VHII Humbucker Set Tone Test with Dan Stevens
Compare
Bare Knuckle VHII vs DiMarzio Fortitude
Bare Knuckle VHII
bridge humbucker
91 match
high confidence
DiMarzio Fortitude
bridge humbucker
We found no spec differences between them worth calling out.
Specs side by side
differs marks specs where they part ways| Spec | Bare Knuckle VHII | DiMarzio Fortitude |
|---|---|---|
| DC resistancediffers | 8.9k | 9.54k |
| Inductancediffers | 5.67 H (measured, 1 reading) | 5.90 H (measured, 1 reading) |
| Magnet | Alnico 5 | Alnico 5 |
| Coil | Hum-cancelling | Hum-cancelling |
| Bass (tone chart)differsEach maker grades its own chart, so read these within a brand | 5 / 10 | 4 / 10 |
| Mids (tone chart)differsEach maker grades its own chart, so read these within a brand | 6 / 10 | 5.5 / 10 |
| Treble (tone chart)differsEach maker grades its own chart, so read these within a brand | 7 / 10 | 3.5 / 10 |
| Slot | bridge humbucker | bridge humbucker |
| Traits | moderate output | moderate output, dark |
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
94
measured inductance
Magnet
100
both Alnico 5
Coil
100
same coil type
Brightness
62
each against its maker's average
Mids
95
each against its maker's average
Bass
97
each against its maker's average
Videos
Bare Knuckle VHII
Bare Knuckle Pickups VHII demonstration by Dan Stevens
DiMarzio Fortitude
GOJIRA APPROVED! DiMarzio Fortitude Pickup!
Joe Duplantier for DiMarzio Fortitude Bridge and PAF 36th Anniversary Neck pickups (4K)
What players and reviewers say
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.”
On the DiMarzio Fortitude
“The midrange is shifted more to the lower mids for a throatier vibe and more of a growl.”
“The lows will punch you in the chest, pick you up, and knock you back down again.”