Pickups

• 2 Conductor + Screen
• Nickel Finish

All Bare Knuckle pickups are made to order. We keep some in stock, but if you were after any variation not listed, please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

A true P90 single coil mounted onto a humbucker chassis. Our first humbucker-size P90 and the benchmark for all HSP90 tone.

The Mississippi Queen humbucker-size P90 was the first HSP90 made by Bare Knuckle back in 2005 and quickly rose through the ranks being used by players as varied as Adrian Legg and Matt Bellamy. Fitting into any standard humbucker cavity, the Mississippi Queen offers humbucker players a direct replacement to experience true P90 tone without hacking their guitars about.

The wide and squat coil of a P90 creates a fatter tone compared to a Strat or Tele coil while the twin magnet design gives all the power of a hot humbucker. Wound with 42AWG plain enamel wire, the bridge Mississippi Queen is powered by Alnico V magnets and the neck, Alnico IV magnets. While the bottom-end is solid and the highs really sing, its the mid range where its really at; all the muscle of a humbucker but a much wider frequency response allowing the mids to really breath.

Into a clean amp the tone is fat and earthy, crank up the gain and the Mississippi Queen can absolutely scream. Add plenty of head room for superb dynamic control and a calibrated neck for complete balance and you get a set of HSP90s that can cover just about anything.

• Output: Vintage
• Bridge DC: 7.7KΩ *
• Magnet: Alnico V
• Neck DC: 6.9KΩ *
• Magnet: Alnico IV

Applications

Blues, Country, Funk, Indie, Alternative, Hard Rock and even Metal. Any solid body guitar or semi- acoustic guitar; well suited to baritones and drop tuned guitars.

• Nickel Finish

An aggressive, throaty humbucker with deep bottom-end, muscular mids, smooth highs and more output than a vintage PAF.

The Black Dog humbucker is designed for players that need a vintage voiced pickup with extra weight in the mid range. By hand-winding with a modern polysol wire the Black Dog is able to match the asymmetrical coils of The Mule while gaining additional output and grind. A stronger, richer mid and extended bass response lends itself to hot blues and hard rock tones without compromising clarity. Single note playing has plenty of weight behind each note with a solid high end that can really sing when used with added preamp gain. Clean tones have depth and a full bodied ring to each string with excellent note separation in chords.

The Black Dog humbuckers are also particularly good at providing extra definition and punch to extended scale guitars. Seven string and baritone guitars benefit from better control of the highs and increased definition in the bass.

• Nickel

All Bare Knuckle pickups are made to order. We keep some in stock, but if you were after any variation not listed, please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

Classic Patent Applied For vintage tone with exceptionally balanced frequency response and more than enough power for almost any application.

The Mule humbuckers are built and voiced as faithful reproductions of the best sounding late 59 PAFs with a differing number of turns of vintage correct 42 AWG plain enamel wire on each coil. This results in outstanding clarity and extended dynamic range. The solid nickel silver baseplate and cover are exact replications along with the butyrate bobbins, maple spacers, nickel-plated slugs and Fillister no.5 pole screws. Sand cast Alnico IV magnets give The Mule faster response in the bass, fuller mids and better control in the high end. Even at low levels of gain, smooth harmonic feedback, full of overtones is possible, while clean sounds have depth and unmistakable vintage character.

Applications

• Blues, Country, Jazz, Funk, Indie, Reggae, Britpop, Classic Rock, Heavy Rock and even Metal.
• All solid-body guitars, semi-acoustic and hollow-body guitars especially single cut/glued neck styles; any guitar that would benefit from a more even frequency response and improved dynamics.

