Now that BK's are $200 a pop what are people gravitating towards

[KnightBrolaire]

the new production SDs are $150 each with a cover and the pound has been plummeting vs the dollar, so maybe BKPs don't seem excessive anymore

Nah BKPs are still currently pricier for their sig offerings. Polymaths are 370$ right now for a basic open bobbin pickup set and over 400$ a set for covered options per their website. For non sig offerings though (eg Black Dog, VHII, etc), it's around 310$ for an uncovered set and 330 for covered.

 

[MrWulf]

I always wanted to try a pair of Nailbomb or Warpigs but brand new its a steep ask, while the used market is no good. But luckily the Lundgren M7 is filling that void pretty well. Granted that came in stock of my guitar lmao

 

[Neon_Knight_]

I always wanted to try a pair of Nailbomb or Warpigs but brand new its a steep ask, while the used market is no good. But luckily the Lundgren M7 is filling that void pretty well. Granted that came in stock of my guitar lmao

I think many of us would be willing to pay BKP prices if we were confident a pickup set would be the right pickup choice for us, but are apprehensive of taking the financial risk. You can't do a direct comparison of two sets and then pick your favourite, unless you pay for more than one set (even with their exchange policy, you only have one set in your possession at a time). As it is, I can buy two sets of DiMarzio / SD pickups for less than one set of BKP, which makes it far more viable to buy multiple sets and then re-sell any I don't want to keep (after taking as much time as a I like to test/compare them).

Based on reviews, I'd be keen to try ceramic Nailbombs, ceramic Warpigs and Painkillers, but that would set me back about £950. I've opted to play it safe by ordering multiple sets of D Activators (after liking the stock D Activators in my XPT700) and popular pickups that have stood the test of time (e.g. Super D + PAF Pro). I'm about to test Evolutions, Black Winters and Blackened Black Winters, as it would be a bit boring to have D Activators in everything (I have Ibbys with Tone Zone + Air Norton and DiMarzio/IBZ sets that I want to swap out). Those three sets cost me <£450 and any loss on reselling them will be less (in £ not %) it than would have been with the BKPs.

 

[MrWulf]

I have 5 different guitars and they have M7, Black Winter, Nazgul/Sentient, and Fishman KM. I also have played Alpha/Omega, Warpigs Alnico, PAF7, 81/85, Jeff Loomis Blackout and Aftermath (way too many Aftermath). At this point i dont even have pickup GAS anymore. I just want to try those BKP models but at 300$ a pop its not worth it.

 

[Soulthief]

I have an bkp aftermath in my Ibby (rgd2127) 10 years or so ago when I installed it, I liked it a lot. Today, I don't like it as much.
Looked at other bkp but yeah, to expensive.
Gravitating towards a SD custom now.

But... For some reason DiMarzio and Seymour Duncan are very hard to get your hands on over here

 

[TheBolivianSniper]

I mean I just couldn't find a soapbar sized 7 string passive that could do more gritty stuff and get old school without the signature Duncan grind which I can't stand. I would've bought a Black Winter set or some Distortions but I don't like the low mids on the former and I'd have to order the latter which would be as expensive as getting the used Nailbomb/Cold Sweat set I just got, without the pretty covers.

 

[ErockRPh]

I'm still mid-build, so I can't say that I've used them yet, but I settled on a set of Lace Dragonauts instead of BKP Warpigs for the 6-string I'm working on right now.

 

[Wusthof XIII]

I love the Nailbomb and Holydiver 7 string bridge pickups but at $200 a pop now, that ain't happening.
Anyone figure out Equivalents to these from different makers?
I've got that RG3727 landing tomorrow and I'm pretty sure that PAF bridge pick up is getting yanked.
Normally a nailbomb would be my first choice but at $200 a pop ..................... not so much
What's out there that's similar that won't break the bank? Pegasus?

I have 11 guitars and most of the bridge pickups I replaced with Bare Knuckle pickups. My most recent guitar purchase was a Schecter Tempest Blackjack which came stock with Lundgren M6 humbuckers, or if you’re putting into a 7-string they would be M7’s. The Lundgrens sound absolutely amazing! I won’t be swapping them out for BKP’s. I am absolutely impressed with the Lundgrens.

