Tonerider Pickups

JetBlack

I was wondering if anyone on this forum has installed Tonerider pickups in their guitars? I've been looking at having the pickups in my Ibanez Roadstar replaced (yes, I know its old and unfashionable, but I like it) and I found this website http://www.tonerider.co.za/ by chance. The pickups are really affordable and since Christmas is coming up soon (along with my bonus) I would really like to try them.

My question: Are they any good since they are so inexpensive? They look so good! ? especially the two-tone humbuckers!

Belinda

AlanRatcliffe

Toneriders are great. You can do better, but only by spending way more money. I've go a set of Rebel 90s in my electric 12 and a lot of other guys have tried the different sets, so if you need an opinion on a particular set, just ask.

There's a lot of discussion about them already:
http://www.guitarforum.co.za/setup-mods-and-repair/www-tonerider-co-za/
http://www.guitarforum.co.za/setup-mods-and-repair/tonerider-versus-setmour-duncan/
http://www.guitarforum.co.za/setup-mods-and-repair/tonerider-choice-for-strat/

There's a special coming up on all their uncovered humbuckers on the 16th - I'll be posting details tomorrow.

Gearhead

Imho those RS Ibbys were actually nice bang for your buck and their pups the achilles heel. Methinks they used lots better wood than the current eye-gouger ones. You'd be doing yourself a favour by upgrading.

guidothepimmp

agreed.. im a roadstar fan and not a sight of basswood anywhere to be seen.

i agree that the pup upgrade will be a good decision.. some their pups were really not great. alas.. i have no experience with toneriders but i have heard good things from fellow forumites.

singemonkey

Nothing wrong with a roadstar.

JetBlack

Great! Thanks guys. I've looked at the links and I'm really impressed with all the positive comments. My guitar has 2 single coil pickups and a humbucker. I am looking at the Tonerider Alnico 4 humbucker and 2 Vintage Blues pickups.

Do you think this will be a good general combo to use for anything from rock to blues and jazz?

chris77

I have a A4 bucker and two City limits sc's in a Squier. The combo sounds really good imo.

Norman86

out of topic/

Jetblack, is that you in your avatar pic?
or taylor swift?

fireaxe

I've got quite a few Toneriders and my favorite combo is a bridge Generator with 2 Classic Blues singles - I'm a Tonerider fan and you can't go wrong! These pups are just awesome!

Wait until Thursday before you buy. Their sale starts then and humbuckers will be even cheaper!

Garth-S

+1 on the Alnico IV in the bridge position. I have them in my Ibanez SZ520, and I am absolutely LOVING the tone from the bridge pickup. It's a real classic rock tone, great for blues.

IceCreamMan

I have used toneriders in 2 of my guitars ,being an Ibanez SA160 and MIM strat.

In the ibby they were an incredible improvement as the stock pups were pretty weak.

In the strat i would not say the tone was radically improved , just different and produced a tone i prefer esp in the neck position.

Toneriders are GREAT bang for buck ..

MIKA-the-better-one

Norman86 wrote: out of topic/

Jetblack, is that you in your avatar pic?
or taylor swift?

Dude, you are SO SO SO dreaming if you think someone that hot is on this forum........... Or even plays guitar

Norman86

MIKA the better one wrote:
Norman86 wrote: out of topic/

Jetblack, is that you in your avatar pic?
or taylor swift?
Dude, you are SO SO SO dreaming if you think someone that hot is on this forum........... Or even plays guitar

:-[ he who does not ask, receives no answer! seriously though, im just curious :-[
in hindsight, maybe i should have pm's that question! but then she might just think im trying to stalk her or something!

guidothepimmp

?

boys will be boys

AlanRatcliffe

Down boys.

'Nuff said...

Mr-M

Coming back to the topic....

I have a 1982 Ibanez Blazer (they changed the name to Roadstar from 1985 on, if I recall correctly) that I've put Tonerider pickups in with great results. Mine has two Rebel 90s. I also have a set of Alnico IV Classics in another guitar and I've put other Toneriders in a couple of other guitars for friends, so I've tried all their pickups barring the P90s and the Alnico II Classics.

The combination of Alnico IV humbucker and 2 Classic Blues would work really well together IMO and be very versatile. Otherwise, for a bit more rawk in your rock, try the higher output Generator in the bridge and install a push/ pull pot to split it to single coil for some variety. The Generator would work well with the Classic Blues or the City Limits. A coil split on the Alnico IV isn't worth it though. Not enough output to stop the split sound from being really thin.

I'd definitely recommend Toneriders.

dan77

I go with the above comments. Tonerider pickups really rock big time. There really is nothing out there that is in their class, given the price that they are sold at. In fact they compare, and surpasses, most of the so-called big name US pickup manufacturers' products.

I own a bunch of Tonerider pickups and my particular favorite for an HSS guitar is the Rocksong bridge combined with 2 Classic Blues. Its a really nice even blend and you can do everything from Van Halen to Lee Ritenour on this setup. Yes, and put a coil-tap on the bridge pup, it makes the guitar a lot more versatile.

JetBlack

Thanks guys for the wonderful help. This forum is really an awesome way to get guitar information. I think I will go with Dan77's selection. It does appear that the 2 classic blues will be perfect with a Rocksong humbucker and I have been looking at these anyway. I just needed some validation from someone.

Thanks again.

Belinda.

Sean

MIKA the better one wrote: Dude, you are SO SO SO dreaming if you think someone that hot is on this forum........... Or even plays guitar

I disagree, look at me, and I play guitar 8)

PeteM

Sean wrote:
MIKA the better one wrote: Dude, you are SO SO SO dreaming if you think someone that hot is on this forum........... Or even plays guitar
I disagree, look at me, and I play guitar 8)

Self-belief is an admirable virtue ?