• Nickel neck cover

Based on player requests for Telecaster tones from specific eras and backed up by meticulous research, the Blackguard Tele Series is a collection of four classic Tele sets ranging from the original blackguard Teles of 1950 through to later 1968 models. Scatter-wound by hand with 43AWG plain enamel wire on both bridge and neck, this is pure Broadcaster heaven. The hottest of the four sets with a thicker zinc plated steel baseplate, flat profile magnets and authentic vintage flat top deep-drawn brass cover; the Flat 50s have a simply massive sound. Chunky bottom-end and snarling mids create a throaty tone with excellent natural sustain that can really push a tube amp hard.

• Nickel neck cover

Genuine rhythm powerhouse Tele performance with a huge range of rounded, muscular tones and traditional Tele character. The idea behind The Boss Tele set was to take the 42 AWG plain enamel wind of the bridge coil to the max without compromising definition or the authentic twang and grind of a true Tele pickup. The result is a fat, driving set of coils that can still be cleaned up by rolling back on the volume pot offering up a massive variety of Tele tones covering clean Country through to hot Rock and beyond. The higher output provides a lot more bass response than would normally be expected and a more compressed dynamic, creating a deep tone with excellent sustain. The high-end is sweet and warm and the mids are fat with rich harmonic detail. The neck coil has been wound to balance perfectly in output and sound, available with traditional neck cover or open coil to suit the application. As with all of the Tele coils in the range, hook-up is vintage cloth push back and the bridge coil features a copper plated steel baseplate.

BKP Custom Audio Taper 550K CTS standard shaft pot

These feature a custom audio taper, smooth torque and +/- 10% tolerance and are specially made for Bare Knuckle by CTS.

Best used with humbuckers and P90s, these CTS550K custom audio taper pots can be used for both volume and tone applications.

• 2 Conductor + Screen
• Dogear/Black Finish

All Bare Knuckle pickups are made to order. We keep some in stock, but if you were after any variation not listed, please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

Arguably the ultimate pickup with the best tonal elements of humbuckers and single coils, the P90 single coil has a distinct and gutsy tone all of its own.

The sound of a hand-wound late 50s vintage P90 is unmistakable, as is the tone of those early LP Jr and LP Special playing blues and rock guitarists; the Nantucket 90 continues that legacy.

Scatter-wound by hand with 42AWG plain enamel wire and using sand cast, vintage cut Alnico V magnets, the tone is raw and in your face. The wide, squat coil creates a fatter tone compared to a Strat or Tele coil while the twin magnet design lends all the power of a humbucker. Low notes are solid and tight while the upper mids really grind, never sounding harsh just really fat and chunky. High notes can really sing and with a slightly breaking up tube amp, wonderful harmonic feedback is possible. A touch sensitive dynamic and the ability to clean up well as the volume is backed off, the Nantucket 90 really does lend itself to a huge range of playing styles.

• Output: Vintage
• Bridge DC: 7.9KΩ *
• Magnet: Alnico V
• Neck DC: 7.1KΩ *
• Magnet: Alnico V

Applications

• Blues, Country, Funk, Indie, Alternative, Hard Rock and even Metal.
• Any solid body guitar or semi- acoustic guitar; players looking to recreate the original LP Jr and LP Special P90 tone.

• Parchment White
• RW/RP Polarity, Vintage Stagger magnet

All Bare Knuckle pickups are made to order. We keep some in stock, but if you were after any variation not listed, please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

A true hot vintage wound set of single coils; warm highs, grinding mids and fat bottom end produce a massive powerhouse Strat tone.

The Irish Tour single coils take the 42 AWG plain enamel wind to the max with a clarity and depth that can only be achieved through hand-winding. Although big strings and strong hands result in a huge tone, the powerful output of the Irish Tour coils allows mere mortals an equally big and gutsy sound.

Low notes have a fuller, richer tone with more weight in the mids while the high strings respond with a rounder chime and warmer harmonics. The hotter wound bridge can push a tube amp into natural overdrive while the calibrated mid and neck coils retain the hollow, woodiness of the Mothers Milk coils but with extra output.

Applications

• Blues, Funk, Indie, Pop, Garage, Punk, Classic Rock.
• Brighter Alder and Ash body Strats, maple boards or any Strat that would benefit from a fatter vintage tone with more control in the high-end.

