One of the best comparison vids I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen enough to truly be embarrassed by the number. My rankings: 1. Seth Lovers 2. Bareknuckles 3. Gibson 4. Lollars Not what I expected, but that’s why this video is so great. There is a small enough gap between samples that “confirmation bias” can’t set in, and the consistency of performance is stellar.
and a man knows how to solder the pickup on the pots! Seen too many people do comparisons in different guitars. It's like comparing 2 different engines in two different cars!
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is how a sound comparison is done! Direct cut, quality recording equipment, same settings, same pup position. I don't know why others just can't do it like that. Bravo and thank you!
i usually would agree, but i was used for many years with the 498T/490R combo in my les paulcustom. and when i bought a standard with burstbuckers in it, i couldnt stand those.
These are all a similar style pup. I'll be swapping out my Gibson 57 classics for something with more bite, and complexity. New Gibson pickups are ridiculously over priced for what you get. You can get custom shop pups for what they charge.
The Bare Knuckle set were the only ones which stood out for me. Their clean tone is much closer to Gibson '57 classics than the rest of the lot. Coil impedance is key. I'm annoyed that manufacturers don't document this stuff. Worse, most brands are totally inconsistent. Glad you posted measurements.
I actually think the 57's would stand out as the most mid heavy and honky, and wouldn't hang with any of these , which all sounded good, 57's are NOT true PAF pickups like these, there potted, even coils etc, very well done sir, outstanding presentation, @@carlosfernandez3565
I’d say the bare knuckles are the most articulate, followed by the Lollars, which is odd as they are the highest impedance. The Lollars have a more low-mid focus than the Bare Knuckles, which sounded brighter. The Gibson pickups had a woolier response all round, but weren’t bad. Big surprise is how little improvement in articulation or dynamics the Seymour Duncans have over a set of stock Gibsons. The old Alnico Pro IIs at least felt like a step up, but those Seth Lovers just feel like you’d be spending quite a lot of money for no benefit.
Coil impedance not only is temperature dependent but it's a poor determiner of the sound of a pickup alone. To a certain degree a lower number produces marginally less voltage but that 's dependent on if it's getting bridge pickup energy or neck in terms of string energy. Different magnets, whether type or gauss strength, determines as much or more tone-wise. Some manufacturers know this and prefer not to disclose the k reading. It's really about turns on the bobbins and how those turns are layered. That creates the resonant peaks and "voice" of the pickup. Also, if you're really aiming for "PAF" tone, you might as well not be terribly consistent because the real things were very inconsistent. Some bobbins might be mismatched from different batches of wire if one manufacturer ran out or whatever. They've found PAF's that have formvar and some with formvar and PE on the same pickup! They were pumping these things out based on a very loose spec of turns on the bobbin, using a variety of different machines that layered wire slightly differently and some pickups have a mix of different machine windings. Couple that with magnets that could be literally anything. The "Amos" Flying V, owned by Joe Bonnamassa, had such a high gauss reading on the bridge pickup, they only guessed it could have been AlNiCo 6 (!!) since it was higher than the highest possible A5 reading. Why? Because they were pumping out pickups and materials ran out and they had to use whatever they had around. So honestly, all of these pickups are reasonable facsimiles of what you might find in four random Gibson humbucking pickups from the 50's.
In a recording environment there would be little to no discernible difference in tones for 99% of us. Back to back you can hear some differences but they're so incredibly slight that even a minute change in technique would probably fool the listener in thinking it was a different pickup. Bottom line is they're all just great and the real takeaway here is Kaven makes some Amazing tones and riffs! I think I enjoyed listening to the samples more than I cared about the difference in tones! Brilliant all around. I'm keeping what I've got, thank you!
Totally agree... Bare Knuckles had the edge pretty much right across the board. For me, the Gibson pickups fared the worst.. lacked a little clarity, I bit muddy sounding. Yes.. he did a great job on this demo! A lot of work involved no doubt!
@@KavenGirouard Great comparison video!!! Bare Knuckles win by a smidge for me ... and liked the Duncans least of the four. That said, they all sound good, but if we're splitting hairs, that's my take away.
Wow, biggest takeaway for me is how close they all are - all sound great! The SD's sounded the most articulate for me - but very close. 4 great sets of pups, couldn't go wrong with any of them really. Nice vid!!
Do you reckon it would be better to change the pots and wiring in my LP tribute to make it sound a little less muddy? Im not mad at the 490s that came in it standard i think they have the great paf sound but after digging singles for so long they sound muddy to my ear
@@kremepye3613My tribute is the same, except I already swapped the bridge pickup. I’m dropping in a 50s style Emerson wiring harness and hopefully that’ll brighten it up a bit. The 490s might be part of the problem too, but we’ll see.
the playing is so consistent, and professional enough to bring out the beauty of the pickups, but not overly flashy to take the attention away from sound comparison Perfect!
Excellent comparative showcase! Each of these PAF pickup sets shine in their own way. But honestly, if I were blindfolded and listening to a player with a backing band putting the different pickups through their paces (without knowing that was what I should be focusing on), at no time during the presentation would I suspect that they had changed pickups--it's that close.
The Duncan's and the Bare Knuckles were probably my favorites, but I think the Gibson's may have sounded the best clean. The Lollars sounded great too.
Literally the best pickup comparison vid i have ever seen (and that is a lot), short passages, played as similarly as you can hope for, no over the top drive or endless noodling, edited well, and timestamps to go back and listen again. If there were awards for that you got my vote. As for the pickups, the Bareknuckles just edging the Lollars for me…
The Lollars simply had more information in every position, very clear and transparent. I was impressed with the Bare Knuckles as well. Both the Gibsons and the Duncans would require EQing to be brought up to anywhere close to the first two. Nice job on the comparison!
Nice shootout: tjs for uploading. Liked the BK clean, the Lollars OD, the Seth Lover Solo. Overall, the BK had the best compromise of all styles to me… Cheers
My exact thoughts! They all traded blows depending on the gain stage. I also came the same conclusion. BK sacrificed the least in the other departments while Lollar/SD seemed to be muddier in thr other categories
Perfect comparison, best I've seen. I love low-output, unpotted pickups. When my guitar comes with Gibson burstbuckers, I leave them. When the guitar doesn't come with them, I buy the SD Seth Lovers. Thanks for this work!
@@NotUrBiz they all sound the same so that's what he implied. I get it that English is not your first language but it was strongly implied in his statement. Thanks for commenting.
This is IMO the ABSOLUTE best PAF shootout on UA-cam. Wonderful job. IMO I thought the Bare Knuckle edged out the BB very slightly, but not enough to upgrade if you have them already. Very similar to the Seth Lover but handled distortion better. The other two were not as well rounded as the Gibson or BK, which did it all pretty dang good.
