Bye bye Slash set, hello Bare Knuckle Black Dogs

[Archer_of_Fish]

After many months my Slash pickups are now gone from my Les Paul. I just don't like the way
they sound in this guitar.

Since I don't like hot pickups but like some push I bought a used set of Bare Knuckle Black Dogs.
The pickups arrived yesterday and went in this morning. Sadly the pickups are crudely distressed
(done by the previous owner) which looks a little nasty but I can change that later.

Tonally there is a HUGE difference. The Slashes had a bright upper midrange and highs that
I couldn't get used to. The Black Dogs have a strong but balanced midrange and have a high
end that is bright but a little rounder. I have a dark sounding Hamer that is going to get
the Slash pickups, should work very nicely.

[Tototapuz]

Which do you recommend for the neck Black Dogs or APH-1?

[Archer_of_Fish]

I like the Black dog more but the Slash neck is pretty good. If I only had a BD bridge I would be ok with the Slash neck

[Tototapuz]

i mean the APH-1 not the slash signature

[Archer_of_Fish]

Don't know, I haven't used one in a Les Paul.

Lots of people seem to like them so it should be worth a shot.

[Tototapuz]

I think to choose one of these for the neck:

black dogs
APH
or the mule bare knuckle

[Bfeeney]

I looked into those Bare Knuckles and they look really good. $280 for The Mule set though? Are they worth it?

[Archer_of_Fish]

I paid 220 for my Black Dogs & don't feel jilted.

I do think that new BK pickups are way overpriced

[Bfeeney]

If there is a SD, DiMarzio or EMG that is very comparable then I'd rather get those @ $75

[Archer_of_Fish]

They are a hot PAF. There are probably Duncan experts here that can advise you on this better than I could. Even though the black dogs are Alnico IV I would think that any of the vintage Alnico II pickups would get you close.

In Dimarzios the 36th Anniversaries are in the ballpark.

[P.A.Foholic]

Black Dog also slays in 7string axes. Played one BRJ Hesperian with 27'' and it sounded soooo tight & huge. Very good pups.

[Brow]

That's an awesome looking Les Paul!

I love my Black Dog and Mules too, great pickups.

Black Dogs are Alnico V btw, Mules are Alnico IV.

[Tototapuz]

I looked into those Bare Knuckles and they look really good. $280 for The Mule set though? Are they worth it?

I'm thinking of buying only for the neck
mule or APH or black dogs

Difficult to choose :/

[Archer_of_Fish]

That's an awesome looking Les Paul!

I love my Black Dog and Mules too, great pickups.

Black Dogs are Alnico V btw, Mules are Alnico IV.

yup, I stand corrected

[spleenharvester]

Good to know I'm not the only one who couldn't get used to them haha. I have the APH-2 bridge and IMO it sounds awful for anything not involving soloing.

Got a hot rails bridge, flung it in the middle and it handles both rhythm and solos nicely, which has made the APH-2 a bit redundant.

[Strat111]

I'm thinking of buying only for the neck
mule or APH or black dogs

Difficult to choose :/

The specs for the pups you are interested in are:

Mule neck: 7.3K A4
APH-1 Neck: 7.6K A2
APH-2 Neck: 7.92K A2
Black Dog neck: 7.7K A5

other choices:
Ant neck: 7.8K A2
Seth neck: 7.2K A2

So the Mule and Seth neck are very close, and you can get the Mule potted or unpotted, as the Seths are unpotted only, as are the Ants. All the other pups are potted.

[BloodRose]

If there is a SD, DiMarzio or EMG that is very comparable then I'd rather get those @ $75

Keep an open mind.. Some Bare knuckle pup owners will tell you that oh yeah, you MUST pay cuz they are the only thing in the world.. etc.. They do make great pickups. So does Seymour Duncan, so does Dimarzio. It all depends what you want and need. Duncan makes a wide enough selection, that you can get about anything you need from a guitar. But, if you have an EXTREMELY discriminating ear, or a VERY specific application, you may need to look elsewhere and there may only be one model by one company that will scratch that itch. If so, you will have need to pay what is ness to fill that.
I have Emgs, dimarzios, bill lawrence, Bare knuckles, carvins, Genesis sounds, and lots of Duncans. Even have 3 different brands in a couple of guitars.

The point Im trying to make is that you should use what is right for you and what you are trying to get from that guitar.. If you ask are the BKs worth it? Yeah, if thats the tone you need.. They are great pups, but you can prolly get what you need with sd too.

[Archer_of_Fish]

Exactly. THere is a big world outside of Bare Knuckle pickups.