Difference in output level between pickups

[joaomachadovaz]

Hi there,

I'm the lucky owner of a Rickenbacker 330/12. My two pickups have very different output levels, i.e., the neck pickup plays much louder than the bridge pickup.

Is this normal? I have no contact with other RC players so I needed your help.

Thanks!
Joao
(Portugal)

[beatlefreak]

Welcome to the forum. What year is your 330? Early ones (from the sixties) have an inline tone capacitor to the bridge pickup that cuts highs (and also output). 330s made within the last couple of years have adjustable pole pieces on the pickups which should allow you to balance them.

[jps]

Welcome, João!

The bridge capacitor referred to above actually cuts lows, which will contribute to the lower output of that pickup.

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

also remember your strings vibrate more at the neck than the bridge which will give more bass and volume in the neck position.

[rickcrazy]

João? De onde?
Esse problema do pickup traseiro resolve-se facilmente com um íman bem forte em lugar do original. E o tal condensador não corta os agudos como diz beatlefreak, corta os graves e realça os agudos, embora reduza um pouco a saída. Mas é o "coração" do som Rickenbacker!

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

sergio has been into the "mateus" again ! the only english word was "pickup". sergio what is "pickup" in portugese ? (as far as an electro-magnetic product goes...narrowing down the obvious uses for the word)

[rickcrazy]

Hehehehe
Usually we do not translate "pickup", as it's way easier to pronounce than the ungainly Portuguese word therefor, "captador". Besides it's use has become so widespread, that very few people say "captador" these days.

[jps]

Hehehehe
very few people say "captador" these days.

Except when looking for a pickup, right?

[berth]

My 650D has something similar. Any ideas on what magnet I should use and where to find them? (Preferably online, not necesarily in Europa.)