DiMarzio

[Cattivo Ragazzo]

I know the biggest difference between BKP and the likes of DiMarzio is that DiMarzio are machine wound, but is that the only difference? What else do they do to their pickups to make them sound so %$^%?

[TwilightOdyssey]

There is no "one" answer to this question, imo.

Not every DiMarzio pup sounds bad, just as not every Duncan pup sounds bad. It's mostly a matter of personal preference.

Overall, I'm 10x more satisfied with my experience with BK than with Duncan, DiMarzio, Fralin, Barden, or EMG.

What I think makes BK pickups so great is the attention given to each one, as well as the quality of the parts. To say that Tim Mills and company are fanatical in their attention to detail is a gross understatement.

What makes BK, the company, superior is the amazing customer service, personalized attention, and absolute commitment to customer satisfaction.

I live in the US -- I can get Fralin, Barden, and Duncan custom pups much cheaper. Dimarzio is 15 minutes from my house with no traffic. I still choose Bareknuckle because they are just as committed to my tonal quest as I am. :)

[earworm]

What makes BK, the company, superior is the amazing customer service, personalized attention, and absolute commitment to customer satisfaction.

+1

[balde]

What makes bareknuckle our pickup of choice is, that everytime we play a note or a chord we just canīt stop smiling at how good it sounds. In that whenever you have a question or something you may need help, you have the OWNER of the company replying every single thing (even the most stupid questions ignorant people like me ask), just trying to help you and get you along in getting the tone in your head. I never came across with such an amazing forum like this one. People just share they thoughts, nobody is rude, everybody is friendly. In times when selling big and fast sounds like the common factor, thereīs someone who only thinks in making the best product no matter what. And that is very honorable thing.

[balde]

Of course, all of the above stands for the WHOLE  bareknuckle crew that is!!!!

[tech33]

would have to agreee with all of the above, i deal with tim on a professional basis as a guitar tech, and any problems or questions he is always more than happy to help and advise!
I cudnt imagine seymour duncan or any other pickup maker doing that.
we have even called him on saturdays and been able to get his help and support.
keep up the good work, keep listening to the customers and you will be bigger than all the others put together!

[R/2e]

It's pure black magic and mojo. Rumour has it that Tim performs wierd rites over them at midnight in a secret ceremony involving virgins (not that I believe that last bit!), herbal cigarettes and mind altering music.

But hey, combined with a lot of knowledge, attention to detail and hard work - it works!

[Tim]

Virgins Ron? Hell we ran out of those along time ago around here :lol:
I don't drink or do drugs either I'm afraid-I think a vitamin pill is as adventurous as I get these days-I work long hours and you can't do that all messed up!

So what makes BKPs stand out from the crowd?

Well I think you guys have answered it yourself and I'm glad the differences are recognisable. What I'd like to add is that making pickups isn't rocket science, the hard part is in the voicing.Attention to detail and patience is the next most important thing. The big companies all work to a tight budget and time constraints which is fair enough however we've spent a lot of time researching and more importantly,roadtesting, materials and components along with production methods to get to where we are. A for instance for you:potting. Vacuum potting is the norm for mass produced pickups these days along with transformers etc....works very well for quickly saturating a coil with wax.However we've found that a long soak in 'hot' wax(paraffin/beeswax) lowers DC resistance and produces a clearer tone from any given coil as the wire is actually annealed. Most handwinders will pot for @45 mins which is enough to do the job but we'll pot anywhere upto a couple of hours depending on the coil. The whole process is time consumming but the result is well worth it and we have work practices to maximise our time.
Handwinding coils is also very labour intensive and soaks up time too but you compare a properly scatterwound coil(not all handwound coils are scattered)and a machine wound coil-the loss of high end definition in the machine coil is so apparent you'd have to be deaf not to notice. Likewise the difference between plain enamel and the cheaper polysol wire...I could go on all day!!
I'm committed to sticking with the way we wind and build our pickups and won't compromise this as BKP grows. You'll always be able to guarantee(and so will we) that a Bare Knuckle Pickup has been individually handwound and handmade no matter what.

[Chris]

I'm committed to sticking with the way we wind and build our pickups and won't compromise this as BKP grows. You'll always be able to guarantee(and so will we) that a Bare Knuckle Pickup has been individually handwound and handmade no matter what.

That's very good to know  ...and if there's one company that I believe when they say that it is Bare Knuckle!   :D  8)  :D  8)

[_tom_]

reading this makes me feel better for not buying a cheaper alternative to a BKP, to be honest at first i seemed like a bit of a rich git for spending so much on one pickup but now ive read this i understand why its so expensive, and probably wouldve spent as much if not more trying other companies. of course, ive not even got my Mule yet but at the minute i really cant wait to try it out, after all the good reviews ive read!

[bucketshred]

I think that companies like DiMarzio, SD etc should have a cusom department  where they make their pickups by hand, for a higher cost of course.

I hope Bare Knuckle don't get so big that they haveto go automated, that would suck, royally.

Andy!

[Ol]

I hope Bare Knuckle don't get so big that they haveto go automated, that would suck, royally.

It won't... :D

You'll always be able to guarantee(and so will we) that a Bare Knuckle Pickup has been individually handwound and handmade no matter what.

[Peterku]

I'm committed to sticking with the way we wind and build our pickups and won't compromise this as BKP grows. You'll always be able to guarantee(and so will we) that a Bare Knuckle Pickup has been individually handwound and handmade no matter what.

That's great news! :)

Tim, can you keep up with the growing demand for BKP? There are some pickup makers who have some two-month long waiting list for the orders.

[Ratrod]

Duncan's, DiMarzio's, EMG's and the likes will improve the guitars tone over stock. Every now and then you'll get a guitar with a serious X-factor. At BKP the X-factor is standard. Absolutely every guitar you equip with BKP's will get that X-factor. Next to that is the sublime customer sevice. You can deal with the boss himself who will do anything to make you happy (tone wise).

This is also why I like Reverend guitars so much. They also have a great product and second to none customer service.

[Cattivo Ragazzo]

I know how good BKP are chaps, I use them. I was just wondering about the differences between them and other pickup companies. I have used tons of different pickups and I used to think the best pickup for me was the DiMarzio Tone Zone but the BKP's beat the $%^& out of them. Thanks for the answers.