Who is Rabea Massaad?

Rabea Massaad is a prominent British guitarist, music producer, and YouTuber known for his work with bands like Toska and Frog Leap Studios. He is highly regarded for his technical proficiency and deep knowledge of guitar equipment.

What magnets are used in the Silo pickups?

The Silo signature humbucker set utilizes Alnico V magnets. These magnets provide a more organic and dynamic response compared to ceramic magnets, offering a punchy low end and a clear top end.

What is unique about the coil design of the Silo set?

The Silo features twin screw coils instead of the standard one row of slugs and one row of screws. This design affects the way the magnetic field interacts with the strings and provides a distinct visual look.

What wire gauge is used in the bridge pickup?

The bridge pickup is wound with 44AWG wire. This thinner gauge allows for more windings, resulting in the higher output and compressed precision necessary for modern metal styles.

What wire gauge is used in the neck pickup?

The neck pickup is wound with 42AWG wire. This choice results in a more open, warm, and tubular sound that is ideal for fluid lead lines and clean textures.

Can the Silo pickups be coil-split?

Yes, the Silo set comes with four-conductor wiring as standard. This allows users to wire them for coil-splitting, series/parallel switching, or out-of-phase sounds.

How do these pickups perform with low tunings?

The Silo set is specifically designed to maintain note definition and projection in lower tunings. The precise winding prevents the low-end frequencies from becoming 'flubby' or indistinct.

Are these pickups suitable for clean tones?

Yes, despite their high-gain pedigree, the Silo pickups are designed for a full-bodied and robust clean sound. They react sensitively to volume adjustments and pick dynamics for expressive performances.

Where are Bare Knuckle Pickups manufactured?

Bare Knuckle Pickups are hand-wound in the United Kingdom. The company is based in South West England and is known for high-quality boutique construction.

What is the typical price for the Silo set?

The typical retail price for a complete set of Bare Knuckle Silo humbuckers is approximately GBP 389. Prices may vary slightly depending on the specific finish or cover options selected.

What genres are the Silo pickups best for?

They are best suited for progressive metal, hard rock, ambient rock, and fusion. Their versatility allows them to handle both extreme distortion and crystal-clear clean passages effectively.

Do the Silo pickups come in different finishes?

While the standard set is often seen in black, Bare Knuckle offers a wide range of custom covers and finishes for their humbuckers. The twin screw design is a constant feature of the Silo model.

Gear article

Bare Knuckle Rabea Massaad Silo Signature Humbucker Pickup Set

The Bare Knuckle Silo is a signature humbucker set designed for guitarist and producer Rabea Massaad, featuring a twin screw coil design and Alnico V magnets. Hand-wound in the UK, these pickups are engineered to provide high-gain clarity and expressive clean tones, specifically tailored for modern progressive metal and ambient textures.

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Overview

The Bare Knuckle Rabea Massaad Silo Signature Humbucker set represents a collaboration between the British boutique pickup manufacturer and the influential guitarist and producer Rabea Massaad. Known for his work in progressive metal and his extensive gear reviews, Massaad required a pickup set that could handle extreme gain while maintaining the harmonic complexity needed for atmospheric, ambient passages. The Silo set is distinguished by its use of twin screw coils rather than the traditional slug and screw configuration, a design choice that influences both the magnetic field and the aesthetic of the unit.

Technical Specifications

The construction of the Silo set involves specific wire gauges and magnet choices to achieve its characteristic response. The bridge pickup is wound with 44AWG wire, allowing for a higher output and tighter frequency response suitable for rhythmic precision. Conversely, the neck pickup utilizes 42AWG wire, which typically yields a more open and fluid lead tone. Both pickups are powered by Alnico V magnets, providing a punchy low end and a clear high-frequency chime. The use of four-conductor wiring as standard allows for complex switching options, including coil-splitting and parallel wiring.

Tonal Character

The Silo humbuckers are defined by their ability to remain articulate under heavy saturation. The bridge pickup offers a robust, full-bodied sound with a focused midrange that helps notes cut through a dense mix. In clean settings, the pickups are described as reacting astutely to pick dynamics, offering a hi-fi quality that avoids the muddiness often associated with high-output ceramic alternatives. The split-coil performance is a particular highlight, engineered to provide a convincing single-coil-style clarity that is essential for Massaad's signature 'clean-heavy' transitions.

Target Audience

This pickup set is primarily aimed at modern guitarists who perform in genres such as progressive metal, djent, and ambient rock. Because the Silo maintains note definition even in lower tunings, it is highly suitable for extended range instruments or standard six-string guitars tuned to Drop C or lower. The expressive nature of the Alnico V magnets also makes them a viable choice for session players and producers who require a versatile toolset that can transition from high-gain riffs to nuanced, dynamic passages.

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Frequently asked questions

Who is Rabea Massaad?: Rabea Massaad is a prominent British guitarist, music producer, and YouTuber known for his work with bands like Toska and Frog Leap Studios. He is highly regarded for his technical proficiency and deep knowledge of guitar equipment.
What magnets are used in the Silo pickups?: The Silo signature humbucker set utilizes Alnico V magnets. These magnets provide a more organic and dynamic response compared to ceramic magnets, offering a punchy low end and a clear top end.
What is unique about the coil design of the Silo set?: The Silo features twin screw coils instead of the standard one row of slugs and one row of screws. This design affects the way the magnetic field interacts with the strings and provides a distinct visual look.
What wire gauge is used in the bridge pickup?: The bridge pickup is wound with 44AWG wire. This thinner gauge allows for more windings, resulting in the higher output and compressed precision necessary for modern metal styles.
What wire gauge is used in the neck pickup?: The neck pickup is wound with 42AWG wire. This choice results in a more open, warm, and tubular sound that is ideal for fluid lead lines and clean textures.
Can the Silo pickups be coil-split?: Yes, the Silo set comes with four-conductor wiring as standard. This allows users to wire them for coil-splitting, series/parallel switching, or out-of-phase sounds.
How do these pickups perform with low tunings?: The Silo set is specifically designed to maintain note definition and projection in lower tunings. The precise winding prevents the low-end frequencies from becoming 'flubby' or indistinct.
Are these pickups suitable for clean tones?: Yes, despite their high-gain pedigree, the Silo pickups are designed for a full-bodied and robust clean sound. They react sensitively to volume adjustments and pick dynamics for expressive performances.
Where are Bare Knuckle Pickups manufactured?: Bare Knuckle Pickups are hand-wound in the United Kingdom. The company is based in South West England and is known for high-quality boutique construction.
What is the typical price for the Silo set?: The typical retail price for a complete set of Bare Knuckle Silo humbuckers is approximately GBP 389. Prices may vary slightly depending on the specific finish or cover options selected.
What genres are the Silo pickups best for?: They are best suited for progressive metal, hard rock, ambient rock, and fusion. Their versatility allows them to handle both extreme distortion and crystal-clear clean passages effectively.
Do the Silo pickups come in different finishes?: While the standard set is often seen in black, Bare Knuckle offers a wide range of custom covers and finishes for their humbuckers. The twin screw design is a constant feature of the Silo model.