Bare Knuckle Pickups Black Dog

Calibrated set of Black Dogs. Burnt Chrome covers.

2008 Gibson Les Paul Standard

We (myself and my wife) own several sets of Bareknuckles already, this guitar was going to be kitted out with them before we'd even decided which guitar to buy. It was just a question of which set.

These are from the Vintage Hot range. Vintage sound with a bit more muscle. Originally we were considering a set of Mules for the Les Paul, however once we had the guitar it became clear that it was quite bright for a Les Paul, and so a slightly hotter pup might be required. The Black Dogs were the answer.

All Bareknuckle pickups give you superb sound, they are clear, articulate, detailed and stunningly versatile. The Black Dogs are suitable for anything from clean to rock, they can do heavier styles as well but if that's your thing then Bareknuckle have other pups to suite your style.

Bareknuckles are very sensitive and it's always worth playing with the pickup height until you get the sound you want.

Every guitar we own has Bareknuckles in it now. Gibson stock pickups don't come close. DiMarzio's don't come close. Seymore Duncans are more expensive and still don't do it.

Always worth checking your choice with Tim before you purchase, he is Yoda.

DC: Bridge 9.5k / Neck 7.6k
Magnet: Alnico V
Wiring: Four Conductor
Covers: Solid *dulled* nickel
Size: 50mm

These pickups are wax potted as well.

I installed these pickups in an ESP Edwards E-LP-98LTS Les Paul copy, which is an amazing Japanese copy of a Gibson Les Paul 59 reissue complete with 1 piece mahogany body and long tenon neck. In my search for the ultimate (but reasonably priced Les Paul) I stumbled upon ESP's Edwards guitars which are made sold only in Japan. The guitar was perfect in every way (especially acoustically) but the stock Seymour Duncan JB/59 combo left a bit to be desired, especially considering the "classic" tone I was looking for.

I had used Bare Knuckle in the past for Strat pickups (Apaches) and metal (Ceramic Warpigs) and P-90's (Mississippi Queens) and was always blown away by Tim Mill's pickups. This time I wanted a vintage humbucker, something I had yet to try from Bare Knuckle. I emailed Tim and asked about Mules and he recommended Black Dogs instead, as Black Dogs still have that vintage vibe, but are hotter.

I also was shooting for the look that the pickup covers in the VOS Gibson re-issues had, and Tim recommended a solid nickel silver covers with a dull nickel plate. When I first got them I thought the shade of the covers was a tad too dark looking and that they looked to "perfect" to be aged. After one week of playing this guitar between 4 and hours a day in a humidified house they look killer!!! By killer, I mean "aged". The bridge on the guitar is dulling already so they are matching that quite nicely. As far as sounds goes, read on. :)

Output wise I would say they are lower output than the stock Duncans which is fine because the Duncans were oddly microphonic (despite the fact that they were supposed to be potted). These pickups (surprisingly) are MUCH quieter than the Duncans but with 10 times the tone. When SOME people claim that the Edwards Les Pauls don't sound like "the real thing", I'm convinced it has everything to do with the pickups. I adjusted the heights so that the bridge and neck are dead even in terms of output and just WOW...amazing detail, FULL bass and midrange and just gorgeous shimmering tones in ALL positions.

I'm playing through a Mesa/Boogie F-30 with a Maxon SD-9, FullTone FullDrive 2, and for practice I play through my Roland Cube. For a good idea of what this guitar and pickups sound like, listen to "All your loving" off of the John Mayall and the Blues Breakers album. TOTAL vintage Les Paul sound. I am sure it sounds like Jimmy Page as well, but I'm more blown away that I can nail Clapton's tone on that album with this guitar (and pickups) and my Maxon SD-9 (analogman modded). Also, I can nail the tone of Clutch on most of the songs on "Blast Tyrant". Also sounds great for Lenny Kravitz and I can pretty much nail Page's tone on "Moby Dick".

