Bare Knuckle Pickups Riff Raff
Submitted at: 1:43, 1/30/2005
Product Info
Pickup features: Passive humbucker
Impedence or other specs: Alnico 5, 8.3K, scatterwound
Price Paid: UK Pounds 76.60
Purchased from: Bare Knuckle Pickups Ltd
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: JJ Retro
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: JJ
Other pickups on guitar: Custom BP90 (see separate review)
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Blues, rock, punk
Reason for pickup change: Beautiful guitar with an uninspiring sound
Sound
Perceived output level: The output level is hotter than standard, but not only enough to provide the power and bite to deliver the tone.
Tone: Bright, open, full.
Sonic evaluation: I've got a number of great guitars including a Tom Anderson hollow T classic and an all original vintage '56 Les Paul Junior which I play through a VHT Pittbull 45. The JJ Retro is a beautifully built British guitar that I would recommend to anyone, but frankly it sounded deadly dull. That is, until I discovered Bare Knuckle. The custom Riff Raff (Alnico 5 magnets) and a custom BP90 (see separate review) have transformed it into the perfect blues guitar. The sound is open and harmonically rich with enough bite and power to cut through, but not destroy the tone. Fantastic! The JJ may be half the price of my other guitars, but it's now got a genuine place and a distinct sound of its own.
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play a range from BB King style blues to punk. The guitar has far too much sustain to make it a great punk guitar, but it's now the perfect blues machine, with the bridge postion Riff Raff giving me the ability to provide the perfect biting slightly overdriven blues sustain.
Overall Rating
Comments: Ok. I'm a fan. I admit it. I've not only replaced the pickups on the JJ which really needed it, but also on the Tom Anderson, which arguably didn't, and I've now ordered a Warpig to revive an old Washburn that I've got kicking around.
My day job is as an expert in customer centricity and building customer experiences and I have to say that Tim at Bare Knuckle has got it spot on. It's not just the perfect sound of the pickups that makes you feel as though nothing could ever sound better, it's the fantastic personalised service they deliver, the image they've created and the passion for what they do. I emailed Tim on New Year's Day and received a personal response within an hour. After an email exchange throughout the day Tim reached a recommendation, not of a stock pickup, but a custom variation that was particularly suited to what I was after. Since then I've had several email and telephone exchanges and ordered more from them. Putting a Bare Knuckle pickup on a guitar makes it feel truly special and that's a powerful incentive to make great music. I can't imagine ever buying pickups anywhere else and I can't think why anyone else would either.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 10 Fantastic value
Submitted at: 14:22, 8/4/2003
Product Info
Pickup features: Passive Humbucker
Impedence or other specs:
Price Paid: uk pounds £100
Purchased from: Direct
Instrument
Model of guitar or bass: Gibson SG
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: STD Gibson
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Rock - AC/DC
Reason for pickup change: Wanted that Angus Young growl without any loss of top end but at useable volume ie. bedroom/small gig
Sound
Perceived output level: This pickup has that AC/DC growl with more bite than the std Gibson
Tone: It is pure Angus Young - lots of bite and a great dynamic spread
Sonic evaluation: Gibson SG/Cornford Harlequin
It is important for true AC/DC fans that a pickup does not have attack at the expense of clarity and top end and this little gem does exactly what it says on the tin!
For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Rhythm based rock & this mutha delivers, good for solo's too
Overall Rating
Comments: I would definately buy this pickup again, I have been playing for 10 years approx and also play a Gibson Les paul. I love that it sounds perfect at all volumes - that's it I'm off to buy a satchel and cap.
Tried lots of others but they trade off the top end for power.
I am going to try some Bareknuckles in the Les Paul so be back soon.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this pickup a: 10 Fantastic value
Submitted by: ray@laws-family.fsnet.co.uk