Looking to get my first set of Bare Knuckles!

[benlemley]

Hey!

I'm seriously looking into getting my first set of BKP pickups.  I'm upgrading my MIM Strat that I love!  I was hoping to get some advice on what set everyone would suggest.   I play a lot of music in the genre of John Mayer.  I also play a lot of contemporary and gospel worship music; Jesus Culture, Israel Houghton, etc.   I just really want a good, versatile, dynamic SSS pickup set up for my strat.   All of the options at BKP look great, so I was hoping for ya'll to help out!  

thanks!  

Ben

p.s. I have listened to the sound clips, but I want actual people's opinion on the pickups!  


 A little more about what i'm looking for!   I have a Gibson Les Paul Classic that handles the humbucking stuff (although I might end up getting a BKP set for that if I love these)  I play through a few pedals, into a 4x10 Mesa Lonestar Special, and I also have a Peavey classic 30.    I just love the strat's sexiness.  If you know what I mean, it seems as though you can be more emotional with a strat than a les paul.  Just the way the it quacks and responds to dynamics! 

For me, I always tend to run my high's NOT so high, my bass pretty normal - a good medium, and I usually have mid on the higher side of things.  I like my guitar to sound thick, but not overwhelmingly so.  I like to switch it up though, I don't always have to have it that way.   I would say that a majority of the time my guitar tone is fairly smooth, nothing to crisp, I try to have it where it won't pierce anyone's ears! 

Describing what I want is really tough, I just want a really good all around SSS pickup set.  Think, Rascall Flatts, John Mayer, b.b king, SRV, and the list goes on.   I just want a high quality strat sound!  Basically, I want the sound quality of my strat to be equal (or exceed) that of my $2,000 Les Paul.  Of course, they are drastically different...that's what I want.  I just want it to sound great!

Thanks for the help, I know my explanations are not very clear.  hahah

[metale]

Maple or rosewood fingerboard?

If maple, '63 veneer set.

[Mr. Air]

I voted Mothers Milk for the woody John Mayer sound. I think the Mother Milk is a quite versatile pickup as well.

Hopefully someone with a little more experience will chime in soon.

[Kiichi]

I think the Mothers Milk would be nice for you. I get a very John Mayer vibe from the clips I heard. The Irish Tour might be great too, if you want it hotter. The IT is often desribed as a hotter Mothersmilk.
The slowhand it is if you want stronger / more mids then the MM or IT. Might be great too.

Canīt say much about the others, but frankly I think any one of these can do what you want (more or less)  from the info youīve given us, though the flavours still kinda vary.
It more about what you want from the sound. How do you like your lows / mids / treble? Hot or not so hot? Glassy or rather full? Whats your flavour?

Say something bout that and we can circle in what you need.
My gut tells me MM, but I could be wrong, as I donīt know the character you wish for.
Try to describe the tone in your head as good and detailed as you can, be it with strange analogies.

[benlemley]

Maple or rosewood fingerboard?

If maple, '63 veneer set.

yeah, it's a maple.   ok thanks, is there a reason for the '63?

[Nolly]

The Sultans are definitely the best choice for the John Mayer sound. That hollow 'cluck' is there in spades, while the top end is smooth and creamy. The Apache bridge is extremely versatile due to the AIII magnet - you can really rock out with it despite the output being low because of the naturally fat tone produced by the magnet.
With that in mind, I'd suggest pairing the Apache bridge with the middle and neck Sultans for a versatile set up.

If you want a brighter but still woody middle and neck position, the '63s or the Mother's Milks are just the ticket. Be sure to order the middle pickup as RWRP in order to get the modern sounding positions 2 & 4 that Mayer is known for.

[metale]

Maple or rosewood fingerboard?

If maple, '63 veneer set.

yeah, it's a maple.   ok thanks, is there a reason for the '63?

Although I've not played them yet, I've asked Tim for a John Mayer tone on a maple fretboard strat, and he recomended me those.

The specs seem to me like a Mother's Milk with a slightly sweeter top end, which should be better suited to a maple fretboard.

[Kiichi]

Ok, with the new info Iīd say Slowhand bridge, MM middle and apache neck, but I do not know that much about these single coils.
Donīt listen to me too much (I got a strange taste anyways), listen to guys like Nolly or Tim (through metale), they, in contrast to me, know what they say! ;)

[Telerocker]

Sultans for that scooped Mayer's tone. Mother's Milk for all the other styles you mention.

[gwEm]

i think mother's milk too. they have a woody smoothness to them, and are very versatile.