What P/U for newbie?

[Dakine]

Hi All,
UK Citizen here living in Texas USA.
New to guitar (old bass player) seeking some advice/info.
Long story short (I will try anyway).
I am 36yo, started playing bass in early teens. Started to travel, work abroad so sold all gear.
Now in a place/time in life I can finally learn guitar.
Been into rock/metal ALL my life and finally got my dream guitar Les Paul Standard. All black, chrome hardware!
Anyway, have a Marshall practice amp, been self teaching and about to take lessons from renowned teacher (fiance's Xmas gift).
Anyway,from reading this site I am already addicted to Bare Knuckle p/u's and the service!!!!!!!!!!
 I want some!!! LOL.
So, this is my taste in music, Thin Lizzy, AC/DC, BLS, Slash, Bad Company, Leppard (Steve era), Priest, Drowning Pool, Thunder etc.
Now, I am SURE not one p/u will suit all this but mainly I love the older stuff, inc. Slash though.
My fave song is Cold Sweat so am thinking about this p/u, is it varied enough to cover some of the other stuff though?
Also, am a guitar newbie, so would you recommend a "matche pair" of whichever?
The LP is all black with chrome hardware, any cover advice?
Lastly, living in the US, what is the best/most econimical way to purchase?
Sorry for long post but tried to keep it short as poss.
All The Best and Happy Holidays,
Nick

[Pierre]

I would go for the Cold Sweat in the neck, and possibly something a little higher output for the bridge. Maybe wait a bit for the Painkiller, or try a VHII or Holydiver?

[Dakine]

Thanks Pierre,
as am new to "six strings" (rather than 4 fat ones lol) is a matched pair not a good/preferable thing?

[_tom_]

I play the same kinda stuff as you, and have a set of Mules in my Epi LP custom. They sound great for this kinda stuff, but you have to have a good amp and play hard to get the best tone out of them! I loved the set of VHIIs I tried in a PRS, they seem like a Mule but more crunchy and less bass I guess. The Players forum has a variety of clips!

As for covers, I love the look of my black covers, with Gold polepieces, on my black and gold LP.. maybe you'd like the same look but with silver polepieces?

[Dakine]

Hi _tom_,
thanks for the quick response.
Was just listening to your Paradise City clip as your message got posted, do do doo do, you are now entering a realm of...... lol
VERY cool clip btw!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah Mules seem an all around workhorse. Just wondering about the Cold Sweats, loving Lizzy and all (esp. that track and Thunder and Lightning) although wanna be Versatile!
As for the covers, VERY interesting idea.
I toyed with the idea of changing the hardware to gold but that would cost alot of money and (if moving back to UK in summer) money is/will be tight. Love the black/gold look, but oh well. Did'nt think or even see pics of your p/u's like that, got any? ;) purdy please. The possibilities may be a reverse too then, chrome covers and black pole pieces? hmmmm. Was kinda liking the burnt cover look too, but abit untraditional for my music and a Les Paul I think.
Anyway,lots more too think over. Why so many damn good p/u choices, AGGGHHH!
Nick

[_tom_]

Well if you look in my avatar you can see my LP with the black covers! I think they look nicer than open poled - more smooth and classy! Theres probably a full sized pic I posted ages ago somewhere but I'm too lazy to go find it  :lol:

[tewboss]

Was kinda liking the burnt cover look too, but abit untraditional for my music and a Les Paul I think.

I ordered the camo covers for my new guitar (loosely a Les Paul). I've got open pole-pieces on my other instruments, which at one time were unconventional as well.

[Ratrod]

I think it's either the Mule or the Cold Sweat. The Mule is the versitile one, great for all the old stuff. The Cold Sweat is great for the heavier stuff, it's BKP's take on the ole Gibbo Dirty Fingers.

[Dakine]

Hi Ratrod, been listening to your clips too, Bravo my man ;) Very good.
Yeah, less the p/u gods know any different I think you are dead on, Mule or Cold Sweat. Maybe leave it up to so more votes/input lol.
Also, seeing as _tom_ got me thinking. I am now thinking/hoping maybe a chrome set with black pole pieces :) :) :), possible P/U God? :)
Nick

[Steve-Mr Pig 2U]

Hi Dakine,
     I'd go straight for a cold sweat set. The Bridge pickup has a massive amount of bottom end but still retains clarity very well. They sound great in les pauls too as that is what they were voiced using!

