Polymath... and prices

[andrewt]

Has anyone else grabbed a set of these? I'm keen to hear some feedback.

Here's what I want to know after listening to the clips that are out there and reading as much as I can about the various BKP models.

I've wanted a set of BKPs for my alder bolt on maple neck guitar for a while. While many friends try to steer me towards the PAF or slightly hotter PAF variants, my issue with them is always about the overall EQ of the pickup, and that their EQ more often suits LP style guitars than it does longer scale bolt on styles. The Polymaths appear to address a lot of my concerns in terms of the overall EQ of the pickup and its suitability for a bolt on guitar. Not being too hot, but also not too vintage in output and fixing the issues with vintage PAFs.

I've listened to the clean clips of all the pickups on the website, as clean is always where I start. To me I like the Polymath clean tones the most, especially the bridge. However I realise what sounds good clean, amy not sound good gained up and vice-versa. I'm not as modern a style player as Nolly and my concern is that I don't really like the crunch sounds all that much, but also because the crunch tones use a different riff and amp to the other BKP demo's it makes it hard to compare to other models. I've listened to the YT clip of the guy that has them in a Steinburger style guitar, but with that guitar that I am unfamiliar with how it would normally sound, and the level of gain he uses, I cannot draw any conclusions.

Has anyone got them yet and can relate how they sit on the vintage to modern spectrum?

For the neck I've never understood having a neck pickup that sounds stronger and so much thicker than the bridge pickup, which is what you get with typical PAFs. I would prefer a P90 or single coil tone in the neck and a hotter bridge that is thicker and meatier in tone.

For the bridge, I guess on the scale of 1 - 100 where 1 is pure vintage and 100 is modern high output super tight bridge I want a pickup that is about 40 on that scale. Elements of vintage, but with improvements so its not shrill and thin in a bolt on scenario.

As these will cost a little over $600 in AUS, I'd like to get a bit more info before I plonk my money down.

Any feedback would be helpful, but I realise not many people may have them yet.

[Dave Sloven]

As a general point note that in BKP sets the neck pickup is always different from the bridge pickup (and is not shown in the frequency charts) and is of a lower output

[b.gandt]

Can’t speak to the Polymath in anything, but the Crawler in my Strat’s bridge brings the meat to the board.

So, there’s that if The Polymath doesn’t work for you.  I’ll be following this myself, as I’m very curious re the Polymath.

[blackstrat]

Does it work well in PRS custom? From the specs and eq curve it seems like a bit lower output and a bit warmer than the rebel yell, how close do they sound? I really like my rebel yell, but interested in trying something a bit fatter while retaining RY’s tightness.

[timmy_b]

Does it work well in PRS custom? From the specs and eq curve it seems like a bit lower output and a bit warmer than the rebel yell, how close do they sound? I really like my rebel yell, but interested in trying something a bit fatter while retaining RY’s tightness.

In the bridge position, the Polymath certainly has a softer front edge to the note than the Rebel Yell, given the different magnet make-up, plus has a very broad midrange, so it does have an overall warmer / smoother feel. The treble and overtone content is most definitely still there, just not quite so immediate on the attack as the Rebel Yell.

In the neck position, the Polymath has a deeper bass response, as well as a full midrange and is overall a little more commanding than the Rebel Yell. I think that if you're looking for something that's a bit broader than the Rebel Yell in your PRS, the Polymath can definitely work for that!

[blackstrat]

Finally got the bridge pickup installed today. 'Goldilocks' sort of pickup was an apt description for it. The low end is fat and chunky but still as percussive as the RY it replaced. The harmonics are insane. What a great pickup!! well done.

[Nolly]

Finally got the bridge pickup installed today. 'Goldilocks' sort of pickup was an apt description for it. The low end is fat and chunky but still as percussive as the RY it replaced. The harmonics are insane. What a great pickup!! well done.

I'm so so glad to read that, thanks for sharing!

[aieos]

In the bridge position, the Polymath certainly has a softer front edge to the note than the Rebel Yell, given the different magnet make-up, plus has a very broad midrange, so it does have an overall warmer / smoother feel. The treble and overtone content is most definitely still there, just not quite so immediate on the attack as the Rebel Yell.

For my applications the Rebel Yell was a bit too bright and had a bit too much hair/sizzle in the top end.
Compared to the Rebel Yell, does the Polymath have less of that "hairy" upper-mid/treble quality to it?

[Nolly]

For my applications the Rebel Yell was a bit too bright and had a bit too much hair/sizzle in the top end.
Compared to the Rebel Yell, does the Polymath have less of that "hairy" upper-mid/treble quality to it?

Yep, the Polymath definitely has less upper midrange/treble emphasis than the Rebel Yell.

[aieos]

Ok, I am going to give them a shot then. Will report back when I have them installed.

[Yellowjacket]

For my applications the Rebel Yell was a bit too bright and had a bit too much hair/sizzle in the top end.
Compared to the Rebel Yell, does the Polymath have less of that "hairy" upper-mid/treble quality to it?

A tangential interjection:  It's funny for me to think of the Rebel Yell as having 'hair' compared to the Alnico Nailbomb.  That thing is unapologetically pissed off.

Do post a review of the Polymath set.

[andrewt]

I’m wondering how the Polymath bridge might pair with a Mule neck? I’m thinking the Mule would give me a cleaner clearer sound which isn’t wooly or bass heavy as I tend to like a P90 or very clear tone in this position, and then the Polymath would give me that hotter chunkier bridge tone.

[jyym]

I'm getting a polymath set in a new build with a 5 way super switch.  I definitely want to keep bridge full in series in one position and neck full in series in another position, but I'm open to suggestions for wiring for the other 3 available positions.  Just looking for a good all around set up.  I do like a tele bridge sound if that's any help.

[Chris Rowberry]

As mentioned in other posts. The cost of materials has massively increased over the last year or two. We always hold off as much as we can but it gets to a point where we do need to raise the price when some materials are almost doubling in cost.

We tend to buy raw material in bigger volumes to maintain prices for a longer period of time. We make all our own tooling so we are not as reliant on suppliers and also means we have full control of the quality of all of our parts. This also prevents us running out of parts, as seen with other brands in the last year or two who just buy them in.

We will never compromise on our materials and parts which means there is no cost saving method to this strategy, but what it does mean is that with Bare Knuckle, you know you're getting the highest build quality pickups in the industry - backed up with our lifetime warranty.

[aieos]

Do post a review of the Polymath set.

Received my Polymath bridge PU and mounted it into a ebony FB, pau ferro neck, brasil cedro(mahagony/alder), maple top super strat. Accoustically, the guitar is snappy/fast responding, lean with an nasaly upper-mid resonance peak. I installed them without any split coil options, for now.

In humbucking mode they sound balanced with slightly pronounced center- to low mids. I like the blooming mid growl when hitting the strings hard. The Note separation is very good, playing fast single note lines, each note can be heard clearly, no overpowering frequencies that dominate. Lows and highs are there, but without making the Polymath sounding flabby or shrill in any ways.