*sorry for my English For me : Bare Knuckle U.K. Stormy Monday Neck PU (clarity-lush-P-90s vibe) & Seymour Duncan Seth Lover Bridge PU (velvet-elegant-a bit "Jazzy" vibe) ! What a wonderful video & excellent playing, thank you very much indeed, Sir
I got a set of Seth Lover in my trusty 30 year old Hamer Studio... I'd never get rid of these pickups... they age very well over time. Great video Kaven! You probably spent an insane amount of time on this. You matched the levels perfectly and your playing is soooo steady... To me, it is surprising how close they sound on cleans... they may have a different feel... but in the listener perspective, difference are pretty subtle. Overdrive sound seems to highlight differences a bit more. Great job!
Love, love the way your video is structured here! I wish all comparisons were like this! So easy to follow and ear too and really make a decision. Thank you for filming and recording that way! Hands down the Stormy Monday is my favorite sounding on this one. They all sound nice, but for my ear it was the Bareknuckle's.
Yeah, wow. They sound virtually identical with very subtle differences. I hear more detail in the S.D. Seth Lovers and the Bare Knuckles. Very good video!🎉
@@KavenGirouard I’m trying to get a TRUE authentic Alnico 5 set from Seymour Duncan. Once, I asked MJ in the Custom Shop to build me a Jimmy Page set that comes from the Historical files in the “Antiquity Room” so she said I’ll look up the rewinds and pickups Jimmy or Led Zeppelin ordered during 1974-1977 and I’ll make you a set. I was sketchy about whether or not they’d really sound like a cocked wah and have a good midrange hump. PERFECT!! I told her I didn’t hear any Page in the Whole Lotta Humbucker but it’s a good place to begin. I asked her to just make them so Page, Himself would be happy with the set, aged gold. Came out absolutely perfect! I’ve got the Best Tone, perhaps second only to Joe Bonamassa. I’d love a set of AMOS pickups and a set of the ultimate 1958,9,1960&61 P.A.F.’s, did you know? The Patent # on the early PAF’s wasn’t real? They just began putting a # on it so nobody would try to steal the humbucker!
I agree with how close they all are. It’s amazing how peoples ears hear different things. I felt the lollars were the most dynamic. My choice in order 2,3,1,4
@@KavenGirouard yes myself as well I just may have found a set to replace the stock BB's in my 19 HCS Standard 50's model Pleasantly surprised with that guitar as well
I feel the same man! I have actually come back to this vid to make sure i was hearing correctly lol. Im going to purchase a set af BK pups in the near future!
Excellent video - seamlessly done! My favourites: Best Cleans: Stormy Monday. Best Dirty: Imperial. Most Vintage: Seth Lover. Best Allrounders: Stormy Monday / Seth Lover. For me, there was nothing the Burstbuckers had that one of the others didn't do better.
I think they all sounded great. But if I had to choose, I like the Bare Knuckle and Seymour Duncan the most. Great job with the video, I appreciate the quality content.
I've got a few Les Paul's with a variety of PAF's. Holmes, Fralin, SD, Dimarizio, Gibson. The Bare Knuckle's stand out enough from all of those, that I've got a set on the way to go in one of my stock Les Paul's. Excellent video!
I actually liked the Bare Knuckles in more of the positions than the Lollars, but the Neck overdrive 2 tone is probably closest to my most used tone, and I liked the Lollar's best there.
Excellent clip. This is how its done. All these sounded really close and considering alot of people swap Burstbuckers out, they were able to hang pretty well with the aftermarket models here. I personally found the Bare Knuckles the most vintage sounding, and the Seth Lovers the most pleasing. I'd love to see a clip like this using similar pickups, but with an SG. Awesome stuff
This is by far the best PAF pickup comparison I have ever seen. Years ago, I would have thought any one of these candidates would be an excellent replacement pickup, but things have changed since the early days; OBVIOUSLY. I feel the Bare Knuckle "Stormy Monday" edges out all the others, in all tonal situations. Thanks KC. (great video by the way)
Excellent comparison, this is how they all should be done. I think what the video really highlights is the difference output makes in tone. The higher output pickups are compressing and losing a lot of the articulation and harmonic content that you hear in the lower output pickups like the Bare Knuckles. The Burstbuckers have a weird little valley in the mid-range somewhere but I find I like their voicing a little better than the others. All things being equal, an 8k bridge and 7.5k neck are probably the sweet spot for PAFs. I'm surprised at how well-defined and capable the Seth Lovers are, and you can really hear the pick attack, perhaps a touch more 'hi-fi' sounding? Bridge: SD> Gibby> BK> Lollar, Neck: Gibby>BK>SD>Lollar. Overall, I'd take the Gibsons for most jobs. The BKs have a sweet sound though, and I'd probably fit the SD to a more modern guitar. The Lollars are musical but are too compressed here for my liking.
Thanks a lot Brent! You're absolutely right! I prefer low out PAFs... I have a pair of "Low Wind" Lollar Imperials in a ES-335 and they're awesome!! (7k and 7.9k)
Great comparison and nice and consistent playing! I like the Bare Knuckle set the best. To me they had the most dynamics and a sort of 3D effect. A big take away from this comparison is how little the "k" number means.
EXCELLENT comparison video, easiest to follow of any I've ever seen. I would have to say the Bare Knuckle and the Gibson were the best overall as 1A and 1B. If you put a gun to my head, I'd probably take the Bare Knuckle pups. Lollar was very close behind those two. I'd say the Seymour Duncan pups were far and away the worst of the bunch with a very tinny sound on almost all of the settings.
Duncan's are the stand out in this comparison. I was really impressed with the burst buckers as these always get negative comments. All the pick ups sound great. I would list it as S .D first, burst buckers second then bare Knuckles and lollar last. But they're all incredibly close. The best pick up comparison vid I've seen, must have taken a lot of work.
This, is the most incredible comparison video ever made. Thank you. They all sound so good in their own way. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the mid saturated Gibson tone, something I've never used myself before. I have a custom Moniker guitar with a Lollar Imperial in the neck and its an incredible pickup. I think it's my favorite here simply because it is the Fattest, roundest, and fullest sounding pickup in the bunch-- but the bare knuckle has an incredible more open tone that I was also really digging. I have a friend who swears by his bare knuckle pickups.
Bare Knuckle for me in all cases, though it's very close between those and the Lollar and BBs. Not so in love with the SDs. I have BBs and probably the differences are so slight I won't change them, but if was in need of PAFs, I'd buy the BK Stormy Mondays. Great comparison. Much appreciated. That is a masterclass in comparison vids - swift switches for direct comparing. Just what I was looking for.
Lollars = greatest attack, to the point where I preferred the Bare Knuckles! The best match of clarity, fullness, balanced harmonics, and natural compression imo. Noted 👌🏻 thanks so much, best pickup demo I’ve ever seen bar none!!
I wanted to like the burst buckers in my 2007 R9..but gotta say the bare knuckles…really was the nicest overall..and I was a bit biased…BK..winner..my opinion..
This is a very well thought out comparison. They are all very close tonal wise but the one thing that a you tube demo cannot convey is "How they feel" and "do they inspire you to play and make music". I have Lollar Imperials in my original 2000 PRS Singlecut and it is a match made in heaven. The tone & the feel make me want to play guitar! In the middle position I get this 3D quality that I had never experienced before and with overdrive they sing for days! The bottom line is these are all well made pickups and you cant really go wrong with any of them but having said that one set may feel better and inspire you more and to me thats what it is all about! Very well done!
