There was a discussion on the TDPRI, and one of the guys actually asked the question. As Bloozcat mentioned he kind of danced around the subject that they are tonerider pickups by saying they were made in the same factory though.
I have worked in a manufacturing environment where today we make Frigidaire, and tomorrow we make GE fridges. The same fridge, the same materials, just a different label, and packaging. They all do it. In fact some of the Asian guitar makers make several different brand guitars in the same factory.
The pickups might say Fender, but later that day the same ones will say tonerider.
The funny thing is that people will swap the "cheap Fender Asian" pickups for
a set of tonerider pickups. It is all marketing.
I
The Blues is alright!
Guitars: 1968 Gibson SG, 2005 Gibson SG Standard, 2006 Gibson LP Classic Gold top, 2004 Epiphone Elitist LP Custom, 1996 Gibson Les Paul Standard. 2001 Epiphone Sheraton II, 2007 Epiphone G400.
Fender Strats: 1996 Fender 68 Reissue CIJ, 2008 Squier CV 50s, 2009 Squier CV 50s Tele Butterescotch Blonde
Amps: Blues Junior Special edition Jensen in Brown Tolex with Wheat front, 65 Deluxe Reverb reissue,1970 Sonax reverb by Traynor, Avatar Custom 2/12 Cabinet with Eminence Legend V1216 speakers,
2008 DSL100 Marshall Amp , Fender Super Champ XD,Fender Vibro Champ XD
Effects and Pedals: Fulltone Fulldrive II, Fulltone OCD, Fulltone Mini Deja Vibe, Fulltone Fat Boost, Dunlop Crybaby Wah, Boss DS1, Boss DD20 Giga Delay, Boss TU2 tuner, Boss BD2, Ibanez TS9 Tube screamer, Zoom 505. Radial tonebone hot british.