Humbuckers for a build

[Iguy022]

So, as a limited number of you may know, I am in the early stages of a build. I have most of the hardware (bridge, tuning machines etc.) and the single coil portion of my H/S/H layout. However, the other thirds remain a concern for me. I maintain an interest in a neck-mounted Gibson Dirty Fingers humbucker, because of the fantastic versatility I have heard in the Epi Prophecy guitars, both clean and otherwise. Bareknuckle pickups have recently come to my attention. Living in NE Ohio, I have about no opportunity to test these things, but they've gotten incredible reviews, and I haven't heard a word said against them. Now, I hate to do this, but I was forced to go off of the sound demos on their website, and from these, I determined a favorite, the Painkiller (keep in mind I only need a bridge-mount). So, if anyone here has experience with these things, and vouches for them enough to rule out other pickups (even other BKP's), please let me know. I feel unsure buying something with no firsthand experience. That said, anything would be an improvement over the unbranded humbucker in my Yamaha. Thanks.

[Gilks]

Mirichello knows a lot about BK pickups, he'd be the man to ask about any specifics. But that being said I hear from everyone that they are KILLER. Getting a Cold Sweat pair soon myself.

[FC]

Ha! I am debating between the Painkiller, Nailbomob and Aftermath with that Painkiller at a slight advantage. These type of Bare Knuckle pickups shine when used for metal though, is that what you are after?

[Mushroony]

Dirtyfingers are decent pickups, but far from great. Certainly for a neck humbucker, there is definatly better out there. It might sound boring to many, but I always suggest a SD '59. It remains the most warm, full and versatile humbucker (if you buy the 4 cond. version it's splittable), AND it's quite cheap compared to the Gibson HB's, BKP's and Dimarzio's. Why blow doubble the $$$ if a cheaper pickup is BETTER?

For the bridge, BKP's are really really great. But expensive (150-200$ per pickup?). I personally don't care to blow that much money on a pickup, because the amp and how it's dialed in is way more important than what pickup you use (considering you use decent pickups and not cheap ass unbranded chinese ones). Certainly If you know that you have very good pickups for half the price of the BKP's, the BKP's are getting less interesting. Don't get me wrong, the BKP's are probably the best humbuckers around (certainly for rock and metal), but you'll have to make up for yourself if you want to blow that kind of cash just on 1 pickup.

Other suggestions for a bridge pickup (from favorit to less favorite but still awesome)
- Dimarzio D-Sonic and Dimarzio crunchlab
- Gibson 500T
- SD JB
- SD Custom Custom

[Iguy022]

Dirtyfingers are decent pickups, but far from great. Certainly for a neck humbucker, there is definatly better out there.

Really? I've used them, and they always sounded great to me. Do you have something specific against them?

Regarding what I will play, I vary from things like Paranoid Android which would want my single coil, to Pantera, and Down, which is where the BKP would come in. However, for some rock-distortion (like Buckethead's Albino Slug-esque tone), to Iron Maiden and clean riffs I would want the DF, maybe mixed with the single coil. Thats the sort of thing that sounded nice to me on the dirty fingers.

[Mushroony]

Dirty fingers are way to aggressive to put in a neck position if you ask me. If you need more bite, get the mids on your amp up and a tad more gain. Dirty fingers are just good for hard rock and metal, it won't do a good clean or a smooth crunch. It's too obnoxious to put in a neck position (even the neck humbucker version). Take a '59 in the neck. You won't regret it.

Thing is, if you want to get a decent clean out of the dirty fingers, you'll have to EQ your amp totally different than lets say a '59. Where the '59 already has the smoothness and warmth you want from a neck pickup, the DF will ask that to come from the amp. Once you kick in an OD pedal, the DF will sound muddy as hell, because your amp EQ will have the wrong EQ settings for OD or distortion. So you need an amp with seperate EQ's per channel, and you'll need an extra EQ to handle your OD pedals to prevent mudfest 5000. All that you can prevent by not getting a too hot neck HB.

