Still searching for the ‘holy grail’ of guitar tones? You’ve come to the right place!

You probably have few problems in finding your dream guitar – the first important things you’ll go for are looks and playability. But often there’s something not quite there in the sound department, making you wonder if you’ve found your dream guitar after all. There’s just that ‘something’ missing...and it’s usually the tone.  Here’s your answer!

It’s no great secret that stock factory-fitted pickups are far from perfect, with the same pickups often found in a R1000.00 guitar that are found in a R20 000.00 guitar. And let’s face it, a cheap pickup in a good piece of wood is not going to do your guitar justice! Well...Tonerider have set out to right that wrong for you, with their single aim – to make the world’s finest-sounding pickups, priced for the working musician. With Tonerider pickups you get all the classic sounds you know you want, without paying through the nose for them!

What to expect from Tonerider Pickups?

High build quality – Tonerider make all their own parts, including injection-formed bobbins, German silver base plates and covers, and milled spacers. You won’t find this attention to detail and tone in any other custom humbucker. Using vintage-correct iron pole slugs, maple spacer and nickel-silver covers, these pickups sound fantastic in all twin humbucker guitars and can be mixed seamlessly with both Gibson and Fender stock pickups. This means Tonerider humbuckers can be installed in Strats with SSH and HSH configurations, as well as Les Paul and SG-style guitars.  All Tonerider humbucker pickups come with four-conductor wiring to provide an extra array of wiring and switching options – unlike most manufacturers.

Balance – Single coil pickups feature a unique Modified Vintage Stagger. This accurately calculated height configuration significantly improves string-to-string balance, while still retaining a superb vintage look. From humbucker and single coil sets to P90s, all our sets are calibrated – meaning they produce an even output across all five-way switch positions, without ever having to adjust your output volume to compensate for a bridge pickup that is lower in output than the neck or middle pickup.

Classic proven design – Forbon bobbins, custom-spec Alnico magnets, scatter-winding, light wax potting and finished off with cloth braided hook-up wire from the same manufacturer that has supplied pickup makers since the 1950s – Tonerider have taken the best specs from the most proven pickup designs over the history of guitar-making.

Reliability – All Tonerider pickups are guaranteed to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of five years from the date of delivery.

Humbuckers

• All humbuckers are available in black or zebra, or with highly polished gold or silver covers.
• Screws, springs and wiring diagrams are included in the box.
• Four-conductor wiring as standard, to allow for coil-splitting.
• All parts are custom-made for the best tone possible – no standard parts are used.
• All coils are scatter-wound on our 999-step CNC winding machines.
• All coils wax-potted to avoid feedback at high gain settings.
• All sets are calibrated for a totally balanced-sounding instrument.

Stratocaster pickups

Our bestselling Stratocaster pickups have redefined the market in terms of quality, tone and affordability. Based on the best of the popular and sought-after sets from the ‘50s and ‘60s, but featuring more modern, accurate and consistent construction. Players and luthiers around the world are discovering that you don’t need to spend a small fortune to get that desirable single coil “chime”. In order to bring you the ultimate Strat pickups we’ve included the following features:

• High-grade “Smooth-Top” Alnico pole pieces – no sharp edges!
• Modified staggered pole pieces for more accurate string-to-string balance.
• Tonerider covers in a four colours – Black, Soft White, Mint and Vintage Cream.
• Calibrated winding for even volume balance across all five standard positions.
• Laser-cut, hand-bevelled flatwork.
• USA-made vintage hook-up wire for easy installation.
• Latex tubing and nickel-plated screws are included with every pickup.
• All coils are bound with fabric tape, removing the chance of damage.
• All coils are scatter-wound on our 999-step CNC winding machines.
• All coils are wax-potted to avoid feedback at high gain settings.
• All sets are RWRP (reverse wound, reverse polarity) – offering noiseless operation in positions 2 and 4 of a five-way toggle switch.

Telecaster pickups

There are two Telecaster sets that look as good as they sound! Tonerider Telecaster pickups use two of the best-sounding vintage winding patterns combined with their own reproduction parts to deliver amazing tonal clarity and response. Used by leading custom guitar makers, these pickups are now available from dealers worldwide.

All our Telecaster pickups are RWRP, so when using a Tonerider neck and bridge set you can be sure of hum-free operation in the middle position of your three-way switch.

• High-grade Alnico III and V Polepieces
• Our own custom Tonerider nickel-silver covers in gold and nickel plating – no more dull neck tone!
• Calibrated winding for even volume balance across all three standard positions.
• Laser-cut, hand-bevelled flatwork.
• USA-made vintage hook-up wire for easy installation.
• Latex tubing and nickel-plated screws are included with every pickup.
• Tradition string-wound bridge with copper-plated steel base plate.
• All coils are scatter-wound on our 999-step CNC winding machines.
• All coils are wax-potted to avoid feedback at high gain settings.
• All sets are RWRP (reverse wound, reverse polarity) – offering noiseless operation in the “mid” position.

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