Bare Knuckle Pickups Custom Rewind

Submitted at: 1:27, 7/28/2005

Product Info

Pickup features: Custom rewind, re-magnet, of Korean Epiphone Casino stock pickups.
Impedence or other specs: Bridge DC8.4K Alnico V, Neck DC7K Alnico IV
Price Paid: Pounds sterling Ł84
Purchased from: Direct from Bareknuckle

Instrument

Model of guitar or bass: Korean Epi Casino
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Me!
You musical style(s): Poppy rock, rocky pop
Reason for pickup change: The pickups that come on the Korean Casino are a disgrace in a guitar sold for this much money. They are thin, weedy and dull. (In fact the whole guitar is pretty thrown together...the insides look like a bombsite when you take the pickups off, the neck looks like it was fitted by a monkey, with rought bits of wood to shim it into place etc. Neck and fingerboard and frets not at all bad though)

Sound

Perceived output level: They are typical of a vintage P90, a bit of punch when you dig in, mellow if you back off. Perfect.
Tone: The best thing about them is their tonal complexity. A very three dimensional sound with firm bass, lively mids (especially the highish mids that give a good P90 its squeally bite) and not a trace of harshness or tinny-ness or muddiness.
Sonic evaluation: Very old Selmer Truvoice valve combo, very old Yamaha tranny combo, very new Roland Cube combo. And a J-station for recording.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This is a great all round pickup, you can strum it, play a bluesy or country lead part, I guess even some jazz if you wound down the tone. Probably not high gain enough for shredders though. I can't really see a shredder with a sunburst Casino somehow.

Overall Rating

Comments: I sent the factory ones to Tim at Bareknuckle with a description of the sound I was looking for. (He's a lovelyl chap, by the way). He stuck new magnets in and rewired them to vintage Casino P90 specs using the existing covers. Double wax potted, beautiful workmanship, high quality leads. They came back by return of post, virtually. The results far exceeded my expectations. They’ve turned a bland and overpriced (if you pay anything like the list price which thankfully I didn't) Korean guitar into a fabulous-sounding beast! Chalk and yes, friends, fromage! And I managed to write the whole review without mentioning The Beatl...oh bugger.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 10 Fantastic value

Submitted at: 6:40, 3/21/2005

Product Info

Pickup features: P90's are singlecoil PU's with single adjustable polepieces and a broad and rather flat bobbin. Mine are “dogears” with metal covers, as common on Epi Casino's. I had both the stock P90's of my '00 MIK Epiphone Casino rewound, double wax potted and fitted with new magnets. The bridge P90 is now similar to the BKP-91. The neck P90 is rewound to a custom design based on my wish for a fat yet very clear pickup with low(ish) output.
Impedence or other specs: Bridge P90: Alnico V magnet, dc resistance +/- 7,8k, Neck P90: Alnico III magnet, +/- 7,0k
Price Paid: 85 GPB
Purchased from: Direct from Bare Knuckle Pickups

Instrument

Model of guitar or bass: '00 MIK Epiphone Casino
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: stock korean Epiphone P90's
Other pickups on guitar: -
Artists using this pickup: Geoff Whitehorn and some other
You musical style(s): Indie, 60's pop
Reason for pickup change: The stock P90 sounded rather bland and were unusable with stage levels because they squealed like pigs in serious distress

