pickup as Tim doesn't like the sound of single coil humbuckers (I am with him all the way on this too). I have put a JB jnr in a tele for someone, and so do know the sound of that, but the rails are a bit more driving I believe. A Piledriver is a great 'Broadcaster' sound, but is still a single coil pickup. If you could explain the sound you want (with some artists or tracks), then it will help to get closer.
For the Alnico II, you are spot on, a Stormy Monday with A2 magnets will get you there (and a lot further too).
Once again, if you can come up with some tracks, then we can give you more idea of what will work.
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I'm not sure if you're referring to my post or not Phil, but if you are, I offer my apologies to Peter and all concerned. No disrespect was intended. I always found this forum to be very welcoming when I was new here, and I'm sorry if I haven't extended the same courtesy to someone else.
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In the space of an hour this thread has gone:
Meet.
Argue.
Attack.
Make up.
Hug.
How the hell did that happen?
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In the space of an hour this thread has gone:
Meet.
Argue.
Attack.
Make up.
Hug.
How the hell did that happen?
Well, it should never have gone through stages 2 and 3, then stages 4 and 5 would've been unnecessary.
Except for those who are into gratuitous hugging. :|
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In the space of an hour this thread has gone:
Meet.
Argue.
Attack.
Make up.
Hug.
How the hell did that happen?
Well, it should never have gone through stages 2 and 3, then stages 4 and 5 would've been unnecessary.
Except for those who are into gratuitous hugging. :|
*Hug*
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In the space of an hour this thread has gone:
Meet.
Argue.
Attack.
Make up.
Hug.
How the hell did that happen?
Well, it should never have gone through stages 2 and 3, then stages 4 and 5 would've been unnecessary.
Except for those who are into gratuitous hugging. :|
What the man in the top hat said! This place can be fun to hang out in but jeez it's pseudo elitist too ;P
Hai mr new guy (Im new too!), I think your comparisons are pretty close!
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[What the man in the top hat said! This place can be fun to hang out in but jeez it's pseudo elitist too ;P
This is probably one of the least elitist board I have ever been to. There's a couple of incidents when arrogant comments have annoyed me, but it's generally kept in a very respectful manner. I hope it continues this way, you can't ask for perfection.
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[What the man in the top hat said! This place can be fun to hang out in but jeez it's pseudo elitist too ;P
This is probably one of the least elitist board I have ever been to. There's a couple of incidents when arrogant comments have annoyed me, but it's generally kept in a very respectful manner. I hope it continues this way, you can't ask for perfection.
Yeah, I agree - we have the odd misunderstanding and/or minor spat but there's a general air of mutual respect (or at least tolerance! :wink: ). Maybe there's a tendency to be "protective" of BKPs and over-critical of other brands, but it is the BKP forum. Then again, I don't think BKPs need protecting, they can speak for themselves...
Going back to the original question, Duncan make a number of high-output Tele pickups but BKPs are mostly more vintagey, I doubt there's any very close equivalent of the Hot or Quarter Pound pickups. I suppose the Piledriver must be the nearest.
For the Red Velvet, I'd guess the Irish Tour is probably closer, I believe the Slowhands have a warmer, more round tone. So maybe an IT bridge with a nickel baseplate?
But I think the best way to learn more about the BKP range is to buy a few! Once you have those reference points, people's comments about the other models start to make a lot more sense.
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Yea my bad, I was trying to be playfull with it. It is very cool here 8)
:shock:
BKP seem to be the replacement now in most of the forums that I read.
Although there is an area that BKP have fallen short imo, they used to send you stickers to put on the fridge and guitar cases and your pets :wink:
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Although there is an area that BKP have fallen short imo, they used to send you stickers to put on the fridge and guitar cases and your pets :wink:
They don't anymore?!?!! That's it, I'm going DiMarzio.
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I see what you guys are saying but I disagree. If all you've played is SD/Dimarzio then that's all you have to reference other pickups to. He wants to try out BK and is just trying to figure out which BK is which. He can find the right BK for him based on what he knows from his experience with SD/Dimarzio. If others have the same experience and also have BK experience they can help him out.
Thank you for the welcome anyway!
First I would like to apologise for my not very fluent English, because it is not my mother language.
Second, I'm not looking for improved versions of Duncans and Dimarzios. Othervise I would contact their custom shop departments.
Third, I've listened to all the samples in the "Players" section. But the sound havily depends on the guitar, amplifier and the recording method. And it doesn't mean, that I will get the same sound. I'm just dwelling on the things I know.
So let me try to describe the tone I desire.
1) The first guitar is Fender American Deluxe Ash Tele.
In the bridge position i need a mixture of broadcaster sound, P90 and humbucker sound. In a simple way, classic tele sound, but more beefy and heavier. I need no real humbuckers, no real P90s. I think, an overwound tele single coil would suit me. Is it a Piledriver?
In the neck position I want glassy and clean sound but with slightly increased low-mids. Boss neck or Piledriver neck?
2) The second guitar is Fender Stratocaster 12 string
In the bridge position I need a really mild, sweet sounding humbucker. Clean highs, tight lows. No dirt. Stormy Monday?
In the middle I need a single coil to sound like Stevie Ray Vaughan, but more mild.
In the neck of my strat XII I use a tele neck pickup. Traditional country sound is required. Glassy and jangly.
Thanks.
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Hi and welcome to the forum.
I'm not going to try to reply to you as I just don't know, it seems to me that the best approach if you are not sure is to email Tim with as much information as you can, ideal tone, guitar, amp, styles you wish to play, particular songs etc, and then do what he says.
