The Making Of The Bare Knuckle POLYMATH Humbucker Set
Compare
Bare Knuckle Polymath vs Bare Knuckle VHII
Bare Knuckle Polymath
neck humbucker
87 match
high confidence
Bare Knuckle VHII
neck humbucker
Compared with the Bare Knuckle Polymath, the Bare Knuckle VHII has lower output.
Specs side by side
differs marks specs where they part ways| Spec | Bare Knuckle Polymath | Bare Knuckle VHII |
|---|---|---|
| DC resistancediffers | 11.9k | 7.9k |
| Inductancediffers | 5.83 H (measured, 1 reading) | 4.83 H (measured, 1 reading) |
| Magnet | Alnico 5 | Alnico 5 |
| Coil | Hum-cancelling | Hum-cancelling |
| Bass (tone chart) | 5 / 10 | 5 / 10 |
| Mids (tone chart)differs | 7 / 10 | 6 / 10 |
| Treble (tone chart)differs | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
| Slot | neck humbucker | neck humbucker |
| Traits | moderate output, dark, mid-forward | vintage output |
How close on each spec
100 means identical on that spec. The score weighs these, and counts anything we couldn't compare as a typical difference. How scoring works
Output
73
measured inductance
Magnet
100
both Alnico 5
Coil
100
same coil type
Brightness
83
tone charts on the same scale
Mids
83
tone charts on the same scale
Bass
100
tone charts on the same scale
Videos
Bare Knuckle Polymath
Adam Getgood signature Bare Knuckle Polymath demonstration
Bare Knuckle VHII
VHII Humbucker Set Tone Test with Dan Stevens
Bare Knuckle Pickups VHII demonstration by Dan Stevens
What players and reviewers say
On the Bare Knuckle Polymath
“The bridge humbucker delivers tight low end control with zero flub under palm mute.”
“There is enough upper mid articulation to cut through a dense mix, but the voicing avoids harsh spike territory.”
On the Bare Knuckle VHII
“As Eddie Van Halen's playing evolved through the 80s, his tone became more open and articulate because his technique demanded a voice that could keep up.”
“Raising the pickup adds additional punch and midrange authority.”