What does a RIC Humbucker sound like?

[JakeK]

What do you think a Ric humbucker sounds like? A Gibson Mini-humbucker (found on Les Paul Deluxe models and Firebirds), a Gibson P-90 (Gibson SG Classic and Epiphone Casino), a Gretsch Filteron or what?

I'm curious in knowing!

[weemac]

Very full and thick but strangely clear at the same time.
Not as mid honky as a regular HB pickup and without the upper mids of a P-90 either.
They are a unique pickup....
Eden.

[scotty]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cs1NGcS4yE I think the last ones humbucker.jake read some of the posts alot has to do with the amp ans settings.i personally havent played one of these so i cant comment.Hope this helps.

[soundmasterg]

They're similar to a Gibson humbucker to a certain extent, but because of the narrower spacing they are brighter. They're more powerful, and brighter due to the Samarium Cobalt magnets used. They have a very attractive grind to them when the gain on the amp is turned up that no other pickup has. Imagine a slightly darker RIC hi-gain on steroids and that is probably a good description.

Greg

[gellkeller]

Which humbucker? I haven't heard either yet.

[wmthor]

There's one more thing about RIC's humbucker's; they're super quite and you can hear every one of your mistakes.

[sloop_john_b]

I always thought they were too dark, but I've heard that changing the pots to 500k's makes them brighter - i've been meaning to try it.

[gellkeller]

Has anyone heard the 481 humbuckers? I haven't as yet although I do own one. It's a long, long, long story...

[whojamfan]

I bought an HB1 a few years back to throw in the bridge of my 330. The old button top hi gains sounded too muddy to me, and I was intrigued by the HB1.I was under the impression it would beef things up a hair, handle overdrive smoother, and be dead quiet. Well, it was quiet. I found it to make a unique sounding bridge position very uninteresting. I was also under the impression that it could be wired up(like any other 4 conductor humbucker)for serires/parallel/single, and or just single coil that would make both pickups hum cancel when used together. These options, combined with a push-pull pot or 2, had me really excited about the tonal possibilities. After a few rewires, and a few days to really check it out, she found a new home in a parts drawer I have.

As far as the P90 and Mini-Humbucker comparison goes, these are a completely different animal. I was thinking maybe P90 growl and ring without the hum, or Mini brittle breakup and sparkle. Does neither, which in itself is great, because it has it's own unique thing going on. A lot of folks love these pickups on their guitars, and even more bassists sing their praises. They are not bad at all, just not what I was hoping for or expecting. Much too dark for me.

I'm happy to say that I recently swapped it out to a fellow forumite who put it in his bass and is very pleased with it. For him, it met or exceeded his expectations, and I think it's great that pickup got a new home with someone who will use it.

[Dom]

I would describe them as warm, mellow, clean & clear. They record well with no 60cycle hum. It really does not sound like yer typical humbucking guitar sound. They'd do superfine for Jazz. However I installed 3 when I converted my 360WB to a 370 and after 12 years I'm about to change again. They were a welcome change from the hi-gains my '88 came with but have nowhere near the output (really quiet tapped) of my 'hi gain equipped 98 or "92. I do like the sound of the HB in the neck position better than the hi-gains, and it can nail strat tone with the bridge & mid pickup on. I got a pretty decent amount of tones out of them but not enough "rickness". Like whojamfan (thanks for the suggestions!) said the HB is less then glorious in the bridge position & I'm considering a toaster or one of the rewound hi-gains I was just told about. I want bite at the bridge but the HB's don't have it.

[johnallg]

No hum.

[Dom]

I just rewired my 370WB this afternoon so it has humbuckers at the neck & middle & a hi-gain at the bridge. I'm stunned at the versatility this gave me, it does everything. The mellow HB's blend tones really well with the bright hi-gain. There is some volume difference between them but not so bad that you can't comp with different attack.

[ram]

Sorry, somehow I missed this thread – I am the forumite Mike referred to. I put the HB1 in the neck position on my ’74 4001. It is clean, clear and warmer than the HG that was in there. It has kind of a toaster feel there but not totally toaster. When played by itself it has a pretty good range and a really nice sound – a little different from a 4004 thou. The only negative I have seen with it is when both pickups are selected the are ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ spots on the volume knobs. Some places where the volume seems OK and then a little more on the turn and the volume drops. This doesn’t seem to be an issue when single pickups are selected. Not a big deal, as the ‘good’ spots are within the area that woks for me sound wise. I just haven’t had time to debug…. Maybe a project for the spring.

[longhouse]

Clean, clear, articulate... and BRIGHT. 'Painfully bright' according to a bandmate. My 650A/VT (the luscious Atlantis model) sounded great!

The HBs can grind like a Gibson mini humbucker with aplomb, but they also have a decidedly classic Rickenbacker flavor which you'll not find anywhere outside of a true Ric product.

And they are dead quiet hum-wise.

[cassius987]

I've got two in my 4003 MG, and two (one with defective magnet) in my 4003FL AFG. I think I agree with the "dark/warm + clean + clear + surprisingly bright". To be honest the biggest thing I notice separating them from the RIC single coils is the articulate nature of the sound and its seemingly hi-fi qualities. But not everyone says this and I wonder if HB-1s vary a little through the years.