Bare Knuckle Pickups Apache

Apache Single Coil Set passive, 5 or 6 ohms

CIJ Alder top of the line Stratocaster, cloth wired, CTS pots,steel block, all the goodies.
Replacing the Di Marzio Collection Set (not a bad set actually)
In all 3 positions
I don't know who uses BareKnuckles
I wanted a more vintage sound with a bit of sparkle

The output level is pretty good, about standard vintage actually.
The tone was pretty clear but just a tad dry and thin for my liking
I play a lot of styles ranging from old style Shadows thru to Clapton in the Cream days.
Also I studied a lot of Hendrixes earlier playing as well.
I do play shred though, some Vai, Becker, Howe etc, and some very fast alternate picking stuff as well, and even some Chet Atkins style.

Well I sold them recently, to be honest they weren't really what I wanted, although they weren't all that bad I did feel they were way overpriced for what they were and didn't really deliver what I wanted.
I read the comments below and I tend to somewhat agree with the comments by J-H-Axis, although I did think giving only a 1 for sound was pretty harsh.
But funnily enough the comments above those by Jeremy were all 10's, and if the negative comments by Axis were far left, then Jeremy's comments above his were definitely too far right to be totally believable. However everyone is entitled to their opinion.

I did think Jeremy's comments were probably not true in saying that a manufacturer would have made those negative comments though.
I cant imagine Seymour Duncan writing those comments (LOL!!) he's probably a millionaire for gods sake! or even Jason Lollar!
These guys must sell a lot of pickups, why would they even bother!
I'll bet they couldn't care less?
As far as a dealer, well most dealers can stock most brands, it's all about money, so if Bare-Knuckles sell well then why would a dealer want to bag them? just sell them! who cares if you like them or not.
So again it seems a bit unrealistic to say it's a dealer.
Probably its a user or player who does not like them, thats my guess.

Anyway my opinion is a bit negative about these pups as well, they are OK, but to be honest I ended up buying a set of Seymour Duncan Antiquity's (Texas Hots) These were set up and wired from Acme Guitar Works and I like them much better than the Apaches because they sound and play more organically than the Bare-knuckles and they definitely nail that vintage tone, and I grew up with pre CBS Strats.
I also had used the Lollar Blackfaces and I liked them too, but they were not quite as organic as the Antiquities, so I sold the Lollars although they were very good and if you just strummed them they actually sounded more expansive than the Seymours, but they did not play quite as well when you dig in, if that makes sense.

I also bought a set of Duncan Antiquity 2's (Surfers) and I put them in my second Stratocaster, and I really like them too, so those are the Strat pickups that I finally ended up using and I am very happy with them.
I took a while to get to the Seymours and the reason is I don't really like any of his mass produced pickups at all, I have heard them on many guitars and my reaction has always been that they sound one dimensional and bland so therefore I was a bit negative about his pickups.
But a friend told me that his Antiquities are actually good and I eventually tried them and really liked them straight off.

Now about the Apaches, they were OK, but I used them on a lot of gigs over a fair amount of time and they just had a slightly sterile thin sound that got to me after a while, and what Axis said was actually true, they don't sound all that great on crunch,I use a Vox amp and pedals.
However they are a vintage pickup and are not really made for crunch, still I have to say that both the Duncan sets sound great on crunch and don't have that thin dryness that the Bareknuckles seem to have.

I also bought the Bareknuckles Trilogy set, but did not like them at all, they seemed overly bassy and no nice top end or dynamic give when you play them harder, but it's probably because they were over wound and since then I have decided I don't really like any over wound sets, I tend to agree with Malmsteem, if you want distortion, do it with your amp, not your pickups.

So all in all the Apaches are not a bad set, but in my opinion not worth a ten or even an eight, I would say about a five or six.
My conclusion, and why I sold them along with the Trilogies, is they are not all that dynamic, they do seem to sound a bit worse over time, but I am not totally sure of that, and finally they just lack that bit of true magical warmth and organic playability that the Duncan's and even the Lollars seem to have when you st

Apache Single Coils set
passive
output around 5 ohms
Alnico Magnents

Installed in USA Fender Strat
All 3 positions, replaced stock pickups
Lots of artists use these pickups now..
Changed pickups because I wanted a low output sweet sounding authentic 50's strat sound.

