Classic Vibe using Tonerider pickups???

[Jimi Hendrix]

I keep reading this 'internet rumour' can anybody confirm if it's true?

I've read that the CV 50's Strats are using Surfaris, that CV 60's are using Classics Blues and i'm guessing that Simon Niels Biffy Clyro signature model's AL5/AL3 pickups are the Pure Vintage?

Anybody got any REAL info?

[Yogi]

from Harmony-central:
"Did a little digging-- Tonerider is indeed the OEM of the Classic Vibe pickups.

The Tele is their Hot Classic set, the 50's Strat is their Surfaris, and the 60's Strat is their Classic Blues. The parts numbers on the CV pickups correspond to Tonerider's part #s as found on their webpage.

I send an email to Tonerider, and Andrew stated for legal reasons (wink wink) he cannot confirm that his pickups are in the CVs. He did say that if I wanted to get the CV 50s Strat tone, I would be VERY VERY satisfied with the Surfaris.

In several other forums (strat-talk, TDPRI) members have metered their CV pickups & they match the readings on the Tonerider website.

Toneriders, like Squiers, are manufactured in China.

Whattya think?"

[TheRedStrat]

Not to mention the fact that the codes on the bottom of the pickups themselves match the numbers of each specific pickup set on the Tonerider website.

[anubis]

I'm not surprised if they are. the website says the output of the Surfari set reads 6.3k on the bridge. I knew the minute I plugged in my CV 50's Strat that the output was indeed higher than my CS 69 pups (and sound better too).

Looking at the way they make them, right off the bat they're better quality than the mystery-bucket-o-pups they pick from in most other MIC and MIM strats.

[KevinV]

Of all the banter I've read about the pups in the CV's, this makes the most sense of any explanation I've come across. All I know for sure is that the pickups in the CV's are high quality and sound fantastic.

[zag1]

Originally Posted by Yogi

from Harmony-central:
"Did a little digging-- Tonerider is indeed the OEM of the Classic Vibe pickups.

The Tele is their Hot Classic set, the 50's Strat is their Surfaris, and the 60's Strat is their Classic Blues. The parts numbers on the CV pickups correspond to Tonerider's part #s as found on their webpage.

I send an email to Tonerider, and Andrew stated for legal reasons (wink wink) he cannot confirm that his pickups are in the CVs. He did say that if I wanted to get the CV 50s Strat tone, I would be VERY VERY satisfied with the Surfaris.

In several other forums (strat-talk, TDPRI) members have metered their CV pickups & they match the readings on the Tonerider website.

Toneriders, like Squiers, are manufactured in China.

Whattya think?"

You're hired! You da man!

[Jimi Hendrix]

Yogi, as ever, you da man!

[Yogi]

I guess the markings on the bottom of the CVs now make since. It isn't a factory mislabeling.

Sufaris are
TRS5
Classic blues are
TRS3
and the Tele set is:
TRT2

CV50s-STA5
CV60s-STA3
CV50s Tele-TCA2

[Hugh]

lol, I wonder how many guys have bought CV's, and then "upgraded" them with Toneriders ?

[peskypesky]

Originally Posted by Hugh

lol, I wonder how many guys have bought CV's, and then "upgraded" them with Toneriders ?

i did, and my CV sounded so much better. nah, but i am putting Toneriders in my MIM to replace the stock ceramics.

[Malikon]

this makes sense, and is awesome. Nice detective work Yogi.

(and like I didn't already want the 50's tele and 60's strat,..sheesh.)

[blingdogg]

Yogi is da man!!

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by blingdogg

Yogi is da man!!

Hey thanks, but I'm just digging up what others have already found

[Epinez]

it's great to know that CV pickups are readily available for aftermarket purchase without having to wait for somebody to part them out.

[Jimi Hendrix]

Originally Posted by Yogi

I guess the markings on the bottom of the CVs now make since. It isn't a factory mislabeling.

Sufaris are
TRS5
Classic blues are
TRS3
and the Tele set is:
TRT2

CV50s-STA5
CV60s-STA3
CV50s Tele-TCA2

Good stuff Yogi, i'm gonna take a shot that the Simon Neil model is using the Pure Vintage set as it's advertised as having a mix of AL5 magnets (bass strings) and AL3 magnets (treble strings)

Pure Vintage are
TRS1 which should in theory make the Simon Neil CV60's models
STA-1 maybe? anyone confirm? i know Rockape has one.

