Hot or Not? Bare Knuckle Irish Tours

Grave Bomber said:
Just to rile this up a bit, how could one say comparing apples to apples when one has not tested either set? That's kinda playing into exactly what Bare Knuckle has set up, charging a premium price to instill a premium customer base. As I said, i've heard nothing but good things about Bare Knuckle pups, but it all comes back to that "boutique" thing we had a thread about, if you spend that kinda money on something that is "boutique", you have expectations in that product. You'll most likely automatically think them amazing because you threw down $250 for some wire and magnets, when there is the strong possibility that a full set that costs $150 or less would be absolutely equaled if you blindly A/B'd them.
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I haven't played the Roses, but I've played a lot of "boutique" pickups and Bareknuckle is my first choice. One of my students has a couple of Fralin's in his guitars and basses and those would probably run #2. I'd still like to try some Novak's, but based off of their reputation I'd certainly like to try them.

Duncans and DiMarzio's don't do it for me, although I'm looking forward to trying Evolutions in my Ibanez, as it sounds like they're perfectly suited for that guitar.
 
Kerouac said:
I haven't played the Roses, but I've played a lot of "boutique" pickups and Bareknuckle is my first choice. One of my students has a couple of Fralin's in his guitars and basses and those would probably run #2. I'd still like to try some Novak's, but based off of their reputation I'd certainly like to try them.

Duncans and DiMarzio's don't do it for me, although I'm looking forward to trying Evolutions in my Ibanez, as it sounds like they're perfectly suited for that guitar.
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That's all well and good, and I understand your viewpoint. I've never heard a bad word about BK pups. They have a strong following, and I bet there is a reason for that. I just generally don't like the idea that a company makes nothing but pure gold products, especially went it comes to pickups, so very, very subjective.
 
Also, the Evo neck is a great pickup. The evo bridge is...subjective^. :grin:

I was a big fan of it in my youth, but now it's a little much. It certainly screams. Dimarzio's description is really accurate actually.
 
Grave Bomber said:
That's all well and good, and I understand your viewpoint. I've never heard a bad word about BK pups. They have a strong following, and I bet there is a reason for that. I just generally don't like the idea that a company makes nothing but pure gold products, especially went it comes to pickups, so very, very subjective.
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A lot of people DON'T like the Bareknuckle pups over on the SevenString.org forums... they generally either go for Novak's or for some sort of actives.
 
Factoring in all the other variables in a player's signal chain, the differences in similarly spec'd/constructed alnico strat pickups are going to be nominal to the player's ears and virtually undetectible to the audience.

I'm not knocking Bare Knuckle pickups. I've also heard nothing but great things about them. I'm sure the fact that they are imported from the UK also adds to their cost. IMHO there are plenty of small, boutique pickup winders right here in the US. Some are in the same price range, such as Fralin, Lollar, WCR, etc.

I'd really be curious as to how the Irish Tour set stacks up against the new handwound Kent Armstrong Rory Gallagher series. The strat sets retail for $300. As I dealer, I can sell those sets for $225.

Copied from WD Music's Webpage:

[h=1]"Kent Armstrong® Rory Gallagher® Signature Series Replacement Pickups[/h] Rory Gallagher influenced many great guitarists around the world to such extent that someone like Jimi Hendrix when asked in interview “What’s it like to be the best guitarist in the world?” responded with “I dunno, ask Rory Gallagher.” Kent Armstrong’s® Rory Gallagher series was created directly from the pickups currently residing in 7 of Rory’s most loved stage instruments including his world-renowned 1961 Fender® Stratocaster®. Kent in partnership with the Gallagher family hand measured each of these pickups and rebuilt them to spec in both alnicos 3 and alnico 5 magnet versions. The alnico 3 versions are how these pickups respond today, with aged warmth as if you opened the case and plugged it in right now. The Alnico 5 versions are a bit punchier and brighter with a sharper attack and response as if the pickups were new. Everyone knows that there were variances in vintage pickups. Some were better than others. These are the pickups that Rory used on his recordings and on stage where his epic performances still resonate in the hearts of fans and guitarists alike. All these sets are hand-built in Kent Armstrong’s® shop in Vermont. You can’t get any closer to the mojo without owning the originals!"
 
Grave Bomber said:
Just to rile this up a bit, how could one say comparing apples to apples when one has not tested either set? That's kinda playing into exactly what Bare Knuckle has set up, charging a premium price to instill a premium customer base. As I said, i've heard nothing but good things about Bare Knuckle pups, but it all comes back to that "boutique" thing we had a thread about, if you spend that kinda money on something that is "boutique", you have expectations in that product. You'll most likely automatically think them amazing because you threw down $250 for some wire and magnets, when there is the strong possibility that a full set that costs $150 or less would be absolutely equaled if you blindly A/B'd them.
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There's nothing to rile up. No one is arguing here. I'm comparing based on audio clips. I am fully aware that the pickups would sound slightly different in my actual guitar with my equipment, but at the same time, I have ears and can hear the difference between a vintage sounding, or Texas twang, or Eric Johnson sounding pickup. I can hear enough of what the pickups sound like after hearing several dozen audio and video clips of each in similar set ups to make an informed decision about what I like and what will work for me.
The comment I made about apples to apples is absolutely true. If it weren't, then why does Rose have 3 price levels of pickups in their single coils? Or any other company for that matter? Im not trying to single out Rose here. Its a name that came up and was used for a SOUND comparison, nothing else. I want a set of Belles. But according to another post here i could buy the $60 ones and no one would know the difference. Aren't they all made with Alnico magnets and similarly spec'd as was mentioned in another post? Specs alone do not make pickups sound the same. I don't even wind pickups and I know that just the wire used and the winding process in "similarly spec'd" pickups can make a difference in the sound. Pickups are priced differently for a reason. So again, to compare a $60 set to a $110 set or a $250 set is a little ridiculous.
 
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