Bare Knuckle Halcyon Humbucker Set

The Halcyon is the signature humbucker set for Mike Stringer of Spiritbox. It takes more than your average pickup to tackle the atmospheric industrial traits of the Spiritbox musical method. We are looking at styles that include metalcore, prog metal, djent, nu metal, alt-metal, melodic metalcore, hard rock, dark rock, post-metal, and digital metal.

For the Spiritbox vibe, you’ll be looking at a 7-string guitar with a F# tuning. Since I know that most everyone else will already be talking about that 7-string vibe, I’m here to take a different look at how the Halcyon throws down in a 6-string environment.

Installation

With this application, I’m going with a 2-hum alder body bolted to a maple neck with a 25-1/2″ 22-fret rosewood board. The harness is a Bourns 500k pot with a Switchcraft 3-way toggle and a Pure Tone 1-4″ output jack. Tuning is E standard with 09-42 strings.

Evaluation

You’d better grab on to something, as these humbuckers are going to take you for a ride! The bridge is an addictive shot of power that balances ferocity with nuance. Massive presence and incredible clarity are on the menu. You need to show up ready to unpack your most brutally unleashed riffs. The powerful multiple ceramic magnets clamp down tight, helping your chugs to deliver devastating impact. The multi-blade design promises effective string coverage and exceptional clarity.

However, it is the neck position that surprises me even more than the bridge. It’s almost as if they are putting all the best parts of a good classic P.A.F. character into today’s leading-edge tech. Woody and present, this position is ready to go out-of-the-box for powerful heavy blues as well as ambient cleans. Mixing it up with switching for split or parallel further enhances the airy atmospherics necessary for a band like Spiritbox. Straight up, I’m a picky son of a gun for neck pickups – yet the Halcyon neck humbucker exceeds my expectations. The isotropic Alnico 5 (re: unoriented) brings the best qualities of Alnico 5 and of Alnico 2 with a great blend of being firm while sweet.

As a pair, the Halcyon set covers the bases. From the most savage riffs and ruthless chugs to delicate ethereal nuance and elegantly graceful cleans. There is an even-sounding balance across the mids, into the upper-mids and to the high end. That is what is going to appeal to guitarists needing the power to punch through and the clarity to be subtle. Additionally, the Halcyon is a contender for those that just cannot find what they want from today’s active options.

Demo

Specs

Conclusion

If you are tuning down at least a step, this is for you. Of if you have a sonically thick guitar or amp, put this on your must-have list. The Halcyon is your cure for a boomy or a muddy low end that needs a shot of definition.

The Bare Knuckle Halcyon 6-string humbucker set good for modern metal and progressive playing styles. They are available in 6 and 7-string variations. You can order these humbuckers in a dozen colors or color combinations, with over 2 dozen cover options, 18 radiators, and 20 TVs. Hookup selections are for 4-conductor and braided 2 wire, and short leg length with either square or triangular tabs.

For reference, this Bare Knuckle Halcyon humbucker pickup set evaluation was conducted with the following: Fractal Axe-Fx II XL+ featuring Celestion Impluse Responses and Fractal MFC-101 MIDI Foot Controller. ADA MP-1 Tube Pre-Amp loaded with Tube Amp Doctor ECC83 Premium Selected tubes, using the ADA MC-1 MIDI Controller. Fryette LX II Stereo Tube Power Amplifier. Physical cabs use are Marshall 1960B, Mojotone British, and Peavey 6505 cabs loaded with Celestion Classic Series Vintage 30s and Classic Series G12M Greenbacks.

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