Should I upgrade Ibz RG's DiMarzios to Bare Knuckles?

[EddieDavis]

Thinking of upgrading to Bare Knuckle but I know nothing about the differences between pickups they offer. 

This would be for a 25th Anniversary Ibanez RG - absolutely kick-butt guitar that has served me well - but after getting a strat with hand wound pickups, I just wanna hear what some really sick hand wound HB's would sound like on this thing.

Any suggestions?  Their pickup builder lets you choose between Vintage/ Vintage Hot / and Contemporary, and then

there are a bunch of models I know nothing about.

I'd love the guitar to be capable of the most styles of music possible.  Everything from 60s Surf and Motown to 80s Metal and Classic rock.

What has your experience with Bare Knuckle been like if you've used them?

 

[Cagey]

I've installed BK pickups in several guitars and they seem to be high quality parts that sound great. Beyond that, I don't know what to tell you. Most pickups available today, even the $30 units from GFS, can be put in those categories with confidence and without hesitation. I think the reason BKs cost so much (and give the impression they're "better" as a result) has more to do with inefficient manufacturing processes, a high labor burden and the UK's tax structure than any identifiable/quantifiable/objective product characteristics.

Assuming pricing can be put aside, while the pickups are the largest part of any electric guitar's "sound", your particular guitar is going to have some influence as well. Not to mention your playing style, connection scheme, sfx chain, and amplification choices. So, I could say "buy X model configured Y way and you'll get Z sound", because that was my experience" but the chances are pretty good your experience would be different. Plus, we likely have different ideas about what "midrange", "spank", "response", "edge", "breakup", "output", "vintage" and the myriad other adjectives and squishy nouns used to describe "tone" mean, so we're not even communicating on equal terms.

The best you can do is read about and/or listen to the eleventy-bajillion reviews on the world wide wibble regarding the thousands of choices you have, take a shot, and hope for the best. Chances are you won't be disappointed because nobody makes bad pickups these days. Whether or not you'll be thrilled will have to wait for mean ol' Mr. Reality.

Sorry that's no help - I really wish I could say "buy this and you'll be happier than a kid on Christmas" - but I'm afraid that wouldn't be honest.

 

[chapogrelo]

Don't go straight to the pickup builder. Go to the pickups page on BK website,  browse various pickups and listen to the sound clips. With that you'll be able to find which variation appeal you the most.
They do really great pickups for all style of playing.

Aside of that, I don't think they are better or worst than other brand and if you choose a pickup in the same ballpark that those in your guitar in term of characteristics, most chance are you'll be the only one eating the difference.

 

[amigarobbo]

I've installed BK pickups in several guitars and they seem to be high quality parts that sound great. Beyond that, I don't know what to tell you. Most pickups available today, even the $30 units from GFS, can be put in those categories with confidence and without hesitation. I think the reason BKs cost so much (and give the impression they're "better" as a result) has more to do with inefficient manufacturing processes, a high labor burden and the UK's tax structure than any identifiable/quantifiable/objective product characteristics.

In the UK the Bare Knuckles are slightly cheaper than the DiMarzios,

Bare Knuckle £195 for set of 3 strats pickups https://www.andertons.co.uk/p/BARE264/electric-guitar-pickups/bare-knuckle-6-string-irish-tour-single-coil-strat-set

Area 58 3 at £77.99 = £233.97 https://www.andertons.co.uk/p/DP415BK/electric-guitar-pickups/dimarzio-dp415-area-58-single-coil-strat-pickup-in-black

I'm sure I could shop around, different models and all that  :dontknow:

Also they've recently butchered the Bare Knuckle website, I can't find the sound samples on there anymore, which were quite handy, in fact I can't find anything on the new spangly Pickup builder section at all, still at least it looks WebII, which is what matters I suppose...  :doh:

 

[Cagey]

In the UK the Bare Knuckles are slightly cheaper than the DiMarzios 

I'm not surprised. Again, you're being hurt due to the tax structure and import/export policies.

