Which Tonerider pickups?

[Andyfreddy]

I would like to upgrade my squire affinity pickups, but am not sure which type is best for the widest possible music styles… (mostly worship music and medium rock/pop/style music)

Vintage Plus?
Hit classic?
Alnico ll?

What

 

[Alamo]

I'd go for the Hot Classics. they have Alnico III rods, which sound best to my ears.

 

[funkysoul]

I have the hot Classics since 2009 and never look back.they are a bit overwound but i like them better than the Vintage Plus cause i didnt like the weak bridge pickup sound.the neck one was all right .but if you are the classic tele sound i would suggest the Pure Vintage

 

[dougstrum]

I have the trt-2 hot classic in the bridge position on two of my guitars.
They have been in there for years. Hot is a bit of a misnomer, they're just great sounding tele pickups.

 

[xland]

Another vote for Hot Classics. Great pickups.

 

[bettyseldest]

I've fitted the Hot Classics and Vintage Plus, pleased with both sets.

 

[Rokdogguy49]

The “Hot Classics” would be in the same vein as the Cavalier Lion “Holy Grail”.
Alnico III mags on 43 AWG wire overwound.
I have these in one of my Teles and it’s my fav.

 

[danlad]

Got some Hot Classics about 10 years ago so I wouldn't damage anything too expensive when I rejigged the neck ground for a 4 way switch. They sound pretty great to me.

 

[Mango_Dave]

Hot classics are great. I can get nice jazzy tones out of neck and can rock out with B&N, or bridge

 

[Samr]

I would like to upgrade my squire affinity pickups, but am not sure which type is best for the widest possible music styles… (mostly worship music and medium rock/pop/style music)

Vintage Plus?
Hit classic?
Alnico ll?

Wha

If you must upgrade the pickups in such a cheap guitar, pick the cheapest second hand pickups you can find with any alnico magnets. Honestly, upgrading pickups in a squire affinity is a waste of money. Buy used MIM Fender and it’ll be an upgraded everything. Sell the affinity at a garage sale.

 

[40flash]

Depends on what kind of music and sound you're looking for of course. I love these. Classic Blues. Would love it if i could play like this guy too!

 

[Dismalhead]

I've got some Hot Classics in a partscaster. Good pickups.

 

[Blackmore Fan]

I had a set of Tonerider's "City Limits"--they sounded good. But honestly, Fender's "Tex Mex" set covers the same territory, and costs a little less.

 

[Blackmore Fan]

I had a set of Tonerider's "City Limits"--they sounded good. But honestly, Fender's "Tex Mex" set covers the same territory, and costs a little less.

I feel obligated to throw this in: I believe the "Player" Strat stock pickups are very underrated. I bought my last Strat (a Player) without ever plugging it in--it was that pretty, and I fully anticipated upgrading the pickups to Eric Johnson signature pickups. When I got it home, I realized that I liked it just fine like it is. That was several months ago. I don't ever pick it up and find its tone lacking. A used set of Player pickups are very affordable.

 

[Caffiend]

The Player pickups are just fine. As all pickups, it's probably true that they aren't to everyone's tastes. Anderton's called them hotter and more modern sounding than the American pickups. Tbh, this character is probably what is divisive about them. Some people just want every Strat to be another 62 or 57.

 

[76standard]

I would like to upgrade my squire affinity pickups, but am not sure which type is best for the widest possible music styles… (mostly worship music and medium rock/pop/style music)

Vintage Plus?
Hit classic?
Alnico ll?

What

I put an AlNiCo II in the bridge for my Tele and it helps tame the brightness of your output. Good affordable options but limited sellers, so don’t expect much of a price difference.

 

[Apollwn]

Another vote for the Hot Classics. For me, they are without a doubt the best tele pickups you can get at this price point (something like 85 Euros including delivery on this side of the pond). But you could always mix it up and try an Alnico II in the bridge position, if you want a pickup with a lower output.

 

[archetype]

If you must upgrade the pickups in such a cheap guitar, pick the cheapest second hand pickups you can find with any alnico magnets. Honestly, upgrading pickups in a squire affinity is a waste of money. Buy used MIM Fender and it’ll be an upgraded everything. Sell the affinity at a garage sale.

Affinities just need a setup, like any guitar, to be good, high value guitars. I have a pile of Fenders and Squires, but my 2015 Affinity is the one sitting ready in my office for when the muse strikes. I can't describe how, exactly, but it's really 'fun' to play.

 

[archetype]

I would like to upgrade my squire affinity pickups, but am not sure which type is best for the widest possible music styles… (mostly worship music and medium rock/pop/style music)

Vintage Plus?
Hit classic?
Alnico ll?

What

What does "upgrade" mean to you? Affinity pickups are typically pretty good once you dial in the heights.

 

[Si G X]

What does "upgrade" mean to you? Affinity pickups are typically pretty good once you dial in the heights.

This is a good point, unless you know what you don't like about the pickups you have and what exactly you are looking for in the ones you replace them with.... then it's always tricky, just buying more expensive pickups because you think they'll sound 'better' isn't going to work often.