Output level is just right..
Used with a Marshall Jubilee and various Fender amps, mostly vintage or clones....
The tone is very clear focused and well balanced..Very touch responsive and these pickups can grown when needed..I thought they would be suitable for blues and occasions when low output old school style pickups are needed however they are very versatile and makes my strat even more versatile (so this is what Leo intended)...NOtes just bloom, and all the tones are just so clear...These Apaches do not have the characteristic midrange dip of 60s style pickups (I guess thats a Mothers Milk)...These are true 50's style pickups...All the EQ characteristics are in place and best of all they just sound good.

Its amazing what lengths other pickup dealers are going to just to bash Bare Knuckle. Anyone who has tried these 'pups out just love them. I think the post below is obviously an angry bitter dealer. Basically because his comments are just too far left and simply not true. BKP does not get anything from China. They make most of the stuff in their shop. Other pickup manufactures really go off on the last statement because it is simply not done anymore. Its expensive and most boutique guys do order stuff from China. BKP does indeed make their own parts and I assure you their magnets wont crap out in a month. Thats pretty funny...Another reason I think this guy is aligning himself with another manufacture and on some sort of smear campaign is because I have heard comments like these from another boutique pickup maker who makes a fine quality pickup. I called him on the phone to talk about his pickups and all he wanted to do is rant about BKPs and how they get all their stuff from China. That is just not the case and tactics like that just tell me, the consumer, that you hate BKP because they sound better.

Let me get back on point by saying that BKPs sound great. I love the Apache's and they are my 2nd single coil set. I also have the Irish Tours. These are very different. If I could have just one set it would be the Apache's because they have the most open pure sound.

I have tested these BKPs against, Suhrs, Fender Custom Shop 60s, Rio Grande Tallboys, and a stock Fender set. All these pickups basically had the same EQ curve-that 60s strat tone with a notched EQ curve at the mids, and The Suhrs and Tallboys sounded better then the Fender Made pickups. The Apache's had a different more 50's sound and I also think, EQ curves aside, they just sounded better. The Suhrs were the most mellow of the bunch and along with the Apache's, more of an open sound. The Suhrs were very fine pickups. The apache's however, have a clearer sound.

Single Coil Strat set, passive.

A custom built Strat with an Ash body finished in Nitro
I have tried and used many pups including stock Fenders, Seymours, Di-marzio etc..Plus the Seymour Antiquity series, I have heard Chubtones and many others...both factory and hand wound as well.
I genuinely heard good things about Bareknuckles so I decided to buy a few sets!

To be honest...I think most of the glowing reviews of these pickups are either written by

1. People in the honeymoon stage of these PUPS

To them I say...Listen honestly to your Bare Knuckles after 6 months...ask yourself, has the sound deteriorated?
Are the harmonics true? does the sound still sound wholesome and full with a nice balance through the frequencies.

2. They are possibly written by Tim himself or people that are influenced by him in some way.

Now heres the story...if you want a good set of handwound pups...go and buy some Antiquities, or Lollars or Chubtones or Fralins.
Dont buy these!!
Ask yourself why Tim has so many types and models, cause he is into marketing mainly, and making money at all costs.
He does not really care about quality...these pickups sound gradually worse over time...BELIEVE ME!!
I use point to point hand wired tube amps (I have several of those)...I build guitars as well, believe me...I KNOW!!

Dont fool yourself, Tim either uses inferior grade alnico magnets or poor wire that degrades over time, maybe bought from China or some dodgy manufacturer...either way in a few months your PUPS will sound like crap.
Don't believe what he says about finest grade alnico etc..."It's just hype and it's not true!"
I am not the only one who has experienced this, I have heard this from others also.
Put on a good tube crunch sound in 6 to 8 months and use your Apaches, the break up will be disharmonic at best...compare them honestly with some Antiquities or Lollars and you will die inside...and conclude that you have wasted your money.
Dont believe the HYPE...Bareknuckles are RUBBISH!!

I would never consider these PUPS again, they have nothing to offer at all.
You may as well burn your money.
I gave it a 2 only because they still worked...that is made a sound after several months...but that sound was crap.
BTW This was not only with the Apaches!
This also applies to his Tele sets...I had those too.