Thank you for taking the time to make such a great comparison video! The short licks cut right after one another make it so much easier to hear the differences.
For me ..... Lollar and Gibson #1. Bare Knuckle in 2nd place and Seymour Duncan in 3rd. I think the Lollars were the best but I was very surprised at how close the Gibson's came to matching them.
I love my burst bucker 1 and 2 in my traditional les paul. I do feel like the duncan was a lot smoother and a little wider range of tone. The Gibson sounded older. Just like me! Ha. I would use any of those pickups! nice video for sure!!!
I’d pick the cheapest set of the 4 because they all sound great 😊. The Lollar’s have a little more organic vibe to them. Seymour Duncan’s seemed a little compressed or slightly mid scooped, less dynamic, hard to describe, least favorite… the fact that the video was good enough for me to have any opinion especially at that level of detail means it’s an amazing vid. Thank you!
First off, this was excellent in every way! 1. Seth Lover 2. BK 3. Burstbuckers 4. Lollars Before this video, I would've ranked the Lollars higher but they all sound so good! It's like being the 4th place winner at the Olympics, you're still better than most. everyone else.
Excellent presentation! I’d go with Gibson BB first for sounding cleanest, clearest and most like a PAF. 2nd is Bare Knuckles, very similar to the Gibsons. 3rd Seymour Duncan, which sounds great with overdrive, but lacked some slight clarity in the cleans. Last were the Lollars, they did not have enough clarity or punch overall, and had a fizzy feel at times.
Nice comparison! The Lollar and Duncan seemed darker and sounded better with the brighter overdrive 2 while the Gibson and BK sounded better to me on the cleaner sounds and overdrive 1.
Maybe but with last link note by note, the duncan sounds more bite (agressive too much high) compare the BR.. and closest to the BB. I prefer the BK. But too expensive. I want to upgrade an epiphone ES339. But not with the Duncan it's shame because is a good price.. I'd like the 57&57+ but not available in France so far. Then maybe I will buy woltone DR Vintage &marshllead. Good demo
I have watched, probably 500 or more pickup comparison videos on YT. this is the best one i've seen. your visual format, sounds and playing the same things, it's great. I'll watch any comparison video you put out.
Superb demo - love your playing style! I am listening to this through a studio audio interface with studio headphones and I'll be damned if I can tell any real difference between any of them. When the pickups are so similarly spec'd, I say the tone is more in the hands than anything else.
Proof that comparing pu's is like comparing flavors of ice cream because i would rate the Gibsons last and the BK first but that does not mean the BK's are really the "Best" and the Gibsons the worst of the group. I see people online asking others all the times about "what pu's should i get" and other than trying them for yourself there is no way to ever really know. The guitar they are going in, the amp being used, the players touch,etc,etc all factor in on how a pu' will sound.
Stormy Monday's win!!! They all sound good, but there's specific sugar tone out of the Bare Knuckles, a shimmer and clarity in the top end that just sings!!!! Lollar are a close 2nd. BTW AWESOME DEMO!!! Every demo should be this good!!!! YOU ROCK
The four sets are really good. Gibson's are probably the most versatile but the tone of bare knuckle's and lollar's is obviously something that Gibson players are looking for (tonal specific signature). Thanks
This video is OUTSTANDING!!! Wow, keep up the great work. Excellent playing and such consistent execution! To me clean is the most important foundation tone. Dirt can always be adjusted. All the pups sound very good, but to my surprise I liked the BareKnuckles the best in the clean comps.
Wow. That was a great and illuminating shoot out video. Well done. To my ears, on the clean settings, the Bare Knuckles and Duncans had a clarity the other two did not. Not that they sounded bad, just a little darker. However, as overdrive was added, they all really started to sound the same.
Excellent comparison they all were really close, but the Bare Knuckle Stormy Monday just had this edge in clarity and definition, it was the one that grab my ears right away,
@@KavenGirouard I am looking to upgrade my Wilkinson PAF's on my V100 which are fine people would be shocked when I say that's what I compare PAF from Trevor worked with Seth on the design, Bare Knuckle is not cheap but if you love your guitar like I do with mine, why not ! Just for your reference it's the Double Coil Wilkinson made in South Korea
One of the better shootout videos I've seen on this platform. The riffs used were so conducive to pickup tonality, and note separation. The use of double-stops was the best modality to demonstrate the accuracy in equalization. I listened more than once. The Seth Lover models had the most uncolored, and wide open sound, with no compression mush when driven. The cleans were spirited, and pristine, especially with the Bare Knuckle and the Seth Lover as well. The Lollar Imperials had a nasally midrange howl. The Burstbuckers were great in the middle position only. The Duncan, and BKP, were clear winners to my ear. Well done!
I swapped out the Burstbucker 61s for 1 & 2s in my 2020 60s Bourbon Burst. Didn't care for the A5 magnets much. Now it sounds like a proper Les Paul. Great video!
great video!! so what's the moral of the story? beyond a certain price point tonal differences become very small. most guitar players would better invest in a halfway decent EQ pedal than keep obsessing over pickups. right?
Very well executed. This is the way that I wish all comparison videos were done. Especially liked the chord progession used during the bridge/clean demo.
I'm 67 and have tried lots of pups, and like several but my all time fav is the Tom Holmes designed Gibby Classic 57 + (9k) bridge HB, using 500k pots with a 3-way switchable (.001/.010/.033 caps) never found one that sounds as good to my ears! #2? Duncan neck Antiquity w/ RAW Vintage Bridge HB!
Absolutely Beautiful! If you ever have the time and inspiration, I'd love to hear this same/similar test with a bunch more pickups, some high winds and some low winds, and a Gibson 490r and 498t.
To me the Bare Knuckle set were the only ones that sounded different. Also the only one with a lower all around output. Wondering if the other three sets are wound very similarly in spec. I also own a set of Seth Lovers, I think they are great and I feel that this accurately depicts the tones I could get out of them as well. Great video. Sorry its so much cork sniffing.
Thanks for sharing this great test, the best i've ever seen. I can't imagine how difficult it been to do it, but it helped me to choose the ones for my japanese Tokai Love Rock. Again, thanks to you.
Well how about that ??? Great demo...I didn't want to but liked the Bare Knuckles.. they had less mids which to me brought out the lower and higher harmonic complexities (lol) Hard to put a word to it Not hollow but yeah the lo/hi tones surrounding the mids So as to focus the mids instead of muddying it up If that makes some kind of crazy sence
Close call! But the Stormy Mondays sounded the best to me followed by Seth Lovers, Burst Buckers and Lollars at no4. But they all sounded pretty damn good. Great comparison video 👌
Great video and beautiful guitar playing! The Bare Knuckles sounded unusual and articulated but a bit glassy and harsh at times. They had the tendency to make the Les Paul sound like a Gretsch emphasizing some unpleasant higher frequencies which you really notice when you pay attention. They did have a very modern sound however, and in some types of music would sound amazing, although they make you feel exposed-almost like playing a Tele where you cannot hide. The Lolars had much more depth and a better balanced and powerful sound. The Gibson pickups were good and balanced but a bit muffled and dark at times when playing chords, with some loss of articulation. They also sounded a bit compressed. The Seymour Duncans brought out some unpleasant frequencies, but sounded good in some parts. In general however they were lifeless with no real character. The Lolar's were the best by far. I would rate the Gibsons second, then the Bare Knuckles, then the Seymour Duncans. Subscribed!
