Tonerider Jazz pickups... how good are they really?

[wateroftyne]

Hello!

 

Pretty much what it says up there ^^^^

Thinking of getting some, but wondering if the difference would be huge if I scraped together the extra for Fralins, etc.. instead.

 

TIA!

[Lozz196]

Not sure about the Jazzes but the Precision ones are very much like the Fender Custom Shop 62s, maybe the Jazzes follow suit?

[Beedster]

Fralins etc are reassuringly expensive but despite being almost alarmingly the opposite, the Toneriders are very decent PUPs 

[songofthewind]

Toneriders in my Jazz here. Coupled with a John East J-Retro they are great to my old ears.

[Sean]

Bang for buck, I highly recommend Toltec pickups https://www.laverackguitars.com/toltec-pickups You can phone up and have a proper conversation with Lee Laverack about pickups and all things techy. He handwinds pretty much whatever you want. He's done a few for me. He's very reasonaly priced too considering the quality of the parts and workmanship. He also covers the pickups for life. He's based near Leeds and is a gem. I reckon £110 for a pair of J pups done to your exact spec/liking. 

 

I've got a set knocking about here if you'd like to try them out. Not for sale but happy to let you borrow to try.

 

 

Edited August 19, 2025 by Sean

[Supernaut]

I really like them but not sure they have the edge on Lollar and Fralin pups? CS62 pups are excellent too. 

[Hellzero]

I tried almost everything available on the market and as I already said it to you @wateroftyne, they are not good, they are excellent.

 

The only pickups that sound "better" are the (not that expensive compared to Lollar and the likes) Lundgren pickups: https://shop.lundgrenpickups.com/collections/bass

 

[Sean]

We're going to be doing some J pickup A/B testing at the SE Bash. If anyone wants to bring their Toneriders along that would be fab. Obviously, loaded in a bass 😄

[Beedster]

These seem a decent balance of price and quality 

 

[police squad]

I have atonerider in one of my bitsa P basses. Sounds incredible

[Allen]

So my favourite bass that would never part with is an old 1995 Mex Jazz. I have never altered it because it fits me so well, but am tempted to try different pickups. Would the Tonerider classic Jazz set be seen as an upgrade?

Edited 2 hours ago by Allen

[Geek99]

8 minutes ago, Allen said:

So my favourite bass that would never part with is an old 1995 Mex Jazz. I have never altered it because it fits me so well, but am tempted to try different pickups. Would the Tonerider classic Jazz set be seen as an upgrade?

Yes 

I had one of those and the pickups were terrible. Beware that they might be the same size as each other though, which was normal on early Mex but a pain for pup replacements 

Edited 1 hour ago by Geek99

[Allen]

4 minutes ago, Geek99 said:

Yes 

I had one of those and the pickups were terrible

Have you tried the Toneriders?