What is the deal with BKP? Also a shout out to Luthiers

[Cam_H]

I just thought I'd introduce myself: I'm Cam. I joined the forum not too long ago, but just got round to posting.

My main question is "What is the deal with BKPs?" I've read form many sources that their clarity is second to none. But is their anything else? I'm a long time DiMarzio user and always found to prefer them from any other pickup I have used. Whilst they may not be the tightest of pickups, I find that they possess a certain quality within their DNA that just clicks with me. I love them as a lead pickup, too. They just have that sound I like. It's hard to explain.

The main reason for checking out about BKPs is that I'm currently looking at Luthiers to build me a custom guitar and want to research as much as I can in case I miss out on something. A custom guitar isn't cheap so it's always best to have dome your homework.

I preferably looking for advice from someone who is a DiMarzio fan, like myself, but who also likes BKPs. Would be cool to hear what each pickup manufacturer has in a comparable way, as to someone who is totally biased and only like one brand. I just know on some forums you get die hard "brand" fans that will protect them and argue till the end of days that they are clearly the "best" no matter what. I'd like a little open-mindedness for a change.

Regards, Cam

[Keven]

Hi, i was a die-hard DiMarzio user before i got my first BKP's, a black dog and mule set for my 7 string. i've had D-sonic, tone-zone, paf 36th anniv and installed as a tech a bunch of EVO's and crunchlabs and d-activators.

i still have 3 axes with dimarzio's honestly i just find them a bit lacking compared to what my BK axes give me. i've been recording these days and for pretty much the same tone, my paf 36th sounds very muddy and lifeless when i set it side by side with my holy-diver or nailbomb. i can't quite describe what i found but there's a clarity and just rightful tone out of BK that i can't find anywhere else. you can actually play the pickups.

hope i was of some help, i'd still go for dimarzio if i needed a blade single coil as i've had great experience with an air norton S in my strat.

[Cam_H]

Well I was originally thinking of getting the DiMarzio Transitions (Steve Lukather's new pickups), but is there anything in the same ballpark within the BKP range?

Is there any decent luthiers hanging around this forum as well? I've already seen a few posts on other forums and seem to find that they are more down to earth, especially as they get involved to develop a fan-base. I'd just prefer to go with someone that I can have a laugh with and work on something cool. Some luthiers I've messaged via their website are just plain boring. All they want to know is what you want wood/hardware wise, without even discussing tonalities of woods and how species can be the same but differ in tone, etc. I'm kind of an involved guy when it comes to my guitars. I have a good idea about tonewoods, but would rather someone who has the ability to pick out a good piece. A couple months ago I was discussing guitar woods and wanted a really high-grade quilted maple top, but they said they are hard to get so I couldn't be guaranteed to get the result I wanted. This rang alarm bells for me as i see so many guitars out there with fantastic figured maple tops.

Anyways off topic there :). Main point "Looking for a Luthier, still"

Regards, Cam

[Keven]

if you're in the UK there's a lot of guys hanging out on the forums, feline guitars, legra guitars, wezv. also you can check out daemoness and Vik guitars are they put out stunning stuff. lots of choice to be had in the UK

[richard]

Find someone in your area who has a BK equipped guitar and try it. It's the only way you'll know for sure.

[Cam_H]

I've just give Feline Guitars a PM as I've seen an Ibanez Sabre copy that he did on his website. Funnily enough the Ibanez Sabre is the guitar that I was looking on my custom to be modeled on.

And I'll have to have a good search around in that case and see anyone who has. I'm in the Lancaster area if anyone lives there?

[Keven]

just drop by feline guitar's shop if you want to try both bkp and his work, iirc he says he's got alot of pickups in stock as well as a few guitars with bkp's off the hook. worth a look, that will definitely give you an idea of what we're all raving about :)

[Kiichi]

I too like at least one Dimarzio combo, a Liquifire Crunchlab I got in my Dean 7 string. I just love what it does there and itīs not gonna leave that guitar as it just fits. Now it is a compressed and rather proccesed sounding tone, but in this very instance that is a good thing I feel. I can do certain riffing and lead play that I have not found in another place.
But: I do still feel it lacking. When compared to my BKPs, they are more open, organic, clear and just so alive. I really like the basic character of the CL LF, but while a lot of days I really like to use them, most days I also wish they were more. When I think of my BKPs they feel like they have blankets on them.

