Bare Knuckle Pickups Piledriver

Submitted at: 3:11, 8/30/2005

Product Info

Pickup features: Single Coil
Impedence or other specs: ?
Price Paid: UK 129
Purchased from: Holiday Music London

Instrument

Model of guitar or bass: Telecaster thinline
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Me
You musical style(s): I'll play any style
Reason for pickup change: It is a mex model need I say more.

Sound

Perceived output level: LOUD! but very clear with no noise
Tone: that's up to you use the tone control these pickups will repsond
Sonic evaluation: For the studio I use a Fender Champ(60s) and a Vox AC5, and for live a orange 50watta thingy head and a super reverb(reissue). At the mo this is my main axe my other teles have Barden pick ups in them and this guitar is just a lot more versatile and I've tried a lot of teles and owned to many to count, these pickups rock!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: mostly blues and country but I play in punk bands and a bit of funk as well.

Overall Rating

Comments: If this guitar was lost or stolen there is no question I would buy these pickups everytime if you play a tele these pick up will do it all you can plug them in to any set up and get a get sound they will even do metal!

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

Submitted at: 5:55, 3/22/2005

Product Info

Pickup features: single coil
Impedence or other specs: 14.3k and 7.65k
Price Paid: UK Pounds 125 per pair
Purchased from: Bare Knuckle Pick Ups

Instrument

Model of guitar or bass: Telecaster parts bin special
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Brandoni's
Other pickups on guitar: Bare Knuckle neck (now - was Brandoni)
Artists using this pickup: Don't know.
You musical style(s): Funk, Rock, Alternative etc
Reason for pickup change: Kent Armstrong Rails in bridge were a bit fizzy and lacking in grunt. Neck OK but wanted to try a set from Bareknuckle

Sound

Perceived output level: Pretty loud - up there with a Duncan hot rails (which I use on my strat)
Tone: Rounded and beefy with a lot of middle but not unnatural because of it. Still clearer than humbucker when overdriven. Not in any way shrill - very chunky and versatile. Gives a nice chewy feel when overdriven. When Keeley distrtion and Boss compressor on it rocks with the best of them!
Sonic evaluation: My guitar is a home built parts specdial. Solid maple neck from 80's Fender Japan Strat on a no-name solid wood Telecaster body. Gotoh bridge etc. This goes into a Boss pedal case containing Boss V-Wah, Boss CS3 compressor, Robert Keeley customised Boss Ultra DS-1, and Boss PH3 Phaser. Signal then goes into Tech21 Trademark 60 combo. The combo has a Alesis Quadraverb plugged into effects loop.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: The guitar is now extremely versatile. The Piledriver bridge gives a truly fat sound but is still very versatile.

Overall Rating

Comments: I would buy these again. Tim and Ray at Bare Knuckle give superb, friendly and personal service. When I didn't want the Piledriver neck (it sounded beautifully bluesy solo but I lost my middle position quack) Tim responded by recommending the Brown Sugar in non-reverse wind mode and switched them for me. Also soldered in extra earth for four position switch at no extra charge. The Piledriver bridge was his recommendation based on what I asked for and he was dead right. I have been playing for over 25 years. These are excellent pickups and the difference was noticed by other (non guitar playing) members of the band. The Brandoni's were very good value and I haven't binned them. These are in a different class though. I will be going to Bareknuckle for a Strat set sometime in the future.

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

Submitted at: 9:34, 2/12/2005

Product Info

Pickup features: single coil telecaster set - bridge uncovered
Impedence or other specs: Whatever it said on the box
Price Paid: pounds sterling 125
Purchased from: bare knuckle

Instrument

Model of guitar or bass: USA '89 Standard Telecaster
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: US Standard
Other pickups on guitar: None
Artists using this pickup: None to my knowledge
You musical style(s): Too many to mention
Reason for pickup change: Original Standard pickups a bit thin at bridge position and muddy on neck position. Both together very muddy and un-defined.

Sound

Perceived output level: Clearer definitition, more power
Tone: New pickups perfectly balanced, once pickup height nailed
Sonic evaluation: '89 USA Standard sunburst Telecaster - my baby dammit. Fender Deluxe 90 Tranny Amp approx 2 Y.O., hoping to get blues Junior soon!! Occasionally, Marshall Guv'nor II to give deeper sound, after fitting these pickups, straight to amp, saving ŁŁŁ's on PP3's!!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Kinks, Stones, Beatles, Doors, early Zep, Radiohead, UK 70's Punk, more recently , US Punk ( Green Day, Offspring ) , Muse, Feeder, White Stripes, Hives, to accompany 12 Y.O. son learning drums

Overall Rating

Comments: 1. Stolen or destroyed ? Fuck that !!! would'nt even contemplate it. 2. 12 years +/- a year or 2 see above for limited kit, bought and sold Boss GT 6 recently, nice kit but could'nt be arsed fiddlin' about to get tone required. 3. What do I like about it ? Everything, ABSOLUTLEY EVERTHING !. The definition across all strings is incredible, the volume knob has a very perceptable effect on tone as does small increments of 'tone' control( a first ), The Standard Pickups must have beedn made in Eurodisney by robots in comparisson. The sheer clarity available is amazing, leaving no doubt to the dedication to perfection in the build quality. I was looking at converting my Tele to a Fat tele, putting a humbucker in the neck, but this purchase retires that idea immediately. These Pickups are awesome to the nth degree, I cannot recommmend them enough for a Tele player wanting absolute control over their tone. 4. Can only compare to Standards, pisses all over them hands down 5. Could'nt wish for anything more from them apart from free Fender valve amp - any condition/model, offers gratefully accepted!! 6. Could not be more satisfied, unless see above. Tone through pokey tranny amp incredible. Variations of Tone, using basic Tele controls fucking unbelievable. 7. What else to say ? I know Jonny Geenwood ( Radiohead ) replaced his stock tele pickups with lace sensors, but i bet they don't hold a candle to these baby's. If you want Tone that you can control from the guitar, very clear string definition, and oodles of 'fuck off' attitude from your Standard Tele, look no further than Bare Knuckle. The amount of attack and tone which is immediately perceptable can only be described as outrageous-how such a small amount of cash, can and does make such a massive impact on the tonal qualities of 'my baby' is, retrospectivley, ridiculous. Bare Knuckle are the best thing to happen to this particular guitarist for a long time, tonally speaking, I cannot rate this product highly enough. I would expect these particular pickups to be re-named as the Dogs Dangly Bits very soon!!

