Bare Knuckle Pickups Stormy Monday Humbucker

Pickup features: Humbucker, passive
Impedence or other specs: 7.2K Alnico 2 engraved nickel cover, braided cloth wire

Model of guitar or bass: Les Paul Standard
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock
Other pickups on guitar: Stock
Artists using this pickup: None that I know of....YET!
You musical style(s): Rock/blues
Reason for pickup change: Stock pickup was too harsh and brittle.

Perceived output level: Vintage, very similar to to stock '60s PAFs I have on another Les Paul but still enough power to drive the amp.
Tone: Bright but no harshness as with the stock Gibson.Lovely vintage warmth but no mud.Need to replace the neck pickup now as it sounds even worse in comparison to my Stormy monday.
Sonic evaluation: Late '70s Marshall master volume 50w combo, couple of pedals,usual suspects-overdrive,chorus, wah etc.If I can I'll just use a good lead(George Ls), the guitar and amp.Less is definately more.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Everything from Peter Green,Clapton style blues to Gary Moore rock. This is the first time I've really heard this guitar performing properly. It's like having a blanket taken off your amp. The whole impression is of more volume across all the frequencies. There's no nasty midrange spike as with Seth Lovers and the Stormy monday easily sounds as good as the Fralins I've got in my PRS-dare I say, better!

Comments: Everything right down to the beautifully engraved cover exudes class. I did wonder with yet another 'boutique' pickup winder if there'd be any difference.Put simply ,yes! I've tried them all, Seymours, Van Zandts, Fralins and Rio Grande and this pickup wipes the floor with all of them. The others were all made very well(as far as I could tell) but never really seemed to let me hear the guitar AND myself.
When I read the Stormy Monday spec I was a little dubious that a pickup with a DC of 7.2K would have enough poke for me but after my first gig with this baby not only was I rewarded with the most open tone I've ever had but plenty of grunt too. The amp responded well and I could feel more than enough response from the guitat too. I certainly wasn't looking for any more.
Those looking for all out gain would need another model but Bare Knuckle seem to have all the bases covered and things like braide or four conductor are all no cost options.They'll even remove a cover from a Bare Knuckle pickup at no charge just so you don't void the warranty.Oh and the warranty is for life too, if that's not standing by their pickups I don't know what is.
As far as I can tell Bare Knuckle is a very small business with only two people winding by hand, something they seem committed to and from what I can hear from my guitar, makes all the difference.
A couple of days after I got my pickup( which was the day after I ordered it!!)they even phoned me up to check I was happy with the pickup and Had it installed alright. Great service and there was even a pack of strings included in the price-fantastic.
As for price,?99 isn't the cheapest but also nothing like as expensive as some.It's on a par with Gibson's classic '57(tried it and the plus too-nothing like as goodas my Stormy monday) and Seymour's Seth lovers price wise and IMHO you get a whole lot more.Handwound, handmade, lovely engraving on the cover(subtle not tacky), great service and THAT sound. It really does put a smile on your face.
I'm looking at all my other guitars now as they just sound lifeless in comparison to my Stormy Monday loaded standard and they're all going to get the Bare Knuckle treatment.It's gone from the guitar I played least to my main giging guitar.
If it were stolen...I'd show no mercy.
Yes I know it's another 10 rating but I just couldn't give it anything else.