Dimarzios absolutly have their place too, just like sometimes for some people an EMG is unreplacable, but I feel that most people who have tried a BKP will be utterly impressed and when they find the right one it opens up a new world almost, as it makes everything get colored in and come alive. Yeah, that last one is probably a bit much, but you get the idea.


Luthier whise, yeah Feline is a great chap, I have aquired one of his old works from over ten years ago which is just such a lovely singing thing...to think he has undoubtly gotten better since....

[darkbluemurder]

I think the Area series are very good noiseless pickups and affordable, too.

I also thought that the Air Norton was quite nice - so was the BluesBucker. Never been too fond of the high output humbuckers though. In that regard I definitely prefer BKP.

Cheers Stephan

[ericsabbath]

I have a couple 70's dimarzio pafs
they can't get close to any of my vintage voiced bkps
they don't sound bad, but in comparison, they have this thin shrill top end that's not musical at all

I loved the 36th pafs (that don't sound like a paf at all) and the 70's dimarzio k10 (that later became the super 2 model)
the 36th pafs have a very round and thick sound if its own
something that some people might miss in the bkp line
it has the low end punch of a vhII, but a full midrange, without sounding quacky and modern like the black dog

the k10 is only 9k but has the output of a super distortion, but without all the midrange saturation, and has a brighter nd clearer top
i really liked it in a mahogany flying v
much better than the stock gibson 496r (which is also ceramic and around 9k)
still no bkp, though

[-M-]

I've got several guitars fitted with DiMarzios, Duncans and BKPs both single coils and humbuckers.
Personally, I wouldn't say that any of the brands are better than the others, just different  :)
All of the brands have some qualities about them that I like that I can't find in the others.

[Cam_H]

Well I might give BKP a go in the next few months. I'm really liking the sound of the Holy Diver and Emerald combo. Read quite abit about them on the forum the last few days. What would be a good single coil to put between?

[darkbluemurder]

Well I might give BKP a go in the next few months. I'm really liking the sound of the Holy Diver and Emerald combo. Read quite abit about them on the forum the last few days. What would be a good single coil to put between?

I only have experience with the Slowhand but I am sure that people will recommend the Irish Tour. That would probably also be my choice.

Cheers Stephan

[Kiichi]

Well I might give BKP a go in the next few months. I'm really liking the sound of the Holy Diver and Emerald combo. Read quite abit about them on the forum the last few days. What would be a good single coil to put between?

I only have experience with the Slowhand but I am sure that people will recommend the Irish Tour. That would probably also be my choice.

Cheers Stephan

Yeah, either will work nicely I think. The IT is like a classic SC, but with some more power and dirt. Still delivers those nice cleans, but is more at home with dirt than the normal SC. This is also due to it having more mids. Really great for low to mid gain stuff, but can take suprisingly much. Has a nice dirty blues feel to it in general.
So if you want a SC that is a bit hotter, more agressive, dirty and with more mids than a normal SC this is your ticket.

If you say "hey that sounds good, but is the IT enough of that? I really like fat, warm sounds" then go Slow Hand. It takes everything the IT does in comparison to a normal SC and goes one up on that. So even hotter, fatter and warmer, more mids, etc.
It is still far from a P90, but it has a nice thick mid character for a SC.

Personally I would say go with the IT and set up a coil split wiring for the HBs. Insane amounts of possibility.

[Slartibartfarst42]

Personally, I'd go with something hotter than either of those. At one point or another I've tried a Nailbomb, Holydiver and Miracle Man with single coils and I wouldn't have thought that either the Irish Tours or Slowhands would live with any of those. I originally used Trilogy Suites which has a really nice single coil tone and were quite creamy in nature. They matched OK with the humbuckers but there's no way I'd have used less power. The Sinner is the other one, which is much darker and thicker than a Trilogy Suite. I went even further and use bridge Sinners in the neck and middle and they still don't overpower the bridge humbucker.