Bare Knuckle Pickups Miracle Man

Pickup features: Scatter-Wound Passive Humbucker (Open-poled / Zebra)
Impedence or other specs: 17.5 for bridge

Model of guitar or bass: Gibson Les Paul Studio (2004)
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Gibson Stock Bridge PU (498T)
Other pickups on guitar: The Mule (Neck Position)
Artists using this pickup: N/A
You musical style(s): Although I play various musical styles I bought the LP specifically to play heavier music (rock and grunge etc).
Reason for pickup change: I wanted a hotter PU than the stock unit in the bridge position (498T just wasn't hot enough), however I wanted the PU to balance well with the Mule in the neck.

Perceived output level: A lot more output than the Gibson 498T.
Tone: Tight Bass response, bags of mid range and treble, abrasive and punchy, pinched harmonics scream with this thing. The Miracle Man also balances surprisingly well with the mule.
Sonic evaluation: Les Paul Studio ? Tech 21 TRIAC ? Tech 21 Power Engine 60. The Miracle Man suits heavy riff based music perfectly (RATM etc) and for solos it cuts through the mix well but retains its balls and doesn't sound thin and weedy at all. The combination of the Miracle Man (bridge) and Mule (neck) gives the LP Studio a lot more versatility than I had expected and with some experimentation with the guitars PU selector and tone controls you can dial in a whole range of sounds from Jazz to full on Thrash.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play Grunge, Punk, Rock, Blues, Jazz, and Funk etc but as I said at the beginning of the review I use the Les Paul specifically for the heavier stuff. I think that the Miracle Man on its own is best suited to heavier riff based music however as stated earlier if you use it in conjunction with the Mule they make a versatile combo.

Comments: This PU delivered everything I was looking for and more. It all started when I bought the LP studio and was disappointed with the stock PU's, My 1st choice was Seymour Duncan (like most people) but a friend of mine recommended Bare Knuckle and then I read the article in guitar buyer. So I contacted Tim at Bare Knuckle and explained what guitar I had and what sound I was looking for, he made some recommendations PU wise, I made the purchase and I have to say the PU's are exactly what I was looking for. Hand wound, in the UK, easy to deal with, friendly. What more can I say other than my Strat will be next!

Pickup features: Scatter Wound Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: 17.5k

Model of guitar or bass: Yamaha Pacifica 112
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock humbucker
Other pickups on guitar: BareKnuckle Trilogy Suite single coils
Artists using this pickup: None I am aware of.
You musical style(s): Whatever I feel like playing.
Reason for pickup change: Bass response was flabby and treble was piercing.

Perceived output level: Hotter than stock.
Tone: Well balanced
Sonic evaluation: Yamaha Pacifica 112>Cry-Baby Wah>Keeley modded Boss SD-1 and DS-1>Small Clone chorus>Marshall AVT20.
All tones sound so much fuller now. I run the Marshall on the OD channel with a little gain (about 3-4), using the pedals as clean boosts and getting different flavours from each.
With just the amp, the tone is big and warm, think AC/DC. The SD-1 pushes the amp into a lovely Van Halen style overdrive. Chunky, defined chords and nicely rounded lead sounds. With the DS-1 the tone becomes slightly more abrasive without ever being harsh. Power chords are huge and crisp, but it can still clean up quite nicely.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: It's perfect for anything I've thrown at it so far.

Comments: Been playing for 9 years and am finally almost happy with my tone. I wouldn't hesitate to buy this pickup again and Tim at BareKnuckle is particularly helpful and easy to deal with. Great price too!

Pickup features: PASSIVE HUMBUCKER
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: GIBSON LES PAUL STUDIO
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: SEYMOUR DUNCAN ALNICO PRO 2, GIBSON ORIGINAL
Other pickups on guitar: DUNCAN SCREAMIN DEMON
Artists using this pickup: NONE AT MOMENT - DESIGNED FOR A ZAKK WYLDE KINDA SOUND
You musical style(s): HARD ROCK / HEAVY METAL
Reason for pickup change: MY LES PAUL WAS WAY TOO MUDDY.I USE THE NECK PICKUP AS MY MAIN PICKUP FOR RYTHMN & LEAD AND NEED SOMETHING A LITTLE CUTTING WITH LOTS OF POWER BUT WARM TOO!AFTER TWO SEYMOURS & 1 GIBSON PICKUP I FOUND IT!

