Bootstrap and Tonerider

[Supernautilus]

I've heard these names for a while now, but never tried them. I understand they are popular in the mid-level pickup range. Better than the real cheap stuff but cheaper than the premium stuff.

I want to try a neck P90 to pair with a Jerry Donahue and I'm looking at these two brands as options. Currently I'm thinking either the Bootstrap Screwdriver A2 or the Tonerider Vintage 90.

Anyone here familiar with these brands have any thoughts on these options for my application? Or any other recommendations? Thanks guys.

 

[playas]

No, but also curious as both have appeared on the radar (mine anyway) recently.
For me though what will most likely rule one out is that bootstrap are US made.
Duties and shipping would be excesive from the UK also but tonerider have organised themselves to limit costs being passed on to the consumer.

 

[Chistopher]

I have a Bootstrap Pretzel set for Tele that I am fairly impressed with. $40 for a set and they perform just as well as any other boutique USA set.

I want to get a Strat set too, but I don't think I'll have any Strats inbound for the foreseeable future.

 

[AdrianSD]

No, but also curious as both have appeared on the radar (mine anyway) recently.
For me though what will most likely rule one out is that bootstrap are US made.
Duties and shipping would be excesive from the UK also but tonerider have organised themselves to limit costs being passed on to the consumer.

It appears the Toneriders are manufactured in China using materials from various sources according to https://tonerider.com/pages/about-us, so the import duties may vary depending where they're shipped from.

 

[playas]

It appears the Toneriders are manufactured in China using materials from various sources according to https://tonerider.com/pages/about-us, so the import duties may vary depending where they're shipped from.

Yeah, they're not made in the UK but I get the impression they may be shipped from there. Might not be the case though.

 

[thrill74]

I've been using Tonerider for a long time. Their pickups definitely take their cue from the Duncan DNA. They sound great! I wanted to change the magnet in a Rocksong neck model (typical Duncan mod) and the Rocksong did not like being taken apart and died. With Duncans I never worried about it and they take a lot of abuse lol! I still buy Toneriders since they sound great and they don't seem to cut any corners except maybe their shielded wiring. Their customer support is super quick and they will even make you a custom wiring diagram PDF for something specific!

 

[Bill Dennis]

I've heard these names for a while now, but never tried them. I understand they are popular in the mid-level pickup range. Better than the real cheap stuff but cheaper than the premium stuff.

I want to try a neck P90 to pair with a Jerry Donahue and I'm looking at these two brands as options. Currently I'm thinking either the Bootstrap Screwdriver A2 or the Tonerider Vintage 90.

Anyone here familiar with these brands have any thoughts on these options for my application? Or any other recommendations? Thanks guys.

No experience with Tonerider so I cannot speak to those.

As for Bootstrap, I see them as SD in the early days. The products are well built, sound great. I have 2 sets of strat pickups, Pro 54 in a Cassic Vibe 50's Strat and Sun City Selects in my Highway 1 Strat. Both fantastic. I also selected a custom set of tele pickups, a Pretzel neck, Palo Duro Bridge that is off the charts. I wanted a low output, vintage set but with a little bit hotter neck and this gave me exactly what I needed.

 

[gimmieinfo]

Not a big fan of tonerider. Everything i have tried has been very average at best. Last thing i tried were the A5 PAF set called birminghams. My stock epiphone 2023 standard 50s stock pups sound considerably better. As to bootstrap, i have only used their tele and strat stuff and found them quite good. On par with fenders vintage stuff
and the like. Put it this way....if you buy a set that happens to be the right recipe for your guitar and your ear you'll be happy. No sub pat tone. But again, never trhied thier HB's. May have to try some tho, as i still would like to find a better set for my epi 50s.

 

[Gstring]

Among by circle of Musos here in the UK, Tonerider Rocksongs were quite popular in semi hollow bodes and thier A4 was popular in Lester types. In the last 5 years or so however, Iron Gear have become very popular.. Interestingly it seems their Blues engine pups are pretty identical with the Tonerider A4s . They also do a copy of SD Slash pick ups (but with 4 wires) which have had favourable reviews. Sorry I have had no experience with P90s or single coils from either company. I have some nice P90s made by Ken Rose which were quite affordable but sadly he is no longer in business. .

 

[Juanhanglo]

I have a set of tonerider rebel 90s in my ibby as73g.

They are a quality set of pickups. Very sensitive to height adjustments. I really like them. I can see them sounding great in a les paul.

No experience with bootstrap.

 

[donaldr]

I have some nice P90s made by Ken Rose which were quite affordable but sadly he is no longer in business. .

I have a set of Ken Rose on my Strat and really like them, very good pickups and quite affordable. It's sad that he's out of business I would have tried a set of humbuckers.