Part 2: BKP Mule vs Gibson Classic 57 Humbucker Shootout

[sunmoonfire67]

Great sound.. great playing.. i think the bare nuckle is the sound i prefer .. it's warm, has a tab more sustain and just has a nicer qauiltiy of sound to my ear..

[monirom94]

Wow man, totally agree,

Tone phrasing sound amazing.

I just bought a les Paul.

That's the tone I'm gonna shoot for.

In the Faves box

[ev6e9ts]

very nice/tonephrasing-had to listen twice

[vastei13]

is that the 57 classic or classic +?

normally, on the bridge, gibsun puts classic +

[skaboosh]

@vastei13 DC resistance of my Classic 57's reads 7.67k on bridge and 7.76k on neck.

[vastei13]

@skaboosh I've got a les paul trad, and i'm considering upgrading the bridge pickup, the classic +, to BKP ( either the mule, black dog, or riff raff, don't know yet.) To nail those Page/Gibbons/Young tones, which ones would you recommend? I'm going for double-cream, resembling page #1 LP, should look killer!

 I'm also going to change the pots and the caps, trying to brighten the guitar a little bit, as it's too dark for my taste.

Awesome playing by the way!

[skaboosh]

@vastei13 Thank you sire....I really cannot recommend anything without saying my opinion is a bucket with it's own holes in it.......all opinions are flawed, almost...but I recently tried Burstbuckers and thought they were FAB!!!!

[chernobilski]

@vastei13 If you are looking for the Page tone go for the Mule/ Riff Raff combo!!

[GuitarEd48]

This actually sounds better! I have also installed the Classic57 in my R9 , but after this video I want to have those Mule Bare Knuckles!

[bushkey]

I have played a few sets of BKP's and own 57's. My findings are also the same as here. 57's are the best Gibby pup they make! they are sweet, very warm balanced, but a little squishy. Not that squishy is bad, just not the clearest pup. Now for the BKP's. Exc.PUPs, and not sure why people are not hearing whats obvious to me. The mules are a lot more clear and articulating to me then any gibson, even the 57. Bkp's are generally darker and muscular pups with clarity. The mules are just that

[wammbarro]

Although these videos are highly compressed, it is easy to hear the extra 'space' and 'airiness' associated with the Mule. The tone is thicker, sustain greater and a generally less fatiguing sound to the ears. I've owned both, I stick with BKP.

[thecaveofthedead]

Very much depends on taste, I reckon. To my ears, the Mules sound slightly more raw and more dynamic - which gives it less of a corporate rock sound and more of a live Zeppelin kind of feel. That's the way I'd go.

But the '57 is a very responsive, dynamic pickup. Maybe the difference is mostly in the potting.

[70moparbaby]

i like how your two videos have almost the same number of views people stumble on part one and have to see part two haha or at least thats what happened to me

[adam10603]

This one actually sounds better. Its more vintage-gibson-like.

[peterdemaeyer]

I've gone back and forth between both clips many times, listening with a top quality set of headphones and... I can't really decide which is best. The BKP's have a more "splashy" sound which I think many people will like, but after a while I could see myself tiring of it and liking the 57s better for prolonged playing. And maybe my sympathies lie more with Gibson since the contrarian in me doesn't like this notion that if it isn't boo-teek then it must be shit. Thanks for the great comparison.

[skaboosh]

@peterdemaeyer Thanks my friend that's a good comment....I currently have the BKP in the Gibson (last few weeks) and am thinking of going back to the 57's...they seem slightly sweeter in some way...although the bkp have great bandwidth and bigger sustain...disclaimer: To my ears/feelings anyhoo.....each time I change I think that's it... but I swap every 6 months to a year, it seems

[gordiji1]

@peterdemaeyer i'm a bkp fan and would edge toward the mule which has more edge.there's not much in it though.BUT your playing is very exciting and it's that

which will always make you sound so good.100%.

[F3FisGoodforYou]

@peterdemaeyer .... I'm surprised of your comment: you can clearly hear the difference between the two pickups, the BKM are much more lively, open, deep... I would have hard time to describe that in english

[jp6l6]

After listening both demos, I prefer the Mule which has a more powerfull attack and bite.

[jem7772]

purchased the bareknuckle rebel yell. It was overpriced and a little sterile sounding in my les paul that had the 500t that I was not crazy about. I put in a suhr which was my fav of the three with the bare knuckle dead last !!!

[christrealized]

I like the Bare Knuckles better as they have more dimensions & depth to them. I also find they have more chime..:) Great demo excellent playing! I have a set of Mississippi Queens in one of my Les Pauls & love them! I have a set of Riff Raffs in my Strat & it's the best sounding Strat I have heard..:) I have a set of PG Blues in my other Les Paul & I almost always pick it up over anything else. I have a Tele special with a Stormy Monday in the neck & a Black Guard in the bridge & I love them.

