Bare Knuckle Pickups Holy Diver

Calibrated set of Holydivers.

2- conductor.

Neck pickup (A5) = 7,4K

Bridge pickup(A5)= 16,2K

I installed these in my 1985 Gibson Les Paul Custom. I tried Bare Knuckle Mules, Rebel Yells and Cold Sweats and none of them sounded right in this Les Paul Custom; always too much treble and too thin sounding.

The main reason that I choose for these pickups: I was looking for warmer voiced pickups with less treble/more bass. I wanted to have a great, warm clean tone and a great distorted tone (for classic, but heavy hardrock).

These pickups don't feel like high output pickups at all (in my Les Paul Custom). The tone is very well balanced on both pickups. The neck pickup is clear, bright, smooth and open (nice 'loose' tone that I love!!!). The bridge pickup is warm, thick and clear. Never harsh or trebly. The middle position sounds like a choir of angles.

I'm playing through an Engl Thunder Thunder 50 reverb; lots of clean stuff and heavy/classic hardrock.

Best pickups I've tried in my Les Paul Custom. I don't have anything negative to say about the tone of my Les Paul anymore...It took me 2 years to find the right pickups for this Les Paul, so I'm more than just 'happy'.

These pickups sound warmer than the other BKP's I tried before in the same Les Paul. The Holydivers are NOT the number 1 recommended pickups for Les Pauls (because of their thick, warm voicing). I can imagine that these pickups could be too thick and warm for most Les Pauls.

I'm blessed.

Thanks Tim!

Passive humbucker, 16.2k, alnico 5 magnet, scatterwound coils, 4 conductor.

Mine is the bridge version and with a Cold Sweat in the neck (perfect match!). My guitar a japanese Hurricane Les Paul Custom copy from early 90's in traditional mahogany/maple top/set neck construction. I've played 70/80/90's Gotoh pickups, EMG 81, EMG 85, Mighty Mite Motherbucker, Seymour Duncan Custom 8 (alnico 8 magnet), Gibson 500t, Bill Lawrence L-500XL, Seymour Duncan Distortion, Gibson 498t and other models and i was never totally happy with their tones, and that's why i tried Bare Knuckle.

Not ultra hot like a 500t or it's BKP cousins (Painkiller, Miracle Man, Warpig), but it's hot, very close to a Duncan JB, but a bit bigger and a lot thicker sounding. I'm playing through a Mesa Single Rectifier Solo Head Series 2 or a Peavey Rockmaster Preamp (sounds like a 5150 in 1U rack space). The bass is very balanced and tight, not too dry and not too smooth. Palm mutes sound very clear and heavy and the highs are very jb-like, but clearer and less spikey. The mids are what this pickup is about. TONS of mids, especially center mids (not upper mids like JB). It's not a dark sounding pickup, but it's VERY thick and it's not overbright. I play modern metal and it fits perfectly almost everything i like, from Randy Rhoads, John Sykes and Vivian Campbell to Alice In Chains, Arch Enemy, Tool, Trivium or Pantera. It's not a death metal or blues pickup but i'm sure it can do anything very well in the right guitar. I don't care too much for clean sounds, but it has a very nice clean, better than any bridge pickup i had.

I'm playing for about 7 years. If i had 10 guitars (and money), I'd put Holy Divers in 4 guitars... the others would have Miracle Man, Painkiller and Warpig sets. I can't wait to get another fixed guitar to order a Miracle Man set. It's VERY expensive but it's worth it.

Pickup features: Passive hmbuckers
Impedence or other specs: no idea

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson SG firebrand
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock Gibson
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Rock, metal etc...
Reason for pickup change: Late 70's stock gibson pickups need I say more!

Perceived output level: Hot
Tone: Clear ,balanced,fat
Sonic evaluation: SG into DSL50 4x12 greenback loaded cab with OD3 and Budda wah.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Rock,metal,blues may even cover some Jazz bases

Comments: Tim is a gentleman and a genius. He had the time to talk through the options and actually understood what I was after, It was refreshing to talk directly with who would be making these monsters I doubt very much Larry or Seymour would give of their time so easily. Thanks Tim Blinding piece of Kit!! I have a set of Mules on order now so will let you know how those bad boys sound.

Pickup features: Passive humbuckers
Impedence or other specs: 13K ish!!

Model of guitar or bass: Late 70's SG Firebrand
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock Gibson
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Rock
Reason for pickup change: Late 70's Gibson Humbuckers need I say more!!

Perceived output level: Hot
Tone: Clear, excellent string separation, has given this slab of mahogany a new lease if life.
Sonic evaluation: SG into Budda Wah- OD3- DSL50 Head with greenback loaded basketweave cab.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Mostly play Rock but is more than capable of dealing with all ,bar Jazz/country.

Comments: Having called Seymour Duncan and Dimarzio and finding that Seymour and Larry weren't available to talk on the phone about their pickups(!)I tried Bareknuckle. Talking to Tim was such an refreshing experience, he understood what I was tring to achieve with my tone not just pushing the latest product but spending the time to find out what was going to work for me. This is the only way I will buy pickups now and have just gone back to get a set of Mules for my Les Paul classic. The information knowledge, all around advice is worth the money alone! Why would you ever consider buying from anyone else. Tim you are a gentleman and a genius