Last but not least, my cover band plays a few songs by Tool and they can get into that territory as well with a little help from the Fulltone Fulldrive 2 overdrive pedal. These pickups are versatile but definitely NOT a jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none.

I don't recommend these for metal, but Bare Knuckle has other pickups for that. For classic rock and blues, these are tops.

Remember that these come four conductor wiring stock, so I had my guitar shop wire them with the "Jimmy Page wiring" (or so I am told) which gives me three push-pull pots and the ability to tap the neck and bridge (individually and together) as well as put the pickup switch in the middle and make the pickups out-of-phase with each other (think Peter Green) which sounds amazing! This out-of-phase setting works for both tapped and not.

If lost or stolen, I would definitely replace these in another Les Paul style guitar (Heritage, ESP Edwards or Navigator, etc.).

I have owned 3 Gibsons with "stock" pickups prior to discover ESP Edwards and Bare Knuckle pickups. I basically have the ultimate vintage sounding Les Paul in my hands with this guitar and pickup combination. Add the coil tapping and Jimmy Page wiring and I have everything I could ever need from an instrument.

No comparison to these pickups...the Seymour Duncans fall so far below this it's not evern funny. I've read peoples rave reviews about Duncans and I have to believe they have not heard Bare Knuckle.

Tim Mill's customer service is second to none...I was going to basically by the wrong pickups and Tim steered me in the correct direction, as well as making the pickups look EXACTLY like what I wanted.

A 15 on a scale of 1-10 for product quality, features and customer service. Stop spending money on crap and buy these.

matched/calibrated pair of bare knuckle black dog pick ups.
dc 9.75k
alnico v

i installed these pups in my gibson les paul special which has a very immediate and strident acoustic sound which i decided to compliment/exagerate.
they relaced a set of stock gibson pups which i thought were too muddy and cheap sounding.

i am using my guitar with a very clean boogie f100 amp head and cab and use various quality pedals for od /distortion.
output level is similar to the gibsons but there the comparisons end...the BK tone has a mid rich mahogany bark which is exactly what i was looking for,cleans are pure, and overdriven the pups sound even better.
i chose the wax potted option but what i didn't expect was the reduction in noise/hum/buzz and can now drive my amp and pedals a little harder.

installing these pups has raised the level of this guitar up a couple of classes...truly wonderful tone.everything you might have read or heard about these pups is true.
i have noticed that tim from BK has a fine reputation for customer service that is also very true...i have on a number of occasions emailed him to help me with some unrelated issues and have always received prompt and informative replies.class act.
if you have a guitar-no matter the price-and you are looking to upgrade, do yourself a favour and check out BK pups you wont regret it. 10s all the way.

Humbucking Alnico Magnets PAF style Pickups
Hand-wound 2 wire
Open (no cover)

The Mule - typical vintage PAF
Black Dog - hot PAF

Having bought a Les Paul standard with Burstbucker pickups I was in the market for upgrading to a more vintage sound. In particular I wanted to clean up the neck sound (the origanal Burstbucker sounded muddy to my ear - a question of taste I suppose)and have a fuller sweeter sustain at the bridge. Think Jimmy Page or an older Santana sound.

Cruising the web I found the Bare Knuckle site and read the rave reviews. Tim at Bare Knuckle recommended The Mule for the neck and the Black Dog for the bridge based on my requirements.

What can I say? Outrageous. These pickups gave me exactly the sound I was looking for - only better. They brought what was an already good guitar to life.

I installed the pickups myself (dead easy if yu take care with the soldering iron).

I play through a VOX valvestronix 120 head using the UK blues or the fender amp models.

At the neck I had a strong mellow tone with very clear articulation which was maintained through overdrive. Bags of sustain and VERY reactive to picking dynamics.

At the bridge a very hot but sweet sound. Again, very articulate, very responsive ( great pinch harmonics - dead easy). Sustains for a week if you want.

