GFS vs Tonerider

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IMadeYouReadThis

IMadeYouReadThis

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So, I mentioned in my last thread (Nashville Wiring) that I already had all the pickups picked out for that build. Now I'm second guessing myself. My initial plan was to get a Tonerider Vintage Plus bridge pickup, and I think I might stick to it, but does GFS have something comparable? The Vintage Plus are 6.5k, Alnico 5, and medium scatterwound.

I saw GFS had a 1950s Repro Alnico "Boutique" bridge, and that seemed about right with Alnico 5, 7.2k. There's another one, 52 vintage professional with Alnico 5 and 6.3k. Here are the links to the similar looking models:

https://www.guitarfetish.com/KP--Re...ue-Bridge-Pickup--Kwikplug-Ready_p_21962.html

https://www.guitarfetish.com/52-Tele-Vintage-Wound-Professional-Series-Bridge-Pickup-63K_p_2092.html

https://www.guitarfetish.com/52-Tel...fessional-Series-Bridge-Pickup-7K_p_2086.html

https://www.guitarfetish.com/63-Tel...ssional-Series-Bridge-Pickup-63K-_p_2088.html

https://www.guitarfetish.com/63-Tele-Hotter-Wound-Professional-Series-Bridge-Pickup-7K_p_2089.html


Here's the Tonerider:

(link removed)


I am running the guitar into a Boss SD-1 and a Vox AC30CH. I play everything from 50s surf to 80s hard rock.
 
bgmacaw

bgmacaw

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I have the GFS Repro 50's in my SX Tele copy. It's good. I used it for several years with Esquire wiring and it worked really well. Recently, I added a P90 to the neck and it blends well with it.

If you want to be confused further, check out Guitar Madness on eBay. I've been ordering stuff from them more often than I have from GFS over the past year or so.

I haven't used the Toneriders but I've heard good things about them online. I don't think you would go wrong with any of them.
 
BB

BB

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Just my opinion based on my experience and what my ears like to hear....I'd opt for Tonerider. Out of all the GFS tele pups I've tried, the only one I could live with was the older model 63 (or 62, can't remember!) hotter one wound to 9.6K or so. It had it's own thing going on an I kinda liked it.

That said, the Tonrider Vintage Plus is (to my ears) just a great sounding/feeling tele pickup. I know others here love the GFS tele pickups, so I'm probably in the minority.
 
awasson

awasson

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I tend to play a lot of rock. New stuff I’m writing as well as 80’s and classic rock. I also like to knock back the gain and play some clean jazz and blues. I put a few different bridge pickups in my Telecaster looking for a pickup that gave me this kind of flexibility and landed on the Tonerider Vintage Plus. I’m using the Fender TBX tone stack on it and I think that contributes to the flexibility. Often times I’ve just got it in the centre detented position which puts the TBX in no-load so it’s just the pickup and volume control. It had a nice growl and girth to it. I say if you have a Tonerider Vintage Plus, you can’t go wrong using it.

I don’t recall the resistance of mine and it’s out on loan, otherwise I would check it for you.

EDIT: I play my mostly into a Tiny Terror Clone I built which I think has a VOX vibe to it. I’ll play it through a TS9 or a Timmy mostly for additional dirt.
 
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IMadeYouReadThis

IMadeYouReadThis

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I just went through a few reviews and demos, and of the GFS offerings, the 52 (slightly hotter, 7k) appeals to me the most. So now it's just a comparison of Tonerider TRT-1 VP or GFS hot wound '52.
 
11 Gauge

11 Gauge

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I've gotten the Tonerider Hot Classic Tele bridge pickup, the Vintage Plus Tele neck pickup, and the BYO Guitar "Twister" set, which is basically the Tonerider Hot Classic Tele set, at a lower price.

I've really been impressed with the Tonerider Tele pickups. I've currently got the Twister bridge and Tonerider Vintage Plus neck in my 50's Tele, and I have no intentions of replacing them.
 
FenderGuy53

FenderGuy53

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I LOVE the Tonerider Vintage Plus and Hot Classics pickup sets. Both sets are very nicely matched, neck-to-bridge, very articulate, string-to-string, and very well made. In my honest ( and humble) opinion, these Tonerider sets are the best bang-for-buck, mass produced pickup sets available today.

The Vintage Plus set is clear and bright, while the Hot Classics set is warm and smooth. Both sets have excellent string-to-string articulation.

I currently have a Hot Classics set on my workbench, ready to go into my new Standard Tele BSB!
 
IMadeYouReadThis

IMadeYouReadThis

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FenderGuy53 said:
I LOVE the Tonerider Vintage Plus and Hot Classics pickup sets. Both sets are very nicely matched, neck-to-bridge, very articulate, string-to-string, and very well made. In my honest ( and humble) opinion, these Tonerider sets are the best bang-for-buck, mass produced pickup sets available today.

The Vintage Plus set is clear and bright, while the Hot Classics set is warm and smooth. Both sets have excellent string-to-string articulation.

I currently have a Hot Classics set on my workbench, ready to go into my new Standard Tele BSB!
Click to expand...
When you say clear and bright, how do you mean? Are they bright in a twangy kind of way, or bright like a harsh strat bridge pickup? I mainly wanted to get a more usable bridge setting than a strat (I'm also too poor to get a nice tele and a strat, so why not combine them?). I want the bridge to have lots of twang, but also a fuller, more usable sound (relative to a strat bridge).
 
IMadeYouReadThis

IMadeYouReadThis

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So I guess while I've got a thread going, here's my configuration:
  • Probably Tonerider TRT-1 Bridge
  • GFS Professional Series '63 RW/RP Middle
  • Either GFS Boston Blues Neck or ProTube Middle in Neck
So I think I know what I'm doing with the bridge, but does anyone have experience with the Boston Blues or "Lipstick" Protube?

I'm thinking Boston Blues, as I'm skeptical the Protube is an Alnico bar wrapped in copper wire. I think it's a strat pickup in a tube. A real lipstick is an Alnico 6 bar wrapped in about 4.7k of 43 awg copper wire, stuffed into a lipstick casing. If the GFS in indeed a lipstick, then it still has an Alnico II magnet. How much difference does that make?

EDIT: I guess there is also the Premium Alnico II set. How is the neck pickup?
 
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T

Tonetele

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I have used Toneriders of all kinds since 2008 and one of my Telecasters has the Vintage Plus set.

I have never been disappointed with Tonerider pickups, single coil or humbuckers.

I have used GFS pickups also and even given a set away to a member here.

Read into that as you may.

Toneriders- they also come with a 5 year warranty on manufacturing defects.

Only just put one, a Hot Classic, in another Telecaster three days ago, replacing an excellent Kent Armstrong ( Alnico V) as the Hot Classics are Alnico 111, a warmer sound and higher output.

Toneriders.
 
Guitarteach

Guitarteach

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Last night I was out playing using a pair of Tonerider Alnico Classic PAFs in a Les Paul. Sounded ace. Marshall was cranked and they were very detailed, clear and responsive. The original Gibson pickups were dull and bottom heavy.

Really? Why pay more? I expect a mountain of other brands come off the very same production line / factory anyway.
 
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