I used to correspond frequently with a gentleman in Thailand regarding computer work, and he was full of stories about the rigmarole he went through getting equipment for the same reasons. I could actually buy motherboards, video cards, memory, HDDs, etc. cheaper here in the US than he could there or in the surrounding countries where the stuff was actually manufactured. He even had a big boat and could run directly to Hong Kong or Taiwan or wherever if he wanted to, but it didn't help. Countries do a lotta truly misguided stuff in the interest of economic policy or in retaliation to other country's economic policies, with most of it having detrimental effects on the very problems they're trying to address.

 

[amigarobbo]

Both the UK VAT and especially, import duties are actually controlled at the Superstate EU level.

As the UK is leaving the EU, I wonder how long it'll take before this enterprise crushing tax burden is reduced?

(Little bit of politics, yes Indeed ladies and gentlemen)

 

[amigarobbo]

If you're dead set on overseas hand wound pickups I've heard good things about The Creamery.

http://www.creamery-pickups.co.uk

Not tried them myself

The USA Curtis Novak ones look interesting http://curtisnovak.com never tried them either

And although it's a totally pointless exercise to compare them, I preferred the sound my Don Mare 3-Speed StangRay to the Bare Knuckle Sultans, in a completely different guitar, 3 pickups not 1, different magnet type blah-blah..

anyway http://www.buckcannon.com Might be a bit old fashioned mind.

 

[Hendrix]

Also they've recently butchered the Bare Knuckle website, I can't find the sound samples on there anymore, which were quite handy, in fact I can't find anything on the new spangly Pickup builder section at all, still at least it looks WebII, which is what matters I suppose...  :doh:

I like Bare Knuckle, have buy many PU from them , one thing i like most is their sound samples not miss leading like some other PU builder , I never buy any one from them that turn out not I expected .

their sound samples on new site is on left hand side "AMP " thing , a picture design thing without word , I can't find that on a first sign too .

I buy from over sea , also need to pay UK VAT  :doh: which I remember few year ago , if shipping address is over sea , don't need to pay VAT .

 

[EddieDavis]

anyway http://www.buckcannon.com Might be a bit old fashioned mind.

Funny you should mention Mare, I have his pickups in my Warmoth strat.  Does he do humbuckers too? 

Thanks to Don, I'm a die-hard believer in hand wound, but not necessarily dead set on getting something from overseas. 

 

[stratamania]

Both the UK VAT and especially, import duties are actually controlled at the Superstate EU level.

As the UK is leaving the EU, I wonder how long it'll take before this enterprise crushing tax burden is reduced?

(Little bit of politics, yes Indeed ladies and gentlemen)

Even after we have left completely I can't see VAT going away. 

Prior to VAT we had a purchase Tax so they will probably keep it, but hopefully, it will reduce overtime and could go under 15% which is the minimum for EU members. Time will tell of course.

 

[amigarobbo]

I don't want to go political, but I was just having a laugh at the idea that a government would voluntary give away any taxes. The Napoleonic wars have been over for a while, but we've still got income tax and all that.

 

[stratamania]

Too true...

 

[musicispeace]

Yes I am late to this but wanted to chime in that Bare Knuckle Pickups have among the best customer service I have experienced and seem very consistent in delivery times. I agree with Cagey, they make a quality product and make enough pickups that finding one you will like is highly likely. That said, there are MANY pickup makers these days and when I got back into playing and went the partscaster route I literally spent something like 3 months listening to sound samples and reading reviews.  I've gotten BKP, Zhangbucker, Klein, and Tone Specific and have been happy with all the above. As Cagey points out though, I also still have the $79 second hand Yamaha guitar I bought when I decided to try playing a second time around and I still like the pickups in that and who has any idea what those are but they are not "boutique" in any sense of the word.

 

[swarfrat]

If you want to buy super-premium brand aftermarket pickups, you probably should have convinced yourself already instead of asking us to do the convincing. I'm lucky in that my favorite pickup only costs $35.