Bare Knuckle Pickups Apache

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.

Pickup features: Single coil passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Fender HBMarvin Sig. Strat (Japanese 1996)
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: CS54's
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Instrumental (Mainly Shadows style) and Blues
Reason for pickup change: Wanted a real vintage sound that only a handwound pup can give

Perceived output level: Excellent clarity when played clean which is exactly what I need and even volume levels across all pickups
Tone: Very very balanced with edgy highs not harsh. Lows very defined no muddiness and middle tones to die for
Sonic evaluation: Fender HBM Jap Strat with Vox AC30cc1

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Shads style instrumentals and this is a perfect match

Comments: These are easily the best pickups I have had on a Strat and I have tried them ALL!!! Excellent product, Superb service from BKP.

Pickup features: Single Coil Pickups - Don't let the name put you off. - 1954 stagger, RWRP
Impedence or other specs: ?

Model of guitar or bass: 2004 USA Fender Stratocaster
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Bare Knuckle Pickups - Irish Tours
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Varied
Reason for pickup change: Wanted even more classic Stratocaster tones...

Perceived output level: More chilled out than the Irish Tours!
Tone: Open, dynamic, warm and lots of depth, with a very balanced output
Sonic evaluation: First off, I have to say I have been using a set of BKP Irish Tour pups for over a year and I absolutely love them. They are fantastic pickups, but over the past few months I've had cravings for even more classic Stratocaster tones, and thought I?d go for a set of Apaches.
Fender Strat running into a Silverface Twin.
The first thing that hit me when I loaded these pickups is the tone. Very similar to the Irish Tours, but I had no idea how hot the Irish Tours actually are!! I swapped out the stock Fender pups as soon as I purchased the guitar so I kind of never really had a feel for the guitar tone/output before I loaded it over a year ago with Irish Tours?. Anyway the Apache pickups are absolutely gorgeous! Kind of like when you fancy a really fit woman (Irish Tours) and then you meet her even fitter sister (Apaches)? mmm not sure about that analogy but who cares, it may make you laugh if you?re reading this on the sly at work?
Tone wise, I?m using a set with RWRP set up:
**NECK** - Lush! Lush! Lush! Absolute quality ? very full sounding and cries out for a bit of SRV action. Compared to the Irish Tours I felt this pickup had considerably more depth, sounds great through the Twin. Fat rhythm sounds, and really sweet, rounded lead tones. Think Ben & Jerrys made with Gold top milk (for all of you milkmen out there).
**NECK / MIDDLE ** - As you expect really? classic Strat tones in an instant.
**MIDDLE** - I really like this pickup. I never really used to use this position until recently and I?m becoming a bit of a secret lover for the Stratocaster middle pickup. This pickup is a great compromise for neck and bridge positions. The Apache middle pickup is very sweet sounding and starts to cut through the mix at just the right points. I quite often switch from this position to the bridge and back again during a song? Very versatile, full sounding and aching to be played.
**MIDDLE/BRIDGE** - See NECK/MIDDLE?.
**BRIDGE** - silly smile on my face now. Going back to the Irish Tours ? those things absolutely wailed. Hot Hendrix. The Apaches however in the bridge department are even more favourable in my opinion. Mainly, because they sound so much more warmer running into a clean amp, the tone of the bridge pick up is really really sweet, slightly rounded highs but they cut through the mix AMAZINGLY. I love this position using the Apaches whether I running straight into a clean amp or through an overdrive pedal ? it sounds great!
Overall, I?m very pleased with the purchase. I was a little reluctant to part with some cash for more BKP as I didn?t think anything could sound better than the Irish Tour set ? however, as I said before, I was craving even more classic Stratocaster tones, and these pickups delivered that and then some. They put a surprised smile on my face.
But the best bit for me is ? because they are weaker than what I was previously using, I can crank my amp more, which is a God send, as my Stratocaster loaded with a set of Apaches going into my cranked Silverface Twin gives you a very, very nice feeling inside?. You?ll know what I mean when you get some and crank them!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: All styles but more chilled these days. Think "Little Wing" etc...