@@KavenGirouard...which intern raises a question of financial justification for the slight differences in sound qualitie, right? Lollar, to be quite honest isnt that far away from lets say SD's '59 let alone some of others pups mentioned here yet the price difference is remarkable! Yes, it is something you can hear at once but not something that will make such a difference for which anyone should pay 100$+ more than with something you can achieve with a 70$ pup. But, yeah consumer society, brands and advertizing, myths and legends, icons and gods - each to their own 😜 Great vid m8, great playing, spot on!
@@_just4me Thanks a lot! You're right! In the end, the differences are very subtle. Like you said, consumer society, hype etc... it's good for the soul ;))
Interesting take. For me I liked the Lollars second least to the Gibsons. I’m a big Lollar fan but I’ve never been thrilled by the imperials. I liked the SD’s or BKP’s the most out of what I heard here, maybe a slight favor to the SD’s overall. To each his own though. They’re all solid options.
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Here's a man who KNOWS how to put together a comparison video!
Thanks Adam!!
One of the best comparison vids I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen enough to truly be embarrassed by the number.
My rankings:
1. Seth Lovers
2. Bareknuckles
3. Gibson
4. Lollars
Not what I expected, but that’s why this video is so great. There is a small enough gap between samples that “confirmation bias” can’t set in, and the consistency of performance is stellar.
For sure. Outstanding job!
Absolutely
and a man knows how to solder the pickup on the pots! Seen too many people do comparisons in different guitars. It's like comparing 2 different engines in two different cars!
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is how a sound comparison is done! Direct cut, quality recording equipment, same settings, same pup position.
I don't know why others just can't do it like that. Bravo and thank you!
Thank you so much Sandra! :)
Because most channels are trying to prove something rather than demonstrate something.
Exactly. Two to four bars and include clean tones.
Yep! And not 90's nu metal distortion on every damn clip....or only one pickup, no middle pos....or cell phone video. Excellent job Kaven!
Because any Tom, Dick, and Harry can post a video even if they're unqualified to do so !
It’s really impressive how close they all are. I feel like there’s no reason to replace Gibson’s stock pickups, personally.
Agreed! You can't go wrong with the stock Gibsons!
Differences are so small (at least through UA-cam compression and headphones). Totally stunned about how the Burstbuckers stand the comparison..
i usually would agree, but i was used for many years with the 498T/490R combo in my les paulcustom. and when i bought a standard with burstbuckers in it, i couldnt stand those.
@@eyyomama The 498T/490R are great too, but far from "vintage output" specs like the Burstbuckers! Lots of "bite" in those 498T/490R ;)
These are all a similar style pup. I'll be swapping out my Gibson 57 classics for something with more bite, and complexity. New Gibson pickups are ridiculously over priced for what you get. You can get custom shop pups for what they charge.
The Bare Knuckle set were the only ones which stood out for me. Their clean tone is much closer to Gibson '57 classics than the rest of the lot. Coil impedance is key. I'm annoyed that manufacturers don't document this stuff. Worse, most brands are totally inconsistent. Glad you posted measurements.
Quite inconsistent indeed! Never tried the '57 classics... Next time ;)
The high mids sound a little annoying to me.
I actually think the 57's would stand out as the most mid heavy and honky, and wouldn't hang with any of these , which all sounded good, 57's are NOT true PAF pickups like these, there potted, even coils etc, very well done sir, outstanding presentation, @@carlosfernandez3565
I’d say the bare knuckles are the most articulate, followed by the Lollars, which is odd as they are the highest impedance. The Lollars have a more low-mid focus than the Bare Knuckles, which sounded brighter. The Gibson pickups had a woolier response all round, but weren’t bad. Big surprise is how little improvement in articulation or dynamics the Seymour Duncans have over a set of stock Gibsons. The old Alnico Pro IIs at least felt like a step up, but those Seth Lovers just feel like you’d be spending quite a lot of money for no benefit.
Coil impedance not only is temperature dependent but it's a poor determiner of the sound of a pickup alone. To a certain degree a lower number produces marginally less voltage but that 's dependent on if it's getting bridge pickup energy or neck in terms of string energy. Different magnets, whether type or gauss strength, determines as much or more tone-wise. Some manufacturers know this and prefer not to disclose the k reading. It's really about turns on the bobbins and how those turns are layered. That creates the resonant peaks and "voice" of the pickup. Also, if you're really aiming for "PAF" tone, you might as well not be terribly consistent because the real things were very inconsistent. Some bobbins might be mismatched from different batches of wire if one manufacturer ran out or whatever. They've found PAF's that have formvar and some with formvar and PE on the same pickup! They were pumping these things out based on a very loose spec of turns on the bobbin, using a variety of different machines that layered wire slightly differently and some pickups have a mix of different machine windings. Couple that with magnets that could be literally anything. The "Amos" Flying V, owned by Joe Bonnamassa, had such a high gauss reading on the bridge pickup, they only guessed it could have been AlNiCo 6 (!!) since it was higher than the highest possible A5 reading. Why? Because they were pumping out pickups and materials ran out and they had to use whatever they had around. So honestly, all of these pickups are reasonable facsimiles of what you might find in four random Gibson humbucking pickups from the 50's.
In a recording environment there would be little to no discernible difference in tones for 99% of us. Back to back you can hear some differences but they're so incredibly slight that even a minute change in technique would probably fool the listener in thinking it was a different pickup. Bottom line is they're all just great and the real takeaway here is Kaven makes some Amazing tones and riffs! I think I enjoyed listening to the samples more than I cared about the difference in tones! Brilliant all around. I'm keeping what I've got, thank you!
Hey thanks a lot Steve!!! :))
@@KavenGirouard Absolutely, Kaven!
Sooo it´s (so ist es!)
Bare Knuckles edged it for me. Also, must have been a nightmare to make this video. Sure people will be thanking you for years to come. Thanks!
Thanks! Love the Bare Knuckles too!... Haha, it was a long process to put this video together ;)
Totally agree... Bare Knuckles had the edge pretty much right across the board. For me, the Gibson pickups fared the worst.. lacked a little clarity, I bit muddy sounding. Yes.. he did a great job on this demo! A lot of work involved no doubt!
@@KavenGirouard Great comparison video!!! Bare Knuckles win by a smidge for me ... and liked the Duncans least of the four. That said, they all sound good, but if we're splitting hairs, that's my take away.
