Tonerider Pickups

[IkeKrull]

Anyone have any experience with the Tonerider pickups?

I happened to be drunkenly idling on trademe and somehow ended up clicking buy now on a tonerider 'generator' pickup.

This thing would seem to be pretty damn hot at 16K, and i plan to solder it into my schecter in place of the OEM duncan designed pickup this evening.

It was only $60 which seems kind of inexpensive, and the reviews i've read are all fairly glowing - any horror stories?

[IkeKrull]

Well, that was fun.. soldered the tonerider in, after puzzling over wire colours and coil tap wiring for a bit, and i'd have to say its bloody good for $60.

Can't say it's a whole new world of tone, but then i think the duncan-designed HB103 that was there before wasn't half bad.

Definitely a pleasing increase in note definition, and sustain from chords and harmonics, and a fair bit louder too. No complaints whatsoever.

[Vorbis]

Well, that was fun.. soldered the tonerider in, after puzzling over wire colours and coil tap wiring for a bit, and i'd have to say its bloody good for $60.

Can't say it's a whole new world of tone, but then i think the duncan-designed HB103 that was there before wasn't half bad.

Definitely a pleasing increase in note definition, and sustain from chords and harmonics, and a fair bit louder too. No complaints whatsoever.

Hey dude,

What sort of Schecter do you have?...Mine has 'Schecter' pups which I expected to be total shite...but they don't sound half bad...

[IkeKrull]

Its a C1+, its really pretty damn nice. Practically flawless finish, a subtle flame that isnt too over the top, weighty without being bulky, and just awesome to play.

This model has a 24.5" scale, which distinguishes it from most of the others in the C series, and had 'duncan designed' HB103 pickups in it, which are really nice, though i'm more than happy with the pickup swap I just did, after playing a bit more with it, the new pickup seems to accentuate the range of the coil tap - as a single coil, the tonerider pickup has much more 'twang' than the original pickup did, and complements the mellow neck pickup really well - i have no desire to swap the neck pickup, its exactly the sound i want.

Dont have any pics of the actual guitar handy, but this:

http://media.schecterguitars.com/imgs/h ... us_bch.jpg

is the one.

Its a way better guitar than I am a player, but i managed to get it for a damn good price, and its a definite keeper so i figure i'll grow into it. Can't speak highly enough of the schecter, and get compliments from everyone who plays her.

[Vorbis]

Nice, I like the coil tap option on them...sounds almost stratty.
Big bugger-off frets too.

[slash-ed]

Isn't that the same one as you got Vorbis?

[HB]

The toneriders are great pickups regardless of the price IMHO. I ordered a set of the "pure vintage" and was well impressed - not just with the tone, but the construction - these are well made. I even ordered a set of the "classic blues" to try another flavour but the guy had sold his last set to someone in his shop while I bought them on TM. 3 weeks later, I'm still waiting...(edit - been in touch today and I can happily say he's looking after me to fix the mix-up)

[GrantB]

Re: "glowing reviews...".....I'm now quite cynical about internet reviews (e.g. Harmony Central) etc as it seems only people that want to justify their spend write reviews...so they end up being positive on the most part. There are lots of shit pickups out there that you simply cannot find a bad review on - I suppose HC does try to add some perspective by asking "how long have you been playing guitar for etc etc" ,...so when the dude that's just picked up the electric guitar last month doesn't convert the masses to "HongWa Glory Fun Pickups" because that's all he's ever heard and blown cash on....

Unless it's from a reputed and impartial reviewer I tend to talk to people I trust (in person or internet) before buying something I can't hear and touch....

apologies for slight thread derailment....

[Some Bozo]

Re: "glowing reviews...".....I'm now quite cynical about internet reviews (e.g. Harmony Central) etc as it seems only people that want to justify their spend write reviews...so they end up being positive on the most part. There are lots of shit pickups out there that you simply cannot find a bad review on - I suppose HC does try to add some perspective by asking "how long have you been playing guitar for etc etc" ,...so when the dude that's just picked up the electric guitar last month doesn't convert the masses to "HongWa Glory Fun Pickups" because that's all he's ever heard and blown cash on....

Unless it's from a reputed and impartial reviewer I tend to talk to people I trust (in person or internet) before buying something I can't hear and touch....

apologies for slight thread derailment....

Harmony Central reviews are useful to read if you skip anyone who rates it either a 10 or 1. The averages would be more useful if they used a 'weighted' user rating system like the IMDB uses. IMDB won't reveal the algorithm they use but it looks like they just ignore the tens and zeroes to filter out morons trying to stack the results

[Azza]

So what's wrong with HongWa Glory Fun Pickups then?

[GrantB]

They're not as good as the vintage "HongWa Golden Happy Wang Pickups" which used real freshly congealed human rice puke to reduce microphonics ...the modern ones use comercially made "fake" rice puke...it ain't the same...

[IkeKrull]

OK, curiosity and GAS struck me again, so i put a Tonerider 'Rebel 90' humbucker sized P-90 into the neck position of my Schecter, replacing the 'Duncan designed' humbucker.

Damn, what a sound. Just sounds friggin excellent, and a massive shift in frequency response from the humbucker. I can't believe this isn't a more common configuration, the P90 just fills a gap that i didnt even know existed until i put one in my guitar.

I would make a tone clip, but my playing is the suck.

However, for $57, if you were ever P90-curious, this is the way to go!

[rocklander]

who's got them retail ?

[IkeKrull]

Not sure who retails them, i bought off trademe - from dbmmusic i think?

Not sure if thats a good thing or a bad thing from an nzguitars perspective - i know theres some traders that the 'don't touch with a bargepole' guideline is in effect for round here, but i can say i have had no problem at all with the prompt delivery of these pickups.

[slash-ed]

DBM is fine to deal with if it's something off TM, cos that means it's already in stock. Lotta people here have complained about ordering stuff from the website though.