[satjathamma]

a totally overprised pickup, can't hear any difference?

[israeldogfather]

i like the mule better then the gibson, far out video dude gj !

[60hzhum]

Very nice vid mate! I've got a set of Mules and I've gotta say I love 'em, They are definitely worth the price, which to be honest isn't very expensive, plus you can customise loads of options. I don't know who gave this vid a dislike but they must be deaf ;).

[nomissimon21]

God! the bass notes of that Mule are heavenly...

[josedelapuerta]

are they potted?

[skaboosh]

The Mules are not potted and the gibsons, I can't remember.....I think the Gibsons are potted.....errmmmmmm.....

[GuitarRocks23455]

@skaboosh Sorry, what does it mean if a pickup is potted? Im a noob when it comes to this stuff, so bear with me lol

[skaboosh]

@GuitarRocks23455 no worries, dude..."potted" means the pickup is dipped in wax, (before the outer metal cover is put on).......this wax dipping, potting, reduces microphonic feedback at high volumes by stopping the coils physically vibrating....

[bassandguitargreg]

@skaboosh yea man they're potted... i've been going back and forth trying to decide which to put in my little epiphone that i'm doing work on and that's the biggest difference to me

tone is important, but what good is your tone when everytime you let go of the fretboard it's feeding back like nuts? know what i mean?

[littlewing62]

@josedelapuerta gibbies are wax potted.

[watchtheskies]

@josedelapuerta looks like you can specify potted or unpotted

[PrsFenderJackson1980]

Another thing to consider is that the following; Miracle Man, Nailbomb, and The Mule are probably Bare Knuckle's most versatile sets. So for those considering going BK pickups route. Choose the ones I have mention earlier. You won't be disappointed. Black Dog, Warpig, Stormy Sunday sets will give a more genre focused tone such as Classic Rock, Metal(classic), Blues/Jazz. lol. One more thing on my rant. Your playing ability and Amp quality should be first when picking up a guitar.

[volkhead247]

is there a website besides the bkn site that tells me the diff. in the pups as far more bass, treb, ect. kind of like what seymour has on his site for all the pups they have?? have a full mohogany guitar that needs less mids and more bass and treb, want to throw a 57 + in it cuz i love em but im very curious about the bkn's. i like the more open tone but still scoop the mids a tad. (but not muddy though.) thanks!!!!

[skaboosh]

@volkhead247 Not as far as I know but if I were you I would go to the Bareknuckle Pickups website and contact Tim via that site....he is a very helpful guy and should be able to point you in the right direction.....good luck

[ericwylde]

@volkhead247

if you're after low output models, you want a Riff Raff

I guess it's the less middy one

very 70ish

[PrsFenderJackson1980]

Stormy Mondays would probably be closer to bell like tone. Seeing as it is equipped with a alnico II and the mule is alnico V. Which is probably why people are picking up on the "harsher" or brighter tone. But The mule can take you from Blues to Jazz to Rock/Blues easy.

[skaboosh]

Good comments, thank you. This bare knuckle mule is alnico 4 - which I am guessing is tougher than 2 but less tough than 5?

[lucianogt]

Very good playing. Thanks for the samples. The vol. pots are the stock 300k or 500k?

[skaboosh]

Thanks, I think the pots are original, the values are certainly 500K and I swapped out the caps for Sozos. All the best.

[jp6l6]

I think Burstbuckers Pro are too powerfull and I don't like these but I fit Burstbuckers #1 & #2 on my LP Traditional to replace the 57's and obtained the bite I had not before. That's it ! At my taste I've a better sound, just like the BK here.

[drone713]

I think the gibson is warmer

[MrHaroldA]

Too bad the Mule didn't have a chrome cover installed. This might explain the slightly clearer tone of the Mule...

[jp6l6]

The Park amp helps to sound so good too.

[Royalista05]

Good demo and playing! Besides, it would be probably better to compare the '57 Classic Plus to the BK Mule in this case since they're closer to each other as for their output. The Mule with this output (more than 8 KOhm) is used in bridge pos., meanwhile the '57 Classic (rather closer to 7 KOhm than to 8 KOhm) offered into both, but mostly used in neck pos. w/the Plus in bridge. Anyway, probably the '57 Classic and the BK Mule are the best vintage pickups available today! I love both!

[vedresb]

Unbelievable tone on both man....

[redrocker1055]

I don't know how you guys can't hear a difference!

The roll off on the high notes on the BK's are more brittle and "industrial" sounding then on the 57's while the low notes are almost identical!

Both are great sounding but in this demo I would have to reluctantly give it to the 57's. But in a Classic rock, blues-rock or hard rock demo I would think the Bk's would best the 57's!!!

