Bare Knuckle Stockholm HSP90

July 8, 2026 darthphineas Alnico 5, Bare Knuckle, BKP, HSP90, P90, Pickup, Stockholm

Introduction

The Stockholm HSP90 is the first Bare Knuckle HSP90 that ever lands in one of my guitars. It also makes quite an entrance.

The neck position is occupied by the Stockholm, while a Bare Knuckle Warpig humbucker handles bridge duties. A P90 that comfortably keeps pace with one of Bare Knuckle’s highest output humbuckers is enough to raise an eyebrow. It is also a strong indication that this is no ordinary P90.

Bare Knuckle offers one of the broadest HSP90 lineups available today. While every model drops into a standard humbucker route, each one targets a different player and tonal goal. Some embrace classic vintage character. Others lean toward modern aggression. The Stockholm firmly plants its flag in the modern camp.

If your guitar accepts humbuckers but you’ve been curious about the unmistakable punch and responsiveness of a P90, the HSP90 format bridges that gap without requiring any woodworking. The concept has become increasingly popular because it delivers much of what players like about a traditional P90 while fitting a standard humbucker cavity.

The Stockholm, however, has no interest in simply recreating vintage tones. It arrives with a very different mission.

Design and Construction

The Stockholm is Bare Knuckle’s answer for players who want the immediacy and articulation of a P90 without giving up the authority expected from modern high gain pickups. It carries a hotter wind than the company’s vintage inspired HSP90 offerings while maintaining the open character that makes a quality P90 so addictive to play.

That balance is what immediately separates the Stockholm from many high output pickups. Increased output often comes with increased compression. The Stockholm still feels remarkably alive under the fingers, allowing pick attack and playing dynamics to remain an important part of the equation.

Installation

These six string HSP90s find a home in a mahogany body with dual humbucker routing. Electronics consist of Bourns 500K potentiometers, a Switchcraft 3-way toggle switch, and a Pure Tone 1/4″ output jack. Installation is straightforward thanks to the familiar vintage braided lead wire.

The guitar remains in standard E tuning with a set of .010 to .046 strings throughout the evaluation.

Evaluation

First Impressions

I’ve said before that the Stockholm HSP90 straps you into the chair and force feeds you a healthy helping of heavy hitting tone. After spending more time with it over the years, I don’t think I’d change a word.

This isn’t your grandfather’s P90, and it isn’t trying to be. Bare Knuckle already builds pickups that capture that vintage flavor. The Stockholm goes in a completely different direction. It takes that unmistakable P90 attack and openness, then cranks the attitude until it can comfortably hang with some seriously high output humbuckers.

As pointed out, the first time I heard one, it was sitting in the neck position opposite a Warpig in the bridge. Think about that for a second. A P90 that doesn’t feel outgunned by a Warpig. That pairing tells you almost everything you need to know about where the Stockholm lives on the output scale.

Low End Authority

One thing that really sticks with me about the Stockholm is how much authority it has in the low end. There’s plenty of punch available, but it doesn’t come across as oversized or flabby. Palm muted riffs hit hard, yet individual notes still have enough definition to keep everything from turning into a wall of mush.

The low frequencies also do a nice job of filling out the entire sound without stepping all over everything else. That’s harder to pull off than it sounds. Some high output pickups get bigger by becoming darker. The Stockholm gets bigger by sounding more confident.

Before long it feels like the pickup is consuming all the oxygen in the room. Be ready for some sore ribs after a few rounds with this thing. HaHa!

Midrange Grind

If the lows bring the punch, the mids bring the personality.

This is where the Stockholm earns its keep. There’s a healthy dose of growl, grind, and roar that gives rhythm work a lot of focus without making the pickup sound boxy or congested. Chords have some real authority behind them, while single note runs cut through with plenty of confidence.

What I like most is how the mids tie everything together. They reinforce the low end, add some extra grunt to the highs, and keep the overall voice feeling balanced. Nothing sounds exaggerated or disconnected. It all works together as one cohesive package.

Top End Presence

The top end is exactly what I want from a pickup like this. There’s enough edge and bite to make lead work stand out, but it never crosses over into harshness or gets fatiguing after a long playing session.

Harmonics come easily, and the added presence helps every note stay articulate, especially once the gain starts climbing. That’s one of the nice surprises with the Stockholm. For as much output as it’s packing, it never feels like the highs have been sacrificed just to make the pickup louder.

Everything remains open, responsive, and easy to control with your picking hand, which ends up making the pickup feel every bit as dynamic as it is powerful.

Clarity Under Gain

Few topics come up more frequently when discussing Bare Knuckle pickups than clarity. The Stockholm demonstrates exactly why the company has earned that reputation.

Despite its muscular output, notes remain remarkably articulate under substantial amounts of gain. Complex chords retain their definition, fast passages avoid turning into a blur, and individual notes continue speaking clearly even when the amplifier is working overtime.

That level of tonal transparency gives the Stockholm an openness that many high output pickups simply cannot match. It responds to the player’s touch instead of masking it, making the pickup feel every bit as dynamic as it is powerful.

Demo

Lay your peepers on this demo from Belgian guitarist Ulrich Schadeck. If you like his stuff, be sure to go check out his YT channel.

Bare Knuckle Stockholm HSP90

Different housing, same attitude. This is the standard P90 Stockholm, but you’ll hear pretty quickly why the HSP90 version doesn’t stray far from this.

Stockholm P90 demonstration by James Phillips

Specs

Stockholm HSP90 Bridge
DCR – 15.975 K
Inductance – 11.417 H
Magnet – Alnico 5

Stockholm HSP90 Neck
DCR – 13.153 K
Inductance – 7.728 H
Magnet – Alnico 5

Tone Graph

Conclusion

Within Bare Knuckle’s HSP90 lineup, the Stockholm sits firmly on the higher output end of the spectrum. Players looking for vintage flavored P90 character have several excellent choices elsewhere in the range. The Stockholm heads confidently in the opposite direction.

It captures the unmistakable attitude of a P90 while delivering enough authority to comfortably stand beside some of today’s most formidable humbuckers. Hard rock, grunge, alternative, progressive rock, and modern metal all feel right at home here.

Available in both six and seven string versions, the Stockholm also offers an impressive range of cosmetic customization, including numerous cover finishes and pole screw options to complement virtually any instrument.

If your idea of a P90 includes aggressive output, outstanding articulation, and enough punch to keep up with the heaviest rigs on stage, the Bare Knuckle Stockholm deserves a very close look.

For reference, this Bare Knuckle Pickups Stockholm HSP90 pickup set evaluation was conducted with the following: Fractal Axe-Fx II XL+ featuring Celestion Impulse 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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