I play variety of music but with a strong bias towards 60/70 classic rock. The guitar matches this perfectly with these pickups. It also works surpringly well with the 80s/90s rock sound with hi-gain amp models and overdrive, the value of the articulation provided by the pickups helps a lot with this kind of sound.

One note - these pickups are hot. I found that I was getting the sound I wanted with a quite wide seperation from the strings and rolling off the volume pots. Adjust to your taste basically.

If ever I buy another Les Paul I would do this upgrade immediately. This was some of the best money I have spent on gear since I have been playing ((38 years!).

Black Dog Humbucker Pickup (and also a the mule)

I replaced the standard issue pickups on My les Paul with the above pickups. The reason to be quite honest is because i wanted my dad to buy me a standard (as i currently have a studio) and the idiot in the shop recommended just changing the pickups. Thanks to that guy i thought. I purchased the bare knuckle pickups, black dog on the neck and the mule on the bridge.

As i wanted a standard, i was a little upset i only came away with pickups for my guitar as i am an un-grateful shit, but having installed the pickups, got it home to my amp and played with it i was rather surprised at the extreme differnce made by these astounding pickups. I never thought it could happen, but i was happier having spent ??160 on these pickups then i would have been getting a ??1200 standard. Thay are that damn good. I recommend them to any guitarist out there, as they are simply the best. Superb tones, i describe them thus: They make your guitar sing like an angel or scream like a whore. Enough said really

I have already put the same pickup arrangement on my birthday list for my jackson sl2, and i will again do the same on my ibanez jem. Even though these are very expensive guitars and come with outstanding pickups, they just are not as good as bare knuckle. I compared these pickups to my seymour duncan humbuckers on my jackson which are alot pricier, and they simply didnt compare at all. Same with EMG's and di'marzios. Bare Knuckle are simply the best.

Humbucking pick-up fitted in bridge position. Zebra finish, passive.

I replaced the bridge pickup in my 2006 Gibson Les Paul Faded Standard guitar. The original was a Gibson Burstbucker which I was far from happy with. The pickup is uncovered to give a slightly more aggressive sound. I had heard rave reviews about Bare Knuckle Pickups and a friend of mine recently changed his and was amazed with the results.

I play through a Marshall DSL 100 amp and 2x12 cab. The Burstbucker that came fitted as standard just didn't quite do it for me, quite a nasaly sound rather than warm. The Black Dog is truly awesome. I can't explain just how much better it has made the guitar. Say 100% better and Im not exaggerating. I play modern and classic rock so I didn't want it too vintage but not too modern either. Its perfect. We play a few Led Zepp numbers, Close your eyes and it is the perfect Jimmy Page sound, perfect.

I love everything about it, honestly. If I had to buy another Les Paul I would change the pickup for a Bl;ack Dog again. The best ??90 I have ever spent !

Matched ,calibrated set of Black Dog Humbuckers.9.25 Bridge,8.0 neck output.

These are now in a handmade repo of a '59 Les Paul Standard/Flametop.I built the guitar in the fall of 1989 out of carefully hand selected woods including a top that would make a PRS # 10 green with envy.I outfitted it with Duncan Gates originally.It has had several different Duncan pups in it.I was looking for something different and had heard much about Bare Knuckles and wanted to give them a try.

