Lindy Fralin Pure PAF vs Bare Knuckle Mules

[Yannick333]

Here we go again! Yet another thread about PAF clones!eace2 I've been looking for some new pickups for my traditional plus lp (57' classic's) and I nailed my search down to these two! I was in the market for a pair of throbaks but a "sniper" snatched them away from me on evilbay (uk)! :rofl And I don't want to buy them new because of all the import taxes!

Now, I'm looking for the pickups with the most paf'like qualities (I know, every PAF pup is different but I'm talking overall qualities here). So I hope you guys can help me out! My main influences are: Jeff Beck, Early Clapton, Billy Gibbons, Duane Allman, Peter green, JD Simo, Joe Bonamassa, Jimmy Page, Mike Bloomfield, Mick Taylor and Paul Kossoff. Thanks in advance!

:2zone

 

[Yannick333]

Nobody wants to share their experiences? And yes, I already used the "search button", but there is very little info on Lindy Fralin's pure Paf's. Come on guys, help me out here!

:2zone

 

[jamisonlps]

I'm happy with my Wolfetone Legends (although I have a PHW Zhangbucker Pagey 2 on order).....but I would check out the Mules if I were you. Fralins are good too, I dunno, either way. Hard to decide between these two without any hard opinions from actual users.

 

[Aqualung]

I am really happy with the BKP Mules in my R9. Great customer service too and they only took 8 days from ordering to recieving them (that's the UK to Australia). Drop Tim at BKP an email outlining the type of sound you are chasing and the guitar you are dropping them in and he will recommend what he feels is best, but he leaves the final decision to you, of course.

Having said that, I am sure all the other boutique winders offer great pickups too, with equally sage advice. I don't think you can go too far wrong with any of them, it's just that my only experience is with BKP.

Hope this helps and good luck with your search.

 

[DonR]

Klein Wicked set will cover what your after in tones.. www.kleinpickups.com

I was producing the guitar tracks for a new artist in the Dallas area last night, and those pups were killing it. I'll try to get a little of that up soon.

DonR

 

[Yannick333]

Thanks for the replies guys!! I really appreciate it!! :dude:

 

[Chucklesbarry]

I have the Fralins in my 65 SG Std. and they sound very articulate. I believe they are a bit on the weak side, so no mud.
I also have a set of early handwound Zhanbuckers w A2 mags in my R-0. They also are very articulate , in fact sound very much like the Wolfetone Dr Vintage that were previously in the same guitar.

Someone here said. " you have to find the pickup that matches the wood in your guitar" Each git has it's own acoustic sound that one p.u. may match up with and another may not, even if it's a PAF.

 

[jamisonlps]

Klein Wicked set will cover what your after in tones.. www.kleinpickups.com

I was producing the guitar tracks for a new artist in the Dallas area last night, and those pups were killing it. I'll try to get a little of that up soon.

DonR

Please do!!

 

[Tele52]

Since you're in Europe, I'd get the BKP products, Tim is a great guy to work with. I love their pickups, but the exchange rate stopped me from buying BKP stuff. I love Stormy Mondays as a 57 replacement.

 

[BrazenPicker]

I have a never installed backup set of SLE101+ MXV Ltd that I'd be willing to part with at the original USD price (so roughly 400 euros). If you're interested we could do a cash transaction in Belgium (e.g., Brussels), BUT I live abroad and the next time I'll be there will be December. So you'd need some patience...

Else, in Europe, I couldn't be happier with a set of Leslie's PAF (username "Mouse" on the other LP forum, he has a couple of really cool threads there). Best bridge I've ever heard, and without naming names, I've tried probably 10 different boutique brands. Wizz Pickups is also really, really good. They sound a bit fatter and warmer to my ears, but I really like the metallic brightness (without harshness) of the Leslie's PAF bridge. From Bare Knuckle, I've only tried the Crawlers, which are nice, but to me just don't have the harmonic richness of the others. Then again, that's a much hotter version of the Mule, so I shouldn't be surprised it loses some of the complexity.

http://youtu.be/85OfJuv3UEY
http://youtu.be/D0Snhd0nqNs

 

[Yannick333]

Thanks for all the replies guys!! I've got a lot of thinking to do! eace2

 

[Yannick333]

I have a never installed backup set of SLE101+ MXV Ltd that I'd be willing to part with at the original USD price (so roughly 400 euros). If you're interested we could do a cash transaction in Belgium (e.g., Brussels), BUT I live abroad and the next time I'll be there will be December. So you'd need some patience...

