BKP at NAMM

TTony

When I started my making and modding, I used Iron Gear pickups.  Typically around £30/unit, but a step or three up (to my ears) from the standard MIC no-names.

After a while, I moved on to BKPs.  In the earlier days they weren't too expensive, and their in-house forum was pretty useful, informative and helpful in picking the right model.

The years went by, and BKPs seemed to get more expensive.  And more expensive.  And more expensive.  Ash started up Oil City, at an obviously (much) lower price, without - to my ears again - any real loss of quality.  Plus you could talk to Ash and get exactly what you wanted.

It's been a long time since I've bought BKP.

But they seem to have announced some new, "back to basics" pickups
http://www.peachguitars.com/namm2018/?brand_0=bare-knuckle-pickups

A set of BKP P90s for £129?  That's got to be very tempting ...

DefaultM

I'd rather pay a little bit more and get Oil City. They already sound as good as BKP's regular range, so in theory should be a step up from these.

TTony

Might be seen as a bit of a compliment to Ash (and others) if it's an attempt by BKP to respond to their emergence and put some products in the mid-market?

Funkfingers

TTony said:

BKPs.  In the earlier days they weren't too expensive. The years went by, BKPs seemed to get more expensive.  And more expensive. And more expensive.

IMO, BKP's UK market niche was professional quality at a price point just below the big America names.

As the MSRP for the American products increases, BKP can maintain their price differential and remain competitive. 

munckee

Seems weird marketing to me, to position yourselves as craftsmen but then say but here's a cheapo set if you want.  I know big companies do it but a specialist like BKP seems odd.

Adam_MD

DefaultM said:

I'd rather pay a little bit more and get Oil City. They already sound as good as BKP's regular range, so in theory should be a step up from these.

That’s my thinking too.  Between Oil City and Mojo I just don’t bother looking anywhere else.

Nick

Once I bought a set of Creamery's from Jaime, I couldn't go back to BKP.   

WezV

Adam_MD said:

DefaultM said:

I'd rather pay a little bit more and get Oil City. They already sound as good as BKP's regular range, so in theory should be a step up from these.

That’s my thinking too.  Between Oil City and Mojo I just don’t bother looking anywhere else.

That’s where I am at too, and I used nothing but BKP for a few years.

markj

Oil City every time for me.

Fuengi

I had a cracking set of P90s from Mojo, would definitely go back to Marc.

I'm actually super impressed with Entwistle pickups, which if you are looking for bargains are hard to beat. 

p90fool

I've had fantastic pickups from Bareknuckle, Mojo and Oil City and see no reason why these should be any different.

Don't ever forget the premium often charged for irrelevant "vintage" details and classy ad copy.
Although it's a finely balanced combination of technique and parts, there really isn't much to a pickup once the development has been done, so cheap pickups can be perfect for your needs as long as the spec is what you're looking for. 

bassbora

I have Oil City in four guitars and they are just fantastic. I have not tried BKP or Mojo and I don’t doubt they are great too but I have just had such a great experience with Oil City I cannot see myself using anything else 

chrisj1602

munckee said:

Seems weird marketing to me, to position yourselves as craftsmen but then say but here's a cheapo set if you want.  I know big companies do it but a specialist like BKP seems odd.

Ok, they're cheaper than the Mule etc but £89 for humbucker isn't exactly cheapo is it? Just more in line with Seymour Duncan etc

munckee

chrisj1602 said:

munckee said:

Seems weird marketing to me, to position yourselves as craftsmen but then say but here's a cheapo set if you want.  I know big companies do it but a specialist like BKP seems odd.

Ok, they're cheaper than the Mule etc but £89 for humbucker isn't exactly cheapo is it? Just more in line with Seymour Duncan etc

I don't think they are cheap, just cheapo as in worse than in relation to their 'proper' pickups

Philly_Q

I'm struggling to understand where they're made the materials/labour savings to go for the lower price point.

Jetfire

Im struggling to understand why there seems to be alot of negativity around this? Yeah, Oil City are a favourite around here but seems like alot of minds have been made up before anyone's even tried them.... 

Oh its the internet, I forgot ....

thegummy

Jetfire said:

Im struggling to understand why there seems to be alot of negativity around this? Yeah, Oil City are a favourite around here but seems like alot of minds have been made up before anyone's even tried them.... 

Oh its the internet, I forgot ....

One reason may be one that the mature, reasoning part of my brain had to combat the childish, impulsive part - I've just ordered a set of Bare Knuckles for nearly 300 quid. Soon, someone will be able to pay half that and still have the "prestige" of "having Bare Knuckle pickups".

It's senseless and childish but we can all be affected by that kind of thing, even subconsciously. 

Strat54

Oil City pickups certainly seem inexpensive, but then again he's winding pickups from home so that certainly helps keep costs down. Not sure I'd buy from them, I mean a pickup website without a single video or sound sample...what?? You certainly don't hear much about them away from this forum, which is of no surprise with so little in the way of marketing or even myth.

Jetfire

^^ shots fired but he does have a point. Sadly, sound clips are really subjective but why not have them if everyone else does?

TTBZ

I've always liked BKP and respect what they do, but found it hard to justify the price lately. Next time I'm in the market for pickups I'll give these new ones a go though. I can't see Tim putting his name and reputation on anything subpar.

thegummy

Must admit that even though I have listened to the sound clips, the reason I chose bare knuckle was word of mouth rather than because of the sound clips.