I have a CIJ strat that came with Texas Specials. I quite liked them, and I'd probably still be happy with them now years later if I hadn't wondered what Irish Tours would be like.
I've since got Apaches and Sultans as well (the Apaches are what's in that strat now). The BKPs have an openess that enable me to feel I can express myself better. The Irish Tours can do the punch that Texas Specials can, but they can also get me clarity and an interesting sound when I'm being more restrained. It might be my imagination, but I feel I can do it better with ITs.
People who don't like or who at least dismiss Texas Specials (and they usually seem to be fans of BKP or other after-market pickups! :lol:) talk about the TS having a single sound - you like it or you don't - some even suggest it's not a totally natural strat sound. I can sort of see what they mean, but I don't think they're as bad as some people make out, or at least they weren't for me. I never gigged with them, but I'd have been very happy to have had them in my guitar when I was gigging years ago.
However, if they cost that much (and I didn't realise they were that expensive), then there's no way I'd buy them myself now, knowing what I can get from BKPs for a bit more.
I've not tried Toneriders, or much else, to be honest. So I can't really help there.
On the idea of Texas Specials being an upgrade, I suspect that they are viewed like that. Fender Japan certainly seems to think like that - but that might be what they think their export market wants. And that, in turn, might be based on what Fender USA thinks it can charge for the pickups. But if you don't actually want that "hot-texas-strat" tone, then it's not that much of an upgrade! :lol: (and, btw, I'm not convinced they're the best pickup to get that SRV thing going, I thought they were a little on the woolly sounding side for that, yes they'll push the amp, but they didn't seem to have the required clarity and bite when they're doing it).
