Review of Tonerider Hot Classic Pickups

[endzone]

I recently got a set of Tonerider "Hot Classic" Tele pickups ordered from fellow TDP'er BB (Brad).

First, I'll give the obvious disclaimer that I have no relation to BB other than just knowing him from this forum. I'm not compensated by him by any sales of any products.

I installed these pickups in my Partscaster with an Acme 4 position switch and replaced GFS Fat Boys. I keep this guitar set up for more blues/rock sounds. I played them through a Vox AD15VT on the AC30 setting, no effects except a hint of reverb. I haven't played them in a gig setting yet, but will be doing so in the next couple of weeks. I was satisfied with the GFS pickups but really wanted something with a little more bite. I feel like the GFS's gave up some top end twang for the sake of a little more bottom end bark.

I was very pleased with the tones I pulled from the Toneriders. They are wound a little hotter than traditional Tele pickups and sound accordingly. The bridge only position gives you a good blend of twang and crunch but not as raunchy as a SD Broadcaster. Good lead tone for rock and blues, just like I expected. Absolutely no icepick sounds. A little bit of a creamy treble but with punch.

The neck pickup has a little more heavy tone to it. I don't mean muddy, just more ballsy. Actually, a very useable selection for some really good rythyms. Very clean and clear thick tone.

My favorites are the blended tones...the middle and the extra #4 position blending both pickups. I get a really complex tones. The middle gives what you would expect from a middle switch sound. More on the treble side with a good quack. The #4 gives me a real ballsy oomph. Almost getting in to Strat tones, but still maintaining a Tele character.

Like I said, these pickups give some really complex tones. They don't sound harsh or overwound but give very creamy and punchy tones with just enough twang to make it really interesting without giving up the Telecaster character sounds. Cranked these pickups delivered pretty much what I wanted in the way of rock/blues tones. Rolling back the volume to a clean sound, they rang like a bell. Very crystal clear.

The website (http://www.tonerider.com/tele.html) list describes these pickups with resistance of 7.9k on the neck and 9.1k bridge. Alnico III magnets. Good quality build and materials, fiber bobbins, cloth leads, brass plate on bottom of bridge pickup. List price is shown at $80 shipped, but maybe Brad will give you a deal. Overall, I give these pickups high marks on sound, quality and value. I've recently paid alot more for pickups that didn't satisfy me as much as these. I plan on using these for a while.

[Arlo]

Just bought a set today. I will review em soon.

[Sargeslide]

I've got them in my Melancon and my ASAT, love em!

Sargeslide

[fender_relic]

There is a guy over at Harmony Central that sells them. They seem to be getting excellent reviews.

[BluesBrother]

I'm really bumping a thread here, I know. But I've also just bought a pair for a telecaster project that I'll be putting together when I've got all the parts. At the moment, I'm missing body, neck, control plate and some minor stuff. Ain't got no more money at the moment, but if I can get my parts-strat sold I can probably get all the stuff I need.

Any1 else here got the Tonerider Hot Classics? Or some sound samples?

[scosystems]

Hi, I run a "hot classic" bridge in my Esquire - ace pickup, really underated.

[johnnylaw]

I use, and swear by, the regular vintage style Toneriders. They're really well made and offer nice complexity in tones. I imagine the hotter version to be just as gratifying with more girth and hair.

Worth a try for those who build or mod.

(No affiliation other than happy Tele playin' customer)

[Brendo]

I just whacked a set into my homebuild. They replaced some GFS ones that I had issued with the neck pup cover, and remodelled with a grinder. Anyway, these toneriders are streets ahead of the GFS ones. Thumbs up.