Parchment White

Marking the change to a thinner rosewood veneer board, the 63 Veneer Board set is based on some of the slightly hotter coils from63 & 64 with the slightly smaller diameter Alnico V magnets. While veneer board Strats are usually brighter than slab board Strats, the hotter wind helps to add body to the tone while the smaller hand bevelled magnets focus the magnetism under the strings. With deeper bottom-end than the 59 Slab Board set and a more solid high-end, chords carry plenty of weight with a very full, piano-like ring to each note. As with both sets, the coils are scatter-wound with Heavy Formvar wire for wide frequency response and exceptional pick dynamics.

• Black

The Rebel Yell just growls with an even harmonic richness that I never hear in other pickups. Its so full of clear bottom and perfect pick attack. These pickups are in a whole other league - theyre the real deal! Steve Stevens. When Steve first came to Bare Knuckle he was adamant that the signature pickups he wanted were not just another metal pickup. They had to be capable of a whole lot more. This kicked off a year of development and road testing while Steve was on tour culminating in the Rebel Yell humbucker signature set. Closer offset coils of 43 AWG plain enamel wire retain the mid range punch of the hotter Nailbomb but produce a tighter bass response with cleaner highs and more presence. This gives the pickup an organic voice with plenty of impact, perfect for any player wanting a progressive humbucker rich in harmonic overtones and wide pick dynamics. Steve uses his volume pot a lot when he plays, so it was important that the Rebel Yell cleans up well when backing off the volume, on top of being able to push a tube amp hard for a fully saturated overdrive. The optional custom Ray Gun graphic on the cover completes the picture adding a further unique touch to an already classic sounding humbucker.

• Parchment White

Pure, full-bodied early 50s single coil set with exceptional natural sustain and low string pull from the Alnico III magnets. Apache single coils are based on the rounder, fatter tones of the original 54 to 57 coils. Deep bottom end with a bell-like chime in the highs and rich, wide mid range produce a crystal-clear clean tone without ever sounding harsh or thin. Overdriven tones sound full and crunchy with plenty of body for single note work. Scatter-wound by hand with vintage correct Heavy Formvar wire, the bridge coil is wound a little hotter to give better balance across the set. The calibrated Alnico III magnets are hand-bevelled and set in fibre board flat work in either the original 54 stagger with low G magnet or the more common 56 stagger. The low magnetic pull of the Apache allows for excellent dynamics and perfect intonation.

• Nickel neck cover

A vintage hot Tele set with classic mid range grind, tight bass and characteristic bite in the high-end. Well suited to players looking for authentic Tele tones with a distinct rock voice. Voiced entirely to capture a tonal vibe rather than any specific vintage era, the Brown Sugar Tele set simply oozes rocknroll attitude. Scatter-wound with polysol wire for extra output and a more pronounced mid growl, the treble response is bright and percussive with a fast pick attack. The copper plated steel baseplate on the bridge coil keeps the bass response tight with low notes retaining depth and punch, while the neck coil has a complementary warm and woody tone. Clean tones have a bright snap to the front of each note, darker than lower output Tele coils with a fuller single note tone. The intentional rock voicing of the Brown Sugar set suits a wide range of driven tones from mild break up through to full saturation with an overdriven amp and full wax potting ensures no microphonic squealing.

• Nickel neck cover

High output sledgehammer performance and impact; masses of full, fat drive with true slab-bodied grunt. The output of a hot humbucker and all the frequency response of a true single coil, perfect for the modern player looking for the ultimate hot Tele coil set. The Piledriver Tele set sacrifices none of the original Tele character in the pursuit of well-defined power. Rich and deep bottom end combine with fat single coil clarity for a truly versatile set of high output pickups. Designed with the modern Tele player in mind, the Piledriver set has a throaty mid range and fuller, sweeter highs so that fast riffing has a real edge and single note work really punches through. Although the Piledriver output will give any humbucker a run for its money, the voice is pure Telecaster with a rounder, darker twang and a fatter snap in the bass. Clean playing has plenty of depth and a warmer treble response compared to lower output vintage coils while overdriven tones are strong, capable of controlled harmonic feedback and tremendously tight crunch tones. The bridge coil uses a slightly thicker zinc plated steel baseplate for extra definition and punch while the calibrated neck coil is available in traditional neck cover or open coil as required.