Comments: I don't even bother looking anywhere than Bare Knuckle Pickups. Fantastic cutomer service, and equally good products. Great value for money for a lifetimes worth of tone.

Pickup features: Single coil passive Alnico
Impedence or other specs: dont know

Model of guitar or bass: Squire Series 2
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: stock
Other pickups on guitar: stock
Artists using this pickup: dont know
You musical style(s): Heavy ,Blues,Rock,
Reason for pickup change: found the stock ones to be way to bright and lifeless.

Perceived output level: hotter than stock
Tone: very fat clear,and well balanced
Sonic evaluation: i have 2 guitars a les paul and a strat. and i play through software amps like, Amplitube and Guitar Rig.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: well i will be using this mainly for clean sounds.

Comments: if it were destroyed i would probably get them again. ive been playing for about 5 years and i have tried other pickups like duncans and EMG's.
Bareknuckle pickups are the best ive played hands down. They make your guitar come alive. My guitar sounds like a totally different guitar now.
I laugh evrytime someone mentions Seymour Duncans and EMG's. they just dont compare to bareknuckle at all. Bareknuckles blow them away!! I cant wait to get more!!

Pickup features: Single Coil
Impedence or other specs: DC: 6.65/5.95/5.95K

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Stratocaster California Series 97 USA
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Tex Mex Single Coils
Other pickups on guitar: None
Artists using this pickup: Not Sure!
You musical style(s): Blues, Rock and Metal
Reason for pickup change: The Tex Mex Pick ups sounded a bit gay and thin!!!They also lacked tonal quality in all pick up positions.

Perceived output level: Great sounding and superb clarity!!!
Tone: Classic Vintage Strat Tone - Very balanced!!!
Sonic evaluation: Marshall JCM800 50Watt Split Channel Combo at Home.
Marshall JCM2000 DSL 100watt Head and 1960B 4x12 Cabininet for gigs.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: These are very versatile and suit most styles with the exception of extreme metal. These pick ups sound good in all positions!!!

Comments: Been playing for 25 years now and this is the first time I've had the courage to change pick ups on a guitar...I'm glad I did!!!
These pick ups have made such a difference that my bass player doesn't believe it's the same guitar!!!
So what you waiting for?.....Go get some!!!!

Pickup features: Single Coil, Alnico III - bought mounted set specially aged
Impedence or other specs: 6.5k,6.0k,6.0k, 54 magnet stagger

Model of guitar or bass: original 57 Strat
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: 1960's Strat
Other pickups on guitar: replaced all pickups
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Blues, classic rock and english folk
Reason for pickup change: I wanted a better 50's sound and also had seen an example of the aging and the pickups looked original. I also have many pickups from bare Knuckle and they all sound good.

Perceived output level: A little hotter than my 60 slab board with original pickups
Tone: Really balanced, responds perfectly to the pick attack
Sonic evaluation: Using several tube amps including a Lexicon Signature 284, Fender Princeton Reverb, McIntyre BluesMaker. With all of them the sound is fantastic. Everything that I ever loved about the strat is here. The aged finish matches the guitar perfectly too. They look like they were on the guitar from the start, nearly 50 years ago.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: For the music play these are perfect. If you are using a strat for any of the classic sounds they will be exactly what you need.

Comments: I got these with all the same polarity and the 54 stagger. They are also offered with the later stagger, but I wanted to have the old look. The aging process itself is incredible, even down to scratch marks from ajusting the pickup heights! They make this guitar amazing. The only limitations to the sound are my playing. They have the most incredible response to pick attack. If you back off they mellow out, hit hard and they can growl and give you all the harmonics you want. If you play a Strat, you should try these pickups. I know they are hard to find, and are expensive, but they are worth it. How can I rate them fantastic value? Look at what the cost of a set of antiquities would be. Add in the cost of a completely aged set of knobs and a scratchplate. Plus, these are hand made to your own specification, and now you should be able to see why.

