Voici un post repiqué du forum US TDPRI dédié aux Telecasters:
Tonerider Hot Classics and CV Stock Pickup Comparison
TDPRIers,
Well, I have finally sat down and cropped the pics and decided to put my thoughts down. A little background first. Like many of us, I bought the CV, and have been nothing but happy with it, but I couldn't just let well enough be. I decided that I wanted to try some new pups. I narrowed it down to the Keystones and the Toneriders, sticking with the budget idea that the CV is based on. My first preference was the Keystones after reading Arlo's in depth review, but after three attempts to contact the Lawrences failed, I settled on the Toneriders.
I purchased a set of the Tonerider Hot Classics from eBay member krazybytes, who I believe also posts on here under a different name. If you are looking for a set of Toneriders, I highly recommend him, as he shipped them out lightning fast, and as expected, the prices on these things are untouchable.
So I get the pups in three business days after purchase, and open them up. Now I have never opened up my CV to check out what is in there. I give the Toneriders a good one over. They look pretty well made. No shoddy craftsmanship. Waxed cotton pushback wires. Perfect. Not bad for $80 out the door.
I measure the resistance and crack open the CV to pull those out. This is where my initial disappointment sets in. I get the CV stock pups out, and they look the exact same as what I just bought. Not close, but spot on. Same materials. Same stickers. Same model numbering scheme. Same "Quality Control" markings.
So I start thinking, $80 for cotton wires? I am in the wrong business. So next I measure the resistance on the CVs. At this point I am hoping for some deviation from the numbers that I already have for the Toneriders. At least that will temporarily alleviate my disappointment that I am experiencing at this point.
Here are the numbers.
Squier Classic Vibe
Neck: 7.15 k
Bridge: 8.90 k
Tonerider Hot Classics
Neck: 7.14 k
Bridge: 9.05 k
Well, now even more unhappy. Way to close to help me feel like I purchased something new. In fact, so unhappy that I almost put them back in the box, and sent them back to krazybytes, but I figure what the hell, I have come this far, I might as well try them.
So I install these "new" pups, and wire them up to Deaf Eddie's 5-way tele diagram using the Fender Super Switch.
Plug into the Mini-Z on my slightly hairy setting and here we go. Here are my impressions, and remember I am digging for anything to make me feel good about my purchase, and my time. I am going to try and give you as unbiased of a review as I can.
Bridge pup
Sightly hotter as we should expect from the numbers. My slight hair setting has just a little more to it. Not bad. A little less top end, or I should say a little smoother. Not as biting, but still nice. I mean very little, yet still definitely retaining that Tele sound we love. With a little harder drive I can feel a little more clarity on these over the stock pups. String to string separation is a little better. I like it, but I also liked the stock pups. Improvement? Yes, but not much.
Neck pup
Initially I am thinking no change. So I run through my favorite sounds that I am very familiar with. Clean, there is almost no difference. I really start to notice a difference as I add a little more drive. Through the Red Llama clone I can definitely tell less mud highs over the stock pups. This was one of the things that I did not like about the stock pups was the muffled highs on the neck when driven, typical of many Tele neck pups. The Hot Classics alleviated this problem for me. Through my modded TS clone, through my Guv'nor clone. Same thing. The highs are clearer. I hate to use the metaphor, but the blanket was taken off the amp with these.
Conclusion
Do I like these? Yes. Remember though, I also liked the stock pups. Are they worth $80? Yes. Without a question. I just don't think it is worth it to replace your stock CV pups with these. There is not enough of a difference to justify the money or the time. I would recommend something else for the CV, or just keep it stock,
If I was looking for another set of pups for a build or to replace on another guitar, I would definitely recommend these. They are nice pups, especially for the price. I do think the name Hot Classics might be a little bit of a misnomer. At first thought I am expecting an overwound, hot pickup, and that these are not. Think more traditional tele, with just a little kick in the pants. The bridge is great for me, as I don't play clean to much, and prefer a slight overdriven sound with a little hair, to a nice crunch, and these give me a nice sound in spades on these settings. The neck gives me a little clearer sound driven, and that makes me at least comfortable for now.
As far as these two sets being the same. I would have to say no. They obviously come off of the same manufacturing line, and are built using the same materials and construction methods as far as I can tell. With that being said, they are a little different in the sound department, and that is what matters. Not night and day, but still different. Could this be normal variation between two sets that are the same? I don't know, but I don't think so. I am not an expert on pups, and definitely don't pretend to be.
On a side note, I highly recommend wiring these with a 4-way or 5-way switch. The series sound is awesome. I like for that little extra kick on certain music.
So for now these have found a home in my CV, but I will be on the lookout for a used set of Keystones. I figure I have a better chance of getting them there than ordering them. Until then, I am happy with what I have. I did learn one thing. You can add this to the list of what we all love about our CV's so this should come as not surprise, but the stock pups are quality, and I mean good quality. I still do not see how they are selling these things for $300, especially in light of Fender's recent price increase. American Series what? I am sticking with the CV, and am now thinking 60's Strat.
If you have any questions or comments for me, please feel free to leave them here, or PM me if you don't want to speak publicly.
Enjoy the pics, and make your own determination. (Sorry for the blurriness on some. It was the best I could do.)
Thanks,
Jason
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Pour faire bref, le gars a comparé des Toneriders Hot Classics aux micros de la CV50 Tele. Mêmes matériaux, mêmes auto-collants, mêmes inscriptions et contrôle de qualité. Il y avait aussi à l'origine des photos qui accompagnaient le texte mais depuis, il les a enlevées.
Un forumeur moins paresseux que moi vous la traduira en entier.
Tout est dans les doigts.