www.tonerider.co.za

AlanRatcliffe · 2009-12-17T08:53:26+00:00

Finally we have someone selling pickups online locally: www.tonerider.co.za We've spoken about the Tonerider pickups before, and the agency is now being handled by André Meyer (some of the CT members will know him already from the band Late Final), who also plans to move into other parts, hardware and spares (up to and including necks and bodies) over the next year.

[deleted]

+1, Floydoid - I really like the Rocksong in the bridge of my HSS Strat too.

MikeM

Maybe they work in strats but it sounded awful in my Lp ?

rich365

I installed the full Rocksong zebra set into an HH Ibby and it's a killer looking and sounding custom set! I have to confess that I hot rodded the bridge pickup even further by replacing the Alnico II magnet with a ceramic one and now she's really screaming! I like a medium output humbucker in the bridge but with a ceramic magnet. You can get them from Andre at Tonerider.

tonerider

rich365 wrote I installed the full Rocksong zebra set into an HH Ibby and it's a killer looking and sounding custom set! I have to confess that I hot rodded the bridge pickup even further by replacing the Alnico II magnet with a ceramic one and now she's really screaming! I like a medium output humbucker in the bridge but with a ceramic magnet. You can get them from Andre at Tonerider.

Just beware of microphonic squeal when you do this. By replacing the magnet you are technically modifying it's design. Ceramic magnets are more powerful than Alnico and if you're playing loud with high gain or overdrive the pickup can start "whistling" at high frequency. (not to be mistaken for feedback) This can be cured by dipping the pickup into a wax pot again.

DonovanB

Stratisfear wrote +1, Floydoid - I really like the Rocksong in the bridge of my ~~HSS Strat~~ mutant too.

Fixed

rich365

AndreM wrote
rich365 wrote I installed the full Rocksong zebra set into an HH Ibby and it's a killer looking and sounding custom set! I have to confess that I hot rodded the bridge pickup even further by replacing the Alnico II magnet with a ceramic one and now she's really screaming! I like a medium output humbucker in the bridge but with a ceramic magnet. You can get them from Andre at Tonerider.

Just take note that your pickup can possibly become more microphonic when replacing an Alnico magnet with a Ceramic (ferrite) magnet, which is usually a lot more potent. I say this only because pickups are designed and tested in most playing conditions before they become available on the open market. By replacing the magnet you are technically modifying the design. If you're playing loud with distortion, high gain or overdrive the pickup can start "whistling" or "whining" at high frequency. (not to be mistaken for feedback)

This is mostly curable by dipping the pickup into a wax pot again. Beeswax are probably best yet I use normal Shoprite candle wax most of the time. I'm not going to explain the process since the Internet is full of manuals on how to do this. ?

I did notice pieces of wax falling from it as I was prying the magnet loose but I've had no problems yet.

rich365

AndreM wrote
rich365 wrote I installed the full Rocksong zebra set into an HH Ibby and it's a killer looking and sounding custom set! I have to confess that I hot rodded the bridge pickup even further by replacing the Alnico II magnet with a ceramic one and now she's really screaming! I like a medium output humbucker in the bridge but with a ceramic magnet. You can get them from Andre at Tonerider.

Just beware of microphonic squeal when you do this. By replacing the magnet you are technically modifying it's design. Ceramic magnets are more powerful than Alnico and if you're playing loud with high gain or overdrive the pickup can start "whistling" at high frequency. (not to be mistaken for feedback) This can be cured by dipping the pickup into a wax pot again.

Do you have any quick tips for redoing the wax around the pickup? I've checked many websites but there's a lot of conflicting information.

Much appreciated!

AlanRatcliffe

Here's something I wrote last year that might help:

Potting pickups
Potting the coils of a pickup to solidify them is the common method of avoiding pickup microphonics and squeal. This is done simply by dipping the coils in melted wax that saturates the coil and solidifies it when it cools down. To quote Seymour Duncan: “Potting pickups is easy as dunking a candy apple but it’s dangerous and you must be careful.”

Paraffin wax and beeswax are two common types of wax used for potting, although there are other types which are used occasionally. I usually use a 4:1 mixture of paraffin and beeswax as I find paraffin wax alone is too brittle and beeswax melts too easily. The mixture also has a slightly lower melting point than pure paraffin wax which is safer for plastic bobbins.

The common method of melting the wax is to use a double boiler – a pot of wax nested in a larger pot of water. Two different sizes of pot work a charm, with the smaller pot being suspended in the larger by its handles. Commercial double boilers are available from various guitar supply stores and often include thermometers and even thermostats to regulate the temperature. I know of at least two people who use double boilers designed for cooking successfully.

Temperature is important, so make sure you have a thermometer that can handle at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius) or more. If the temperature is too low, the wax may not melt or be too thick. If the temperature is too high you run the risk of melting bobbins or warping the coil.

Heat the wax until it melts. If you are using the beeswax/paraffin wax mixture this should be approximately 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius) and 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius) for paraffin wax. Monitor the temperature at all times and keep it as close to the ideal temperature as possible. Never allow the temperature to rise above 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius).

It is not necessary to strip the pickup to pot it – unless it is a plastic cover like a Stratocaster pickup. If it has a metal cover, leave it in place. Pickups with covers and those with metal baseplates such as the Telecaster bridge pickup benefit from having the plate potted too.