[olaftheholy]

Originally Posted by KevinV

Of all the banter I've read about the pups in the CV's, this makes the most sense of any explanation I've come across. All I know for sure is that the pickups in the CV's are high quality and sound fantastic.

I'm a stratplayer for over 30 yrs.... and the singlecoils in my classic vibe 50's is about as stratty (and SRV) as you can get...
Not at all surptised that these are toneriders

it does not get any better!

awesome info guy's!!!!!!!!!!!!


I'[m changing out all strats with surfaris soon!!!!!!!!!

[JRSIV]

I've heard this floating around so it's nice to get pretty close to a conformation on it, thanks for posting this Yog'.

It's always the same with every CV Strat I play, 50's or '60's; the action can be too high (played a '50's at Sam Ash that was brutal...ALLEN WRENCH!), the trem can be floating, parked or blocked, there can be a full moon...whatever, those pickups are always gonna sound badass! End of story. Everyone I've ever talked with who has spent a few hours with a CV say the same...

[Grounded]

Originally Posted by anubis

I'm not surprised if they are. the website says the output of the Surfari set reads 6.3k on the bridge. I knew the minute I plugged in my CV 50's Strat that the output was indeed higher than my CS 69 pups (and sound better too).

Looking at the way they make them, right off the bat they're better quality than the mystery-bucket-o-pups they pick from in most other MIC and MIM strats.

Really? you like them better than your CS 69's? You might like the "Pure Vintage" might be more 60's like.

[Blackmore Fan]

What kind of price range are we looking at for these sets of pickups?

[peskypesky]

$100

http://pickersparts.auctivacommerce.c...et-P81930.aspx

[Boris Bubbanov]

Check TDPRI.

Mark Davis knows the manager where the CVs are made. Mark called him, and asked him point blank and the man said, absolutely NO.

So much for the quality of information from Harmony Central.

Sorry.

I remember talking to the Buyer at Stewart Mac about where the Golden Age pups where made. He wasn't allowed to tell me who did make them, but he told me 4 outfits who did not make the pickups. I understand folks can't tell you everything they know, but I doubt this guy lied in Mark's face.

Ya'll should contact the Head Men at Toneriders. I think they are Scottish by birth. Very nice guys, very cordial - I'd be happy to deal with IF. But that is not gonna change. :^)

[Hugh]

Who knows what evil lurks behind great walls

There's a guitar leaning on a Marshall stack
Used to sound like the sun on the horizon
Now I think we've been had
There's a young girl screaming all the way in the back
Poor kid, she never saw it coming
Now she knows she's been had.....

© 1993 Jeff Tweedy

[sonny wolf]

I own 3 CV Squiers.One 60s Strat,one 50s Strat and one 60s Tele custom.I am really impressed with the pickup tone of the Strats....no need to upgrade those.The Tele however sounded extremely thin.I swapped my Tex Mex pickups in my Roadworn Tele and that made a huge difference.Before that,it had no midrange sustain at all and barely cut through the mix.It was very pale compared to my other vintage style Teles.Now she sounds awesome with those pickups.I bought a set of Nocaster pickups for my Roadworn Tele and upgraded that one too.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by Boris Bubbanov

Check TDPRI.

Mark Davis knows the manager where the CVs are made. Mark called him, and asked him point blank and the man said, absolutely NO.

So much for the quality of information from Harmony Central.

Thats not the whole true story. The Manager said the pickups were made in house, Mark Contacted him again and also found out the Tonerider pickups are made in the same factory. So although the pickups aren't exactly tonerider the probably share some of the same materials and build process. Afterall back when Gibson and Epiphone were both made in Kalamazoo was there really that much of a difference in quality?

[Yogi]

"Several users said Toneriders made the pickups in the CV series.

So I wrote the manager of the CV plant and asked him he said no the CV pickups are wound in our factory.

Well apparently this wasnt good enough for a few people who insisted I ask if toneriders are also made in the same factory or what.

