Tonerider Rocksong Neck Review
- Barış Şahin
- Oct 3
- 5 min read
Hello everyone. After all this time, I finally managed to write about the neck version of the Tonerider Rocksong. Since I already covered many details in my review of the bridge version, this one will be a bit shorter and more to the point. I don’t think there’s really a need for a long introduction here, do you?
The Test Guitar
Tonerider Rocksong sits in the neck of my hand-made Ibanez Js/Radius formed guitar that has a lightweight korina body, a Q-sawn one-piece Honduran mahogany neck in a chunky neck profile (very similar to the Gibson R8 necks), Pau Ferro fretboard, Hantug titanium fixed bridge, 25” scale, Jescar 55090 (narrow tall) stainless steel frets, CTS 500K long shaft pots, and Jim Dunlop DESBN1052 Super Bright 10/52 Strings tuned whole step down. The guitar has bridge version of Rocksong in the bridge. Its essence (unplugged) tone ranges from balanced to warm.
Although the shape of the guitar is Ibanez JS, the tonal design aimed for a Gibson LP or SG. Therefore, the guitar has a distinct nasal sound due to both the selected woods and the scale. Anticipating the clarity issues on the neck found in some guitars with 24.5” or 24.75” scales, I envisioned the PRS scale to be more favorable. As a result, the guitar combines the comfort of the Ibanez JS/Radius series with the sound of a Gibson LP/SG.
Evaluation
Let’s read the desciption first, as always;
“Used by some of the world’s leading custom guitar makers, our Rocksong set is the perfect “hybrid-vintage” set.
The neck pickup is smooth and sustainful – perfect for everything from jazz to distortion saturated rock. The bridge pickup is a super-charged vintage PAF, offering power and dynamics with a clear top end.
All Rocksong pickups are fully wax potted to avoid microphonic feedback, and come supplied with #3/48 screws, springs and an installation guide.
…And, my measuremens are here;
Tonerider Rocksong Neck
Magnet – Alnico 2
Advertised DCR: 7.90 K Ohm (Series)
Measured DCR: 7.98 K Ohm (Series)
Measured DCR: 3.96 K Ohm (Screw Coil)
Measured DCR: 3.99 K Ohm (Slug Coil)
Advertised Inductance @100Hz: 4.4 H (Series)
Inductance @100Hz: 4.730 H (Series)
Inductance @100Hz: 2.03 H (Screw Coil)
Inductance @100Hz: 2.08 H (Slug Coil)
Measured C: -32.6nF (Series)/ -70.6nF (Screw Coil) / -71.5nF (Slug Coil)
Output: Low/Medium
EQ (B/M/T) –
Gauss: 250G screw, 260G slug (measured at top center of D&G pole pieces)
Ambient Measurement Temperature: 24oC
As always, when we take a closer look at the pickup, there's nothing unusual or unfamiliar about it. It looks like a typical, traditional humbucker—screws and slugs, nickel silver baseplate, the usual stuff. The only details can be noticed by eye is the wood spacer appeared from within. Nice PAF detail. The color of the wire is copper so i assume its poly, not plain enamel or something else… Next thing i should mention is the stiffness of the 4 conductor cable. That humbucker looks to be of high quality.
The pickup's magnetic flux density is in the limits of an alnico 2 magnet within. ~250G is perfectly normal for a A2 equipped humbucker.
Since the coils are not totally full, nor too skinny i assume coil has AWG 42 wire. Plus, according to the dcr measurement of the coils, there is no mismatching, unlike its bridge version.
Again, unlike the bridge version my measurements are closer to the advertised specs given on the website.
The Tonerider Rocksong neck is a typical A2 PAF with a bit of extra attitude. It’s not as clear as your usual 7.4k PAF clones like Duncan Seth Lover neck or Duncan Antiquity neck or smooth like Dimarzio Air Classic neck, so in guitars that already have a natural tendency to get muddy in the neck position, you’ll need to be careful—or maybe even consider another option. However, in 24–fret guitars, or in slightly brighter guitars like an SG or a thinner–bodied Les Paul Studio, I think it can deliver a really good tone.
If I had to compare the RS neck to another pickup, I’d say it’s closest to a Gibson 490R. I haven’t done an A/B test and I don’t have a 490R on hand to measure anymore, but it reminded me of that pickup several times while playing. The Duncan Alnico II Pro also came to mind, since the A2P and 490R are themselves fairly similar. That said, I find the resemblance to the A2P much weaker. The A2P is clearer and flatter, while The Tonerider Rocksong neck is warmer, with more pronounced mids, a more nasal quality, and slightly more output. So if you can’t afford the price of a Gibson 490R, The Tonerider Rocksong neck is an easy recommendation.
So what kind of tone should you expect from a pickup like this? The lows are spongy, the mids have a flutey quality, and the highs are soft and rounded.
In terms of dynamic range and compression, The Tonerider Rocksong neck is not more compressed than your average A2 PAF clone. So you have a dynamic neck humbucker. You can have your favourite phrasing tricks or clean the sound up by volume pot drops.
For the output, i would put The Tonerider Rocksong neck in the low/moderate output category. It has a good stand for your favourite southern rock riffs and licks.
Cleans? Pretty nice and sweet. I am the right expert to say solid words about it but i could achieved typical sweet clean tones in the favour of Slash, Duane Allman, Lynyrd Skynyrd etc. The clean tones of the guys played Les Pauls…
Conclusion
Overall, the Tonerider Rocksong neck captures the essence of an Alnico II PAF while offering a slightly more assertive personality. It doesn’t chase extreme clarity like some underwound PAF clones, but instead delivers warmth, sustain, and a midrange presence that feels musical and engaging. In the right guitar—particularly brighter instruments or 24-fret designs—it balances very well and avoids the muddiness that can sometimes plague neck pickups.
Tonally, it sits closer to a Gibson 490R than a Duncan Alnico II Pro, with more emphasis on warmth and midrange coloration rather than pristine articulation. This makes it an excellent choice for players looking for sweet cleans and expressive leads in blues, classic rock, and southern rock styles. With its accessible price point and dependable build quality, The Tonerider Rocksong neck stands as a worthy alternative to more expensive options, while still retaining the charm of a true PAF-inspired humbucker.
For whom the Rocksong is? Classic rock, blues rock, hard rock players, one who seek for Southern rock and vintage-inspired tones (Slash, Duane Allman, Lynyrd Skynyrd) and 70s and 80s rock tones with added articulation, Players wanting PAF warmth but with slightly more mass.
Considering its price and the availability of classic humbucker color options (even double cream), what excuse could you possibly have for not giving the Rocksong Neck a try?
Pros
Warm, musical Alnico II PAF tone with a slight edge
Pronounced mids and smooth highs for a balanced neck position sound
Low to moderate output, dynamic and expressive
Sweet clean tones achievable, great for blues, classic rock, and southern rock
Affordable alternative to Gibson 490R
Solid build qualityExcellent price-to-performance ratio
Feels more of a quality when you hold it than Donlis or a Fleor (while more expensive than those)
Cream hue of the bobbin appears nicer than other Ali Exp. Brands (Closer to the Duncans Cream)
Cons
Not as clear or articulate as some underwound PAF clones (e.g., Seth Lover, Antiquity)
Can get muddy in guitars prone to neck-position muddiness
Slightly nasal character may not suit all musical styles
Less resemblance to some modern Alnico II pickups in terms of clarity
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