Bare knuckles, seymour Duncan, gibbys, lollars, they’re all very good and can’t go wrong it’s just what your ear enjoys slightly more
Thank you for your work. Excellent video! @@KavenGirouard
Never heard a pickup shootout with interesting melodies and chord progressions. Damn that sounds good! Great job
Thanks a lot!! :))
100%. The super short swap is key. Audio memory is short. THIS IS THE WAY TO DO IT!
Wow, biggest takeaway for me is how close they all are - all sound great! The SD's sounded the most articulate for me - but very close. 4 great sets of pups, couldn't go wrong with any of them really. Nice vid!!
Exactly! You can't go wrong! Thanks a lot ;)
Do you reckon it would be better to change the pots and wiring in my LP tribute to make it sound a little less muddy? Im not mad at the 490s that came in it standard i think they have the great paf sound but after digging singles for so long they sound muddy to my ear
@@kremepye3613My tribute is the same, except I already swapped the bridge pickup. I’m dropping in a 50s style Emerson wiring harness and hopefully that’ll brighten it up a bit. The 490s might be part of the problem too, but we’ll see.
Everything about this video is professional. They layout, the editing, and the playing. Great job, and thanks for taking the time to make it!
Thanks a lot Gray!! :)
the playing is so consistent, and professional enough to bring out the beauty of the pickups, but not overly flashy to take the attention away from sound comparison
Perfect!
Admit it everyone.... they all sounded great !
Yep! Can't go wrong with any of these sets!
🙌🏼💯
They all sounded almost identical. I could barely any hear any difference. Makes you wonder why you would pay more money for a boutique brand over SD.
@@eckhardt76 The difference is probably more in how they feel and react to your playing
In a blind test, I am willing to bet that not many of us could guess which was which 🤔
This video helps me see that I need to stop obsessing about pickups and just improve my playing!
Haha! ;)
The best pickup shootout comparison format I’ve ever seen. Incredible playing and editing. Well done, sir.
Thank you so much!! :)
I wasn’t expecting to like the Bare Knuckles the best but they really sounded great. Nice job on that video, you’re a heck of a player.
Thanks a lot Jay!!
Excellent comparative showcase! Each of these PAF pickup sets shine in their own way. But honestly, if I were blindfolded and listening to a player with a backing band putting the different pickups through their paces (without knowing that was what I should be focusing on), at no time during the presentation would I suspect that they had changed pickups--it's that close.
Thanks a lot!
The Duncan's and the Bare Knuckles were probably my favorites, but I think the Gibson's may have sounded the best clean. The Lollars sounded great too.
Yep! Can't go wrong with any of these sets! ;)
Big fan of your work!
Literally the best pickup comparison vid i have ever seen (and that is a lot), short passages, played as similarly as you can hope for, no over the top drive or endless noodling, edited well, and timestamps to go back and listen again. If there were awards for that you got my vote.
As for the pickups, the Bareknuckles just edging the Lollars for me…
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!!
This is an amazing demo. Perfect demonstration and layout. Playing was just perfect. They all sounded really good.
Thanks a lot!!
The Lollars simply had more information in every position, very clear and transparent. I was impressed with the Bare Knuckles as well. Both the Gibsons and the Duncans would require EQing to be brought up to anywhere close to the first two. Nice job on the comparison!
Thanks a lot!!
I could totally see the Bare Knuckles in something like a tele deluxe where i'd want a bit of a brighter twist, really impressed
@@deadrituals Totally!!
How do you know?
Nice shootout: tjs for uploading. Liked the BK clean, the Lollars OD, the Seth Lover Solo. Overall, the BK had the best compromise of all styles to me… Cheers
Thanks! Love it!
My exact thoughts! They all traded blows depending on the gain stage. I also came the same conclusion. BK sacrificed the least in the other departments while Lollar/SD seemed to be muddier in thr other categories
Perfect comparison, best I've seen. I love low-output, unpotted pickups. When my guitar comes with Gibson burstbuckers, I leave them. When the guitar doesn't come with them, I buy the SD Seth Lovers. Thanks for this work!
Thanks a lot Rick!! I totally agree with you. No need to swap the BurstBuckers! Seth Lovers are great ;)
2 of these are actually potted
@@jfar3340 he said he loves unpotted, not that these were all unpotted
@@NotUrBiz they all sound the same so that's what he implied. I get it that English is not your first language but it was strongly implied in his statement. Thanks for commenting.
@@jfar3340 Noturbiz was correct. I never implied what you claim. I enjoyed the comparison, and THEN said what I love about pickups. It's all you.
This is IMO the ABSOLUTE best PAF shootout on UA-cam. Wonderful job. IMO I thought the Bare Knuckle edged out the BB very slightly, but not enough to upgrade if you have them already. Very similar to the Seth Lover but handled distortion better. The other two were not as well rounded as the Gibson or BK, which did it all pretty dang good.
Thank you so much!!! 🙌🏼 I'm with you on the Bare Knuckle!
That chord progression with the Lollars at 1:05 is amazing.
They let you here that low end hum & it all sounds balanced/full✅
Thanks a lot Isaac!!
I agree, while all four sounded extremely similar during most of the tests, the Lollars absolutely nailed that particular tone!
It's all in your mind.
*sorry for my English
For me : Bare Knuckle U.K. Stormy Monday Neck PU (clarity-lush-P-90s vibe) & Seymour Duncan Seth Lover Bridge PU (velvet-elegant-a bit "Jazzy" vibe) !
What a wonderful video & excellent playing, thank you very much indeed, Sir
Your English is great! Thank you so much! 😊
Exactly. 💪
Cool video! I liked the Bare Knuckles best.
Thanks Bart! I agree with you ;)
I got a set of Seth Lover in my trusty 30 year old Hamer Studio... I'd never get rid of these pickups... they age very well over time. Great video Kaven! You probably spent an insane amount of time on this. You matched the levels perfectly and your playing is soooo steady... To me, it is surprising how close they sound on cleans... they may have a different feel... but in the listener perspective, difference are pretty subtle. Overdrive sound seems to highlight differences a bit more. Great job!
Hey thanks a lot Jérôme!! ;) The Seth Lovers are a definite keeper!
Love, love the way your video is structured here! I wish all comparisons were like this! So easy to follow and ear too and really make a decision. Thank you for filming and recording that way! Hands down the Stormy Monday is my favorite sounding on this one. They all sound nice, but for my ear it was the Bareknuckle's.
Thanks a lot Roland!! I agree with you, the Bare Knuckles are awesome!
I agree
Yeah, wow. They sound virtually identical with very subtle differences. I hear more detail in the S.D. Seth Lovers and the Bare Knuckles. Very good video!🎉
Thank you so much Thomas!! Yep, more detail in both of these!