No disrespect to anyone here, but as ever with opinions, you always get lots, and then it's easy to get confused, especially if this is your first set.
I hope you enjoy your first set of BK's!
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The first couple comments were a bit blown out of proportion. The guy is just trying to find a reference point and anyway, he is trying to GIVE Tim business. I understand the problem of liking the basic sound of one of those mass produced pickups but wanting a little bit more here or there. If he needs help with a comparison, than this forum should be here to help him out. That's why it's here right? Anyway, I don't really think that Tim would appreciate it if someone came here for advice on BKP pickups and we all turned him away. Come on!!
And who said that pickups have very little effect on your sound??? :roll:
I strongly disagree. Sorry, that's just wrong in my opinion.
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Although there is an area that BKP have fallen short imo, they used to send you stickers to put on the fridge and guitar cases and your pets :wink:
I still get stickers, I've had 2 new stickers in the last month :D
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1) The first guitar is Fender American Deluxe Ash Tele.
In the bridge position i need a mixture of broadcaster sound, P90 and humbucker sound. In a simple way, classic tele sound, but more beefy and heavier. I need no real humbuckers, no real P90s. I think, an overwound tele single coil would suit me. Is it a Piledriver?
In the neck position I want glassy and clean sound but with slightly increased low-mids. Boss neck or Piledriver neck?
2) The second guitar is Fender Stratocaster 12 string
In the bridge position I need a really mild, sweet sounding humbucker. Clean highs, tight lows. No dirt. Stormy Monday?
In the middle I need a single coil to sound like Stevie Ray Vaughan, but more mild.
In the neck of my strat XII I use a tele neck pickup. Traditional country sound is required. Glassy and jangly.
For the first guitar, I would look at the flatpole Blackguard Tele set. The neck has a little more of the Strat sound and the bridge is Broadcaster. Tim does have a new version of the bridge coming out which is early broadcaster, but I am not sure if it is available yet. You could use the Piledriver here, but I think the blackguards might do it for you.
The second is interesting, I would go with the Stormy Monday/Slowhand/Country Boy. I would ask Tim about the Alnico 4 version of the Stromy Monday, as I think this will suit the 12 string and also work well with the Slowhand.
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Although there is an area that BKP have fallen short imo, they used to send you stickers to put on the fridge and guitar cases and your pets :wink:
I still get stickers, I've had 2 new stickers in the last month :D
!!! Maybe I have to break the 50 post count to qualify :lol:
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For the first guitar, I would look at the flatpole Blackguard Tele set. The neck has a little more of the Strat sound and the bridge is Broadcaster. Tim does have a new version of the bridge coming out which is early broadcaster, but I am not sure if it is available yet. You could use the Piledriver here, but I think the blackguards might do it for you.
The second is interesting, I would go with the Stormy Monday/Slowhand/Country Boy. I would ask Tim about the Alnico 4 version of the Stromy Monday, as I think this will suit the 12 string and also work well with the Slowhand.
oh thanks. that's just the thing I wanted to know!
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!!! Maybe I have to break the 50 post count to qualify :lol:
Tim might be giving them away at the LGS :)
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Well the main reason i think people being annoyed by his questions is stupid is because referencing a certain pickup and by extension the general tone it provides is exactly the same as saying im looking for a power metal sound or even saying im look for that SRV tone which is pretty much the way everyone asks about pickups on this site. Also should point out that all Bk's were designed to emulate certain pups and sounds as is illustrated by their names.
Oh and btw not sure who said it but saying the the pickup makes up a small part of the tone is one of the dumbest things I've heard. Sick of people saying this or that means so little. If that were the case people wouldn't be so anal about it. So if thats the case for you, might just mean your ear isn't as good as the TS.
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Oh and btw not sure who said it but saying the the pickup makes up a small part of the tone is one of the dumbest things I've heard. Sick of people saying this or that means so little. If that were the case people wouldn't be so anal about it. So if thats the case for you, might just mean your ear isn't as good as the TS.
This has come up a few times on the boards, and I think here the intent has been mis-read, I don't think anyone buying BK's (and spending up to £200) believes that they are not important, I think the inention is to say that pups are not the major factor in determining a tone. The 2 major contributors are guitar type (LP, SG, Tele etc) and amp, after that I'd say comes the pups, the wood/build quality of the guitar and the speakers in the cab, the guitar quality and pups will swap priority depending on the combination. Warpigs will dominate anything, Mules will be more influenced by the wood etc.
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The 2 major contributors are guitar type (LP, SG, Tele etc) and amp, after that I'd say comes the pups, the wood/build quality of the guitar and the speakers in the cab, the guitar quality and pups will swap priority depending on the combination. Warpigs will dominate anything, Mules will be more influenced by the wood etc.
:lol: this thread sucks, and is a bit off topic, but anyway: I disagree with you on what makes your sound, the fingers play a huuuuge part I think, and I sound similar on most things with a different flavours.
I agree with the rest of that though, just thought that was a big thing you missed
ie, manhatten pickups won't make you sound like a jazz player
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:lol: this thread sucks, and is a bit off topic, but anyway: I disagree with you on what makes your sound, the fingers play a huuuuge part I think, and I sound similar on most things with a different flavours.
I agree with the rest of that though, just thought that was a big thing you missed
ie, manhatten pickups won't make you sound like a jazz player
Yeah, I will agree with you there, I missed out a load of factors, fingers, tubes, pedals, cables, cab, strings, you can go on. But you are also right that this thread has gone way off topic so I'll shut up now :)