Tonerider neck humbucker (Generator, Rocksong or ACII Classics)

[waltchwarzkopf]

Hi guys,

 

I have an old Strat copy, a Marshall Rocket Special to be precise. It has a HSS configuration, the single coils are nothing to die for, but the humbucker sounds great and its output is quite hot. However, I need more power on the neck, so I want to put a Tonerider Humbucker there. I have heard the Alnico II classics, Rocksong and Generator (all of this on YouTube) and I liked them all, so I don't know which one to pick. I'm gonna keep one single in the middle and split the neck humbucker as well for strumming and low output low gain situations. I like switching between neck and bridge pickups while soloing in order to bring out the highs or lows depending on where I'm fretting the notes; also, I like having a harmonically rich tone on the bridge and more sustain on the neck side. Since I switch between neck and bridge while soloing, I need the output of both humbuckers to be balanced; otherwise, one will overpower the other; for lower volume and lower gain I have the single and split neck.

 

I like the sound of the neck single for low output mid gain parts or riffs, so the split neck should handle that fine. Currently, I have the middle single coil as low as the pickguard for low output low gain playing or chords and it works ok. I play mostly rock and progressive rock; i.e. Deep Purple, Queen, Steve Morse, Guns n Roses, Van Halen, AC/DC, Metallica; I try to play Steve Vai or John Petrucci, and I also want to write some of my own material, but the pickup configuration and output needs remain as I explained on the first paragraph. Which pick would you recommend for the neck? Should I replace my stock humbucker as well in order to have two brand new (paired) pickups? Do I need to match magnets? (I mean, pick either Alnico II or Alnico V for both neck and bridge).

 

Cheers,

Walter

 

Here are the links of the products:

Alnico II classics http://tonerider.com/alnico-ii

Rocksong http://tonerider.com/rocksong

Generator http://tonerider.com/generator

 

P.S. If you live in Zürich and want to get together and jam, send me a PM.

[Ratae Corieltauvorum]

I've fitted the Rocksong set to numerous guitars, they're hard to beat at any price, and no you do not NEED to match magnets at all, A2 or A3 in a bridge position and an A5 in a neck position is one of the great combinations

[waltchwarzkopf]

Thanks! To which guitar did you fit it? A strat by any chance?

 

Have you tried any the ACII classics or the tonerider?

[Ratae Corieltauvorum]

SG types, but I did a batch of LTD 256, that a shop had bought and heard what the Rocksongs sound split.

 

But no, not in a Strat, but they would be the perfect pickup to give a Strat some meat to it's tone, although it won't really sound like a Strat anymore