TV Jones

[nick]

Hey, new guy to the forum.

Anyone here have experience trying different pickups in their Rickenbackers?

I was thinking of doing something crazy like TV Jones Super'trons in a 330 (Hey, they kind of look like toasters!)
I'm not even sure it's possible, size differences and what not.

Don't worry, I'm not going to mangle a vintage Ric.

If anybody could point me in the direction of any older posts on the subject, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

[longhouse]

Replacing a toaster with anything is anathema to me, but if one had, say, a bog standard 330 I could see the possibility. Sort of like putting a 350 in a vintage Landcruiser...

[jingle_jangle]

Hey, new guy to the forum.

Anyone here have experience trying different pickups in their Rickenbackers?

I was thinking of doing something crazy like TV Jones Super'trons in a 330 (Hey, they kind of look like toasters!)
I'm not even sure it's possible, size differences and what not.

Don't worry, I'm not going to mangle a vintage Ric.

If anybody could point me in the direction of any older posts on the subject, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

Filtertrons take some SERIOUS routing, whereas any Rick pickup takes minimal routing to make room for the magnets. And, if you rout for a Filtertron, you've lost the ability to replace it with a Rick pickup in the future. Proceed with caution to your local Gretsch dealer and...

buy a Gretsch. They're loverly geetars.

[freshmattyp]

I'll take the contrary view. Go for it. It's just a guitar, and it can be whatever you want it to be.

[nick]

Replacing a toaster with anything is anathema to me, but if one had, say, a bog standard 330 I could see the possibility. Sort of like putting a 350 in a vintage Landcruiser...

Oh, god. No, don't get me wrong man, I'd never take toasters out of a Rick. I'm talkin' new school 330. It's a crazy idea, and one you couldn't go back from, I know. I was just listening to the Super'trons, and I thought "Hey, those are punchy, what would that sound like in a Rickenbacker?" Gretschbacker?

[collin]

You'd be better off getting really crafty and hollowing out a toaster pickup bobbin, getting the coil/guts of another pickup to fit inside of it, and then having the best of both worlds----different sound, classic look.

You could route up your 330....but you may seriously regret it later.

[JakeK]

Filtertrons take some SERIOUS routing, whereas any Rick pickup takes minimal routing to make room for the magnets. And, if you rout for a Filtertron, you've lost the ability to replace it with a Rick pickup in the future. Proceed with caution to your local Gretsch dealer and...

buy a Gretsch. They're loverly geetars.

+1

I'm not a fan of routing out for new pickups and whatnot. My first guitar teacher has a 50's reissue Tele in a yellowed out blonde with a Strat-like pickup in the neck and a Gibson humbucker in the bridge. I didn't like the look of it. I try to keep guitars as close to stock as possible.

If I had a modern Ric 330 and I wasn't happy with the sound of the Hi-Gains and wanted a more humbucker tone, I would look for a set of Ric HB-1's, or for a brighter tone, toasters. If I had a Gretsch 6118 Double Anniversary, and I didn't like the sound of the Filterons and wanted a brighter Gretsch-sound, I would look for a set of HiLo-Trons. That way, no routing needs to be done, or if I need to sell the guitar at a later date, I can make it completely stock again.

[Houka]

You'd be better off getting really crafty and hollowing out a toaster pickup bobbin, getting the coil/guts of another pickup to fit inside of it, and then having the best of both worlds----different sound, classic look.

Sounds alot like Mike Campbell's custom RIC.....bridge p/u is not stock, but has a RIC outer shell.

[analogpackrat]

Does Duncan still make a Rick pickup? Another option is a VintageVibe P90 in a Rick sized package. Email Pete Biltoft (Mr. VintageVibe himself)--maybe he can custom wind something to your liking.

http://www.vintagevibeguitars.com/

[grazioso]

there are several pickup specialists who can fit different guts into ric toaster shell - e.g. i had some work done a year ago by this guy named curtis novak. it was along these lines and i was very happy with the result. - the point in my case was to get single coil sound without a hum and bingo! it is split coil pickup 3+3 bit like some old burns guitars used to have...

http://curtisnovak.com/pickups/tel-hc.shtml

[egosheep]

Lollar is now making toasters:

http://www.lollarguitars.com/blog/2009/ ... available/

[whojamfan]

Lollar is now making toasters:

http://www.lollarguitars.com/blog/2009/ ... available/

Cool, hopefully they will make other options than just a toaster clone on the inside. It would be great if these guys could make bright, crunchy humbuckers in a direct replacement option.I think that there would be a much bigger market for that, since RIC still makes vintage spec toasters.