Tie a piece of wire to a height adjustment hole in the pickup. This works as a handle and allows you to insert and remove the pickup from the hot wax safely. Gently lower the pickup into the wax and leave for 1 – 3 minutes. Move it around occasionally and you can even tap it against the sides of the container to help remove air bubbles.

Remove the pickup from the wax and hold suspended until excess wax has stopped dripping from it. Then place on wax paper or cardboard, moving occasionally to stop it sticking. If it is an open coil humbucker put an elastic band around the pickup to hold the tape in place while the pickup cools. Once the pickup is cool enough to touch, wipe off the excess wax gently.

POTTING PRECAUTIONS
1 Always wear eye protection when working with hot wax.
2 If you want to handle the pickups while hot, make sure you have gloves that offer adequate protection for handling hot materials.
3 As a petroleum product, paraffin is highly flammable. Never heat wax over the heat source directly and never over an open flame – always use an electrical heat source. Do not allow the wax to heat up too quickly.
4 Never leave hot wax unattended for any length of time.

tonerider

rich365 wrote Do you have any quick tips for redoing the wax around the pickup? I've checked many websites but there's a lot of conflicting information.

Much appreciated!

+1 Alan!

Rich, I do indeed have a few hands-on tips that I’ve picked up over the years. I just use a cheap pot that’s permanently filled with wax and a cheap cooking thermometer (bought at Boardmans) to monitor the wax temperature. You can get the paraffin wax in tins from supermarkets. Mixing in beeswax is recommended but not essential. Wire through the mounting holes is essential for handling. As Alan says don’t go over 70deg C and place a rubber band around the outside of the bobbins to prevent the cloth tape from coming loose in the heat.

Tip 1. Find yourself a metal humbucker pickup cover (you have Toneriders without covers) and cover the holes of the adjustable pole pieces with a piece of masking tape on the inside of the cover. This is to prevent the hot wax from pouring right out again out when you remove it from the pot. Bend and shape the metal cover to fit loosely around the pickup and tie a piece of string around it to prevent it from falling off.

Tip2. Lower the pickup/cover assembly face down into the pot and wait for about 10 minutes for the pickup and wax to come to the same temperature. Then start wiggling it around to remove all the air that might be trapped inside. When there are no more tiny bubbles coming to the surface (20 minutes or so) gently lift the assembly from the pot and place it on a flat surface, keeping the pickup upside down in the cover. Leave it alone for an hour or so and wait for the wax to solidify and the pickup to cool down to room temperature. Don’t rush things.

Tip 3. You may wonder how you’re going to get the pickup out of the solidified wax in the pickup cover. What I do is to use a heat gun (used for stripping paint from doors etc) to apply heat gently to the outside of the cover until the layer of wax touching it melts and the cover falls away. Then I continue applying the heat to the pickup from a distance (carefully, on a lower heat setting) and wipe away with a cloth until excess wax has been removed. The inside of the pickup remains cool and the wax solid. Lastly I remove the rubber bands and give it a final wipe and that’s it!

Hope my tips help too. ?

rich365

Thanks Alan & AndreM.

Valuable info indeed. This is a project for this coming weekend! Wax isn't a problem and my wife has a cooking thermometer. The idea with the pickup cover makes perfect sense. I have lank spares so it won't be a problem.

I'll just have to find a "heatgun". Never used one before but I know who to borrow from - brother in law! ?

AlanRatcliffe

A hairdryer set on high may also work. ?

tonerider

Alan Ratcliffe wrote A hairdryer set on high may also work. ?

I wouldn't use a hairdryer Alan. You will have to apply heat directly to the pickup for a long time before the wax melts. By that time the whole pickup would have heated up and you don't want this. You might just disturb and dislodge the solid wax where you really need it and this will negate wax potting it in the first place.

The reason I use a heat gun is to apply very hot air in tiny bursts which heats up only the outermost layer on the outside of the pickup. Then I gradually wipe until this excess is removed. The inside of the pickup remains at room temperature. I also do this in stages if there's a lot of excess wax around the pickup. ?

rich365

Re-waxed and still working 100! The heatgun and pickup cover worked like a charm. ?

There is big improvement when I use overdrive pedals - the waxing process has made a huge difference! I can stand with the guitar directly in front of the amp and there's no squealing at all! Remarkable!

Thanks again guys!

StraVoxiNez

I have a set of ToneRider Generators, love them! Andre helped me allot with all my questions and I installed them with a coil split. They sound real nice through my Vox AC4TV and the zebras look cool with the cream pup rings.

The Photo is not that great, but you get the picture (pun intended)

N-note

Hi, can one still get Tonerider pickups in SA? Looking for AC4 neck

guidothepimmp

Wow.. 11 years later 😂

I think these pickups are still available. I saw a local retailer had them. Might have been Blackbeards Den. Have a look at their website. Based in JHB i think but they do mainly online transactions

V8

guidothepimmp Wow.. 11 years later 😂

Heh, still good pups!

I bought very last stock clearance that tonerider.co.za sold - a bunch of neck position generators in zebra and shiny gold 😁

Nice find, thanks Guido! - they're not cheap, but then again my usual R220 set of elixir's are now R360 🤫

N-note

Ohh well...so my search continues. Between a 57 Classic neck and a 490R neck, which is more comparable to a Super 58. Both in clarity/note definition and output?

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