From its introduction in 1951, the Precision bass transformed the world of bass playing with its unique look, feel and tone. The Bare Knuckle P Bass range captures that ground breaking tone in both original Tele bass single coil and later humbucking split coil designs. Grey fibre board flat work, non bevelled Alnico V magnets and a lighter wind of 42AWG plain enamel wire characterise this mid 60s inspired split coil set. A brighter high-end but equally solid bottom-end make the 65 Split Coil P perfect for rosewood board P basses. Compared to the 58 Split Coil P, the mids are a little hollower with a woodier tone while the bottom-end remains full and warm. The two coils are wired in series for full hum cancelling and feature black and white cloth push back hookup.

BKP Custom Audio Taper 280K CTS standard shaft pot These feature a custom audio taper, smooth torque and +/- 10% tolerance and are specially made for Bare Knuckle by CTS. These custom CTS280K pots are best used in Strats and Teles.

For over 60 years Jensen have been making hi-end capacitors. Today, they are made using a special purified mineral oil and the unique production process ensures not only a high quality capacitor but a long lasting one. Furthermore, Jensen have their own soldering process which provides minimum inductance and excellent internal electrical connection.

• 14mm x 25mm
• For humbuckers and P90s, use our Jensen 0.022μfd caps for the bridge tone.
• Strats have generally used 0.015mfd caps
• Teles have had a variety of different pot and cap combinations however we find that the majority of players prefer the roll off with a 0.022mfd cap.

• 2 Conductor + Screen
• Chrome Finish

All Bare Knuckle pickups are made to order. We keep some in stock, but if you were after any variation not listed, please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

Take a classic P90 design; add a totally modern edge with extra output and a richer tone and you arrive at the ultra progressive Supermassive 90.

The Supermassive 90 is designed for the modern rock guitarist wanting the fat, raw tone of a P90 with a strong voice and more output capable of really driving an amp and complex FX combinations.

Powered by custom size Alnico V magnets and with hand-wound coils of 43AWG wire, the Supermassive 90 can handle huge amounts of preamp gain without ever sounding thin or losing definition. From light crunch through to colossal fuzz tones, low notes stay sharp and focused with massive bottom end while mids and highs are solid and punchy with the wide frequency response that only a single coil can give.

Even though the Supermassive 90 is designed for progressive applications the voicing will also be perfect for traditional blues and rock players looking for scorching, unadulterated soapbar tone too.

• Output: Contemporary
• Bridge DC: 10.6KΩ *
• Magnet: Alnico V
• Neck DC: 9.5KΩ *
• Magnet: Alnico V

Applications

Blues Rock, Hard Rock, Alternative, Grunge, Progressive Rock and even Metal. Any solid body or semi acoustic guitar that would benefit from a contemporary voiced P90 with extra output.

• Parchment White
• RW/RP Polarity, Vintage Stagger magnet

A higher output vintage Strat set with modern edge to the voicing for a more driven tone and increased midrange presence over vintage spec pickups.

The Slow Hand set of calibrated single coils use hand bevelled Alnico V magnets and modern polysol wire for stronger, darker mids and a fatter tone. Scatter-winding maintains clarity throughout all frequency ranges while the higher DC resistance extends the bass and produces a more controlled high-end. Taking the spirit of the Irish Tour coils one step further, the Slow Hand coils have a definite British blues rock voice capable of pushing an amp into that wonderful just breaking up tone. High notes get fatter as amp volume is increased and more preamp gain produces a lovely natural sustain with excellent crunch tones. Extremely well suited to maple board Strats and also clean up nicely when the volume is rolled back.