Sound

Perceived output level: As I rarely use heavy distortion and the Casino is by no means a guitar built for screaming leads and endless sustain I chose to keep the output levels low (but not too wimpy). Output is pretty much what you’d expect from a ‘60ies Epiphone/Gibson P90. In direct comparison with my other guitars these PU’s are mellower than the Classic ‘57s in my Gibson 335, but are more powerful and raunchy than the miniHB’s in my Epiphone Riviera.
Tone: The tone of these is vintage P90. Basically a warm and fat tone that greatly increases in both clarity and perceived output when played a bit firmer. These are very “vocal”, and respond nicely to picking dynamics. Through a crunchy valve amp the bridge P90 is quite raunchy and grinds with authority. The neck P90 came out less aggressive, it has a nice flutey tone with tremendous depth in the basses. This pickup solo would be an excellent jazz sound although that’s not what I use it for. Both pickups are potted very well so they’ll only feedback when provoked.
Sonic evaluation: I play the Casino through a Budda Dual Stage 30 2x12 combo with minimal effects (treble booster, vibe unit, echo). This amp falls somewhere inbetween the Fender and Vox camp and the Casino suits it well. Most of the time I use both pickups on when playing clean and then select the bridge pickup for crunch and beyond. The attack on the wound strings is very obvious, which enhances the character of the Casino and adds some nice percussion and grit. Also noteworthy is the way these PU’s respond to the tone controls (300k pots, 0.047 tone caps), the roll of starts subtle but develops an almost wah-like filtering range without becoming too dull. The sound can get pretty wild in a Neil Young kind of way, with lots of twang, snarl and (semi-controlled) feedback. These pickups finally do justice to this guitar that couldn’t be used in this way before. These pickups react better to the treble booster than increasing amp gain (which tends to decrease clarity and definition).

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: The Casino is perfect for my indie/60’s/Britpop/whatever style, but previously I couldn’t use it for live shows or even rehearsals. Not only are the feedback issues solved, with the refurbished P90’s this guitar sounds more authentic, responds better to subtle or not-so-subtle playing, and is a whole lot more fun to use in general. Neither the Casino nor the P90’s are suited for detuned metal styles or 100Mph VanHalen tapping, although a P90 in a solidbody guitar (eg. Les Paul Jr) would actually work well for heavy rock.

Overall Rating

Comments: I’d replace both guitar and PU’s if stolen, and would definitely get new replacements from Bare Knuckle Pickups. I wasn’t thrilled with modern Gibson P90’s, I liked Rio Grandes better but found them a bit too hot and unsubtle for this guitar. The Bare Knuckles came out just as I had imagined, so I’m very satisfied.

Apart from my personal tonal preferences I recommend Bare Knuckle Pickups in general as they are nice people that pay attention and are easy to deal with, and the pricing is low considering the large amount of handwork involved.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 9

Submitted by: Martijn <martijn_stretcher@hotmail.com>

Submitted at: 1:42, 3/18/2005

Product Info

Pickup features: Original Gibson PAF
Impedence or other specs: was 7.8, rewound to 7.3K and magnet changed to Alnico IV
Price Paid: GBP 40
Purchased from: Bare Knuckle Directly

Instrument

Model of guitar or bass: 1953 Les Paul converted to 1958 Specs
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Gibson Classic 57
Other pickups on guitar: Bare Knuckle Custom Humbucker (see review)
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Blues, Rock
Reason for pickup change: The classic 57 is a nice pickup but was not really doing anything when compared to the Bare Knuckles I had bought.

Sound

Perceived output level: This is a PAF, and gives the classic sound you have heard for years
Tone: Tim wound a slight offset in the coils and it gives that tubular middy PAF sound when driven but cleans up so well
Sonic evaluation: Lots of valve amps. Mainly a Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/50 combo and Fender Princeton Reverb. Also John McIntyre Studio 205, Bluesmaker, Prince O'Wails and Lexicon Signature 284.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Blues and rock. This pickup is magic and in combination with the Bare Knuckle Custom in the bridge, can give all the Peter Green tones.

Overall Rating

Comments: I was a little worried about having this rewound. It is a strange pickup, with PAF coils but a Patent Number sticker and it came of a 65 SG that I bought 25 years ago! Tim told me that the slug coil had been overwound and was a bit messy, this is why the pickup was hotter than standard. After his rewind the sound is incredible. I think I will have him make me another just like it (and perhaps another!). I am still thinking of guitars to put it in. It sounds like I always thought the PAF should sound, from Paul Kossoff's blues tones to some of Jimmy Page's best tones (especially in combination with the bridge). Listen to Since I've Been Loving You and Hearbreaker to get some idea of the tones available. Actually pick out any classic rock track that was played on a Gibson in the late 60's/early 70's and the tone is there.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 10 Fantastic value