Single coil set beveled vintage stagger Alnico III scatterwound by hand, 6.4/5.8/5.8K,RW/RP middle with a Zinc Plated Steel Baseplate on bridge.

50's Fender Stratocaster, Alder body, maple neck, replaced all three stock pickups.

If you're looking for that vintage Strat sound with just a little bit more kick, these are the pups for you. I've tried many other "vintage" pickups from boutique pickup makers and these sound the best. From blues to rock they make a Strat sound like a Strat should.

I've been playing for 25 years and looking for pickups that would give me the tone, clarity and response that I heard from Leo's originals, I think I found what I was looking for. If they were destroyed or stolen, I would you buy them again no question asked. Tim's work is amazing and Jason's customer service is, well, peerless. I'm looking forward to trying out the rest of the collection.

Calibrated set of passive single coils, the impedance about 6.5K or something

Stratocaster (alder + rosewood neck) all positions. I am replacing Fender picups that came with the guitar. The reason was, well curiosity ...?

Output is slightly hotter, not so much. I use Peavey classic. The sound of the pups is better than the Fenders but I do not like the bridge pickup's output; too much squeal. I play rock and R&B for 17 years, did some recordings and just trust that I already know what I should know. To be honest, the sound is nice but I expected, you know, something extra, not only higher price.

I am going back to my old good Fenders. I DID want to try something new, you know, as they say: from the top shelf, and wanted to hear the bee's knees but unfortunately I did NOT. Anybody out there to buy my Apaches for a bargin price ?

Standard Apache alnico 3 but with top e and b magnet same length.

I fitted this to a US 57 reissue that I have had for 13 years.
I fitted the whole set, stock polarity with the base plate in the bridge to replace the stock fender ones. I asked for a custom set with the b magnet longer because I always feel the b string is not loud enough on the other 12 strats I have used or owned over the last 32 years.

The output seemed much higher but it didnt drive my amp input to distortion so much...muc clearer and richer soiund..all the harsh overtones and scratchiness i heard on the stock pickups have gone.
I use a 1960??s all valve Nolan which sustains and drives easily...but is difficult to get clean..now I have more clarity and sustain. My style varies from Trower, Kossoff, Beck to Grady Martin and Cliff Gallup...my guitar is now very versatile and more importantly rich and clear.

I will put these in another guitar soon althoug I will try some other brands out of interest but these have simply transformed a very mediocre guitar soundwise (it never really cut thru live) to a killer guitar. I have been playing since 1976..some years pro some semi..pro again now..but not paid enough. The only comment i would make about the pick ups are that the screws that come with them are not the correct countersunk type..and the jap screws are too thin for the holes in the base..so it would be better if they came with the correct vintage screws for jap gtr users..mine isnt but i have seen this before.

Dunno nothing about its impedance, I'm a musician, not an engineer but I suppose it is as the description says 6K or something.
A set passive single coils, flat pole pieces.

Very good American Stratocaster, maple neck, alder body, all three positions, and I'm not replacing my Lollar Blackface set, I'm just trying the BKP Apache.
The reason for the change is that I heard a lot of good words about BKP and I just wanted to try them and compare the Apahces to Jason's Blackfaces.

The output is more or less similar, I use all kinds of valve Fender amps, not too many effects, maybe delay and overdrive from time to time. The tone is quite nice, I would say, NO harsh produced by the bridge pup, much much better set than ordinary Fenders, I like the middle pup, nice country sound, but frankly speaking, nothing special for me, really. Not for that price ! Tim do you put gold into them or you hipnotize all those guys out there ?!
I've been playing Hendrix-like stuff for 27 years.

If it was stolen I would not by them again since I have already sold them to my friend for a bargin price, after three months of intense playing and recording. I went back to my Blacface set and until now have not found anything better for R&B or blues-rock stuff.
You know what I did not really like about them ? That dry sound. Only Alnico II or V can give you this beautiful reverb-like sound of a real single coil, forget about Alnico III - it sounds a bit better than ceramic ****. And you know what, there must have been the reason Fender stopped to produce pickups utilizing that magnet.
The magnets were not exactly flat in the neck pickup, sort of different compared to the other two in the set, which were OK.
The difference was not that significant but for 165?? I require the quality.
Final statement:
Jason you are the best, Tim you are surely a nice guy but Jason is the winner.

