Product: Bare Knuckle Pickups Stormy Monday/The Mule humbuckers
Price Paid: GBP 180
Submitted
03/19/2008
at
04:53pm
by
John Isaac
Features
:
Stormy Monday Humbucker. Alnico II. Impedance is 7ish.
The Mule Humbucker. Alnico IV. Impedance is 8ish
Instrument
:
PRS SE Singlecut
Stormy Monday in the neck
The Mule in the Bridge
Replacing Korean stock PRS pickups to improve tonal depth, range and clarity. I have replaced other stock pickups before (Aria pro hollowbody) with Seymour Duncan (59s and JBs). Although the SDs were a massive improvement, they weren't stunning. This time I wanted real tonal purity as the PRS unplugged is remarkably good (for the price). It is a mahogony body with a slightly carved maple top, and it really sustains well. I had only read about Bare Knuckle, not heard them, so spending ??180 blind (or deaf) was a real act of faith.
Sound
:
10
Significantly hotter output than stock I play through assorted drive pedals (Marshall Gov, Boss Bluesdriver, recently Xotic AC booster) as the mood takes me, to a Polyamp Minibrute Amp. Play Blues, Rock and a little Jazz.
These Pickups are amazing. The neck is the sweetest and cleanest sounding humbucker that I have played. The tonal clarity is staggering. The neck also takes any kind of gain or drive really really well, hotting up in a fabulous blues tone without getting muddy or losing bass clarity. With the tone racked back the neck is a great jazz sound, but again does not get the muddy bass of other humbuckers.
The Mule in the bridge is (I think) slightly hotter than a SD Jeff Beck, but it keeps its clarity and tone however hard you drive it. For blues riffs and lead breaks these tones are all great.
There is simply no position/combination in which these pups don't surpass all of my expectations. I have not yet had them wired for series/parallel, but will repost when I do. I suspect this will offer some tele quack on the bridge, but we'll wait and see.
The bridge is
Overall Rating
:
10
Rating 11 if possible. This company's customer service is second t none. Tim (the MD) replied to my e-mailed enquiry almost immediately with advice. This really sold the product to me.
The product itself is excellent. Hand made excellence! For sure they are not the cheapest pickups on the market, but my recommendation is if you can afford some go for it ASAP. If you can't afford some, sell the car/house/wife.
I've played 20 years. I gig fairly often. I'm no top player, but I know great tone when I hear it. I would definately buy them again if stolen. It is no accident that BKP do not have any bad reviews that I could find.