The output level is not dramatically different from the Duncans.The tone is much different.These pups can go anyplace.I can obtain a beautiful jazz tone-early Pat Martino with Miles-on the neck pup through my 1964 Fender Princeton.Through my early '70's Hiwatt Custom Lead 100 I can get shimmering cleans and can repo any of the classic British stuff going on in the late '60's-late '70's.Using a variety of high end boxes(Fulltone,Prescription,Emma,Morley (Bad Horsie) and Thomas Organ (original Cry Baby)I can nail Jimmy Page to perfection,nail Jeff Beck from 'Truth" or "Wired" when he used his Black Beauty'59.I can obtain even a Satriani like tone (from 'Strange Beautiful Music) pushing the Fulltone Distortion Pro and get a very Vai-ish thing when running the Emma Reezafratzits box in class A and gain up.Through all of it,the pups never lose their incredible touch sensativity,a piano like bounce and clarity,especially on the wound strings,and the ability to go from clean to scream by manipulating the volume pot with no sacrificing the phenominal bandwidth of the pups.I am a now mostly ex-luthier who at one time worked in one of the largest custom shops on the West Coast and had many extraordinary guitars go through my hands.These pups in this Les Paul equal or better the sound of any,and I mean any,guitar that I have ever played.

After several emails to Tim ( a real great guy and great service-had the pups within 10 days of ordering direct from the shop)I settled on the Black Dogs.I could not be happier with the decision.I have had these installed for two weeks and have been playing and recording like mad with them.I have been playing for just shy of 30 years and am into jazz,classical,and killer guitar from Hendrix to Holdsworth to Vai and many points in between.I own a half dozen guitars and a bunch of amps both vintage and hand made rack pre's and amps,from single channel to 3 channel high gain units,each with a different purpose for having.I would hope to never lose this Les Paul as I would have to build another and the new one just wouldn't be the same,however I would buy another set of anything that Tim Mills makes in a heartbeat

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Matched set, 7.5 neck, 10 bridge

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez SZ320mh
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: stock (duncan designed, distortion/'59)
Other pickups on guitar: matched set
Artists using this pickup: none
You musical style(s): rock, progressive, alternative
Reason for pickup change: got "cheap" guitar 'cos it plays/feels great. stock pickups sounded fine, just a bit too hot, wanted a bit moe range in the 'mid-gain' area.

Perceived output level: slightly hot PAF (10k bridge)
Tone: solid lows, powerful mids, very clear highs, harmonics everywhere.
Sonic evaluation: Pickups in a solid mahogany, set neck, rosewood f/b Ibanez. Into marshall or laney valve amps. The sound of these pickups is amazing, nailed the early Lifeson/Rush tone (ie. 'anthem'/'working man') Perfect Les Paul-Marshall tone

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play all types of rock/pop/metal. Pickup can go anywhere.

Comments: Would certainly buy these again, finally got the sound Im after, this guitar sounds better than the Gibson LP standard i sold recently, and is the best sounding guitar ive played.

Pickup features: passive Humbucker (chrome covered)
Impedence or other specs: 10.2K Alnico V

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone G-310 SG
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: stock Epiphone humbucker
Other pickups on guitar: BK Mule
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): everything from the Cocteau Twins to Black Sabbath
Reason for pickup change: stock Epi pup was crap, basically. needed something less muddy low down, and with more clarity and definition for clean parts and leads. plus i prefer the look of covered humbuckers, which the Epis weren't.

Perceived output level: seems about the same volume as the stock Epi pups, but somehow seems to drive the amp more.
Tone: balanced, clear and well defined. plenty of mids, but not overly so.
Sonic evaluation: the Black Dog does sparkley clean sounds, great blues/rock tones with a bit of overdrive and a powerful metal tone as well. by adjusting the volume pot a bit you can really clean-up or distort the tone without touching the amp. it's far better than the SG's stock pickups. really usable tones.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: it does everything i ask of it: clean, mellow tones through classic rock right up to chunky metal riffs. even Melt-Banana.

Comments: if i lost the SG i'd replace it and i'd definately fit another a Mule and a Black Dog, but i plan on keeping this guitar until they screw down the lid of my coffin. my next guitar will probably be a Les Paul, and will get Bare Knuckle pups. to me, it looks much better than the stock Epi pups, and sounds a *lot* better. they may be pricey, but they're hand built to order, and you get what you pay for. extremely well made, great service. i can't fault them.

Pickup features: Calibrated Humbucker set
Impedence or other specs: .