@@KavenGirouard I’m trying to get a TRUE authentic Alnico 5 set from Seymour Duncan. Once, I asked MJ in the Custom Shop to build me a Jimmy Page set that comes from the Historical files in the “Antiquity Room” so she said I’ll look up the rewinds and pickups Jimmy or Led Zeppelin ordered during 1974-1977 and I’ll make you a set. I was sketchy about whether or not they’d really sound like a cocked wah and have a good midrange hump. PERFECT!! I told her I didn’t hear any Page in the Whole Lotta Humbucker but it’s a good place to begin. I asked her to just make them so Page, Himself would be happy with the set, aged gold. Came out absolutely perfect! I’ve got the Best Tone, perhaps second only to Joe Bonamassa. I’d love a set of AMOS pickups and a set of the ultimate 1958,9,1960&61 P.A.F.’s, did you know? The Patent # on the early PAF’s wasn’t real? They just began putting a # on it so nobody would try to steal the humbucker!
@@thomasadams675 Wow! Thanks for the infos!! Fascinating!
This is one of the best videos ever done on PAF pickups, thank you for a great demonstration!
Thanks a lot!! ;)
I agree with how close they all are. It’s amazing how peoples ears hear different things. I felt the lollars were the most dynamic.
My choice in order 2,3,1,4
Exactly! Can't go wrong with any of these sets!
Man this was awesome!!! Really surprised me that I like the Bareknuckle the best overall 👍🏾
Thanks Charles!! I agree with you ;)
@@KavenGirouard yes myself as well I just may have found a set to replace the stock BB's in my 19 HCS Standard 50's model Pleasantly surprised with that guitar as well
@@paulcowart3174 There you go! ;)
I feel the same man! I have actually come back to this vid to make sure i was hearing correctly lol. Im going to purchase a set af BK pups in the near future!
Me too!
Excellent video - seamlessly done! My favourites: Best Cleans: Stormy Monday. Best Dirty: Imperial. Most Vintage: Seth Lover. Best Allrounders: Stormy Monday / Seth Lover. For me, there was nothing the Burstbuckers had that one of the others didn't do better.
Thanks a lot Jacques!
I think they all sounded great. But if I had to choose, I like the Bare Knuckle and Seymour Duncan the most. Great job with the video, I appreciate the quality content.
Thanks a lot!! :)
This is how you doing a proper comparison! Thank you!
Thanks to you! ;)
I've got a few Les Paul's with a variety of PAF's. Holmes, Fralin, SD, Dimarizio, Gibson. The Bare Knuckle's stand out enough from all of those, that I've got a set on the way to go in one of my stock Les Paul's. Excellent video!
Awesome!! I'm sure you'll love them!!!
I actually liked the Bare Knuckles in more of the positions than the Lollars, but the Neck overdrive 2 tone is probably closest to my most used tone, and I liked the Lollar's best there.
Thanks Chris!
Excellent clip. This is how its done. All these sounded really close and considering alot of people swap Burstbuckers out, they were able to hang pretty well with the aftermarket models here. I personally found the Bare Knuckles the most vintage sounding, and the Seth Lovers the most pleasing. I'd love to see a clip like this using similar pickups, but with an SG. Awesome stuff
Thanks a lot Jeremy! I agree with you all the way!
The center position of the burstbucker was unreal! The Seth Lovers were good too, but the center position of the burst bucket stole the show for me
Yep! It's happening!
This is by far the best PAF pickup comparison I have ever seen. Years ago, I would have thought any one of these candidates would be an excellent replacement pickup, but things have changed since the early days; OBVIOUSLY. I feel the Bare Knuckle "Stormy Monday" edges out all the others, in all tonal situations. Thanks KC. (great video by the way)
Thanks a lot Keith! Love the Bare Knuckle too!!
Une présentation exceptionnelle Kaven, la meilleure sur UA-cam. Pour moi c'est entre Lollar et Bare Knuckle. Salut de Montréal!
Merci Mark !!
Must be the best demo i seen ever. Hats off
Thanks a lot!! :)
Excellent comparison, this is how they all should be done. I think what the video really highlights is the difference output makes in tone. The higher output pickups are compressing and losing a lot of the articulation and harmonic content that you hear in the lower output pickups like the Bare Knuckles. The Burstbuckers have a weird little valley in the mid-range somewhere but I find I like their voicing a little better than the others. All things being equal, an 8k bridge and 7.5k neck are probably the sweet spot for PAFs. I'm surprised at how well-defined and capable the Seth Lovers are, and you can really hear the pick attack, perhaps a touch more 'hi-fi' sounding? Bridge: SD> Gibby> BK> Lollar, Neck: Gibby>BK>SD>Lollar. Overall, I'd take the Gibsons for most jobs. The BKs have a sweet sound though, and I'd probably fit the SD to a more modern guitar. The Lollars are musical but are too compressed here for my liking.
Thanks a lot Brent! You're absolutely right! I prefer low out PAFs... I have a pair of "Low Wind" Lollar Imperials in a ES-335 and they're awesome!! (7k and 7.9k)
The BEST comparison video I have EVER seen. Thank you sir. Perfect way to do it. You are the best. Thank you.
Thanks a lot Mike!!
Great comparison and nice and consistent playing! I like the Bare Knuckle set the best. To me they had the most dynamics and a sort of 3D effect. A big take away from this comparison is how little the "k" number means.
Thanks a lot Mark! The BK set is awesome indeed!!
EXCELLENT comparison video, easiest to follow of any I've ever seen. I would have to say the Bare Knuckle and the Gibson were the best overall as 1A and 1B. If you put a gun to my head, I'd probably take the Bare Knuckle pups. Lollar was very close behind those two. I'd say the Seymour Duncan pups were far and away the worst of the bunch with a very tinny sound on almost all of the settings.
Thanks a lot!! ;)
Duncan's are the stand out in this comparison. I was really impressed with the burst buckers as these always get negative comments. All the pick ups sound great. I would list it as S .D first, burst buckers second then bare Knuckles and lollar last. But they're all incredibly close. The best pick up comparison vid I've seen, must have taken a lot of work.
Thanks a lot Andrew!
This, is the most incredible comparison video ever made. Thank you.
They all sound so good in their own way. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the mid saturated Gibson tone, something I've never used myself before. I have a custom Moniker guitar with a Lollar Imperial in the neck and its an incredible pickup. I think it's my favorite here simply because it is the Fattest, roundest, and fullest sounding pickup in the bunch-- but the bare knuckle has an incredible more open tone that I was also really digging. I have a friend who swears by his bare knuckle pickups.
Thank you so much Dylan!
Bare Knuckle for me in all cases, though it's very close between those and the Lollar and BBs. Not so in love with the SDs. I have BBs and probably the differences are so slight I won't change them, but if was in need of PAFs, I'd buy the BK Stormy Mondays. Great comparison. Much appreciated. That is a masterclass in comparison vids - swift switches for direct comparing. Just what I was looking for.
Thanks a lot! You said it, no need to swap the BBs! ;)
Lollars = greatest attack, to the point where I preferred the Bare Knuckles! The best match of clarity, fullness, balanced harmonics, and natural compression imo. Noted 👌🏻 thanks so much, best pickup demo I’ve ever seen bar none!!
Thanks a lot!! :)
I wanted to like the burst buckers in my 2007 R9..but gotta say the bare knuckles…really was the nicest overall..and I was a bit biased…BK..winner..my opinion..
I agree with you Glenn! I had the BurstBuckers in my 2010 R8... BKs are great!
