Bare Knuckle Pickups The Boss Tele Set

Pickup features: Single Coil
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Telecaster
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Series 2 Squier PUPS
Other pickups on guitar: None
Artists using this pickup: N/A
You musical style(s): Rock,jazz, eastern, heavy, blues
Reason for pickup change: The Standard PUPS were too thin sounding.

Perceived output level: Hotter than a Tele Pickup, sort of half way to a humbucker
Tone: Bright yet a good thick midrange in the Bridge PUP, the neck is very clear and round
Sonic evaluation: A Line 6 Flextone 111 and a Behringer Vintager 112...mainly studio use, plus software amps on my Powercore and UAD card.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I want to use it for clear but grunty chordal work and some soloing

Comments: If it were stolen I would be devastated...especially as I just completely rebuilt the Tele as well, nice spray job with binding and I re fretted it with jumbo frets etc..
I have been playing at least 35 years and used to practice about 8 to 10 hours a day.
I have loads of recording gear and about 11 guitars, strats,teles, ES 295, Ibaneze, Variaxe etc..
I also bought the Apaches Set (see my review on those) anyway these PUPS are more aggressive and punchy than the Apaches...kind of almost like a humbucker, but still with the Tele twang.
The thing I really like is they have character, bend a note and you can hear the nuances...even on fairly heavy overdrive.
I would describe these pickups as nasty, twangy, punchy and versatile...much better than any other tele pickup I have heard.
They are awesome even for soloing in a rock style...generally teles are too thin and bity for this, but not the Boss set.
I am very happy...these are great PUPS.
I have the Tele sound I want and more, I will be looking no further.

Pickup features: Passive single coil Telecaster set
Impedence or other specs: Bridge Alnico 5, 8.2K - Neck Alnico 5 7.24K scatterwound

Model of guitar or bass: Tom Anderson Hollow T Classic
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Tom Anderson TV1 and TV3
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Blues, Rock, Punk
Reason for pickup change: The Tom Anderson Hollow T Classic is a very special Tele style guitar and I wanted to see if I could make it even more perfect.

Perceived output level: Slightly hotter than the TA pickups
Tone: Bright, punchy, open and well balanced, bringing out the full harmonic richness of the guitar with
Sonic evaluation: I play the Hollow T Classic through a VHT Pittbull 45 (a great amp!). I bought the Tom Anderson because I wanted the best Tele sound available. I was nervous about replacing what are already great pickups. Could they really be improved? Would I turn it into something that sounded great, but not like a Tele? Well believe me I needn't have worried.
The Boss set give you everything you could ever want from a Tele style guitar. They don't turn it into something it's not, they just seem to add extra dimensions. The bridge pickup is everything a Tele should be and more, while the neck pickup is perfectly balanced in terms of output with a sweet and open sound that's capable of real drive when pushed. Anyone who's ever played a Tom Anderson will know how they seem to have a harmonic richness that other guitars don't even hint at. Add Bare Knuckle pickups and somehow you take it up another gear.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Buy a Rolling Stones DVD, put it on and play along... you'll convince yourself you should be up there on stage with them!

Comments: I'm a Bare Knuckle fan.
They provide wonderful personalised service, the best imaginable pickups, have a great image and a good price.
Putting Bare Knuckle pickups on a guitar convinces you that you've got the best it's possible to have. If you want the sound your music deserves check out their web site and buy some. You won't be disappointed.

Pickup features: Singl;e coil
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Tokai Breezysound
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Fender Custom shop "relic" Nocaster
Other pickups on guitar: Dimarzio Twank King (neck)
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Rock / pop
Reason for pickup change: I wanted more output without going the hotrails route and still wanted to keep the Tele tone.Having purchased Bareknuckle pickups before I was aware that these are probably the best pickups in the world.

Perceived output level: Traditional Tele pickups with taller alnico magnets and redesigned
Tone: As stated, a higher output pickup than norm, but very balanced .
Sonic evaluation: Tele into Mesa Boogie,Excellent pickup in fact I would recommend Bareknuckle pickups to anyone who wants the best tone available.Very strong and hold its own in a 3 x piece band .Cleans up nicely when the volumn knob is rolled back and very defined.
This pickup rocks!
Just as good as the excellent Bareknuckle "Brown Sugar pickup set" I recently bought and fitted to another Tele but musically different.
Tim explained in great detail over the phone, its his own design and they are manufactured these with alnico magnets.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Used for rock and pop.This pickup will cover every style though.

Comments: I don't intend to buy any other pickup other than the products on offer from Bareknuckle.The whole range are serious bits of kit picking up rave reviews in UK guitar mags and are very sought after.
A local Fender dealer has some Bareknuckles fitted to a LP and C/S Tele and the difference compared to the standard guitars is very noticable.
These pickups are very sought after, the talk of most guitar shops and designed and built by a musician who takes pride in his products.
First class service.
If have a LP/SG/Strat/Tele then ring Tim immediately, buy them, fit them and prepare yourself to be stunned.