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul 2004
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Burstbuckers
Other pickups on guitar: .
Artists using this pickup: me and pagey
You musical style(s): rock rock rock
Reason for pickup change: The burstbuckers had no bollocks

Perceived output level: BLACK DOGS piss over the burstbuckers - more meat more bollocks more punch and clear tones
Tone: mid biased clean but punchy - if you like me, have found the gibson standard burstbuckers to be dissapointing, then look no further - BLACK DOG is yer man!
Sonic evaluation: Gibson Les Paul, Laney TT100 Head and cab, TC G Major, Dunlop Wah.
I can't wait to get my new PRS kitted out with some Bare Knuckles.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: rock

Comments: MAKE SURE YOU SPEAK TO TIM AT BARE KNUCKLE BEFORE YOU ORDER - HE WILL GIVE YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT.

Pickup features: Matched pair of British hand made, scatterwound Humbuckers
Impedence or other specs: 10k & 8.2k

Model of guitar or bass: Tokai Love Rock
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Seymour Duncan '59 neck & JB bridge
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: ?
You musical style(s): Rock / Metal / Blues
Reason for pickup change: The lack of mid-range tones from the Seymour's (IMO) was really starting to annoy me.

Perceived output level: I would say that they were "Warm" PAF type, but wax potted.
Tone: "Full bodied and strong, with classic mid-range detail". Can't argue with that.
Sonic evaluation: As mentioned previously, they're in a Tokai Love Rock, which is then plugged in to an Ampeg VL-503 Valve combo, or a PODxt. I've had to take the Ampeg back to the starting point (everything at 12 o'clock) and then re-dial in my sound, as these pickups have loads more mid detail than the SD's I replaced. I found that the SD's were really good with the treble & bass, but seriously lacked any mid (to my ears), and I had also started to find them to be a little bit "clinical". Time for a change.
After looking at what was about, and deciding what I was looking for, I looked into Bare Knuckle's a bit more, as I'd heard loads of good things about them. Luckily enough, my local music shop had a Tokai Love Rock in, loaded with a pair of Black Dog's, so I tried them through a Cornford Harlequin 6w valve combo. Clean they sounded really clear & sparkly bright, with good string balance, take the gain a bit further to "just breaking up" territory, and they sounded as though they were well suited for blues & blues rock. Turn the gain up a wee bit more, and you get well into the rock arena, from Cream & Free to Sabbath to Metallica & beyond (although not so good for chuggy Nu-Metal maybe). IMO, they're a lively, full bodied pickup with a good mid-range bias, and excellent string clarity.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I (try) to play Rock / Metal / Blues, and IMO they are perfectly suited to these styles. The neck may well even be warm enough for Jazz. I've got them in both neck & bridge positions, and the pair are well matched in either position.

Comments: Overall rating? Top marks to Tim, who makes them. Not only are these pickups made in the UK, they're scatterwound by hand, with 4 condutor wiring and wax potted as standard, with the choice of gold or nickel covers, black or zebra open coils. In the packaging is a free set of Martin strings and a Bare Knuckle pick, along with the "Limited Lifetime Warranty" card. They certainly aren't cheap, but if you look at any other brand of "boutique" pickups sourced from the US, you'll pay a damn sight more than Bare Knuckle ask.
Top pickups, top value for money.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Scatterwound

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez RG1570
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Ibanez V7
Other pickups on guitar: Ibanez S1 and V8
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Blues, Rock, Jazz and sometimes Metal
Reason for pickup change: The V7 was just to muddy for my liking..I wanted somthing that could give me more depth to my tone.