 

[DarrellM5]

I try to find guitars with the pickups I'd like already installed. I just got an ESP E-II M-II NT with BK Aftermaths and I'm really impressed with them. My Strandberg Boden and Suhr Modern Satin have the Suhr SSH+/SSV pickups and they're amazing. My Suhr Pete Thorn Sig Standard has the Suhr Thornbucker +/Thornbucker combo and it's terrific as well. The Nazgul/Sentient pickups in my Schecter KM-7 and Banshee 6 Passive are perfect, as are the JB/59's in my Charvel San Dimas.

Aftermarket I like DiMarzio 36th Anniversary PAF's and SD Black Winters.

 

[Emperoff]

I try to find guitars with the pickups I'd like already installed.

That sounds like a very agressive and unnecessary filter to me.

If I had to buy a sevenstring based on the pickups I like, I wouldn't buy anything.

 

[Mountainman]

I've been considering grabbing a set of higher powered humbucker sized p90s, and unless I am missing something the Bare Knuckles seem to be going for a little over $150/piece which seems pretty in line with a lot of "boutique" brands.

Definitely higher than Duncan or Dimarzio, but they don't offer what I am looking for so I would have to hit up Seymours custom shop which would take longer, and probably cost more too.

 

[Wusthof XIII]

I've been considering grabbing a set of higher powered humbucker sized p90s, and unless I am missing something the Bare Knuckles seem to be going for a little over $150/piece which seems pretty in line with a lot of "boutique" brands.

Definitely higher than Duncan or Dimarzio, but they don't offer what I am looking for so I would have to hit up Seymours custom shop which would take longer, and probably cost more too.

I initially had a Seymour Duncan custom shop humbucker in my drop C guitar and did not like the tone at all. I eventually replaced it with a Bare Knuckle Juggernaut, which I LOVE.

 

[Mountainman]

I initially had a Seymour Duncan custom shop humbucker in my drop C guitar and did not like the tone at all. I eventually replaced it with a Bare Knuckle Juggernaut, which I LOVE.

Bare Knuckles are sweet pickups, there is a reason demand has allowed them to jack up prices.

Also, I am inclined to not buy from the SD Custom Shop since meeting MJ at a guitar show and she had kind of an attitude to her that she didn't really want to answer questions. Not sure if she had a bad customer upset her (been there working with the public), or something but it still feels a little offputting.

 

[Emperoff]

Bare Knuckles are sweet pickups, there is a reason demand has allowed them to jack up prices.

Yeah, it's called marketing.

 

[Mountainman]

Yeah, it's called marketing.

I can't disagree. I remember the marketing over scatter winding and other stuff they used to do that all the fan boys got super excited over. About 10 years ago I think I, remember posting about a Seymour Duncan Custom/59 set I got and was really excited about on another forum and getting laughed at for wasting money on "Seymour Generics". Fanboys suck. I was turned off of the brand for a long while over them.

That being said, I will stand by what I said, they are sweet pickups. I really like the Mules and the Holy Divers. They're good pickups, but I feel I can get just as good from other makers, many of them cheaper. Unfortunately, many of the smaller guys I like have raised prices a good bit too so they are not always the great deal they used to be.

 

[BTS]

I think many of us would be willing to pay BKP prices if we were confident a pickup set would be the right pickup choice for us, but are apprehensive of taking the financial risk. You can't do a direct comparison of two sets and then pick your favourite, unless you pay for more than one set (even with their exchange policy, you only have one set in your possession at a time). As it is, I can buy two sets of DiMarzio / SD pickups for less than one set of BKP, which makes it far more viable to buy multiple sets and then re-sell any I don't want to keep (after taking as much time as a I like to test/compare them).

Based on reviews, I'd be keen to try ceramic Nailbombs, ceramic Warpigs and Painkillers, but that would set me back about £950. I've opted to play it safe by ordering multiple sets of D Activators (after liking the stock D Activators in my XPT700) and popular pickups that have stood the test of time (e.g. Super D + PAF Pro). I'm about to test Evolutions, Black Winters and Blackened Black Winters, as it would be a bit boring to have D Activators in everything (I have Ibbys with Tone Zone + Air Norton and DiMarzio/IBZ sets that I want to swap out). Those three sets cost me <£450 and any loss on reselling them will be less (in £ not %) it than would have been with the BKPs.

