Man those Classic Vibes pickups are nice

I've never been a huge fan of the CV series in general due to playing a couple dogs from that line I suppose but today I went out to play several Teles to compare pickups and I liked these the best. I played an American Standard, 2 American Specials, and CV50. These pickups seemed to have the punch of the alnico 5s and the sweetness of the 3s. I asked the guys in the store if I could order them separately. They said they had no idea because no one had ever asked before and that everyone seems to swap them out of the Squiers. I've found a couple on ebay I'm gonna grab. :smile:

Rumor has it, not sure if confirmed or not, that the pickups in the CV teles - maybe all the CV series - are OEM Tonerider pickups, http://www.tonerider.com/pickups/pickups_main.html .

has anyone compared them A/B? the classic vibe tele pickups are very very good in my opinion, if that's true, it speaks well of the toneriders.

Yea they're Toneriders.

NO they are not Toneriders. I confirmed that with the plant manager where the CV's are made.

Toneriders are made in the same factory and use different specs.

The CV's are wound differently to different specs but do use all the same parts as the Toneriders do which are made just across the room from the CV pickups.

So it does get confusing when several people bought Toneriders for their CV's and when they took them apart found the same looking pickups as the Toneriders they just bought.

Its just like GM and Chevy trucks same basic truck different emblems different features and oprions.

The CV pickups are made in a huge OEM factory in China that makes OEM stuff for tons of guitar companys.

The only pickup I've liked better than the CV50's bridge is the Custom Shop Nocaster bridge, and to be honest, IMHO, they aren't all that far apart. :-)

The only pickup I've liked better than the CV50's bridge is the Custom Shop Nocaster bridge, and to be honest, IMHO, they aren't all that far apart. :-)

CV50's 8.5k Nocasster 9.8-10k.

Your right not that much difference in ohms at least.

The CV50's has a good thick tone.

Good info, Mark Davis. I wasn't sure myself, but I had heard people say they were the same. I agree - an A/B with actual Toneriders would be interesting, as well as output testing, etc. I wonder how "different" the specs ultimately really are. It might just be a matter of Squier trying to mystify the process a little by saying they're "different" to increase the viability of the CVs, when in fact they might actually be very similar. Well, that's an open question at this point, until someone has both and actually compares them. :)

mark would know more than me.. but I can tell you it was more than just the same "looking" pickups that made people wonder.... the numbers on the CV pickups are the same as a tonrider pickup also.... Same Stickers, Same Quality Control Markings, Same Wire....

I had the same experience as THIS post

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/just-pickups/146448-tonerider-hot-classics-cv-stock-pickup-comparison.html


and if you really think about it.. if they are made with the same parts, in the same factory, across the hall.... the only difference is that they are a different speced tonerider...... the only difference in specs I could see is the Readings,,, Maybe a few wraps more or less.....

mark would know more than me.. but I can tell you it was more than just the same "looking" pickups that made people wonder.... the numbers on the CV pickups are the same as a tonrider pickup also.... Same Stickers, Same Quality Control Markings, Same Wire....

I had the same experience as THIS post

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/just-pickups/146448-tonerider-hot-classics-cv-stock-pickup-comparison.html


and if you really think about it.. if they are made with the same parts, in the same factory, across the hall.... the only difference is that they are a different speced tonerider...... the only difference in specs I could see is the Readings,,, Maybe a few wraps more or less.....

That was my thinking exactly - they are too similar to really matter, even down to the same exact materials. And knowing that leaves little doubt about what I'm going to replace the CVC bridge with, also. Even if someone just wants to get rid of a CV50s stock bridge p/u because they upgraded, you know you're still getting a decent pickup.

Thanks for the link, that was highly informative.

CV50's 8.5k Nocasster 9.8-10k.

Your right not that much difference in ohms at least.

The CV50's has a good thick tone.

Whatever the make, model, manufacturer, and resistance measurements the CV50's pups are sweet, balanced, and thick like Mark said. I didn't A/B them to Toneriders, but I did A/B them to the stock pups form my 2006 Hwy One Tele and a set of Duncan Pro Alnico II's. The difference is unbelievable. The stock Hwy. Ones are a bit fuller than the Alnico II's but are much noisier. The Alnico II's and the stock Hwy One pups both have a bit of a harsh mid scoop that makes for good twangy highs, but doesn't even compare to the fullness and tonal balance of the CV50's pups. The Cv50's can do a very sweet twang, and the neck pup is awesomely mellow and much more EQ friendly than most. But the bass response and enhanced mids make for great tones at low volumes and a very sweet crunchy breakup when cranked that doesn't get harsh and metallic like the other pups I've compared.

Add me to the list of believers. These are awesome guitars with the best Tele pups I've owned. I am now also thinking about grabbing some on E-Bay to put in my Hwy. One.

Turns out I can only find the neck pups on ebay. I thought I saw a bridge too when I posted that earlier but upon closer inspection it was not a CV series pup. At any rate I am planning on grabbing some Fralins/Lollars sometime and these too when they pop up.

Turns out I can only find the neck pups on ebay.


Would make sense seeing as quite a few people like to turn them into Esquires.

They are nice pickups. I'm amazed how Fender/Squier pulled the Classic Vibe series off at the prices they're charging.

I started a thread today about gigging w/my new cvc. I really love the stock pickups and was going to possibly replace them. Well, at least for now there staying in there! In fact I'm not replacing the bridge saddles or anything. I'm not going to risk screwing anything up! Believe me, I've owned at least 7 guitars in the last 5 years and there is only one other guitar that has made the grade for me! Twang,ya it's in there!!:grin:

i really really liked the pickups in the CV thinline i tried today. i'm glad to read other people's positive opinion cause all evening i've been thinking "man you like the squier better than the top of the range MIM and the MIA standard? are you deaf or sometin?"

i really really liked the pickups in the CV thinline i tried today. i'm glad to read other people's positive opinion cause all evening i've been thinking "man you like the squier better than the top of the range MIM and the MIA standard? are you deaf or sometin?" I'm not suprised at all! I almost pulled the trigger on a Hyway1 before I bought the CVC. Believe it or not, I like the CVC better in everyway!! The store even let me take the Hyway1 home for a week to be sure. I ordered the CVC sight unseen, and am I glad I did.As I've said in a couple of other posts, my CVC is kind of dead sounding unplugged,but plug it into a decent amp and HOLY #@it. It is great sounding guitar, I love it just the way it is stock!