Welcome to the forum

[Dakine]

Hi Steve,
yeah first thought is normally the best thought huh :)
Cold Sweat seems the ideal for my wants.

Nobody got ANY idea on best way/most efficient/economical way to order them from over here in US yet???????????

Also, chrome cover with black poles possible?

Oh yeah and is a calibrated set best????? Anyone explain the calibration idea to an old "bass head" ;) LOL

Cheers,
Nick

[Steve-Mr Pig 2U]

We have two US main dealers, you can give them a call or order them direct from us. Black allen bolts are possible, but we cant get the regular screws in black.
Im a bass player too, so here it goes! A calibrated set Basically means that the neck is voiced to work with the bridge unit, giving them blanaced power and tone. We calibrate our neck pickups so they will remain clear in the neck position and wont mud out on you!
Hope this helps

[carlaz]

UK Citizen here living in Texas USA. New to guitar (old bass player) seeking some advice/info. I am 36yo, started playing bass in early teens. Started to travel, work abroad so sold all gear. Now in a place/time in life I can finally learn guitar. Been into rock/metal ALL my life and finally got my dream guitar Les Paul Standard. All black, chrome hardware! Anyway, have a Marshall practice amp, been self teaching and about to take lessons from renowned teacher (fiance's Xmas gift).
Anyway,from reading this site I am already addicted to Bare Knuckle p/u's and the service!!!!!!!!!! I want some!!! LOL.

I'm like the inverse of that :): US-born living in UK, played guitar in some bands when I was younger (I'm 34! I think ....) but playing bass in the last few years. Now I'm trying to get back into playing guitar, if just for myself, and am dustin' off my ol' Les Paul Std (all black, etc.).  I'm dying to replace the pickups, and am just in the final processes (hopefully!) of agonizing over what BKPs to get!

So, this is my taste in music, Thin Lizzy, AC/DC, BLS, Slash, Bad Company, Leppard (Steve era), Priest, Drowning Pool, Thunder etc. Now, I am SURE not one p/u will suit all this but mainly I love the older stuff, inc. Slash though. My fave song is Cold Sweat so am thinking about this p/u, is it varied enough to cover some of the other stuff though?

One thing I will note about the Cold Sweat is that it uses a cermanic magnet.  My understanding (though I'm definitely no expert) is that this will keep things very tight and well defined, but it may not clean up so well as a pickup with an Alnico magnet.  That may not be an issue for you though.

(I felt like Mules weren't quite packing the heat for the heavier side of the bands/sounds described -- though they would totally represent on the blues-rock/hard-rock side of things -- but nobody wanted to recommend one of the "no longer quite vintage" Alnico pups, like the Black Dog or Emerald, or even the "reasonably hot but not yet blast-furnace-like" Crawler? What makes the CS a solid bet here?  I'm just trying to understand this stuff myself ....)

Lastly, living in the US, what is the best/most econimical way to purchase?

Anyone coming over to visit you from the UK?  Have the pups sent to them and carried over with 'em.
Do BKP's really work out a lot more expensive in the US? Barring postage, I was figuring on the the price in dollars not working out a lot higher than the price in pounds, with the main disadvantage being the relative weakness of the dollar against the pound, which makes everything in the UK pricey (even pricier than it already is!) if you're paid in USD.

[Ratrod]

Hi Ratrod, been listening to your clips too, Bravo my man ;) Very good.
Yeah, less the p/u gods know any different I think you are dead on, Mule or Cold Sweat. Maybe leave it up to so more votes/input lol.
Also, seeing as _tom_ got me thinking. I am now thinking/hoping maybe a chrome set with black pole pieces :) :) :), possible P/U God? :)
Nick

Thanks for the compliments. :)

I'll be posting some more clips when my new HBE Power Screamer arrives.

[Dakine]

Thanks all.
Well, still looking like COld Sweats I reckon.
Confused about 1 thing Steve. I see you do ALL black humbuckers and you have chrome humbuckers so why can you not do a chrome cover with black poles? (forgive me if this is silly ? as am NOT a p/u guru like y'all), anyway, not a biggy just thought would look v.cool.
Yeah got a price from your one US dist. (other has no email and I did'nt want to call them at this point). The US price was exactly as I would have calculated the UK price to be. So apart from shipping time (he did not have what I wanted in stock anyway) I figure I would do as well dealing direct. That is unless you think US Customs would charge me etc.?
Anyway,thanks for advice.

Nick