Pickup features: 3 passive single coil
Impedence or other specs: ? dont know

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Classic 50s Reissue - Mexican
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: standard pickups
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: dont know
You musical style(s): rock country blues
Reason for pickup change: tone. looking for that all important vintage sounding strat tone.

Perceived output level: similar to standard but still fairly typical weak standard fender output - i.e nothing really happens till the guitar volume is 7 or higher! A fender/ single coil issue i think
Tone: balanced but exactly what you want. smooth on clean on neck and twangy at bridge with lovely in betweens at posn 2 and 4.
Sonic evaluation: wonderful. some may think the difference is subtle but when it crosses the line into the tone you're been after for years, its a huge leap. beautiful and slightly fatter/rounder/smoother than standard - even better than my Fender AM deluxe strats.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: rock country blues. not metal.

Comments: I put these in a Mexican Fender Classic 50s reissue strat (?400). I have Tom Andersons, US Schecter, Les Paul, PRS and this is currently my favourite - because of the pickups! Played tons of guitar and finally have found 'that' tone. Buy an expensive guitar by all means - but get decent pickups fitted! These are better than my AM Deluxr strat pickups.
Considered Fralins or Kinman (too expensive and perhaps over-rated (by Chris Kinman himself?!)) but went with these after reading the reviews. Not at all interested in Seymour Dincans, replacement strat pups or EMG etc etc. Im not disappointed and will put The Mule p'ups in my Les Paul.
Dont mess about with the others. A 9 only because ?165 aint cheap.

Pickup features: 1954-1961 passive single coil
Impedence or other specs: 5.6k, 5.6k, 6.5k. Alnico 3. A original early 50's Fender pickup was tested and found to be what is now graded alnico 3, although at the time in 1954 alnico was not yet graded which is why you don't see alnico 3 in the Fender specs, although this is indeed what it was.

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Mark Knopfler.
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Fender Texas Specials.
Other pickups on guitar: N/A
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Mark Knopfler
Reason for pickup change: The Texas specials were too gritty, too harsh in the midrange.
The guitar is a 50s/early 60's hybrid and I wanted a sound that is also from that time, the sound from the album Dire Straits Dire Straits and Comminique, check out "once upon a time in the west" and "NEWS" from the second straits album communique.

Perceived output level: 5.6k, 5.6k, 6.5k. Only slightly more powerful than Fenders weakest ever pickup, exactly what you want with a vintage single coil.
Tone: Beautiful, sheer class, no harsh mid, and more open responsive than Fender and others, due to the hand scatterwinding. The bridge is slightly hotter to eliminate any brittleness and the sound is nicely balenced and well difined. Other makers claim that their pickups are hand-wound but infact they are made at best by operating a machine by hand and in most cases completely made by machine. Tim Mills at Bare Knuckle expertly hand scatterwinds every pickup holding the pickup and keeping the specific tension with his thumbs, the pickups are wound by feel which creates a better sound. Because B.K. pickups are all build to order, almost anything you want is possible! I like the push back cloth which is the same as the original Fender, the wire is the same aswell, some of the parts are sourced from the original companies that supplied the early Fender. These pickups are the very nearest you can possibly get to going in a time machine to the 50's and getting a spot-on set of Fender pickups hand scatter wound as they did then, the difference is that it was hit and miss if they sounded good or not, because the girls wound them whilst talking, and lost count of the winds and the tension varied alot, with the Apache's and the other B.K. pickups each one is wound expertly and they all sound great! Forget the other makes. Bare Knuckle are the finest pickups there are.
Sonic evaluation: I use a Line 6 Flextone 2, a Line 6 POD XT-LIVE, and sometimes a Fender Hot rod Deluxe.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Mark Knopfler Style.

Comments: What can I say?
Its impossible for companies who mass market to come anywhere near this quality, its one man making the pickups to order.