[breakfastime]

So, as a limited number of you may know, I am in the early stages of a build. I have most of the hardware (bridge, tuning machines etc.) and the single coil portion of my H/S/H layout. However, the other thirds remain a concern for me. I maintain an interest in a neck-mounted Gibson Dirty Fingers humbucker, because of the fantastic versatility I have heard in the Epi Prophecy guitars, both clean and otherwise. Bareknuckle pickups have recently come to my attention. Living in NE Ohio, I have about no opportunity to test these things, but they've gotten incredible reviews, and I haven't heard a word said against them. Now, I hate to do this, but I was forced to go off of the sound demos on their website, and from these, I determined a favorite, the Painkiller (keep in mind I only need a bridge-mount). So, if anyone here has experience with these things, and vouches for them enough to rule out other pickups (even other BKP's), please let me know. I feel unsure buying something with no firsthand experience. That said, anything would be an improvement over the unbranded humbucker in my Yamaha. Thanks.

Welcome to the forum Iguy!  Tell us more about your build (or point me to the thread)
Also, when it comes to pickups, I highly recommend Zhangbucker pickups! --he can make you pretty much anything you want, at reasonable prices.
Yes, there are a ton of guys building pickups in their shops and garages with great results--Zhang is just the guy I like to use.
For the price of a DiMarzio ($80), you can have a really great sounding custom pickup, and help support small business!

http://www.zhangbucker.com/
Sorry for that spammy bit there--it's not a paid endorsement, honest!  I just like the stuff this guy builds.

[FC]

I hear Bill Lawrence makes one of the best pickups (500XL) for high gain, and they are only $65.

http://www.billlawrenceonlinestore.com/

[Iguy022]

Yeah I know of the Bill Lawrence. The original Dimebucker right? I've tried the Seymour Duncan version once, and wasn't all that impressed. I looked at the Zhangbucker website, and it looks like something I could use, but the trouble is again, going on faith for the sound of the humbucker. I take your guy's word for this, but I know the guy who's buying these (my dad) will probably want some serious testing first.Oh, and breakfasttime, here's the link to my really old post, if you have any interest in it. Most parts of my design have changed though.

Oh, and breakfasttime, here is the link to my very old thread, though I don't know how much it will interest you. I think many details have changed. http://guitarforum.net/guitarist/index.php/topic,17089.0.html

[FC]

Yep, the original Dimebucker.

[Mirichello]

For the bridge, BKP's are really really great. But expensive (150-200$ per pickup?). I personally don't care to blow that much money on a pickup, because the amp and how it's dialed in is way more important than what pickup you use (considering you use decent pickups and not cheap ass unbranded chinese ones). Certainly If you know that you have very good pickups for half the price of the BKP's, the BKP's are getting less interesting. Don't get me wrong, the BKP's are probably the best humbuckers around (certainly for rock and metal), but you'll have to make up for yourself if you want to blow that kind of cash just on 1 pickup.

Agreement central. I spent ages changing pickups until I was happy with the overall settings on my amp, something which is a bit of a regret considering pickups aren't exactly cheap. All part of tone-chasing I guess, only I think I took a very long-winded approach...

I do love Bare Knuckles tho, especially the Cold Sweats and Painkillers. Aftermaths are a bit too hot for my liking although they have great definition. The bridge/neck set of Cold Sweats especially are very well balanced... but as Shroon says -  they're not the cheapest.

One thing I will say about the Bill Lawrence 500XL... the one in my Dean is incredibly sharp/abrasive (like a jacked-up version of the Dimebucker) - the only reason its still in the guitar is purely because it's a Dime signature and I don't wanna detract from the overall value of the thing. Personally I'd stay well clear and look toward DiMarzio/SD/BKP

[InexperiencedLuthier]

I've got a SD 59 in the neck of my tele and it sounds like an angel! Like Shroony said, they're really warm and full. Most neck pickups just sound way too muddy and compressed to me. Actually this is the only time I've ever used a neck pickup in any of my guitars. EVER! So yes, if it were me I'd go with the 59 or something nice from GFS professional series.

[Iguy022]

Sounds like a trip to Guitar Center in pursuit of this SD '59. Will do.

[Mushroony]

Make sure it's the 4 conductor version if you want to be able to split them.

[Iguy022]

You mean like coil tapping? If so, that's why I bought a single coil