Got my Mules fitted

[MartinS]

Since realising it was probably my pickups that were at the root of my dissatisfaction with my sound, I've looked into the issue a lot.  I've joined forums, listened to samples, made enquiries, asked for advice. Then, somehow, I stumbled across Bare Knuckle (I can't remember how).

These are more expensive than the competition, but I reckoned that if they gave me the sound I wanted then I'd be happy. Plus, it's great to be able to support a British company dealing in craftsmanship.

Anyway, they arrived yesterday, and I had them fitted this morning by Paul at Ethos Guitars in Redditch  (lovely bloke, quick, high quality service).

I didn't expect to be wowed. Indeed, I half-expected not to notice much difference. I was wowed, and I did notice much difference.

I've got home and plugged the guitar into my old JC120. I can't turn this up past 1 in the house, but even at that volume I can hear a richness to chords that I've never heard before, and a wonderful definition to single notes. The bridge pickup has lost it's shrill, piercing tone, and is now fat and chunky. The neck pickup is sweet and round and blue. Even the coil tap switch now seems to do something other than just make the guitar quieter!

Now I can't want to see how it sounds at volume, with the band. Roll-on Saturday!

Thanks, Tim. Makes yer proud to be British...

[808]

I love my Mules!

What guitar did you put them in?

[ailean]

Thanks for the post, always good to hear people's first impressions.

I had to talk myself into paying £210 for set of pickups, when in truth my old ones weren't that bad, very glad I did, and it's still hard to convince others that I'm not mad. But no-one can argue with the tone :)

Be sure to experiment with them, time and time again people comment on how versatile BK's are. And post some clips if you can, we like that.

[kevincurtis]

Yeah, good decision Martin - join the BKPers! I agree totally, its good to see good british craftsmanship producing a world beating product  :)  welcome to the forum, and yes - lets here those mules in action!

[38thBeatle]

Welcome and congratulations of joining the ranks of  BKP lovers.

[MartinS]

Thanks.

808: they're in a Gibson 335.

Will try to get some clips sorted.

Now do I see if I can sell the old ones on eBay?

[horsehead]

Thanks.

808: they're in a Gibson 335.

Will try to get some clips sorted.

Now do I see if I can sell the old ones on eBay?

Of course! There's always someone who doesn't know better

[ailean]

Actually I'd keep the old ones, if you ever sell the 335 or stop playing it you can put the old ones back in and use the BK's on something else.

[MartinS]

Within the first five minutes on Saturday our drummer said "the guitar sounds nice and clear today, Martin. For a change!"

Nuff said.

[WezV]

thats probably the best advert for BKPs i have ever heard:

"so good even drummers can tell the difference!!"

 :P

[sushi]

You did the good choice. You  will never regret !
And if the drummer hear the difference ...
I WANT to hear some samples !! :D

[MartinS]

I'm still getting used to the Mules. One thing in particular I noticed on Saturday was the sustain in the clean sound. I often practise acoustically, and one of the problems I had with the stock pickups was that while doing so  I could hear the guitar singing, with wonderful resonance through the wood, but amped up I didn't seem to get any of that. The Mules have fixed that all right: I can hold notes pretty much as long as I want.

[ericsabbath]

we shall raise a temple to Tim

[ailean]

thats probably the best advert for BKPs i have ever heard:

"so good even drummers can tell the difference!!"

 :P

+1