[richedie]

Are the Classic 57s better than the BB Pros? Warner? I am looking for something for classic rock to hard rock, Led Zep to Alice in Chains. Are the 57 Classic PLus also a Tom Holmes design? Is that good for hard rock?

[MrRhoads26]

Great playing :)

I liked the 57classics the best :)

Might be because of the lower output.

Still 2 great pickups that both kicks ass

[richedie]

Very minor difference in the two if any. Certainly not enough to make me want to replace 57s! I think there is too much hype about after market pickups. I think Gibsons are good in the right Gibby. Heck my BB Pros and 57s will do anything with the right amp, blues to metal.

[RolandBurt]

Wow! Kiiler tone bro. Nice chops too. That amp sounds awesome. I'm liking the BK's better myself. Really do like Gibson pups but on this setting at least, the BK's break up nicer and seem to give more sustain.

[2latuile]

Well... I'm so impressed with your playing that I had to give both vids a second chance !-)

But to me, the Mule outperforms the 57'. Similar tone, but *way* more life and mojo, almost 3D. And FWIW, I find your playing even more impressive with it - more inspired for sure, with really outstanding phrases (really love what comes out around 2:27). Great sustain / feedback too (like around 3:18 / 3:22). Well, I can only agree with skydog46: definitely more (h)air into it.

[lazlo696969]

57's or burst buckers

wats better??

[skaboosh]

No idea.... sorry....I've never played a burstbucker....

[skaboosh]

I think the 57 is thinner but has a nice upper mid spike...it's a great characterful pickup,

the BKP is fatter and smoother...

they're both great...in their own way....

[fretboarder]

def sound brighter and clearer while the 57's sound darker..is there any pick ups where you get a balance of both that would be good.ive juust got gibson bb1 and 2 in my r8..cheers..

[jamesaaron69]

i got say i realy like the sound an sustain of the 57 better but this  is my oppion!!! what truely matter is what you like the best, my self i play with 57 an 57 classic in the bridge i love the sound my 69 les paul has, IT ALL A PERSONAL THING YOU NO!!!

[skaboosh]

thanks man, absolutely right. Funny timing, I almost put the 57 back in yesterday, they are not as wide bandwidth but they do have something classic gibsonesque about them in that upper mid peak....

comments appreciated...

I'll "to and fro" a bit with these pickups until I know which ones I want.... cheers

[jamesaaron69]

keep rocken man you can play realy good!!! ive been a fan of the 57 from day one

[SmokeyTone]

I have to agree with some of the other statements, the BKP sounds cleaner and clearer. Very crisp highs and such sweet sustain.

I could listen to your playing all day, but that's an entirely different subject.

Cheers from the States.

[skaboosh]

wow, the timbuckers.......

do you have clips of those? It's such a minefield all this gear choice... like valves, slight improvements here and there......

there are so many really good pickups being made these days..... it's a good time....

[faoilann]

Roy,I love your playing...all the greats shine through,Koss/Gilmore/Gary Moore/Peter Green....Keep it comin' Terry Flood.

[skaboosh]

Thanks Terry, I saw your vid - brilliant.....

hopefully catch you when you come to London.

[skydog46]

The BKP have unbalanced coils and a lot more air to them through this amp. The Gibson pickup with its balanced coils sounds a little congested IMO. Playing and amp are killer!!!!

[skaboosh]

thanks for the info, man, much appreciated....

[skaboosh]

i think you are right about the "air".... - they also "feel" like they breathe a little more than the 57's.....

[skydog46]

Your playing and that amp are a killer match!!!!

[guitarbyron]

Nice demo, which do you prefer? It sounds like the BKP makes you play more heavily?

[skaboosh]

Thanks, ermmm..I think the pu's are really similar but the BKP Mule is a tad more tough and sustaining, but again, the cover is off now so it's going to sound tougher anyway.....

it's a hard choice but the BKP wins by a hair or two......

I've has that pickup for ages in my old red yamaki so I'm really used to it and I feel like I can play it easier than the gibbo....

at least for today, tomorrow it might be a different set of brain waves....

must save for a sheptone next

[leftystrat62]

Yea,I love the sound of those sheptones. Brian K sure does sound good playing those. I put a pair of Timbuckers instead of the '57's in my LP-it was a good choice,but not so cheap. My playing is so so,that's why I'm always insearch for a better amp/pickup(even thought it doesn't help my playing,lol);but you could play anything and make it sound good.

[juniorsandspecials]

The pickups sound good for sure, but Holy Crap, Roy - you're playing is fantastic!

Jim

[skaboosh]

Thanks Jim, that's put a smile on my face......I tend to think less of my playing, (maybe it's safer that way)