Applications

• Blues, Funk, Indie, Pop, Garage, Punk, Hard Rock.
• Brighter Alder and Ash body Strats, maple boards or any Strat that would benefit from a fatter vintage tone with more control in the high-end and increase output over traditional vintage coils.

• Chrome

All Bare Knuckle pickups are made to order. We keep some in stock, but if you were after any variation not listed, please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

A sweet, articulate humbucker with warm bass, hollow mids and smooth high end that is extremely clear and dynamic.

Authentically vintage in both voicing and output, the Stormy Monday humbucker is completely handwound with vintage correct 42 AWG plain enamel wire and handcrafted with butyrate bobbins, calibrated sand cast Alnico II magnet, solid nickel silver baseplate and cover.

As with the early Patent Applied For humbuckers, the coils are wound asymmetrically for extended frequency response and touch sensitive feel. The Stormy Monday faithfully reproduces the tones of the brighter 57 & 58 era PAFs with smooth natural sustain, wonderful pick dynamics and string separation. Low notes have warmth and fullness; the highs are sweet and mellow while the mids are slightly scooped producing a soft, percussive vintage tone.

Applications

• Blues, Country, Jazz, Funk, Indie, Reggae and Classic Rock
• All solid-body guitars, semi-acoustic and hollow-body guitars or any guitar that would benefit from a warmer, brighter and more dynamic vintage tone.

• Chrome

All Bare Knuckle pickups are made to order. We keep some in stock, but if you were after any variation not listed, please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

Crystal clear highs, defined bottom-end and the versatile output of a vintage hot humbucker lay down the ultimate in clean overdrive and even harmonic response.

Totally unique approaches to the asymmetrical coils of the VHII humbucker allow it to retain phenomenal clarity whilst maximising the output of 42 AWG plain enamel wire. Voiced to capture the original raw energy and brown sound of the late 70s, the vintage cut Alnico V magnet allows for a really open and touch sensitive feel. Harmonic overtones are strong and defined with excellent string separation producing a huge sound with superb pick attack even when used with extreme amounts of preamp gain. The design of the coils allows for great split and parallel options, working extremely well with rotary tone selectors.

Applications

• Funk, Garage, Classic Rock, Heavy Rock and Fusion.
• Extremely well suited to double cut solid-body/bolt-on neck guitars but equally at home in glued neck and single cut guitars. Also works well on extended range instruments.

• Pickup Set, RW/RP Polarity
• Parchment White

All Bare Knuckle pickups are made to order. We keep some in stock, but if you were after any variation not listed, please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

Bare Knuckles hottest true single coils based on the ferocious output of the legendary über Sinner bridge with massive bottom end, grinding mids and extreme pick attack.

When it comes to output, The Sinner single coils will give any humbucker a run for its money and allows players to maintain the look of their Strat without having to hack it about. Unlike a humbucker or hum-cancelling coil, The Sinner set retain the extended frequency response of a true single coil with deeper lows and more presence in the highs. The bass tracks extremely quickly for fast, palm muted riffing while there is plenty of weight in the upper mids and highs for a screaming lead tone that really punches through. Although designed for the hi-gain rock player, step off the overdrive and ease back on the volume pot and The Sinner coils produce a solid contemporary clean tone.

Applications

• Fusion, Alternative, Hard Rock, Progressive, Shred, Heavy Metal.
• Alder, Swamp Ash and mahogany body Strats style guitars; ideal for adding extra body to basswood and equally at home with maple, rosewood and even ebony boards.

• Pickup Set, RW/RP Polarity
• Parchment White

All Bare Knuckle pickups are made to order. We keep some in stock, but if you were after any variation not listed, please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

A crisp and percussive vintage output set of single coils with warm bottom end and sweet, articulate highs.