Submitted by: Phil <philip_king@msn.com>

Submitted at: 15:17, 1/27/2005

Product Info

Pickup features: Single coil
Impedence or other specs:
Price Paid:
Purchased from: direct from bareknuckles website

Instrument

Model of guitar or bass: Epiphone Casino
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: stock Epiphone
Other pickups on guitar: -
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s):
Reason for pickup change:

Sound

Perceived output level:
Tone:
Sonic evaluation: For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:

Overall Rating

Comments: On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: No Opinion

Submitted at: 3:21, 8/31/2004

Product Info

Pickup features: Humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Bridge (15K Alnico V) Neck (8.7K Alnico III with offset coil wind)
Price Paid: GB Pounds Ł138
Purchased from: Direct from Bareknuckle

Instrument

Model of guitar or bass: Peavey Wolfgang
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Not Replaced but re-worked
Other pickups on guitar: N/A
Artists using this pickup: everyone on this site plus Geoff Whitehorn
You musical style(s): Rock and Blues (british sound)
Reason for pickup change: The Original wolfgang pickups spounded great...to a point. They were microphonic at high volumes, not good if you play through a Marshall halfstack. Had them repotted by my local music shop..but to no joy. I wanted something different other than the usaul Seymour's. Saw the BKP website and phoned Tim. I also wanted more of that P90 "another brick in the wall" tone from the neck pickup

Sound

Perceived output level: A powerfull thick sounding bridge, which back's off to perfection for a beautiful vintage tone. The neck pickup..Mr Mills "needs no education" and best of all..No Microphony
Tone: A strong midrange and open top end, very powerful. The neck is sweet, from that Gilmour sound, right up to wailing blues.
Sonic evaluation: As I said, I run this guitar through a 30th Ani Marshall Halfstack. I have another wolfgang with stock pickups and a maple top (the Bare Knuckles are in My all Basswood model) I also have a Les Paul Classic plus. I wanted to the same sound as the original wolfgang bridge, with a bit of that hot Gibson 500T bridge. I have alwas liked the neck pickup on a strat, but never got on with the bridge sound. I have looked everywhere for a pickup that looks like a humbucker, has no hum, behaves like a single coil/P90 and matches the brigde without too much drop off in volume.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: at the moment I am using this guitar in a Queen tribute band, but have always been a Classic Rock fan, with the tones from Hendrix, Clapton, VH...y'know all the usual people!!!

Overall Rating

Comments: I have been playing guitar for 15 years and have never really replaced pickups in any of my guitars. When i had this microphony problem, I thought I was shafted. Saw that Tim @ Bareknuckle did rewinds, so I gave him a buzz and asked him if he could rework my originals. So of they went. I have had numerous chats with Tim about the tones I was after, so when he recieved the pickups he suggested that he rewind both pickups rather than just pot them..If you all wish to know, there are no secreat ingredients in the Peavey Wolfgang pickups, just a straightforward 14K alnico V. I described the sounds I was after and he put forward some suggestions, He rewound the bridge with 43 enamel wire to open up the top end but keep the power, he also recycled all the old wolfgang parts to keep the original look. They arrived pretty dam fast, with instructions on which one where. The best thing is, Tim is a guitarist, and he speaks guitar language, this is worth its weight in gold!!!! If you have a sound in your head, he will be able to find it. When I first used the new pickups, Iwas a bit dissapointed, I had put my Marshall through the rehearsal sized 1x12 and they sounded styfuled and a bit boxy, so I phoned him and said they may be too hot for me....He said that, I should wait until I had used it properly through my 4x12, which i did this week end. Be it bridge, both or neck alone it THE SOUND. Better, Sronger, Clearer than before, as he described it like a JB without that mid spike, its as hot or as clean as you want it to be. The sound is "sophisticated" Thanks Tim. The search ends here!!!!!!

On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 10 Fantastic value

Submitted by: Barry <barry@wcit.org.uk>