Bare Knuckle Apache vs Tonerider Pure Vintage

Tonerider Vintage Plus

• Uses a mix of Alnico V and Alnico III magnets
• DC Resistance: 5.75k neck, 6.1k middle, 6.4k bridge
• Classic vintage strat tones, great clarity and a less harsh, full-sounding bridge pickup

www.tonerider.com/

Bare Knuckle Apache

• The calibrated Alnico III magnets are hand-bevelled
• DC Resistance: 5.6k neck, 5.6k middle, 6.4k bridge
• Deep bottom end with a bell-like chime in the highs and rich, wide mid range produce a crystal-clear clean tone without ever sounding harsh or thin

www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/

Testbed

All pickups were tested on a Warmoth 2 piece alder strat body, with a Callaham vintage style tremolo, Warmoth maple neck and rosewood board.

The recordings were made without an amp, speaker or amp simulator. This is not how the pickups would normally sound. These recordings were made only for direct comparison. The tracks toggle back and forth between pickups at every bar.

For more information see A/B guitar pickup tests

Which is which?

Spoiler:

The first pickup (A) in each clip is a Tonerider Pure Vintage. The second pickup (B) is a Bare Knuckle Apache. The Apache Bare Knuckle bridge pickup has the optional "Zinc plated steel baseplate for extra power and bottom end".

Disclaimer: I kept the Bare Knuckle Apaches fitted on my guitar, which is why the photo above shows only the box.