Bridge: Tonerider "pure vintage" vs "hot classics"

[laban1]

Hi!
Newbie to the forum!
I heard a lot of good stuff about the Tonerider hot classics.
I'd like to change the stock PU in the bridge.

Will I lose the traditional tele twang and quacky kind of sound with the
Tonerider "hot classics"? Anyone any input on the Tonerider "vintage plus"?

[BB]

Hi Laban1.......welcome to the TDPRI!

The Hot Classic still retains spank and twang, it just has a bit more midrange beef than the Vintage plus set. IIRC, the Hot Classic bridge clocks in around 9K with A3 mags and the Vintage Plus around 6K with A5.

[laban1]

Thanks for your answer BB!
So, when would one prefer the Tonerider tele "vintage plus"?

[BB]

Originally Posted by laban1

Thanks for your answer BB!
So, when would one prefer the Tonerider tele "vintage plus"?

Well.....it's all personal preference and both sets will work well for whatever you need, but as far as a very general answer, if you're after traditional twang and spank, the Vintage Plus would fill the bill quite nicely. For blues, rock and country rock, the Hot Classics.. Again, more of a generalization. I've used both sets and could live equally well with either one.

[spankdplank]

I have a hot classic in my esquire and really like it. It does not sound overwound or like a humbucker at all, and does not sound any louder than other pickups I have with Alnico Vs that are about 7K. It sounds like a tele should, with plenty of top end but with bit fatter mids and no icepick. With the Alnico III magnets, to my ear it is a little spongier and less twangy on the low E and A than an Alnico V pickup, which is my only criticism.

[laban1]

But the top four top strings give good-enough country twang,
spankdplank (or other)?

[BB]

Originally Posted by laban1

But the top four top strings give good-enough country twang,
spankdplank (or other)?

A big YES to that! The beauty is, they are priced so well, you could try a set and if they don't work for ya, sell em and get a vintage set. spanldplank hit the nail on the head with his assessment. A3 mags are between the softer attack of A2 and harder ( for lack of a better term ) A5......in my experiance with A3 mags, they seem to produce a bit 'smokier' ( again, for lack of a better term ) tone. Again, it's all subjective and depends on what your ear likes to hear. Give em a shot though.....I think you'll like em!

[spankdplank]

Yes--lots of twang--enough for the Bakersfield sound. If you play a lot of Luther Perkins type low end open string runs I would go with the Vintage Plus, but otherwise, the Hot Classics are really good sounding pickups, regardless of price.

[laban1]

Thanks!

Good to hear. I sure will join the Tonerider Hot classics - club!

Anyone combined it with a P90 in neck or middle!
Thinking of Tonerider Rebel 90 (7,9 K alnico II).
The Hot classics bridge is 9,1 K Alnico III as BB said.

PS. The reason I talk about Tonerider is that we have a seller in Sweden
so it's easy for me, and they seem to get a lot of good reviews too.

[laban1]

Any thoughts? BB.. spankdplank..

Anyone combined it with a P90 in neck or middle?
Doesn't have to be Tonerider..
just general opinions