Youtube Demo Artist Spotlight: John Huldt
16th June 2026
Celebrating Our Demo Artists
Here at Bare Knuckle we are immensely proud of our Youtube channel, and the demo artists we are lucky enough to work with. A Youtube channel, for a company that specialises in tone, is a priceless asset. Not only can players visit it to check out the sounds and tones we produce, it can be used as a tool for learning, a resource for inspiration and a way to form a community of like-minded players.
Over the next couple of weeks we will be shining a spotlight on this fantastic resource, and the demo artists who make our Youtube the most amazing tool for guitar players worldwide.
Spotlight on: John Huldt
Today we are talking to John Huldt, and getting to know him a little better. Check out his demo of our Polypaf humbuckers below.
John is a guitarist and composer based in the USA, and one of our Youtube demo artists.
So John, tell us a bit about how you started working with us at Bare Knuckle.
"I heard a lot of hype about BKP around 2015 and I ended up getting the Holy Diver humbucker. I thought it sounded great so I made a little demo video and sent it to Tim (Mills, founder of BKP) and he really liked it. Some time later he asked me I wanted to demo the Abraxas pickups and that pretty much was it."
Talk to us about your favourite guitars.
"I'm endorsed by Kiesel Guitars and have about ten of those, all with unique features, and most of them have been fitted with BKP pickups. The Strat styles tend to get the most use as I favor those models the most. There's something special about a bolt on maple neck on a alder body!"
Do you have a favourite Bare Knuckle?
"I think the best answer here is finding the right pickup for the right application. Sparkly cleans in a Strat doesn't need the same 'stuff' as heavy chugs on a 7 string. What I like about BKP is they have the perfect application for literally everything. Trilogy in my Kiesel Strats, PolyPaf in my studio workhourse. Ragnarok on my heavy rockers!"
Give us an insight into your current rig run-down.
"Much as with the pickups, it's the right gear for the right application. I have a collection of tube amps that all do their thing very well and my 'daily driver' is a Folkesson modded JCM800 that I can use for just about everything. Live, I'm trying to get away with the least amount of gear possible. Quadcortex if I'm traveling. The Folkesson mod JCM800 if I can bring a real amp."
What's going through your mind when you approach writing a demo piece?
"How can I show as many sounds out of this pickup as possible, in a musical way that makes the listener want to hear more?"
What do you tell aspiring guitar players?
"Practice, practice, practice and find your voice. You have a unique sound and your job is to figure out what that is. Find what you like. Try not to get sucked into the opinion of others or 'experts' in the forums. Taste is subjective and what you like is what's right for you. If it sounds good, it is good."
Any final words of wisdom?
"It really boils down to two things. Practice a lot and always learn new things."
