Tonerider AC4 any good?

Calum13

I recently purchased an epiphone sheraton in wine red for £400. I’ve been thinking about replacing the pickups because this is my main guitar and I just don’t like the epiphone pro-buckers. I’m looking for some classic style PAF pickups but don’t want to spend too much. I’m thinking about the tonerider AC4 set for £70 off amazon. Anyone had any experience with these? Are they really an upgrade from the stock pickups. I mostly play stone roses, the smiths and oasis. How do they distort and how do they sound clean?

mark123

tonerider rocksong are what you need

Calum13

It’s also worth saying I need them with gold covers and would be getting a guitar tech to fit them. Can I just buy the pickups and buy covers separately and the tech will fit them?

skullfunkerry

I had a set of Tonerider Generators in an RG450 and they were fantastic pickups.

I don't think you can just buy the pickups and the covers separately, but most pickup makers offer a choice of finishes. Have a look at axetec.co.uk for Irongear pickups: I'd say they're about equivalent to Tonerider, and they do a range of pickups and finishes, I'm sure you'll find what you need there

Calum13

skullfunkerry said:

I had a set of Tonerider Generators in an RG450 and they were fantastic pickups.

I don't think you can just buy the pickups and the covers separately, but most pickup makers offer a choice of finishes. Have a look at axetec.co.uk for Irongear pickups: I'd say they're about equivalent to Tonerider, and they do a range of pickups and finishes, I'm sure you'll find what you need there

I’ll have a look. I’m not looking for anything too hot or and I’m looking for them  to be affordable. 

mark123

tonerider rocksongs come in gold /chrome /black/zebra

Adey

I put Rocksongs on an old Vantage rebuild I did a while ago. I liked them - not stupidly hot...

rossi

I put Rocksongs in a Dot and its was a huge upgrade .Even  as I tuned it up  you hear how good they were ..A2's are great too as are their Tele and strat pickups .

Funkfingers

Calum13 said:

tonerider AC4 set 

I had a covered Tonerider AC4 in the neck/Rhythm position of an Epiphone B.B. King Lucille model. IMO, it did the hollow Gibson jazz/blues thang pretty well - just never as nice as a Seymour Duncan SH-1n with an A4 magnet swap or, in all probability, their new Saturday Night Special model. 

mark123 said:

tonerider rocksong 

This is what I had in the bridge/Treble position. It could rock but was never as aggressive as, for example, a Duncan SH-4 JB or Tonerider's own Generator model would have been.

Calum13 said:

I’m looking for some classic style PAF pickups but don’t want to spend too much.

In that case, I respectfully suggest that you hold out until you can afford to spend a bit more. Browse this forum's Parts £ classified ads. There could be bargains there.

monquixote

I put an ac4 in a Fretking it was nice enough but much brighter than the Wilkinson in the neck so I had to change that as well.

IIRC Tonerider are the pickups fitted to Squier Classic Vibe guitars.

I'd get something better from the classifieds if it was me. If you are paying to have them fitted you might as well get something that's a big upgrade.

markj

Yes I put a set of these in my Sheraton, superb upgrade for the money. I replaced all the wiring harness as well. 

markj

Sorry they were the AC2 set. If you want a sweeter treble go with the AC2’s

SteveRobinson

 AC4s are great.

Calum13

Yeah, I think I’ll go with the AC4 set, how much does it usually cost to get them fitted?

Voxman

I have a 1989 Epi Sheraton II (from the Samick factory) and put in Seymour Duncan 59 sh1's with gold pup covers that were an optional extra from SD. Had the pups and covers professionally fitted. The sh1's are based on original PAFs and my Sherry now sounds about as close to a 335 as you can get without dropping two and a half grand.