ToneriderTRH2 Generator Humbucker Set - Black

I was looking for pickups for Epiphone Explorer Pro TV Silver. It's not I didn't like stock pickups, but they sounded too weak for the music I wanted to play on this guitar. I tried several budget pickups, like Entwistle, Tesla or Artec, but couldn't get the sound I needed. I found out I would look for Alnico 5 based pickups, a little overwound, but not as extreme as Tesla Plasma-3 where power is achieved at the cost of sound clarity. I didn't like ceramic-based Entwistle pickups either, they just sounded too cold and a little soul-less. Surprisingly, the closest to what I was looking for were Epiphone Alnico Classic pickups, but they lack a little clarity and do not allow for coil-splitting. Thus, I decided to give these Tonerides a chance.I was surprised they came in elegant, small, transparent plastic boxes. Inside there was protective foam, mounting screws and springs, and a brief wiring diagram. The pickups are well manufactured, I think they can compete with much more expensive pickups in terms of make quality. Two things a little disapointed me - wire color code is not compatible with anything I used before, and the neck pickup is probably to be mounted reverse-side, i.e., screw side towards bridge and slug side towards neck. But on the other hand, it reminds of one of my most favourtite guitar player, Gary Moore, whose some guitars had neck pickup reverse-mounted, too.In terms of sound, there is nothing to complain about. The neck one is warm but not muddy, the bridge gives sharper sound, but not cold. The sound is close enough to what I expected to make me stop looking any further. The pickups are good for playing clean and with overdrive, either low or high. I'd rather suggest the Generator pickups for those who need classic and warm, but strong sound. They can be useful for playing classic rock, hard rock, classic metal. I am not sure if they are useful for blues, but who knows.These pickups are surely worth their price.

Having already purchased a pair of Tonerider Alnico 5's for my Epiphone Les Paul (to replace the water weak original pickups) I thought I'd give these a go to beef up my Tokai Explorer. Beef up is right! Thick and chunky with plenty of juicy sauce. The only reason I'm not 5 starring 'em is the strange layout of the neck pickup. The pole screws are on the bridge side not the neck and I wonder why Tonerider chose to do this. Very strange. Overall tho' great value for money. Just waiting for them to bring out a dogear P90 and I'll be super chuffed.

Great tone at all levels, loads of power when pushed without muddying the tone. Fitted to a les paul copy which has transformed it sound. Will be upgrading another guitar soon.

Thick sound, good mids, but i found it to have too much top end, can sound fizzy with too much gain, might be better with a 250k pot

The Bridge for now works well, sounds good, for my learning.

Unbeatable for the price. Great little UK company.

Great sound. My old cheap guitar now breathe's fire!