Bare Knuckle Pickups now available

Who is the standard when it comes to guitar pickup manufacturers? The brands that everyone will come up with right away will likely be SEYMOUR DUNCAN, DIMARZIO, and EMG. Replacing a pickup is a slight gamble in that you do not know what it sounds like you like until you actually install it on the guitar. Therefore, the long-established, standard brands mentioned above tend to be popular. Meanwhile, Meanwhile, Bare Knuckle Pickups is a brand that has been attracting attention from guitarists in recent years. Bare Knuckle Pickups was launched in 2003 by guitarist Tim Mills and others who belonged to Iced Earth. The pickups are designed based on Tim’s experience as a guitarist, and they are handmade in the UK. Bare Knuckle Pickups is a relatively young brand that has been gaining a reputation among guitarists and is now producing a number of signature models and some guitars from various manufacturers are equipped with Bare Knuckle pickups.

Sound House is pleased to announce Bare Knuckle Pickups! Introducing the models that can be purchased at Sound House!

■Aftermath

A pickup that is a perfect match for modern metal and for playing high speed riffs. The bridge pickup uses a ceramic magnet and has excellent bottom-end response. It is a versatile pickup with punchy mids and moderate compression, and is suitable not only for riffs but also for leads. The neck pickup uses Alnico 5 magnets, and features a thick, powerful yet clean sound. A pickup tone that sings and has good sustain if you distort it. In Japan, it is also known to be installed in the signature guitar of guitarist Leda, who is known for his work with Far East Dizain, BABYMETAL support, etc.

Aftermath / 6-String Model/7-String Model

■Warpig

Originally designed to be a pickup dedicated to extreme metal, it produces a dark, distorted sound. It features a smooth high-end while having a high DC resistance that stands out from the other metal pickups from the brand. Contrary to the original design concept, it is preferred by guitarists from various genres because of its sound, and British "Total Guitar" magazine describes it as "a high-power, clean, sweet pickup. It’s an all-rounder pickup." There’s a choice between ceramic and Alnico 5 for the bridge pickup magnet, but Sound House handles the default Alnico 5 model.

Warpig / 6-String Model/7-String Model

■Ragnarok

To say that Periphery guitarist Misha Mansoor was the catalyst for spreading the Bare Knuckle Pickups name to the metal scene is no exaggeration. Misha’s first signature model, The Juggernaut, was favored by guitarists in genres including progressive metal and Djent. The Ragnarok was created in collaboration with Misha Mansoor, Periphery bassist and sound producer Adam “Nolly” Getgood, and Bare Knuckle. While inheriting the responsiveness of The Juggernaut, it has been brushed up to be more aggressive and tight, making it the perfect model for progressive metal.

Ragnarok / 6-String Model/7-String Model

■The Juggernaut

The Juggernaut is the signature pickup of Periphery’s Misha Mansoor, the guitarist from one of the leading bands in the modern progressive metal/djent genre. This pickup produces a dynamic guitar sound with a tight attack that can be heard in Periphery’s songs.
The bridge pickup features a unique combination of 2 magnets, Alnico 5 and ceramic, which gives a thick tone in the mids and a richness in the higher range while maintaining a tightness. The neck pickup uses an Alnico 5 magnet that allows for a versatile pickup that creates smooth leads as well as a clean tone with dynamics.

■Painkiller

The name reminds me of the Judas Priest song, but Bare Knuckle says it’s a high-output "Djent Humbucker". The sound is very high resolution and well separated, but with peaks in high mid-range. I don’t think it’s an extremely modern character, even though it’s called "Djent Humbucker". The name seems to be TRUE METAL, but as the manufacturer suggests, it is a pickup that I would like to recommend for progressive metal and djent, as well as Math Rock, which has become popular in recent years.

Painkiller / 6-String Model

■Nailbomb

A pickup that combines the synergistic effect of old school tones with modern rock tones. It supports a wide range of genres from blues rock to thrash metal. The bridge pickup uses alnico magnets and features a warm high range and a midrange that sings. The neck pickup features a woody, bright character, and can output a tight, attack even when distorted. Like the Warpig, this model also provides a choice of bridge pickup magnets, and Sound House carries the default Alnico 5 magnet model.

Nailbomb / 6-String Model/7-String Model

■The Mule

The original pickup, commonly known as the "PAF", that was installed in vintage Gibson guitars. Many pickup brands are working on products modeled after this PAF, but of course Bare Knuckle Pickups also has a set! Both the bridge and neck use Alnico 4 magnets, which are a little rare for guitar pickups. Based on the PAF made in 1959, it features a more balanced tone. It can output rich overtones even at low gain, and can maintain a clear sound even when distorted, so it is an item that I would like to recommend to guitarists of various genres.

The Mule / 6-String Model

■Stormy Monday

The Stormy Monday pickup reproduces the PAF that was made in 1957-58 with smooth and well-defined picking articulations. It’s handwound with a 42 AWG plain enamel wire similar to vintage pickups. It has a warm low range and a sweet high range, yet the sound is clear and has an excellent picking response.
The Mule pickup is another Bare Knuckle’s PAF reproduction model, however, the Stormy Monday pickup is recommended for guitarists who look for a soft and more percussive tone.

Stormy Monday / 6-String Model

■Cobra

The Cobra pickup allows you to obtain a pure single-coil sound without excess noise. It uses ceramic magnets and steel blades, and is characteristic that it has a DC resistance comparable to that of a humbucker. If you want to master high gain with a Strat, the Cobra pickup is one of the best choices. The Cobra pickup has a dynamic wide range and it is an expressive pickup that responds to the player’s performance and volume control. Not only can the Cobra pickup be used in a set of Cobra 3 pickups, but it can also be used in combination with a humbucker. Of course, I recommend to use it in SSH or HSH formats, as well as together with a 3 single Strat.

Cobra / 6-String Model

These are the Bare Knuckle Pickups products that can be ordered at Sound House! By the way, I’m particularly interested in the Aftermath and the Nailbomb. The pickup greatly influences the sound of your guitar. Try brushing up your sound by replacing the pickups with unique Bare Knuckle Pickups!

?? Bare Knuckle Pickups allows for various customizations, but Sound House may not be able to provide all customizations. In addition, as they are handmade by a very small number of people, orders usually take 3 to 4 months. Please note.

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