This is a very well thought out comparison. They are all very close tonal wise but the one thing that a you tube demo cannot convey is "How they feel" and "do they inspire you to play and make music". I have Lollar Imperials in my original 2000 PRS Singlecut and it is a match made in heaven. The tone & the feel make me want to play guitar! In the middle position I get this 3D quality that I had never experienced before and with overdrive they sing for days! The bottom line is these are all well made pickups and you cant really go wrong with any of them but having said that one set may feel better and inspire you more and to me thats what it is all about! Very well done!
Thanks a lot!! You're absolutely right ;)
For me the middle position is the most important thing for a Les Paul style guitar, and the Lollars sounded the best to me in the middle position.
You're right, quite important thing!
Thank you for taking the time to make such a great comparison video! The short licks cut right after one another make it so much easier to hear the differences.
Thank you so much!! :)
For me ..... Lollar and Gibson #1. Bare Knuckle in 2nd place and Seymour Duncan in 3rd. I think the Lollars were the best but I was very surprised at how close the Gibson's came to matching them.
Lollar and Gibson are quite close indeed! Thanks!
Reckon you’re right
I love my burst bucker 1 and 2 in my traditional les paul. I do feel like the duncan was a lot smoother and a little wider range of tone. The Gibson sounded older. Just like me! Ha. I would use any of those pickups! nice video for sure!!!
Haha! Thanks a lot! ;)
I’d pick the cheapest set of the 4 because they all sound great 😊. The Lollar’s have a little more organic vibe to them. Seymour Duncan’s seemed a little compressed or slightly mid scooped, less dynamic, hard to describe, least favorite… the fact that the video was good enough for me to have any opinion especially at that level of detail means it’s an amazing vid. Thank you!
Thanks a lot John!! ;)
First off, this was excellent in every way! 1. Seth Lover 2. BK 3. Burstbuckers 4. Lollars
Before this video, I would've ranked the Lollars higher but they all sound so good! It's like being the 4th place winner at the Olympics, you're still better than most. everyone else.
Thanks Steve! I agree, I thought the Lollars would be the obvious pick... Can't go wrong with any of these!
Haha. My list was literally the opposite 2,3,1,4 lol
It’s amazing how we all hear different frequencies
Excellent presentation! I’d go with Gibson BB first for sounding cleanest, clearest and most like a PAF. 2nd is Bare Knuckles, very similar to the Gibsons. 3rd Seymour Duncan, which sounds great with overdrive, but lacked some slight clarity in the cleans. Last were the Lollars, they did not have enough clarity or punch overall, and had a fizzy feel at times.
Thanks a lot! The BBs are great!
Brilliant presentation, thank you. You really showed conclusively (for me), the difference between them is of little consequence.
Thanks a lot!!
Nice comparison! The Lollar and Duncan seemed darker and sounded better with the brighter overdrive 2 while the Gibson and BK sounded better to me on the cleaner sounds and overdrive 1.
Thanks Tom!... Interesting! Thank you for your comment!
Maybe but with last link note by note, the duncan sounds more bite (agressive too much high) compare the BR.. and closest to the BB.
I prefer the BK. But too expensive.
I want to upgrade an epiphone ES339. But not with the Duncan it's shame because is a good price.. I'd like the 57&57+ but not available in France so far. Then maybe I will buy woltone DR Vintage &marshllead.
Good demo
I have watched, probably 500 or more pickup comparison videos on YT. this is the best one i've seen. your visual format, sounds and playing the same things, it's great. I'll watch any comparison video you put out.
Thanks a lot Damon!! I really appreciate it ;)
Superb demo - love your playing style! I am listening to this through a studio audio interface with studio headphones and I'll be damned if I can tell any real difference between any of them. When the pickups are so similarly spec'd, I say the tone is more in the hands than anything else.
Thanks a lot James!! Yep, it's VERY subtle!
Bare Knuckle
Gibson
Lollar
SD
Great comparison! Thank you!
Thanks a lot!
Man, I need to buy new pickups!!!!! Loving this! Hard to pick a winner... but I really like to top end of the Stormy Monday and the Seymours 💯
Haha!! Agreed 😎
There you go. I just ordered the Stormy Monday set 🎉
@@fabriceponty7847 Nice! You won't be disappointed!!! ;)
Yep, new pickups on the way 😜
@@fretebs3013 Nice!!
The best pickup demo i have heard. Great comparison.
Thanks a lot!! :)
The Burstbuckers we're the best overall. All were good though. Nice job. 👍
Thanks Mike! Love the BBs too! Classic ;)
Proof that comparing pu's is like comparing flavors of ice cream because i would rate the Gibsons last and the BK first but that does not mean the BK's are really the "Best" and the Gibsons the worst of the group.
I see people online asking others all the times about "what pu's should i get" and other than trying them for yourself there is no way to ever really know. The guitar they are going in, the amp being used, the players touch,etc,etc all factor in on how a pu' will sound.
@@Murphy_R9 Yep!
Well, there you go, they all sound great and not too far apart. Well executed comparison, thanks!
Thanks a lot!
Stormy Monday's win!!! They all sound good, but there's specific sugar tone out of the Bare Knuckles, a shimmer and clarity in the top end that just sings!!!! Lollar are a close 2nd. BTW AWESOME DEMO!!! Every demo should be this good!!!! YOU ROCK
Thanks a lot Lance!! I LOVE the Stormy Mondays too!
Kaven, thanks for an awesome comparison video. Your choice of clean to different gain levels/amps provides the most relevant listening experience.
Thanks a lot Scott!! :)
Nicely done, I know first hand how much work these tests require to do well. It's an immense project for sure. I'm intrigued by the Stormy Mondays.
Thanks a lot! I just saw your video (Biggest PAF Comparison)... Awesome work!! And yes, it's an immense project 😉 But we learn so much doing it!
@@KavenGirouard Agreed 👊
Thanks for the video! Great comparison video! I personally liked the Burstbuckers the best. Thanks again!
Thanks a lot! ;)
The four sets are really good. Gibson's are probably the most versatile but the tone of bare knuckle's and lollar's is obviously something that Gibson players are looking for (tonal specific signature). Thanks
I agree! You can't go wrong with any of these sets!
This video is OUTSTANDING!!! Wow, keep up the great work. Excellent playing and such consistent execution!
To me clean is the most important foundation tone. Dirt can always be adjusted. All the pups sound very good, but to my surprise I liked the BareKnuckles the best in the clean comps.
Thanks a lot Dan!! :))
Wow. That was a great and illuminating shoot out video. Well done. To my ears, on the clean settings, the Bare Knuckles and Duncans had a clarity the other two did not. Not that they sounded bad, just a little darker. However, as overdrive was added, they all really started to sound the same.
Thanks Benjamin!
Excellent comparison they all were really close, but the Bare Knuckle Stormy Monday just had this edge in clarity and definition, it was the one that grab my ears right away,
Agreed! Thanks ;)
@@KavenGirouard I am looking to upgrade my Wilkinson PAF's on my V100 which are fine people would be shocked when I say that's what I compare PAF from Trevor worked with Seth on the design, Bare Knuckle is not cheap but if you love your guitar like I do with mine, why not ! Just for your reference it's the Double Coil Wilkinson made in South Korea
Great playing - oozing soul all over the place.
