Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: HJM on April 28, 2005, 09:49:41 AM
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http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Pickups:_Parts/Humbucker_Pickup_Parts.html
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They're exactly the same parts as Allparts sell, same bobbins, baseplate , the lot. They're OK and better thab alot that's out there but nothing like the vintage correct parts we're now making.
The new baseplate we've tooled up for is the most accurate recreation of an original PAF baseplate in the world, right down to the tooling marks and grain of the nickel silver.They're better than the Gibson reissue 57s and BBs, and way better than the SD Antiquities.
We're having butyrate bobbins made now and have also sourced the original braided hook up too-right back to the original manufacturer who's now making it for us again.
The area we have improved on is the pole shoe and pole screws, again we've replicated the original dimensions but we're making them from soft iron which is far more magnetically conductive than mild steel.It's a pig to work with but the cumulative effect on the tone is amazing, even more clarity :!:
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Why does everyone want vintage pickups?
I'm looking for sounds that are going FORWARD rather than back...
Cool product though, should appeal to the vintage market.
Andy!
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Sounds that go forward? I understand what you mean. Todays guitarists are looking for vintage tone mainly, rather than harnessing the sheer power and greatness of all the modern day tech thats being created. a lot of people slate modelling amps but i think they are the way of the future, and i think there should be modelling pickups!
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Sounds that go forward? I understand what you mean. Todays guitarists are looking for vintage tone mainly, rather than harnessing the sheer power and greatness of all the modern day tech thats being created. a lot of people slate modelling amps but i think they are the way of the future, and i think there should be modelling pickups!
Yes but most modelling amps model vintage tones......
Until they speed up the reaction time of digital, I'll stick with valves!
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Modelling amps model vintage tones because thats what people want, my point is that we should harness the digital stuff so that new and more unique tones and amp models can be created, then we can all load them onto our Line 6 Vetta 2's.
But then again... who can afford a vetta 2?
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We make vintage correct components for the simple reason that they sound the best-as time has gone on manufacturers have looked at how they can speed up production and cut costs, this has nearly always been at the expense of the pickups tone. All I've done is to reinstate the vintage values that are relevant and improve areas that I felt could be improved upon.
We do make alot of other pickups that are voiced for contemporary applications-Nailbombs, Warpigs etc although I still use vintage correct components in these too.
As for vintage tone vs modern-well beauty is in the eye of the beholder.We all look for different things in tone, what's right for one is envariably not right for another, it's what makes us all individuals. I try to put an element of this into all our pickups and also make them to the best of my ability.
As a pickup maker I have to cater for all styles and try not to let personel taste dictate what I do-I mean I'm a rock/metal player by choice but I love and appreciate the tone of vintage voiced pickups.
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Im not dissing any of Bare Knuckles products, or any product of any company, because I do like vintage tone and vintage stuff - its cool to look back and still be able to re-create things of the past. Im just looking into the future thats all, players like matt bellamy are real visionarys into what modern technology has to offer and he has really inspired me to try and appreciate modern as well as vintage style tones and technologies
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Vintage is cool, but what I'm trying to say is that I don't understand the stigma of 'vintage' gear. Yeah a JCM800 sounds cool and could be considered 'vintage' but I'd be more interested in getting a modern tone from the amp.
Andy!
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Vintage is cool, but what I'm trying to say is that I don't understand the stigma of 'vintage' gear. Yeah a JCM800 sounds cool and could be considered 'vintage' but I'd be more interested in getting a modern tone from the amp.
Andy!
You'd be amazed at the design of most modern amps, Soldano, a lot of Boogies, Marshall and all the 'improved' Marshalls, all have their roots in the Fender Bassman circuit. Sure there's mods, but valve circuits are all very similar, mor so today than 40 years ago!
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I would want to make my own pickups as much as make my own guitars.
It's interesting stuff, but I don't have the time or natural talent for it.
I would much rather work hand in hand with someone such as Laz Gajic or Tim who can bring my ideas to life without the trial and error!
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Im not dissing any of Bare Knuckles products, or any product of any company, because I do like vintage tone and vintage stuff - its cool to look back and still be able to re-create things of the past. Im just looking into the future thats all, players like matt bellamy are real visionarys into what modern technology has to offer and he has really inspired me to try and appreciate modern as well as vintage style tones and technologies
Just made Matt some pickups for his new guitar :!:
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Im not dissing any of Bare Knuckles products, or any product of any company, because I do like vintage tone and vintage stuff - its cool to look back and still be able to re-create things of the past. Im just looking into the future thats all, players like matt bellamy are real visionarys into what modern technology has to offer and he has really inspired me to try and appreciate modern as well as vintage style tones and technologies
Just made Matt some pickups for his new guitar :!:
What did he go for?
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Tim, I am in deep jealousy of you! Matt Bellamy is great, a true legend of modern day music and if he has your seal of approval then i think thats great news for you guys! The more people using Bare Knuckles the better I say! It would be interesting to hear what pickups you built for him though! I dont suppose your allowed to say?
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Tim, I am in deep jealousy of you! Matt Bellamy is great, a true legend of modern day music and if he has your seal of approval then i think thats great news for you guys! The more people using Bare Knuckles the better I say! It would be interesting to hear what pickups you built for him though! I dont suppose your allowed to say?
Set of Mules maybe??? :lol:
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Could be? Perhaps if we keep an eye on the Muse website they might put it up n the gear section or something. If tim has just made Matt some pickups that means he's had a new manson built! ace!
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Matt doesn't officially endorse BKP at all but we've made a special chrome and allen bolt Nailbomb with matching P90 neck. These are going in one of Hugh Manson's custom guitars in time for recirdibg their next album.
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Awesome, should sound really good live, his tone is ace anyway...
How hard was it to chrome the pickups, surely there were some gorunding problems or something?
Andy!
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Chrome covers!
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Ah yes, how silly of me, sorry just got in from work and I'm mega hyper and I need a chat about all things tonewise, with anyone!
Andy!
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Thanks for the info tim! i wasnt sure if you'd be able to spill the beans so to speak but thanks! Matt's tone is ace.. it'l sound better now then!
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I'm sure that Tim wouldn't want photos of his gear posted for everyone to copy, but I know that the winders they use at Bareknuckle are custom made and machined to very high tolerences, so they can handwind as neatly as a machine winder (if not neater), or scatter wind as desired. These machines must be incredibly expensive, and only really for the professional who needs that utmost reliability and consistency. The Schatten winder pictureed is, I'm sure absolultely fine for the occasional winder, or hobbyist. I see a huge difference between a company who invests in researching, and recreating the correct materials, and specs for vintage as well as contemporary pickups, and someone who buys parts and tools that are readily available, reads a book about making pickups and has a go. I'm sure it's great fun though.
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Straight from the Organ Grinder!
:)
I wouldn't use poly covered wire that Stewmac supply, unless you want strange midrange!
There was a guy in Guitar magazine a while ago, he'd made a winder from something strange....can anyone remember, I think it was Shed Pickups...
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I wouldn't like to use that machine, it looks like the bobbin isn't held very securely. Winding pickups is expensive. A humbucker for example has about 30 components in each one. Plain enamel wire is also very expensive which is why most companies use polyester coated wire.
Winding pickups is very labour intensive and requires alot of concentration which after a busy week can be quite mentally exhausting.
But it is fun and very rewarding to know that hundereds of people around the world are making music with something that you have made.