Pickup features: Single Coil
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Squier Standard Telecaster MII 2003
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock Alnico set
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Don't think they've been around long enough yet, but I won't be surprised if these are successful.
You musical style(s): Roots, Punk, Funk, Jazz
Reason for pickup change: GAS is part of it, but I knew that the Squiers were good guitars that could be made better with better quality electronics.

Perceived output level: When I first plugged into a boutique tweed tube amp, I noticed a definite increase in output, and this was even before the pickups were height adjusted. It was a great sound with all of the individual strings crisp and defined, clear and true.
Tone: It is warmer, more ornery with no icepick. Different pick attacks yield different sounds; it seems that raising the neck pickup has less of a sonic difference than moving the bridge pickup. March the tone off and the neck pickup has some great Jazz potential. It has the tele twang and yet not the thin high flavor that I really noticed in the Squier, and if that wasn't enough; all out on the volume control gets a nice little breakup, gritty but articulate, a well struck chord will put a smile on your face.
Sonic evaluation: I use Vox SS amps and a small boutique tube amp as well as a Randall half stack and a Roland JC with 2 12s in my playing situations at home, and stuff with my band. I am looking for the ultimate overdrive still, but my pedal set is only a Dano Cool Cat Chorus and George Dennis Wah-Wah, and I intend to keep it small. The Randall is only good for the power, so it is important that the guitar can get a good variety of tones. I am pleased to say that with the Boss set, it does. There are Springsteenian ( a new word?) growls and no harsh icepick sounds; I guess that the sound is influenced somewhat on the Barden set that he plays now, but I listened to some stuff from 1978, prime Esquire material, and I can recognize the tone, and emulate it. With a Vox amp I am finding the greatest surprises. Whether on a Pathfinder or a Valvetronix with the AC30 settings - damn, I just want to play more and more!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: In a band that plays Rock with more a leaning to Roots and Funk, as well as soundtrack work that covers electronica, world and some jazzier stuff, I haven't found a situation yet that these pickups can't find the sound, my sound. It is really great to find so many sweet spots with only adjustments to the volume and tone knobs. But that is why Tele's rule; so much variety in such a simple set up.

Comments: These pickups are very new; I originally was looking at the Brown Sugar set, but after a talk with Tim @ Bare Knuckle, he told me about these new pickups they just introduced at some trade show, not even on the website yet. I thought about it a bit and pulled the trigger. I do not regret it, and in my next guitar I will go with Bare Knuckles. As far as other Tele pickups go, I know just the Fender products, so I wouldn't say I'm any authority. But I do know that these pickups are what I was looking for to transform my guitar into something that I could just be happy with and get on with my music.
Pickups are a funny business, there are very few agreed upon views or opinions, and tastes change and then there is the cult of the winder and the flavor of the month status that gets passed around. But check out the other reviews folks; Bare Knuckles do seem to have captured lightning in a bottle. I get the impression that they do take their business seriously, have a passion for what they do, and they make great sounding pickups. These days, some used boutique pickups go for over 500 bucks on fleabay, and some makers might make you wait months before you are worthy to receive. I was notified when my funds arrived, when they were shipped out, and a few days later they were brought to my door. The whole process took about 2 weeks, and we are talking about the other side of the world here. I've been playing for over 30 years, and for most of the time I have been lucky enough to find the gear that works for me, and have the good sense to stick with it.
If I was careless enough to lose this guitar, I'd be back on the phone for another set.

Pickup features: single coil
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 78 tele
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: texas specials
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: its just come out
You musical style(s): blues
Reason for pickup change: the tex specials were good but I wanted something sweeter with a better response, specially at the top end

Perceived output level: more than the stock fenders, less than tex specials
Tone: great, even and true
Sonic evaluation: 78 tele + bassman RI

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: the combination is great, the boss pups bring out the best in the amp

Comments: very satisfied, I`d like to try Lindy Fralins for a comparison but he`d have to go some to beat these. Specially at the price this is tremendous value for a hand wound pickup.

Pickup features: Single Coil
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Telecaster USA.
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Both the neck and bridge positions.
Other pickups on guitar: Seymour Duncan Little59 (bridge) standard Tele (neck)
Artists using this pickup: Five Furious Fish
You musical style(s): Reggae, rock, blues, cajun, celtic, funk.
Reason for pickup change: Just totally fed up with the standard Tele's lack of clarity for rhythm work and the Little 59's, 'wasp in a bottle' lead sound, also needed proper balance between pickups, which seemed totally lost.