I agree with you here. I would pay the prices if I had some confidence I was getting a pickup I really liked - my experience with BKP is just a bit too variable in terms of what ive liked and have not liked, not in terms of quality: Ive had a Cbomb bridge and nailbomb neck, the CBOMB bridge was pretty cool but perhaps wasnt what i really wanted and really disliked the NB neck; had a judggernaut bridge which didnt do it for me but have continued to use because I couldnt bothered paying money to replace; had a Ragnarok set which I really like, in particular the bridge; had the VHII neck which is fine, but wasnt what I was really after; had a holy diver bridge which was great but moved that guitar along; played an aftermath bridge a few times and it was fine and did what was on the label, but wouldnt buy for myself.

Now i am umming and rring about getting a polymath or silo set.. or a mix. I am a hobby player and cant justify the expense of buying both and testing and dont want to have to try to move on any more pickups in the 2nd hand market. The other element is that all the marketing by BKP guys like Nolly and Rabea etc make killer content... it is really hard to figure out what it really sounds like or would sound like in my setup, when those guys produce such great material.

On lundgrens, I would absolutely give em a try but there is soo little information out there on them.

 

[Hoss632]

I have 11 guitars and most of the bridge pickups I replaced with Bare Knuckle pickups. My most recent guitar purchase was a Schecter Tempest Blackjack which came stock with Lundgren M6 humbuckers, or if you’re putting into a 7-string they would be M7’s. The Lundgrens sound absolutely amazing! I won’t be swapping them out for BKP’s. I am absolutely impressed with the Lundgrens.

How do you like that Tempest over all? I've been very interested in it, especially given the price for the specs.

 

[Hoss632]

I agree with you here. I would pay the prices if I had some confidence I was getting a pickup I really liked - my experience with BKP is just a bit too variable in terms of what ive liked and have not liked, not in terms of quality: Ive had a Cbomb bridge and nailbomb neck, the CBOMB bridge was pretty cool but perhaps wasnt what i really wanted and really disliked the NB neck; had a judggernaut bridge which didnt do it for me but have continued to use because I couldnt bothered paying money to replace; had a Ragnarok set which I really like, in particular the bridge; had the VHII neck which is fine, but wasnt what I was really after; had a holy diver bridge which was great but moved that guitar along; played an aftermath bridge a few times and it was fine and did what was on the label, but wouldnt buy for myself.

Now i am umming and rring about getting a polymath or silo set.. or a mix. I am a hobby player and cant justify the expense of buying both and testing and dont want to have to try to move on any more pickups in the 2nd hand market. The other element is that all the marketing by BKP guys like Nolly and Rabea etc make killer content... it is really hard to figure out what it really sounds like or would sound like in my setup, when those guys produce such great material.

On lundgrens, I would absolutely give em a try but there is soo little information out there on them.

Depending on what you want sound wise you could go several different ways combining Nolly and Rabea's sets together. To my ear their sets are opposites. By that I mean The Silo bridge has a warmer fatter tone to my ear than the Polymath, but the neck pick ups are the opposite, where the Silo is very jangley and the polymath has a huge warm tone which sounds great for leads. If I were to pair the 2 I'd probably do a silo bridge and polymath neck just because of what I like tonally.

 

[Legion]

Just scooped up a used set of 7 string Elysian Moderns (Which are equivalent to Trident I's) for 185 bucks shipped.

 

[Wusthof XIII]

How do you like that Tempest over all? I've been very interested in it, especially given the price for the specs.

I absolutely love it. Super fast neck and all the tone you need with some leftover from the Lundgrens. I have 6, 7 and 8-string guitars from Fender, to PRS and Schecter asking to be picked up and played each morning and I am grabbing the stock Schecter Tempest Blackjack first with no regrets. I play through a choice of Orange or Mesa heads (Mesa Badlander 50-watt head, Orange TH30 head, Mesa Rectoverb 25-watt head or Orange Rocker 15 head) and each one loves the Tempest. If you play any form of metal, this is the guitar you’ve been waiting for. Although I do have an order with Sweetwater when the Schecter Solo II Supreme see thru blue burst is in stock. I am guessing that one will be my new favorite. But you can’t go wrong with a Tempest. It’s uniquely beautiful and sounds amazing.