Bare Knuckle Pickups Irish Tour

Pickup features: Passive Single Coils
Impedence or other specs: Scatter Wound

Model of guitar or bass: USA 62 Re Issue Strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock Pickups
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Watch this Space!!!!!
You musical style(s): Blues, Rock and some Country
Reason for pickup change: Recommended by Ron.

Perceived output level: Warm and Slightly More Powerful than the Standard Pickups
Tone: Unbelievable Difference
Sonic evaluation: I run all of my Guitars through the same Rig irrespective. Fender Concert 4x10 Rivera Model.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: My REAL Influences are Rory Gallagher, Roy Buchanon, Robin Trower and Bernie Marsden

Comments: I will admit that I have always been a Gibson sort of Guy, (despite my influences!!)
ALL I AM GOING TO SAY IS THIS...........
IF MY FIRST STRAT HAD SOUNDED LIKE THIS I WOULD NEVER HAVE TOUCHED ANOTHER GUITAR!!!!!!
I have been playing for some 37 Years and I have NEVER had a Sound like this before. THIS IS IT! AT LONG, LONG LAST.
Thanks Tim, You Sir are a Star.

Pickup features: Passive Single Coil
Impedence or other specs: Neck and Middle 6.4k, Bridge 7.8k

Model of guitar or bass: 2004 Fender Highway 1 Strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: All positions
Other pickups on guitar: N/A
Artists using this pickup: I thought they used paintbrushes.
You musical style(s): Blues, Blues-rock, A bit of jazz, some grunge and a bit of randomness.
Reason for pickup change: My stock p/ups on my Strat sounded too bright and harsh.

Perceived output level: Described as "Vintage hot", about the same as Texas Specials. More powerful than the majority of stock strat p/ups.
Tone: Very clear with lots of presence. Detailed, defined mids and crystalline bass.
Sonic evaluation: I'm using these pickups in my Highway 1 Strat through a Marshall DSL100 and matching cab. They sound fantastic. The overall balance of sound is the best I've ever heard, with the bridge pickup matching the output of the other two pickups perfectly. I'm amazed by the clarity and presence and how it is acheived without getting stratchy or wearing in the high end. Output is perfect for me, more forceful and solid than the stock pickups without getting muddy or lethargic (i.e not following your playing closely enough as if it's too fat to get moving!). These pickups are designed to offer sounds in the Rory Gallagher (hence the name) / SRV ballpark. To my ears, they come as close to the sounds of those players as your playing technique will let you (And let's face it, that's where 95% of your tone comes from). At the neck and neck / middle positions you can get all the mellow sweet clean tones from SRV tracks like Tin Pan Alley, Lenny, Little Wing etc as well as the chunky rhythm stuff (Pride n Joy, Mary Had a Little Lamb etc.). The bridge / middle combination is great for Rory Gallagher stuff like Brute Force and Ignorance, Bad Penny, What in the world. But most importantly of all, due to the clarity, openness and versatility of these pickups, I get to sound just like me. Top! They really let the nuances of your playing come through better than any strat pickups I've heard.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: As already mentioned, I play blues, rock, grunge, jazz, and weirdness. To me the Strat is the most versatile electric. These pickups are the most versatile I've heard. Neil Young, Pavement, Hendrix, RATM, Buddy Guy, Pearl Jam, Floyd...these pickups will go anywhere I want them to. Unless you want death metal, these pickups have your bases covered.

Comments: I would definitely replace these pickups if they were stolen. I've been playing for 13 of my 21 years. I also own a cheap Encore strat with Kent Armstrong pickups (one hot single coil and 2 single coil sized humbuckers with a push-pull pot for coil taps) and two SGs: A junior with a Kent Armstrong humbucker and a standard with Wilkinson Humbuckers. All these go through an MXR Micro Amp and a Cry Baby, then into the aforementioned Marshall DSL100. There really is nothing to fault about these pickups. Everyone seems to be after the "like a Strat but louder" sound, and as far as I'm concerned, these provide that sound. I'm satisfied that I've got the best pickups for the job and that I can now get on with playing the guitar safe in the knowledge that if I sound crap, it's my fault. Add to all this the fact that you get very helpful and friendly service from the guy who actually makes the pickups, a lifetime guarantee, and free set of strings and a pick, and you're not likely to get much better. The fact that I use 10-52's rather than the 10-46's supplied is worth a moan though! The pick is cool and looks like it's filled with marmite.
Just a final word on the search for the tonal holy grail for a lot of us - SRV's 'Number One' Strat. Here's a quick breakdown of what I reckon contributes to his amazing sound, with helpful percentage points for each. Several Fender Vibrolux or Twin Reverb amps - 1%, 2 Ibanez TubeScreamers 0.5%, 1 Vox Wah 0.5%, GHS 13-58's 0.5%, 21 Huge Dunlop Frets 0.5%, 1 '62 Strat with slightly overwound but stock '58 pickups, 1%, and one Stevie Ray Vaughan 96%. Quite a long-winded way of making my point but I think you'll know what I mean.

