Closest match
no spec differences found
Output compared on measured inductance; tone charts compared directly.
high confidence
Bare Knuckle
Bare Knuckle Riff Raff
Medium output, clear and balanced, with forward mids and a bright top end.
Hotter than 40% of the 280 bridge humbuckers we have
- Alnico 5 magnet: the common all-rounder: firm lows and clear highs
- More mids than a typical Bare Knuckle
- Brighter than a typical Bare Knuckle
“I'm just concerned that Riff Raff in the bridge may be too bright or trebley as the Kenai has this natural lively,open tone to it.”
£151≈ $202
Down from £181.20, changed 1 Nov 2026
Like the Bare Knuckle Riff Raff, but…
- WarmerBare Knuckle Polypafdarker · similar output92 match
- More biteBare Knuckle Black Hawk CeramicCeramic magnet · −6% output82 match
- HotterBare Knuckle VHII+21% output · Alnico 5 magnet87 match
- Less hotDiMarzio Air Classic−25% output · Alnico 5 magnet78 match
The closest pickup in each direction that still fits the same slot. See every match
Specs
- DC resistance
- 8.2k
- Inductance
- 4.68 Hmeasured, 1 reading
- Magnet
- Alnico 5
- Coil
- Hum-cancelling
vintage outputbrightmid-forward
From Bare Knuckle's published specs ↗ (opens in a new tab). Traits come from these specs by stated rules.
Fits the bridge of a Les Paul, SG, PRS Custom 24, Superstrat (HH) or HSS Strat.
Also in the set
Similar pickups
280 fit the same slot · ranked on measured specs · top 40 shownUpgrading from the Bare Knuckle Riff Raff? Put it on the map and see what sits where you want your tone to go.
Each score is how close a pickup is on measured specs, out of 100. The meter shows how many of those specs we could compare; a grey score means few could be. Filters cover the top 40. How scoring works
- Compare →
no spec differences found
No inductance for one of them, so output leans on DC resistance; tone charts compared directly.
Compare →high confidenceno spec differences found
Output compared on measured inductance; tone charts compared directly.
Compare →high confidenceAlnico IV magnet: warmer, smoother · scooped mids
Output compared on measured inductance; tone charts compared directly.
Compare →high confidenceno spec differences found
Output compared on measured inductance; tone charts compared against each maker's average.
Compare →high confidencescooped mids
Output compared on measured inductance; tone charts compared against each maker's average.
Compare →high confidence
What others say
Demos, reviews and forum posts, quoted word for word and linked to where they were published.
Bare Knuckle Riff Raff Humbuckers Tone Test
Bare Knuckle Pickups Official : Bruce Dickinson Black Dog/ Riff Raff
Bare Knuckle Riff Raff Humbucker Tone Test by Danny Dela Cruz.
Bare Knuckle Pickups Official : Black Dog/ Riff Raff
Tim Mills Plays Riff Raff/Stormy Monday
Bare Knuckle Pickups Riff Raff Humbucker Demonstration
“I'm just concerned that Riff Raff in the bridge may be too bright or trebley as the Kenai has this natural lively,open tone to it.”
“I like the Polymath so far but it does not have the same open, airy quality that the Riff Raff has.”
“About Riff Raff capability of driving lead sustained tones, the one that goes closer is the JB but, the Riff Raff doesn't have those shrill highs that the JB has..”
Played the Bare Knuckle Riff Raff?
Tell other players how it sounds in your guitar. These are visitors' own comments: checked for spam before they appear, but not fact-checked like the sourced quotes above.
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