Perceived output level: Probably about the same as the V7 but not nearly as harsh
Tone: Full and warm with just enough drive to make it powerful.
Sonic evaluation: I'm using a 40watt Peavey Envoy and Ibanez RG1570. This pickups is perfect for what I want to play. It gives a lovely rich sound when you turn up the mid, not harsh or aggressive. If you want to play hard rock or metal then the Black Dog won't disapoint it's awesome for solos and chunky riffs. I found this pickup also really shines on the clean setting. It's sound is crystal clear and once again gives a nice full tone.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I am using the Black Dog for playing light rock and for jazzy Frank Zappa type sounds. The tone it gives for it is exactly what I was looking for. I think the Black Dog is equally suitable for both neck and bridge positions

Comments: If it was destroyed or stolen I would definately buy another as it has given me all the things that the V7 didn't. I have been playing aproximately 7 years and I also own several other electrics and a couple of classicals. The first thing that I noticed when i put the Black Dog in was that I had alot more sustain which is what i had been looking for for a long time. I also love the warm rich tone that i now get instead of the dry harshness that I got from the old V7.I am yet to find something I don't like. When I decided to buy a new pickup I knew I wanted a Bare Knuckle as they seemed to be the only company that seemed to cater for what I wanted. I am totally satisfied with this pickup and I can't think of any other I'd rather have. I would also like to point out that Bare Knuckle as a company were brilliant. I had a problem with the pickup as I hadn't noticed it'd been made for a guitar with mounting rings so I phoned them up and they suggested sending it back with the V7 so they could make a modfied one using the measurements of the V7. This was at no extra cost and i recived the newly modded Black Dog withing a week of sending it back. I will definately buy from them again.

Pickup features: Passive Humbuckers - Neck and Bridge
Impedence or other specs: Neck - just over 8K and Bridge about 9.25 K

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul Custom
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Two Seymour Duncan 59s
Other pickups on guitar: N/a
Artists using this pickup: Me! and Jimmy Page if he knew about them!
You musical style(s): Blues and Rock mainly
Reason for pickup change: The 59's were great. I've used them for 6/7 years and always been happy with them. Then a friend recommended these with such enthusiasm that I was intrigued. Particularly as I rate him having the most discerning "ears" of anyone I know. He noramlly has really top notch exclusive stuff (Tom Holmes etc) that I wouldn't easily be able to get hold of/afford so when he told me about these and:
1) I could afford them;
2) I could actually buy them in the UK
I was hooked.

Perceived output level: Very slightly hotter than the 59s. A real tone pickup, not a high gain flat honky thing.
Tone: Beautifully balanced. I bought the pickups as a calibrated pair and they are wonderfully sweet, warm and balanced with perhaps a touch more mid than the 59s. Tim at Bare Knuckle who makes and winds the pickups said he's calibrated this set by matching a Alnico V in the bridge with a (rare?) Alnico IV neck magnet.
Sonic evaluation: Ok, as I've said the 59's did the job for me for years. I was very keen not to get caught up in IMAGINING these pickups were different. To prise me away from my trusty Seymour Duncans they needed to be really something and well worth the money. I know there are better pickups out there than my 59's, but i didn't want to spend ?180 for a tiny almost negligible improvement. The good news is I really noticed the difference! They sparkle with the sort of harmonic content that I've never imagined in a humbucker. They completely bring the the sound of a plucked string to life. I play pretty much straight into a custom built old 50w Marshall Head into a 2x12 with Vintage 30s and at home a 1964 Gibson Discoverer Tremolo (9 watt valve amp)and BOY do these pickups sound fabulous. It took a short while to adjust to the slightly higher output and to knock the gain down (even further - I don't play with much), but once i readjusted you couldn't prise these out of my dead fingers! On a clean sound the Bridge humbucker sounds so full, warm, bright and lively. Let's face it, many humbuckers often just don't sound right without a least some overdrive. Well these sound awesome both clean and dirty.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: For the blues/rock I play they are perfectly suited. I use poweramp overdrive where possible and fully use the guitar volume/tone controls to control my sound rather than effects of any kind. I think these pickups would suit any kind of music that you might use a Les Paul for. They are extremely versatile.

