Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Pickups => Topic started by: jjcharvel on March 07, 2013, 05:56:38 PM
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Is there a Bareknuckle Pu that sounds close to the 70s Gibson T-Top model ?
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Riff Raff
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I am kind of lookiing for the same thing.I have a '78 gibson les paul custom with T-Tops that feedback horribly at high volume.From what I'm hearing from people on this site and you tube clips I'm thinking either emeralds or riff raffs or maybe even rebel yells if you wanna go a little more modern.
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For a while BKP were actually making a T-Top model which I believe was under consideration to enter the general product line, but as far as I know it's not available any more. I think gwEm and/or Phil King have them.
But yeah, I agree with HTH - Riff Raff is definitely the nearest equivalent.
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I had a T-Top in the bridge of an SG many years ago and it sounded awful - thin and screechy. Gave it to a friend who stuck it in a cheap Squier Strat and it sounded amazing. Just thought I'd mention that.
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For a while BKP were actually making a T-Top model which I believe was under consideration to enter the general product line, but as far as I know it's not available any more. I think gwEm and/or Phil King have them.
But yeah, I agree with HTH - Riff Raff is definitely the nearest equivalent.
What was the name of this pickups?
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yeah, Tim made a t-top replica for a while, but honestly, I don't see the point
the riff raff is a much superior pup than the gibson t-top or the original 70's dimarzio PAF, which was also a t-top replica
the riff raff is more full sounding and bright without getting fizzy
and it also handles any amount of gain beautifully, unlike any gibson pickup is able to do
the early 80's gibson tim shaw is a little warmer than the riff raff, but doesn't handle gain well, in my experience
I'd pick the mule for that warmer character, although it still keeps lots of clarity, but the stormy monday might be a little closer tone and outputwise (compared to the tim shaws, not the t-top)
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For a while BKP were actually making a T-Top model which I believe was under consideration to enter the general product line, but as far as I know it's not available any more. I think gwEm and/or Phil King have them.
But yeah, I agree with HTH - Riff Raff is definitely the nearest equivalent.
What was the name of this pickups?
T-Top! Nothing clever this time.
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Riff Raff is the answer here.
I'm not sure that tim's t-top was ever in actual contention to join the product line, I thought it was just something he did for a few people. I got a set after trying a guitar belonging to philking with them in. I like my set, it's rather mellow in terms of output which seems to bring out some lovely subtleties in terms of tone, I like it for jazz for example.
Now that the honeymoon period is over though, I would say the Riff Raff has all the qualities one normally associates with a 70s Gibson t-top guitar when used for hard rock, and would definitely be better in that application as it has just enough extra push and bite. As Eric points out, the Riff Raff can handle a load of gain too, though this is more than the crunch or gain I usually use myself which t-tops are fine with.
I also have a 79 V with a real set of t-tops and another V with an old dimarzio PAF. The BKP t-tops sound almost identical to the Gibson originals, I would say the BKP ones might have a but more richness to them, but its very hard to be sure. The Dimarzio PAF doesn't sound as good as either pickup I think, it's nasally in the mids and not as well made - brass baseplate etc.
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I am kind of lookiing for the same thing.I have a '78 gibson les paul custom with T-Tops that feedback horribly at high volume.
T-tops weren't wax potted from the factory. Doing this will fix the feedback.
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+1 to fixing feedback issues with a careful wax dipping
I offer this service ....as do BKP
We tend to also wax pot any secondhand pickups that we sell on ...just for giving the new owner assurance that it'll be as good as that pickup can be.
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THANX for all the answers, guys :D
I decided to take the Riff Raff
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Hope they do the biz!
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Aren't T-Top made with poly wire? Riff raff have PE wire... so should be different for real T-top...
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Aren't T-Top made with poly wire? Riff raff have PE wire... so should be different for real T-top...
yes they were
the riff raff is based on the early 60's PAF, not on the t-top
I don't think there's a 42 awg poly wire model on the bkp line (except the custom order t-top clone)
the neck HD, neck CS and the BD set are 42.5 poly
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Aren't T-Top made with poly wire? Riff raff have PE wire... so should be different for real T-top...
yes they were
the riff raff is based on the early 60's PAF, not on the t-top
I don't think there's a 42 awg poly wire model on the bkp line (except the custom order t-top clone)
the neck HD, neck CS and the BD set are 42.5 poly
Is it possible to order a t top clone now??? I don't think...
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Is it possible to order a t top clone now??? I don't think...
No, I don't think you can any more.
But it wouldn't do any harm to ask them, I guess.
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I just wonder why anyone would ask for that anyway
t-tops are OK, at best
gibson still makes them, but with alnico 2, and labeled as 490t and 490r, and those are the least favorite gibson pickups for most people
I have a pair of 70's dimarzio pafs, which are pretty much t-top clones
bright, thin and a bit scooped
not worth paying top dollar (pound, actually) for bkp to clone that, unless they're restoring a touring guitar to original specs or something
the riff raff is superior in every aspect
it's not like the t-top is in a different tone ballpark that isn't already covered by the bkp line, like the dimarzio super distortion, for example
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You would have to hear them to understand why. I've had 2 sets from Tim in the past and everyone who heard them has really liked them. They are not thin, they are a fat Alnico V PAF tone with less highs than the Riff Raff. They remind me of the set I had in an early 70's Les Paul Custom, and I think this is probably where Tim was aiming.