Best budget UK pups?

Hi all

I'm currently collecting parts for upgrading a Richwood thinline copy and I need some cheap vintage style Tele pups for the rebuild. I don't want ceramic magnets really so I'm looking at these alnico options so far:
Iron gear steel foundry set (about £47.00)
Axesrus True vintage set (£44.00)
Tonerider hot classics set (about £60.00)

Was also thinking about an Ironstone set at around £30.00 but not sure if they are too cheap! Any experience with these would be helpful as they do look like a bargain...

Anyone got anything cheap to add to the list or would any of you plump for one set over the other? The only ones I have experience of are the Irongears, which are great for the money. I can't go anywhere near the price of Fenders or Seymour Duncans and Fralins/Bardens are just out of my league right now! Any views appreciated,
thanks
marsh

Worth trying Axesrus maybe - I have some P90 style pickups from them that I like a lot. I wasn't too keen on their lipstick style Strat pickups, although they are definitely better than the stock ones that came with that cheap guitar.

Another option would be to replace one pickup at a time. You get get a nice bridge pickup for 40-50 quid or so, then save up and get the neck pickup later on. It's the slow way to do it but might be worth it in the long run. You'd avoid the risk of buying cheap and end up getting better ones anyway.

Check out these guys:
http://www.oilcitypickups.co.uk/index.html

I bought one of their Dieslel Tap pickups for my partscaster Esquire and love it.

They are really nice guys to deal with and very helpful.

I think my next build will definitely be featuring Oil City pickups.

thanks for the reply. I've used axesrus a lot and they're great but never tried their pups. good idea though about doing one at a time and spending more - kind of want to do it all in one go, but I might go your route. let's see if anyone else has anything to say...

I've used the Toneriders. They don't sound "budget" to me at all.

I've used the Toneriders. They don't sound "budget" to me at all.

The Toneriders would be my choice from the list.

I only replaced mine as someone bought me a set of Keystones as a present. I sold my Toneriders for more than I paid for them but wish I'd have kept 'em and they sounded much, much better than the Keystones, which many people on this forum love.

Shop around. I'll bet you can get a good deal on a set.

:smile: Peter

Not the UK, but Germany: leosounds. 99 euros for a set of hand made pickups.

Irongear

/thread.

thanks for letting me know about oil city pickups - I'll be using them soon! They look great and they're made a few miles from my house.

seems like toneriders are well liked here and they are a good price. But now you guys are getting me thinking about small scale custom pickup builders! Leosounds looks great too as do Oil city. Lots of food for thought here. I still think I'll go budget on the thinline mod but I'm working up to my first complete bulid from parts - and these hand built pickups for under £100 look like they will be perfect.

check out Warman guitars UK... http://www.warmanguitars.co.uk/single-coil-pickups.html

I'm using a set of his p90's in my #2 axe.... and have used others PU's in builds... cheap enough considering the variety of prices about......;)

he has some strat and tele pu's singles HBs.. I think he asks for offers on PU prices... set your own price.. not bad ...;)... he is on the bayE with some items as well,,,


Josi Warman is a cool guy and get's your orders in the post same day usually.. happy to recommend...

thanks for letting me know about oil city pickups - I'll be using them soon! They look great and they're made a few miles from my house.

If you live local, it's even better news - Email Ash from their site and he'll probably let you go over and try the pickups out as well as answering any technical probs you might have.

The configuration I went for on my Esquire build involved a push/pull volume knob and I was a bit wary of doing it so he fitted the pickup for me for a few quid extra.

Tell him Jeff sent you (esquire with push/pull).

BTW I have no connection with these guys other than being a satisfied customer.

thanks for letting me know about oil city pickups - I'll be using them soon! They look great and they're made a few miles from my house.

If he's local I would definitely go with him! Try stuff out, no hassle in case of problems, he might even let you swap pickups if you're not happy.

Nothing to beat local customer service is there? Those guys at Oil city sound great I'll defintely check them out. I'll give you a name check too Jeff!

I have Irongear and Warman pickups in a couple of my guitars and they're great. The Irongear pups are better finished than the Warman ones but the Warmans are very cheap.

If we're talking UK pickup builders then Wizard are definitely worth a look - handmade in Wales, and apparently Andy at Wizard designed much of Bareknuckle's original range (didn't hear that from him directly - thats just the word on the internet!).

I have a set of Wizard P/J pickups in one of my basses and can vouch for both the quality, service and value. Andy is always prompt at replying to emails, tweaked the pickups to suit the tone I was after and had them built and delivered in a matter of days. Haven't used his guitar pups yet, but if they're half as good as his bass ones they're a steal.

Another good guy is Alan at http://www.catswhiskerpickups.co.uk/index.html
Done me some great pickups, well priced and you can talk to the guy, he will make what you want.:cool:

Well thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I've emailed Ash at oil city pickups and hopefully will be popping round to pick up a pickup next week! At £40 for a handmade pickup I can't resist. I'll put a post somewhere on the forum when I'm done.
thanks
Marsh

Well thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I've emailed Ash at oil city pickups and hopefully will be popping round to pick up a pickup next week! At £40 for a handmade pickup I can't resist. I'll put a post somewhere on the forum when I'm done.
thanks
Marsh

Are you going for the Diesel Tap? That looks really interesting. I love the idea of having the tradtional would "country" sound and the ability to switch to a 9k angry rock sound.

http://www.oilcitypickups.co.uk/tele.html

Anyone tried one of this? Good value at £45. :razz:

:smile: Peter

Toneriders are very good. I have Vintage Plus in my thinline.

Are you going for the Diesel Tap? That looks really interesting. I love the idea of having the tradtional would "country" sound and the ability to switch to a 9k angry rock sound.

http://www.oilcitypickups.co.uk/tele.html

Anyone tried one of this? Good value at £45. :razz:

:smile: Peter

Err... Yes, as I said in my post of the 31st July.

Very happy with it.

Err... Yes, as I said in my post of the 31st July.

Very happy with it.

You did indeed.

Slap on the wrist humbly accepted.

:oops: Peter

Check out these guys:
http://www.oilcitypickups.co.uk/index.html

I bought one of their Dieslel Tap pickups for my partscaster Esquire and love it.

They are really nice guys to deal with and very helpful.

I think my next build will definitely be featuring Oil City pickups.


Would this work with a volume and tone pot plus a 2-way switch?

:smile: Peter

Mine is wired as a standard Esquire with a 3 way switch and the coil tap is on the volume which is a push/pull switch. I'm sure it would work on a 2-way switch if you prefer. Best bet is to Email Ash via the site - he would be able to tell you for sure.

I haven't decided yet on which oil city pickup to get. Ash says he's waiting on magnet rods as he only builds about six at a time. I've been thinking about a diesel tap but was originally gonna go with the more standard Thames delta.
Decisions, decisions! I'll let you know what I go with soon...