Bare Knuckles seems to excel in more positions/gain levels, but at OD2 they were all pretty sweet.
Thanks a lot Chuck!!
One of the better shootout videos I've seen on this platform. The riffs used were so conducive to pickup tonality, and note separation. The use of double-stops was the best modality to demonstrate the accuracy in equalization. I listened more than once. The Seth Lover models had the most uncolored, and wide open sound, with no compression mush when driven. The cleans were spirited, and pristine, especially with the Bare Knuckle and the Seth Lover as well. The Lollar Imperials had a nasally midrange howl. The Burstbuckers were great in the middle position only. The Duncan, and BKP, were clear winners to my ear. Well done!
Thanks a lot Alex!!
That's how you compare pickups. Great playing too👌
Thanks a lot Matt!!
I swapped out the Burstbucker 61s for 1 & 2s in my 2020 60s Bourbon Burst. Didn't care for the A5 magnets much. Now it sounds like a proper Les Paul. Great video!
Thank you Joe!
great video!! so what's the moral of the story? beyond a certain price point tonal differences become very small.
most guitar players would better invest in a halfway decent EQ pedal than keep obsessing over pickups. right?
Thanks! I agree with you!!
Very well executed. This is the way that I wish all comparison videos were done. Especially liked the chord progession used during the bridge/clean demo.
Thanks a lot!! :)
Loved the Bare Knuckle tone!
Agreed!
I'm 67 and have tried lots of pups, and like several but my all time fav is the Tom Holmes designed Gibby Classic 57 + (9k) bridge HB, using 500k pots with a 3-way switchable (.001/.010/.033 caps) never found one that sounds as good to my ears! #2? Duncan neck Antiquity w/ RAW Vintage Bridge HB!
Thanks for the info Kenny!!
Absolutely Beautiful! If you ever have the time and inspiration, I'd love to hear this same/similar test with a bunch more pickups, some high winds and some low winds, and a Gibson 490r and 498t.
Thanks a lot! I'll do more comparisons for sure! ;)
Jesus man, that's how you make a video. This must have taken days. Fair play to you brother, and thank you.
Thanks a lot Paul!! Quite some time, yep! But worth it.
To me the Bare Knuckle set were the only ones that sounded different. Also the only one with a lower all around output. Wondering if the other three sets are wound very similarly in spec. I also own a set of Seth Lovers, I think they are great and I feel that this accurately depicts the tones I could get out of them as well. Great video. Sorry its so much cork sniffing.
Thanks Drew! Love the Seth Lovers too!
Thanks for sharing this great test, the best i've ever seen.
I can't imagine how difficult it been to do it, but it helped me to choose the ones for my japanese Tokai Love Rock.
Again, thanks to you.
Thank you so much!! It was a lot of work indeed! ;)
In a totally blind test I picked BK, Gibson, Lollar, Seymour Duncan
Thanks for your comment! BK for the win 😉
Great comparison.BARE KNUCKLE is the winner.
Thanks a lot!... Agreed!
Lets stop one moment and comment how beautifull the pieces played here are.
Thank you so much!
I like the Bare Knuckle pickups the most. All are very close. Impressive, laborious video!
Thanks a lot! Yup, Bare Knuckle are awesome!!
Well how about that ??? Great demo...I didn't want to but liked the Bare Knuckles.. they had less mids which to me brought out the lower and higher harmonic complexities (lol) Hard to put a word to it Not hollow but yeah the lo/hi tones surrounding the mids So as to focus the mids instead of muddying it up If that makes some kind of crazy sence
Thanks Paul! I understand what you mean!... that's why I love them, well balanced!
I love all of them except Seth Lover, there's something about that I don't like. At least now I know what to avoid. Great video!
Thanks!... They sure are on the "treble" side!
Close call! But the Stormy Mondays sounded the best to me followed by Seth Lovers, Burst Buckers and Lollars at no4. But they all sounded pretty damn good. Great comparison video 👌
Thanks a lot!! Agreed, they're all awesome... but the Stormy Mondays are 1st ;)
Excellent video. I was not familiar with the Bare Kuckles Stormy Monday pickups. They were my favorites, followed by the SD Seth Lovers.
Thank you Ryan!!
Great video and beautiful guitar playing! The Bare Knuckles sounded unusual and articulated but a bit glassy and harsh at times. They had the tendency to make the Les Paul sound like a Gretsch emphasizing some unpleasant higher frequencies which you really notice when you pay attention. They did have a very modern sound however, and in some types of music would sound amazing, although they make you feel exposed-almost like playing a Tele where you cannot hide. The Lolars had much more depth and a better balanced and powerful sound. The Gibson pickups were good and balanced but a bit muffled and dark at times when playing chords, with some loss of articulation. They also sounded a bit compressed. The Seymour Duncans brought out some unpleasant frequencies, but sounded good in some parts. In general however they were lifeless with no real character. The Lolar's were the best by far. I would rate the Gibsons second, then the Bare Knuckles, then the Seymour Duncans.
Subscribed!
Thanks a lot! I love your response!! Great analysis. I agree with you. When it comes to a true Paf, vintage, warm sounding, Lollars are the way to go!
@@KavenGirouard...which intern raises a question of financial justification for the slight differences in sound qualitie, right? Lollar, to be quite honest isnt that far away from lets say SD's '59 let alone some of others pups mentioned here yet the price difference is remarkable! Yes, it is something you can hear at once but not something that will make such a difference for which anyone should pay 100$+ more than with something you can achieve with a 70$ pup. But, yeah consumer society, brands and advertizing, myths and legends, icons and gods - each to their own 😜 Great vid m8, great playing, spot on!
@@_just4me Thanks a lot! You're right! In the end, the differences are very subtle. Like you said, consumer society, hype etc... it's good for the soul ;))
Interesting take. For me I liked the Lollars second least to the Gibsons. I’m a big Lollar fan but I’ve never been thrilled by the imperials. I liked the SD’s or BKP’s the most out of what I heard here, maybe a slight favor to the SD’s overall. To each his own though. They’re all solid options.
@@user-te3qq1rb7u All solid options indeed!
Thank you for the well done video.
IMHO the Seth lovers were more musical in every position.
I was surprised the Gibson sound so dull
Thanks a lot!!
Bare knuckle sounded best to me.
Yep
I agree! 🙌🏼
What a fantastic comparison video. Thanks! I think my favorite would be a Bare Knuckle Bridge with a Lollar Neck.
Thanks!! You're right, this would make an excellent combination!
The Bare Knuckles are incredible.
Agreed!!
@@KavenGirouard I’ve never heard a bridge Humbucker do cleans that well before. 0:54
Perfect comparison!! 😮 Thanks for the work. To my ears, i prefer the Bare Knuckle on every position, many thanks for this discover.
Thank you so much!! Bare Knuckle for me too! 🙌🏻