Else, in Europe, I couldn't be happier with a set of Leslie's PAF (username "Mouse" on the other LP forum, he has a couple of really cool threads there). Best bridge I've ever heard, and without naming names, I've tried probably 10 different boutique brands. Wizz Pickups is also really, really good. They sound a bit fatter and warmer to my ears, but I really like the metallic brightness (without harshness) of the Leslie's PAF bridge. From Bare Knuckle, I've only tried the Crawlers, which are nice, but to me just don't have the harmonic richness of the others. Then again, that's a much hotter version of the Mule, so I shouldn't be surprised it loses some of the complexity.

http://youtu.be/85OfJuv3UEY
http://youtu.be/D0Snhd0nqNs

Thanks for the offer Brazenpicker! :salude Do you currently reside in Europe or in the States?

 

[BrazenPicker]

Thanks for the offer Brazenpicker! :salude Do you currently reside in Europe or in the States?

Singapore. A mail / paypal transaction would probably entail at least 50 Euros in expenses, not to speak of customs duties. Most likely the next time I'll be in Belgium will be early December. Anyway, no pressure. They were intended as a backup set and I got some OCD because these were among the very last made with the NOS wire. I'm starting to feel stupid having them sit in the cabinet though. In about a year I plan on moving back to Europe so the plan in the back of my mind is to sell my redundant gear there and then, and as much as possible locally.

 

[Yannick333]

Thanks again for the offer Brazenpicker but I don't think I can wait that long (I know, I'm way too impatienteace2 ) I think I'm also going to go for a European winder! I'm currently "researching" Fralin's True 60's pups.

:2zone

 

[BrazenPicker]

No problem. Fralin is not European though!?

Lots of good winders in Europe too. Like somebody else said, matching the pickup to the guitar is at least as important. My Les Pauls vary from 3.7 to 4.8kg and even those approximately at the same weight all sound different.

 

[bigtomrodney]

I know Fralin pups are great, their Real 54 Strat pickups are without question the best I've ever heard, but I haven't heard any of his humbuckers.

As for BKP Mules, well I have them in my R7 and they're going nowhere. I love these pickups, they are just pure magic. I just can't recommend them highly enough. I'm in the same boat, I'm in Ireland so the cost of import duties and VAT would make the already expensive Throbaks difficult to justify (though I'm always considering them). Cost isn't everything though so the fact that Bareknuckles work out cheaper for European customers is just a bonus as far as I'm concerned - they are absolutely outstanding.

As I said, they're not going anywhere without the rest of my R7 wrapped around them.

 

[Yannick333]

Lol! The search for a PAF clone isn't easy!! I just got an e-mail from a guy who had the True 60's and did not recommend them, instead he told me how he liked Amber (Made by Wolfgang Dam who made the p94 for Gibson) pickups a lot better! Does anyone have any experiences with those?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rZFiOgYSS0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT7-9uuRrng

@Brazenpicker: You are right about Fralin being an American! I meant pickups that were available in European shops! All these different winders to choose from, I think I'm going bananas! eace2

 

[marshall1987]

I have a pair of Lindy Fralin Pure PAFs which replaced BB 1 & 2 in a Historic Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty. They read approximately 7.7 and 8.6 K ohms. Both are potted and feature AII magnets. They have many characteristics of a vintage PAF such as shimmering highs, pronounced mids, and fat but defined bottom. The wax potting keeps the lows nice and tight but limits the microphonic character of the pickups somewhat. Overall a very good pickup and a very good value.

 

[Tele52]

My experiance with Tim at BKP has been great. Send an email, tell him what you have, tell him what you want. They'll have a great pickup for you.

 

[fadman]

Ive had the Mules in my 2000 Les Paul Standard for a few years now. Very versatile pups and will cover a wide choice of stuff. Clean up really nice but have edge when pushed....but depends what you are after each to their own I suppose. All replies on here about them are right, Tim is a nice chap and knows his stuff company has great customer service I have found anyway. Can't rate them highly enough.