Single coil pickups 6.65K,5.95K,5.95K

Stratocaster - a very decent hand made copy, alder body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard - just standard.
The whole set of three pickups.
Replaced are Seymour Duncan SSL-2.
I do not like the sound of these Duncans at all...and other pickups I was using until now. Flat...

The output level is just a little bit hotter than Dunacans, Fenders.
I use Fender Blues Junior, Marshall DSL401 and no any effects.
Beautiful round and warm high tones, gorgeous mid and bass tones.
Bass and mid tones are warm and very palpable, too.
I play blues, rock-blues. Perfect pups for this stuff and the like.
These pickups sound very very good in each of the three positions.

If it was destroyed or stolen I would definitely buy the same set and would not do any attempts so as to buy any other pickups.
I have been playing for 23 years. I am strat-guy for all my life.
I never had anything else than just another starocaster.
I love about these pups the best vintage sound that I have ever heard in my life and believe me I did try lots of pups. Just perfect for me.
I used Duncans SSL2, some Fender sets, DiMarzio and other unknown to anybody products. I chose them because it was just another product to try, however I had read some reviews about them.
I have finally found my sound. Jesus, 23 long years !
If you crave for the pure vinatge strat sound buy it without any hesitations but if you play metal and the like just forget about them.
A little piece of advice. If you have a decent strat and want to have that beautiful famous vintage sound from 1954 strat this is a perfect choice for you. You do not have to have a very expensive strat !
Just a decent one as my own is will be enough, trust me. This is just a body and a neck - remember ! This is a piece of alder and maple and rosewood (if so) put together.
Expect gorgeous high and mid and bass tones; all are round and warm.
And that beefy and rich sound. Unbelievable !
Thanks Tim !

True single coil. Pasive. Slightly underwound. 5.8k/5.9k/6.2k

62 strat clone.
Body: Japanese origin. Alder. finished in distressed / relic nitro.
Neck; Japanese origin. Rosewood and maple. Medium jumbo frets. Worn with rounded edges. Nitro finished.
Electronics; Underwound handmade Vintage style pickups.Hovland cap. CTS pots. Fralin Blender pot.
Others; Callaham tremolo block.

All postions.

Harmonic Design 54 special

The HD p/us were excellent but I wnted a real underwound vintage sound on this Strat.

Output; Average for a vintage style P/U
Amps: all sorts, mainly Fender Bronco ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgA0mjpIdvM ) and custom amp; single ended 6V6 with alnico 15"
balanced. organic. not too warm. clear. happening.
I play blues, gospel, folk.
Not a metal P/u.

Very good product.

Pickup features: Single Coil
Impedence or other specs: 6 k

Model of guitar or bass: 90's Strat
Position: middle
Pickup being replaced: Lace Sensors
Other pickups on guitar: Breknuckle Crawler at the bridge
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Varied rock & pop
Reason for pickup change: Looking for classic strat chime without low end boom or shrill top end

Perceived output level: Slightly above 50;s Fenders
Tone: Clear and balanced, articulate
Sonic evaluation: Peavey Duel. A great heavy duty 120 watt valve amp, quite Fender Twin ish,

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Rock & pop. Put in middle and neck positions. Very good clean sounds for rythem work. Great for actively backing the singers without drowning them or muddying the overal sound with too much gain. That's what we are all supposed to do, right?

Comments: The Apaches are great. They are very clear, but neither shrill nor sterile. They help you produce those classic strat tones that are actually quite illusive. We all get tempted into using more powerful single coils; this is counter-productive. Overwound pickups lose that sparkle and can give too much bass and a shrill top. The apaches avoid these pitfalls. I chose not to have a reverse-wound middle; OK, you dont get hum-cancellation in 2 & 4, but Tim at Bareknuckle explained to me the different tone that you get and he was dead right - standard wound sounds better, dosn't lose as much volume compared to other positions and is altogether more usable. I have a Crawler humbucker at the bridge and the middle combines well with it when tapped. It is louder than the Apaches, but that is not a huge problem. My strat is now a very versatile gigging instrument.