Perceived output level: A POWERFUL HIGH OUTPUT PICKUP.
Tone: FOCUSED MIDS, PUNCHY BASS & WAILING! NO SHRILL TREBLE OR MUDDY BASS.
Sonic evaluation: I'M RUNNING IT IN NECK POSITION OF A GIBSON LES PAUL STUDIO.INTO A MARSHALL GUV'NOR PEDAL AND DUNLOP WAH INTO A MARSHALL TSL100 AND MARSHALL 4X12 CAB.THIS IS AN AMAZING PICKUP.I CANT PUT THE FUCKEN GUITAR DOWN NOW!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: THE PICKUP CAN BE PLACED FOR NECK OR BRIDGE.I PLAY HARD ROCK/METAL AND IT IS A DEFINITE CRANKIN PICKUP.THINK ZAKK WYLDE BOMBASTICNESS WITH A BIT OF VAN HALENS EARLY SOUND THROWN IN TO MAKE IT EVEN SWEETER!

Comments: IF IT WERE DESTROYED OR STOLEN I WOULD DEFINATELY BUY IT AGAIN - IM LOOKIN IN TO GETTING ANOTHER PICKUP FOR MY OTHER LES PAUL.I HOPE TO HAVE BARE KNUCKLES IN ALL POSITIONS OF ALL MY GUITARS!IM NOT BEING OVER THE TOP MAN!IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING I WAS LOOKING FOR IN A BOX!BEEN PLAYING 7 YEARS.HAVE EPIPHONE LES PAULS & 1 OTHER GIBSON LES PAUL SMARTWOOD WITH A MUIR WOOD TOP THAT IS WICKED ANYWAY BUT NEEDS SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE FOCUSSED UP HIGH WITH A BIT MORE OUTPUT.RUNNING IT THROUGH MARSHALL GUV'NOR PEDAL,DIGITECH WHAMMY,JIM DUNLOP WAH INTO A MARSHALL TSL 100 WATT VALVE HEAD INTO A MARSHALL 4X12.COMPARED IT TO TWO SEYMOUR DUNCANS IN THE SAME GUITAR WHICH PROMISED THE SOUND BUT DIDN'T DELIVER.THIS DID!IM WELL APPY WITH THE SOUND - IT'S TURNED THIS GUITAR INTO WHAT I KNEW IT COULD BE, BUT WAS LOSING HOPE! BARE KNUCKLES ARE HAND MADE IN THE UK, BUT WORTH THE PERSERVERANCE IF YOU LIVE ABROAD.IF YOU LIVE IN ENGLAND YOU HAVE NO FUCKEN EXCUSE! I WONT PUT DUNCANS ANYWHERE NEAR MY GUITARS AGAIN.HANDMADE & WOUND FOR 90 QUID! COME ON DUDE!

Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Hand made, scatterwound with open coils. About 17.5K!!! ROCK!!

Model of guitar or bass: Charvel 750XL, Mahogany/maple Body, Maple set neck, rosewood board.
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Dimarzio Steves Special
Other pickups on guitar: Lindy PAF
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Rock/Metal
Reason for pickup change: Wanted more midrange, more harmonics, tighter sound, more bass, just more of everything - without sounding lifeless and toneless!

Perceived output level: Lots more than the Steves Special. It makes teh FET bypass circuit in boss pedals clip!!
Tone: Balanced, huge sound. Powerfull lows, detailed fat midrange, open high end - easy to make it scream!
Sonic evaluation: Using a Marshall JCM800 2204 and a Keeley SD1.
Whatever amp you use this pickup it gets a great result. With the Marshall it's metal heaven (or Hell???). It's not like an EMG that smothers the natural tone of your guitar - you can still hear your instruments personality behind the power! Not at all sterile sounding.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Try this if you like rock and metal with a huge guitar tone! It'll do a great Zakk type sound but it's not limited to that. Tapped it is good clean, and with less gain it does a good fat vintage rock sound.

Comments: I'd buy it agin of it was stolen. I've used Dimarzios, EMGs, Duncans, Ibanez and PRS pickups trying to get a goood solid huge sound. It's a bit like a cross between a Steves special, Evolution and an EMG 81 the best bits in one pickup!
Bare Knuckle are a great company to deal with too!