Turns out the CV factory makes both the CV pickups and Toneriders.

Here is what Eric the plant manager said.

Hi Mark,

Sounds interesting.

We made both Tonerider and C.V. pickups in our pickup dept., don't forget we are a OEM
factory! haha

Cheers,
Eric"

[Strat-Man-Do]

Pretti much confirms what Yogi origiannly stated.


I just had the CV-50 and then CV-60 Custom apart

Here's what the pickup #s are and I checked with a magnifying glass just so I didn't get it wrong due to eyes playing tricks on me.

Tele CV-60 Custom, TCA1B[fender] BK
TCA1N[fender] BK

Tele CV-50 TCA2B[fender] BK
TCA2N[fender] BK

I'm assuming the difference in #s is the Alnico III and Alnico V set. They sound Great and pretty much identicle to Toneriders. Fender used the CS 54s in their American Series 2004 50th Anniversary and the exact same thing was done. Regular colored/plastic was used in place of the CS Colth covering but the same pups.

Oh wll very happy with the Tele's and thir Tone and quality. I added a Wilkinson Bridge with Compensated saddles on both and Electro-Socket Out-Put Jacks from Stew mac on both. Though believe it or not the original Tele output assemblys were very snuggly installed. Doubt either would have ever created an issue.

[Diocletian]

Originally Posted by Yogi

Here is what Eric the plant manager said.

Hi Mark,

Sounds interesting.

We made both Tonerider and C.V. pickups in our pickup dept., don't forget we are a OEM
factory! haha

Cheers,
Eric"

I can't imagine the manager of a big manufacturing plant would write in that way. I don't know where this info is coming from, but I'd take it with a big pinch of salt.

Besides, what's the big deal - it's not like Tonerider are DiMarzio or Seymour Duncan. Surely this is just the equivalent of the "Duncan Designed" pickups that cheaper Jackson models use.

[wazupwiop]

makes sense I guess.

[Blackmore Fan]

What's the current thinking on this?

[rjhalsey]

Originally Posted by Blackmore Fan

What kind of price range are we looking at for these sets of pickups?

They are 99.00 shipped ConUS and they are available in a left hand stagger for the lefties.

[Blackmore Fan]

Originally Posted by Blackmore Fan

What's the current thinking on this?

Anyone? Ferris?

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by Diocletian

I can't imagine the manager of a big manufacturing plant would write in that way. I don't know where this info is coming from, but I'd take it with a big pinch of salt.

Besides, what's the big deal - it's not like Tonerider are DiMarzio or Seymour Duncan. Surely this is just the equivalent of the "Duncan Designed" pickups that cheaper Jackson models use.

I could imagine the Manager of a Chinese factory typing English that way, for all I know Eric could just be an Americanized name, and English could not be his first language. I think the big deal would be that they would be putting pickups that cost 100 bucks a set in a 350 Chinese guitar. SDs and Fender CS don't cost that much more than TRs.

[Grounded]

Originally Posted by Yogi

I could imagine the Manager of a Chinese factory typing English that way, for all I know Eric could just be an Americanized name, and English could not be his first language. I think the big deal would be that they would be putting pickups that cost 100 bucks a set in a 350 Chinese guitar. SDs and Fender CS don't cost that much more than TRs.

Yeah, nearly all of the many Chinese people I know or have met (100's) be they from the Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, anywhere, adopt English names.
And when English is not their native tongue, many misunderstandings can arise.

So Yogi, you must be some kind of law enforcement or intelligence agency guy, yeah I know, you can't talk about it.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by Grounded

Yeah, nearly all of the many Chinese people I know or have met (100's) be they from the Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, anywhere, adopt English names.
And when English is not their native tongue, many misunderstandings can arise.

So Yogi, you must be some kind of law enforcement or intelligence agency guy, yeah I know, you can't talk about it.

Naw, I'm just a student Majoring in English.

[Malikon]

but you are one hell of a CV detective!

Cheers Yogi, and thanks for all your efforts.

[AllroyPA]

Here's someone who's got some middles up for sale:
SQUIER Classic Vibe 60s Stratocaster ... 15:17:24 PDT)