Tonerider AC4 Alnico IV Classic Humbucker Set - Nickel

I've been playing bass and guitar for around 40 years now. I've tried a lot of pickups. I was looking for a set of pickups for my Les Paul Tribute and stumbled on to these. I read some glowing reviews and decided to give them a try. I am truly smitten with the tone of these pickups (AC4). The just sing. Especially in the upper register. Both neck and bridge pickups are crisp, well defined and balanced. The neck has the bottom without the muddy sound. You can pay twice as much for a great set of humbuckers if you want to, but Tonerider will be my first choice from now on. These are just great pickups!

If I would’ve given these 4 stars, I really think I would be under-rating these pickups. I have these in an all mahogany LP style PRS & they sound great. I put the Tonerider AC2’s in and PRS semi hollow & they sound great too. FWIW, I liked the AC4’s easily as good than the DImarzio 36’s in this specific guitar (AC4’s are staying in it too!), and I liked the AC2’s quite a bit better than the Duncan WLH in the semi hollow. They split well too.I know tone is in the ear of the beholder, but the AC4’s are very close with the Dimarzio’s, just maybe not as much mid-range, and they’re very dynamic. They AC2’s are much less compressed than the Duncan WLH, not quite as hot, and to me, give a much more authentic PAF vibe. I would imagine the AC2’s would be more comparable to the Seth Lover set with nice, rich mids, with the AC4’s being a touch warmer & with a more balanced eq. It could be that these pickups are just really well matched to the guitars, but they really surprised me and sound awesome. Great clean & dirty, good clarity, dynamic & open sounding. These are very nice pickups at ANY PRICE, and a steal for what they cost.

These look and sound fantastic. Nice upgrade from the cheap stock pickups that came with this guitar. Classic Les Paul sound for much les money.

Was surprised by the quality for the price. Great set of humbuckers

Excellent pickups at very low cost. I own the A4 and A2 set, both have very different characters. Ultimately the A2s ended up in my PRS Custom 24 and they sound amazing. They A4 set ended up in my Les Paul Flame top and sound awesome as well. I had the A2s in the LP at first, and they didn't quite cut it...switched to the PRS and they are right at home. I'm equally impressed with the A4s as well. Take some time and dial them in correctly...you'll be glad you did. I have 40 years experience playing guitar semi professionally and I have no problem recommending Tone Rider pickups.

I had these Tonerider humbuckers put in my 2005 Les Paul epihone and the sound is amazing.

Replaced some stock Roswell p’ups in a HB Suhr knock-off that I bought from Thomann. I tried a Duncan JB that I had laying around, but the output was a little too hot. I was looking for a more vintage lower output vibe and the specs on these fit the bill. I was not expecting this quality for the money. These pups sound great! Right up there with the Burstbuckers in my Gibby LP. Great job, blokes! And it only took a week from the UK to US. Highly recommend these!

Clean sounds are too twangy, they dont hold gain well at all. Will be replacing them with something better.