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

Submitted by: Dave <dave@optyma.co.uk>

Submitted at: 11:14, 9/29/2004

Product Info

Pickup features: Single coil
Impedence or other specs:
Price Paid: sterling Ł75
Purchased from: Bareknucle

Instrument

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Telecaster
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Stock
Other pickups on guitar: None - neck removed
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Rock n roll, punk, metal
Reason for pickup change: Stock pickups far too weak and unable to keep definition at higher gain settings.

Sound

Perceived output level: High output, but with loads of tone and soul
Tone: really crunchy when needed, but will purr like a pussycat as well
Sonic evaluation: Fender Tele, Marshall JCM800, Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, Marshall JMP Mk 2

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Hard edged punk, r'n'r, metalIf

Overall Rating

Comments: If it was stolen, I'd kill the perpetrator very slowly... This pickup kicks the arse off the stock unit, and it gives me every sound I need. It gives a lovely smooth clean tone and when on the dirty channel it dirties up nicely with use of the vol pot, until finally it opens out into a real roar, but whilst maintaining an essentially single coil sound, open and crisp but with real attack and dynamic. Sounds like a Tele on steroids and in dire need of anger management!! The only choice...

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

Submitted by: Owen Stimpson <ods1000@hotmail.com>

Submitted at: 11:14, 9/29/2004

Product Info

Pickup features: Single coil
Impedence or other specs:
Price Paid: sterling Ł75
Purchased from: Bareknucle

Instrument

Sound

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Hard edged punk, r'n'r, metalIf

Overall Rating

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

Submitted by: Owen Stimpson <ods1000@hotmail.com>

Submitted at: 17:02, 6/8/2004

Product Info

Pickup features: Single coil passive set
Impedence or other specs: Bridge 14.3k ohms, Neck 9.5k ohms
Price Paid: GBP 125
Purchased from: Bare Knuckle Pickups, UK.

Instrument

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Mexican Standard Telecaster
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Standard issue single coils
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: David Viva!
You musical style(s): Rock/ Metal
Reason for pickup change: I usually play Gibson/humbucker equipped guitars, I bought the Tele because it looked cool, however i needed more output from the standard coils. I saw some good reviews in Total Guitar magazine for the Warpig Humbucker , so i decided to give Bare Knuckle pickups a go!

Sound

Perceived output level: Louder than any single coil i've played. Much louder!
Tone: Neck pickup: clean, clear, bassy. Bridge pickup: Awesome, huge power for a single coil
Sonic evaluation: Fender Mexican Standard Telecaster into an Ashdown Fallen Angel 40 Watt Combo. The tone is amazing, although these are single coils, they sound real fat and warm. These pickups are BEAUTIFULLY BRUTAL!! A really cool feature is when you roll down the volume, the clarity of both really shine through.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: As a purveyor of fine rock these pickups rule; think Cream, Hendrix, SRV

Overall Rating

Comments: I have been playing guitar for 12 years, in which time I have bought many guitars/guitar related products. I was blown away by the product service of the owner/maker of Bare Knuckle Pickups, I was sent an engraved set of pickups, a set of strings and a plectrum along with a hand written note thanking me for my purchase! The pickups are the best i have ever heard for a single coil instrument, they make my tele sound like SRV Strat on steroids! Congratulations Bare Knuckle Pickups!

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

Submitted by: David Viva <windmill73@yahoo.com>

Submitted at: 18:57, 6/4/2004

Product Info

Pickup features: Single coil (active)
Impedence or other specs:
Price Paid: English pounds Ł125.00
Purchased from: Direct from Bare Knuckle Pickups @ www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk

Instrument

Model of guitar or bass: Mexican Fender Standard Telecaster
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Mexican Fender Tele Factory pickups
Other pickups on guitar: N/A
Artists using this pickup: No idea.
You musical style(s): Blues/Rock
Reason for pickup change: I have always wanted the raw, criap, vintage sounbd of the Telecaster of old.

Sound

Perceived output level: When the pickups are activated the guitar really lets rip and you get that wonderful vintage, classic Tele sound.
Tone: The tone is a very rich, warm, deep bottomed sound, in fact the sound is absolutely stunning.
Sonic evaluation: Mexican Fender Standard Telecaster with a Marshall MG30 DFX series, though I am hoping to own a Marshall Valve Amp soon.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: For a musician such as myself who plays Blues/Rock I cannot think of a better pickup to use.

Overall Rating

Comments: I have a Mexican Fender Standard Telecaster which has recently had the Bare Knuckle Piledriver pickups fitted to it, the guitar is played through a Marshall MG30 DFX series amplifier. The Tele with the Bare Knuckle Piledriver pickups is perfect for my style of music which is Blues/Rock, particularly those musicians, such as myself, who are heavily influenced by the Kinks, Stones, Quo etc. The pickups and guitar would probably come into their own if I owned a valve amp (one day!). Don't take my word for it, the Bare Knuckle pickups really do everything it says on the box!

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

Submitted by: Kevin White <kpwhite74@aol.com>