I've had about a dozen high end single coils in my various guitars including some from the BK line (Apaches, MM, 63 Veneer) in search of "that" Strat sound. I came so damn close with the Pat Pend 63's and the Rocketfire Total 60's, which were my fav all time pickups for their tones' respective eras. The 63's are hugely expressive, fat and woody, giving me an early 60's vibe. On the other end, the Total 60's are more bold and gutsy, capturing the late 60's vibe like none other. But these....
These 59's have the woody organic tones of the 63's, but are much more clear. The neck is bubbly and throaty and the in betweens are perfectly hollow (FINALLY!!!!) - and there's a glassy timbre throughout all positions, but instead of it being as hard and strident as the other pickups I've tried, the feel is more compressed and buttery. It's literally affecting the way the strings feel under the fingers. It's silly to say, but it's like butter on top of ice on top of warm, rich soil. It makes no sense, but that's the feel I get from them. Every switch position is magical and iconic. On a side note, I’ve got these fairy low, with the covers just above the mounting screws on the pickguard and I’m not even curious about adjusting them further. It was setup and go with minimal tweaking. Who knows what other tones lie within? Finally a new guitar that sounds old.
Someone posted some exquisite samples of these here doing the SRV/Mayer thing and they nail that, but without the exaggerated EQ of other pickups that claim to do the same. Through this BF Vibrolux clone, they are that sound, but so much more BC these players merely exemplify the sounds of the late 50's/early 60's Strats and their music has become inextricably linked to this iconic tone as a result.
I cannot offer higher praise for a single coil set. I cannot. I've been mistakenly chasing the late 60's sound, but that's behind me now. How a pickup can be glassy, yet smooth and earthy at the same time is beyond my comprehension, because I've only had one or two of these traits in the others prior. I'm sure my guitar is part of the equation, but these pickups are exactly what needs to be in it. These pickups are truly representative of the old ones and they Knopfler, SRV, Mayer, Jimi, and so much more like nobody's business.
..and damnit, these Rotosound strings! Of the 6+ sets of BK's I've run through this is my first time using these strings - I have an Elixir endorsement. I think these strings are the finest uncoated strings I've ever played in my life.