Pickup features: Single coil passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Strat, Clapton Signature
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Kinman Woodstock
Other pickups on guitar: Kinman Woodstocks
Artists using this pickup: Not sure
You musical style(s): Blues, Vintage Rock
Reason for pickup change: After changing the stock gold lace sensors to Kinmans to get a more woody vintage tone, unhappy with the result.
decided to have the real thing and forget about the noisless stuff. I've got Fralins in my Blade Strat and wasnt overly impressed so decided to try some home grown pickups and went for Bare Knuckle.

Perceived output level: The same as the Kinman Woodstocks, no volume change when switching between the 3.
Tone: Everything the Fralins were supposed to be these Bare Knuckles actually were! Tim from Bare Knuckle suggested the Irish Tour because they were slightly hotter than the Sultans, my concern were they may loose some sparkle but once played that was laid to rest as the sound had plenty of presence and makes the Kinmans sound sinthetic, which I suppose they are to an extent, althought probably one of the best of the noisless bunch.
Sonic evaluation: I've never thought of the Clapton Sign Strat as a vintage sounding guitar, more of a versitile gigging tool that can sound real fat if you need it. However for the first time in 7 years I can not only get the Clapton sound but also the SRV and Hendrix sound as well. I play it through either a Marshall DSL 50 watt head and 4 x 10 cab or a Peavy Blues Classic (50 watt / 1 x 15 inch Speaker)or a Cornell Rambler (15 watt / 1 x 12). When i now switch between the B.K pups and the Kinmans its like going from a vintage valve amp to a bottom of the range Line 6!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Great for Blues and Rock. i've only got it on the neck position at the moment but will replace the others now that i'm confident and happy with the results.

Comments: I've got 3 strats and will replace all the pups in the Clapton sign and the Blade Texas Vintage (which currently have Frailin vintage hot in) as soon as i can. My 3rd Strat is a new (04) Fender Deluxe and has the Samarium Cobalt Noiseless in which I'll leave because they are the best sounding noisless i've had (which have inluded Kinman, Lace, EMG's, and Fender Vintage). I've been playing 23 years gigging for 11 and have, like most of us, spent a bloody fortune on equipment and wasted half of it. Music may be a fashion, but instruments shouldn't be. I've been led astray by advertising and big names. I've been equally disappointed with PRS guitars, Mesa amps and Kinman pickups, you dont get what you pay for all the time. My Favorite Guitar is a Levinson Blade Strat, Favourite amp a Denis Cornell Rambler and Favourite pickups are Bare Knuckle - BY FAR! Little advertising, Brilliant workmanship, Great Customer support.

Pickup features: Single Coil Strat Set
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 78 Lefty Strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Originals
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Clean 'n' dirty blues: Robert Cray and SRV
Reason for pickup change: Original 70's pickups were really dark and un-Strat-like. Wanted a good cleaner sound with the real 'quack' of great Strat pickups overdriving.

Perceived output level: Similar output, maybe slightly lower than originals, but more balanced
Tone: Superb - mid-trebly, great balance. Just amazing.
Sonic evaluation: 78 Lefty Strat into Marshall TSL122 100W valve.
Wow, clean channel fat 'n' clean, lead channel clear middly overdrive, crunch channel wailing blues. Awesome.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Blues style, fantastic match, great in all positions.

Comments: OK, listen up. These are the best Strat pickups I've tried. I have finally found 'that sound'. I've tried several Seymour Duncan, Lace Sensor, Kent Armstrong replacements and these Bare Knuckles are the best. I contacted Bare Knuckle for advice on a Robert Cray/Dire Straits/SRV sound and Tim Mills suggested the Irish Tours. Hand scatter wound, lefty staggered pole pieces, wired to a replacement scratch plate and dispatched within a week of ordering. Fantastic service. I will be fitting these to all my Strats.

Pickup features: Single coil
Impedence or other specs: 7.8 calibrated from bridge

Model of guitar or bass: Strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Kinman 56
Other pickups on guitar: n/a
Artists using this pickup: Unknown
You musical style(s): All
Reason for pickup change: Still looking for "that sound"

Perceived output level: Slightly hotter than standard
Tone: Well balanced
Sonic evaluation: "Stratulike" and Princeton - work very well together. Traditional strat tones but as you would expect from the name of the set - get that Rory Gallagher sound. Clean and crisp without being too sharp or edgy when clean and when pushed they have just "got it". Bridge and middle position best I have ever heard. All positions very usable, excellent range of tones and potential for use across just about all styles. Very quiet for single coils as well.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: All styles - calibrated set so all positions catered for

Comments: Yes I would buy again immediately. Playing 40 years, other guitars Epiphone SG Custom (with a calibrated set of Bare Knuckle Mule Humbuckers - also brilliant!) and Epiphone Casino (Bare Knuckle P90s on order - will be in the guitar next week!). Quite simply the best brand of pickups I have ever used, and I have been through just about everything over the years, service excellent and the price makes them excellent value. The personal service makes you feel valued and I now have the sound that I have wanted for years - was feeling very jaded with my music, but now it's a pleasure every time I pick up a guitar!