The Sultans have a smooth, unadulterated tone with excellent pick attack. A combination of hand-bevelled Alnico II magnets and scatter-wound coils of 42AWG plain enamel wire produce a softer, more gentle response in the bass and treble with extremely natural sustain and vintage output. Clean tones have a lovely hollow cluck in the mid range which turns into a singing driven tone when gain is applied. As with the Apache, the bridge coil of The Sultans is wound a little hotter for more improved balance with the mid and neck coils maintaining an open voice with good harmonic overtones and presence.

Applications

• Finger-style, Country, Surf, Jazz, Blues, Funk, Indie, Pop & Classic Rock.
• Particularly well suited to maple board Strats with light ash bodies but equally at home in alder with rosewood boards.

Take a classic P90 design; add a totally modern edge with extra output and a richer tone and you arrive at the ultra progressive Supermassive 90.

The Supermassive 90 is designed for the modern rock guitarist wanting the fat, raw tone of a P90 with a strong voice and more output capable of really driving an amp and complex FX combinations.

Powered by custom size Alnico V magnets and with hand-wound coils of 43AWG wire, the Supermassive 90 can handle huge amounts of preamp gain without ever sounding thin or losing definition. From light crunch through to colossal fuzz tones, low notes stay sharp and focused with massive bottom end while mids and highs are solid and punchy with the wide frequency response that only a single coil can give.

Even though the Supermassive 90 is designed for progressive applications the voicing will also be perfect for traditional blues and rock players looking for scorching, unadulterated soapbar tone too.

Specification

• Output: Contemporary
• Bridge DC: 10.6KΩ
• Magnet: Alnico V
• Neck DC: 9.5KΩ
• Magnet: Alnico V

For over 60 years Jensen have been making hi-end capacitors. Today, they are made using a special purified mineral oil and the unique production process ensures not only a high quality capacitor but a long lasting one. Furthermore, Jensen have their own soldering process which provides minimum inductance and excellent internal electrical connection.

• 14mm x 25mm
• For humbuckers and P90s, use our Jensen 0.022μfd caps for the bridge tone.
• Strats have generally used 0.015mfd caps
• Teles have had a variety of different pot and cap combinations however we find that the majority of players prefer the roll off with a 0.022mfd cap.

Brute Force humbuckers are hand wound and feature Ceramic magnets with a choice of open coil or covered options. They are in the high output range producing a deep saturated driven tone with really fat cleans on tap. Brute Force pickups are suitable high gain rock, progressive metal, thrash, hardcore and extreme metal styles.

Old Guard Strat coils are all wound by hand and feature Alnico II magnets set in distinctive red and black forbon flat work with matching cloth hookup. They have flat magnet profile, RWRP mid coil and produce a balanced dynamic tone with plenty of snap. Old Guard coils are suitable for blues, rock, country, pop and alternative guitar tones.

True Grit humbuckers are hand wound and feature Alnico V magnets with a choice of open coil or covered options. They are in the medium output range producing a fat, rich clean tone and punchy driven tone. True Grit pickups are suitable for hot blues, hard rock, grunge, stoner, punk and old school metal through to progressive rock tones.

True Grit humbuckers are hand wound and feature Alnico V magnets with a choice of open coil or covered options. They are in the medium output range producing a fat, rich clean tone and punchy driven tone. True Grit pickups are suitable for hot blues, hard rock, grunge, stoner, punk and old school metal through to progressive rock tones.

Grey fibreboard flat work, non bevelled Alnico V magnets and a lighter wind of 42AWG plain enamel wire characterise this mid 60s inspired split coil set. A brighter high-end, but equally solid bottom-end, make the 65 Split Coil P perfect for rosewood board P basses. Compared to the 58 Split Coil P, the mids are a little hollower with a woodier tone while the bottom-end remains full and warm. The two coils are wired in series for full hum-cancelling, and feature black and white cloth push back hookup.