Comments: If they were stolen I would go straight out and buy these again. I've been playing over twenty years and I've played/heard a lot of gear in that time. I cannot imagine a pickup sounding better. These are it for me. I love the clarity and the harmonic content. They almost explode out of the amp sometimes and yet will still whisper with plenty of sweet treble when turned down on the guitar volume. They make a lot of other humbuckers I've heard just seem lifeless. These are the business. Seriously.

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Hand made, scatterwound with open coils. About 10K

Model of guitar or bass: PRS CE24 Mapletop, 1990,
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: PRS HFS
Other pickups on guitar: PRS Vintage Bass
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Rock/Jazz/Blues
Reason for pickup change: Wanted more midrange growl, the HFS can be a bit harsh and sterile at times.

Perceived output level: Less than the HFS, but it has more presence due to the fantastic midrange detail.
Tone: Balanced, strong lows, detailed midrange, open high end - but not loads of high fequency just enough.
Sonic evaluation: Using a Marshall JCM800 2204, a Fender Super Reverb, Soldano SP77, Matamp Single Ended valve head, and a Matamp 1224.
Whatever amp you use this pickup gets the best out of your guitars natural tone. It is very responsive to picking techniques, and it's dynamic. It is never harsh, just a lovely balanced sound with powerful but sweet midrange. Pinch harmonics are there whenever you need them without having to try at all! Welcome to the real Pearly Gates!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Lovely Van Halen type brown sound when using the Matamp loaded with an EL34 with the volume on full! If you like classic rock, or any style that needs a great PAF type sound with a bit more meat, try this!

Comments: Happy to have this pickup again if it were stolen. I've used Lindy Fralins, Seymours, PRS, Rio Grande, Gibson, Tom Anderson, Dimarzio etc in teh past - the Bare Knuckles do it for me! At the price they are right on the money - you can pay more than the cost of a Bare Knuckle for Gibson or Duncan or PRS, and they are spun on a machine!!
Tim at Bare Knuckle is really helpful and happy to guide you to the perfect pickup - firts calss service!

Pickup features: Passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Just under 10K

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone Explorer
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Epiphone
Other pickups on guitar: Epihone
Artists using this pickup: ?
You musical style(s): 70's rock
Reason for pickup change: The ones on the guitar sounded a bit dull and I fancied trying something new.Rather than save up for a better guitar I thought changing pickups would be quicker/cheaper to do.Anyway the guitar feels and plays great, just sounds a bit weak.

Perceived output level: It growls. Not a high gainer but hotter than the Epihone pickup which always made me use too much amp gain to get what I needed.
Tone: Not a lot of bottom but very full mids.Cuts through really well and has a lot of detail in the sound.
Sonic evaluation: Laney LC15 with reverb. I don't use pedals just a lead and the gain from the amp. I'm not into metal or really heavy stuff but the Black Dog works really well with the overdrive from my Laney.Good and chunky,no mush just nice round bass and that Page bite.From stuggling to get the sound I've always wanted it's now become so easy.The Black Dog seems to sound good whatever combination of drive and volume I use.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Rock and roll, bit of blues, I'll have a go at most stuff. The Black Dog has great presence and sits really well in the bridge. Haven't tried it in the neck but I'm well impressed so might see if Bare Knuckle can do one wound for the neck.

Comments: Been playing for quite a while and have always hankered after the Page sound. Budget has always been a problem so I thought the best way top get a better sound was try a new pickup. I meet the Bare Knuckle crew at Music Live in the NEC Birmingham, they were really helpful and I had a chance to try out loads of guitars with their pickups in. The pickup cost me ?90 which was really pushing the boat out for me as my guitar only cost ?300 but the change in the sound has been so dramatic it's been worth every penny.I even got a set of strings and a mini switch with the pickup too.
If you want that Pagey type sound this pickup is the one, it really is a classic.