Tonerider vs GFS bridge pickups

Today, I received the bridge PU I ordered for my Nashville Walnut bodied Tele

I won't be able to play it until next week, but I thought I could tell you about the Tonerider PU.

I normally use GFS pickups, but I decided to try the Tonerider for that Tele.

First, here is a picture of a GFS pickup, the bottom one, and a Tonerider pickup, the one on the top.

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/694/medium/BridgePUs.jpg

GFS: REPRO 1960, overwound, , Alnioco 5 magnet. Can't remember where they are made.

Tonerider: HOT CLASSIC TRT2, Higher wind, Alnico III magnet. Crafted in China.

Btw, the GFS pickup is the one I use in my White Blonde, and I love the sound.

But if the sound of that Tonerider is as good as the way it looks, it should be a killer.

The black string is tightly wounded around the bobin, and they send a latex/ruber? tube for the height adjustment. I like the vintage look.

You can still see the bobin between the string turns of the GFS, and they send springs for the adjustment. There are a few other differences, but they only affect the look.

Both are made out of US, so their price is lower than Fenders.

I will compare the tone later next week...

Gilles

Thanks for the review. I'm actually considering putting Toneriders in my tele's I'm building.

What is the price comparison?

I bought a Hot Classics Tele neck pickup from Tonerider for my MIM 60s Classic. It is a really nice pickup - nice output, nice warm tone but not muddy - almost want to say it sounds like the gtr I'm playing is a hollowbody (very "woody" - whatever). Nicely built unit with nickel pickup cover.

I don't have it currently in my Tele as it's currently wearing a set of GFS Lil Puncher XLs (love 'em). The neck pickup of the GFS (Lil Puncher) actually sounds pretty much the same as the Tonerider - very, very similar tone/timbre.

I really like the Tonerider and wouldn't hesitate to buy more.

What is the price comparison?

Basically the same price - certainly in the same price range.

Had two toneerider Pups in my Tele I thought they sounded a little lifeless, no soul.

I just got done installing some TR Vintage Plus pups in my blackguard and I haven't been able to put the guitar down. I can't believe they only cost me $65 and sound so good.

The neck pickup was killer. Lots of twang and very punchy on individual notes. Very versatile too. I was able to go from playing blues to rock no problem.

I also used a TR Hot Classic bridge pickup in an Esquire and loved that pickup also. I've tried a few GFS pups and it was kind of hit or miss with them. I'm 2 for 2 with Tonerider right now and definetley plan on using them on a lot more of my builds.

But if the sound of that Tonerider is as good as the way it looks, it should be a killer. I will compare the tone later next week... Gilles

have you had a chance to testdrive it yet?

I just notived the question about the pickup sound, having been away from the computer longer than normally in that period.

Yes, I tried it, and I still have to make up my mind about the sound. I think I prefer the GFS because it is seems fatter.

But the Tonerider goes well with the Texas Special Strat pickups I installed on the same guitar for a Nashville Tele.

Once I'm finished painting the apartment, I will try to record both the GFS and the Tonerider with the same setup for a better test.

Gilles

I just notived the question about the pickup sound, having been away from the computer longer than normally in that period.

Yes, I tried it, and I still have to make up my mind about the sound. I think I prefer the GFS because it is seems fatter.

But the Tonerider goes well with the Texas Special Strat pickups I installed on the same guitar for a Nashville Tele.

Once I'm finished painting the apartment, I will try to record both the GFS and the Tonerider with the same setup for a better test.

Gilles

That's a long painting job.... It's 2010 now. How did the Tonerider vs GFS twang off go?

Many of the GFS pickups are made by Artec in Korea, including this Tele pickup. Artec make tons of pickups for many guitar manufacturers to their individual specs. They do the same for GFS.

Until just recently, Artec had been marketing a higher quality line of their commonly seen pickups as the "Giovanni" line. I've heard clips and reviews of their humbuckers and P-90's and they are quality in manufacture and tone way beyond their price point (perhaps this is why Artec stopped distributing them). Based on the performance of the humbucker and P-90 offerings, I bought one of their Tele bridge pickups for an upcoming project. There have been few reviews that I've been able to find on this particular pickup, but what I found was very good (the full set as well). For the price offered I took a chance and bought. Unfortunately, I havent been able to test it yet, but since there aren't many of them left (only paired sets), I've been passing the info on before they disappear.

Neck pickup:
Alnico V magnets
Staggered pole pieces
7.5k-ohm
Vintage style bobbins
Wound with #43 Formvar wire (not plain enamel)

Bridge pickup:
Alnico V magnets
Staggered pole pieces
9.0k-ohm
Vintage style bobbins
Wound with #42 Formvar wire (not plain enamel)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Artec-GIOVANNI-G...-/350354915355

Copy the spec sheet on the Ebay site to a word document, then you can increase the size so you can read it. Vintage specs on the materials and construction.

I just got done installing some TR Vintage Plus pups in my blackguard and I haven't been able to put the guitar down. I can't believe they only cost me $65 and sound so good.

The neck pickup was killer. Lots of twang and very punchy on individual notes. Very versatile too. I was able to go from playing blues to rock no problem.

I also used a TR Hot Classic bridge pickup in an Esquire and loved that pickup also. I've tried a few GFS pups and it was kind of hit or miss with them. I'm 2 for 2 with Tonerider right now and definetley plan on using them on a lot more of my builds.

+1 with toneriders hot classic.

much peace and love