Perceived output level: Immediately impressed with the renewed 'bite' the guitar had, these are still single coil pickups but they seem a good 10% more powerful than my previous set up.
Tone: Beautifilly balanced, all tones completely useable and pleasing musically.
Sonic evaluation: I use a Standard USA Tele though a Yamaha DG80 amplifier. I'm not the World's greatest guitarist by any stretch of the imagination but I do play a wide variety of styles and as such I need an array of lead and rhythm tones. I need clean, typical Tele sounds for funk, country, reggae cluck lines, etc, I need lot's of convincing crunch for rock rhythm playing and lead tones that scream but still manage to sound smooth polished and coherent. On top of all this I required a good balance between the outputs of both pickups, the bridge being just that little bit hotter than the neck so that volume adjustments can be kept to a bare minimum.
Let me just say this, in every respect the 'Bareknuckle Boss' pickups surpassed all my expectations and hopes, I really enjoy playing my guitar now and love experimenting with it's delicious palette of pleasing tones. Thanks Tim for a wonderful product and for your better than first class service.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Reggae, rock, blues, cajun, celtic, funk etc, these pickups are totally suitable for all styles in all positions.

Comments: If my guitar was destroyed or stolen, I'd probably think it was God's way of telling me to shut up, if however I bought another guitar with stock pickups fitted I would definitely replace them with Bareknuckles.
Ive been playing for over thirty years and I own too much other gear to list, I run a small recording studio based round a Korg D1600 mk2 linked to a PC running Cubase, my other main guitar is a Taylor acoustic.
I love everything about these pickups, including the cute 'Bareknuckle' logo engraved on the neck pickup cover.
I chose this product after reading reviews on this site and listening to many a sincere recommendation from local musicians and music stores alike.
As far as I'm concerned these pickups do possess 'that sound' my search is over.

Pickup features: Single Coil Tele replacement
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 52 Reissue Tele
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock
Other pickups on guitar: none
Artists using this pickup: Just me!
You musical style(s): Rock/Blues
Reason for pickup change: Not happy with stock pickups, a bit weak sounding and lacking in character.

Perceived output level: slightly hotter than stock
Tone: beautifully balanced, not harsh
Sonic evaluation: Plugged directly into my Marshall TSL601 these pickups have made me fall in love with my tele all over again. They are designed to emulate the sound of a certain American rock star (see pickup name for a clue) and they definitley have that full tone. The neck is smooth and clear, good note definition. The bridge does not have that harshness associated with some tele bridge pup's, it cuts nicely without too much top. Both positions clean up great with the volume backed off.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: For rock rhythm or lead on a tele, these are perfect.

Comments: Tim from Bare Knuckle could not have been more helpful. He let me have a set of these pickups even thouhg they weren't officially "on the market" yet. I will use Bare Knuckle in all my guitars whenever I decide to replace the pickups in them. Give him a call!

Pickup features: Single coil, hand wound.
Impedence or other specs: Bridge: 8.22k, Neck: 7.35k

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Telecaster '52 RI
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock
Other pickups on guitar: -
Artists using this pickup: ??
You musical style(s): Blues/Classic Rock/Hard Rock
Reason for pickup change: The stock bridge pickup lost some output. It probably could have been fixed quite easily but I decided that it was a good time to try some replacements.

Perceived output level: Both pickups are hotter than stock, the neck seems slightly less so.
Tone: Bridge pickup handles the hard rock styles that I play yet still retains that traditional Tele flavour and twang. It cuts through without ever sounding harsh as was the case with the stock pickups. It also has greater detail in the mids whilst still sounding ?raunchy? as a good tele should. The neck pickup is excellent in that it retains that sweetness that I loved in the stock pickups but it has slightly more power which means I can use it playing live without it getting lost in the mix or the bass turning to mush.Mid position works really well for rhythm playing and the fact that it?s slightly darker than normal works well for my style.
Sonic evaluation: I'm using this guitar with a THD Flexi-50 and 2x12 cab with a Teese Picture Wah and Legendary Tones Time Machine Boost. One of the great things about the Flexi is how well it cleans up with changes to the guitars volume. One of the things I discussed with Tim was the ability for the pickups to clean up well with the volume pot on the guitar and it does this excellently despite being hotter than stock.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Great all rounder. I happen to think that Teles are far more versatile than most people give them credit for so, to my mind, a good Tele pickup is very adept at a range of styles. My concern was that these pickups dealt with the heavier styles I play whilst still sounding like a Tele. I'm pleased to say that they do.

Comments: Overall, I?m quite surprised at the difference they have made. My previous experience with pickup swaps has been less than great so I was rather expecting to be a bit disappointed. Happily, they sound great and I am content that the guitar sounds as good as possible. I can't say that I've tried all the options such as Fralins or the pickups du jour such as Hamels and Lollars but I don't feel compelled to after installing these.
Tim Mills is a class act who answered my initial e-mail within 1 hour of me sending it and then talked to me at length about the options available, how to install the pickups and just generally chatted about his business. His enthusiasm and knowledge shone through.