3 Pickup Rics

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Wed May 04, 2005 4:34 pm

Ahhhhhh..... Ric-o-'roma. I think I need to go crack open the case of my 381 just to smell it again. It is a fragrance like no other.... the smell is as exquisite as the guitar looks.

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Thu May 05, 2005 9:54 am

>>>>>>I just find the mixing of them was not a good idea as it lead to more noticeable hum on one setting compared to another. ..... The lack of balance between the gain of one pickup type versus the other also resulted in feedback.

Thanks Peter for that advice.

So then... if a Ric has 3 pickups, and they are all hi-gains.... and the middle and neck are wired together.... what then makes a 370 different/better than a 360? Do the 2 pups wired together sound much different just one pup at the neck position?

Inquiring minds want to know... and the same inquiring mind doesn't want to go off and bastardize a perfectly good 360 in a nutty effort to "create" a 370 unless the plan is sound.

karl_teten · Post by **karl_teten** » Thu May 05, 2005 1:16 pm

Kent, I would first cut some cardboard the same size as a pickup and tape it in position inbetween your pickups. Play a few days and see how you like an extra object in the way.

If there are no problems then I would say go for it.

You can always purchase a second Rickenbacker and have both sounds (two and three pickups)!

I personally can't see how anyone can own just one Rickenbacker! LOL

I love the sound of three pickups even if two are not turned on. I like the way the strings are effected by the guass of three magnets pulling.

I have swapped out different Rickenbackers playing on the bridge pickup only and have found I like the middle pickups effect.

Three toasters are my favorite!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v241/T10/Music%20Gear/Rick370_VoxHW-01.jpg

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Thu May 05, 2005 4:00 pm

Good advice, Karl.... this will be my 3rd ric... others are a 620/12 and a dark red sunburst 360.

The "new" *used) 360 has is a former tuxedo model that has been stripped and refinished to a natural wood grain.... VERY unique. Adding the extra pup would be an adventure for sure.

As you know, with a regular 2-pup 360, lots of tonal variation is achieved depending on where the strings are hit. Is that much different with a 3-pup? If I were to put in a toaster, would you agree that the neck position would be best thus leaving the 2 hi-gains at the middle and bridge positions?

any advice appreciated - thanks... NICE PIX!

chronictown · Post by **chronictown** » Thu May 05, 2005 4:14 pm

Karl - nice photo. Tell us more about that particular guitar!

karl_teten · Post by **karl_teten** » Thu May 05, 2005 4:20 pm

Kent, I don't know what sound you are after so the selection of whichever pickup you choose should be based off your ears.

Do you have enough room for the long pole magnets of a toaster to fit in the neck position of your guitar?

The two hi-gains up front will sound real nice. My first three pup Rick was a custom ordered Jetglo 370WB from late 1984 that had hi-gains.

The photo you see above is a vintage tribute to my old guitar.

I do get different sounds depending where the strings are hit above each pickup.

The guitar in the photo above has three individual slave volumes with one master volume and one master tone. I can dial in however much of whichever pickup I want.

Endless tones!

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu May 05, 2005 5:01 pm

Karl perhaps you have a copy of that schmatic? It sounds brilliant! Beautiful guitar!

karl_teten · Post by **karl_teten** » Thu May 05, 2005 5:41 pm

It's just a plain-jane NON-ACTIVE McGuinn circuit.

No comp/boost.

Dual mono inputs are wired 1) 60's tone cap 2) straight for modern sound.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu May 05, 2005 6:26 pm

Gotcha. Let me sketch it up here. Sounds like way to go on a 3 pup guitar!

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Thu May 05, 2005 7:11 pm

A sketch would be great, Paul. Can you display it here?

>>>Kent, I don't know what sound you are after...

I guess I'd like a bit more old 60's jangle than my current Ric 360 and its hi-gains, but not too much. I've never played a toaster pup so I'm a bit in the dark here. However since I'll soon own two 360s, I simply want to make one of them different than the other more than just cosmetically.

>>> Do you have enough room for the long pole magnets of a toaster to fit in the neck position of your guitar?

I dunno! .... aint a 370 just a 360 with an extra pickup? I assumed that space would not be an issue, but maybe I'm wrong?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri May 06, 2005 6:13 am

Yeah, Kent, as soon as I get some free time.

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Sun May 08, 2005 7:01 pm

I have two extra highgains. So I would probably get the 370 with three toasters and put a high gain in the bridge.

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Mon May 09, 2005 6:14 pm

>>>probably get the 370 with three toasters and put a high gain in the bridge.

Hmmmm, interesting. Since on a 370 the middle and neck pups are wired together it would make sense that the both be the same type.

What would happen if those two combined pups were different... one Hi-gain and one Vintage 7.4k-ohm toaster? Would all hell break lose? Would the Hi-gain just overwhelm the Toaster?

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Tue May 10, 2005 6:45 pm

I don't think that the highgain would just drown out the toaster completely. But in the neck position they are a much bassier sounding pickup.
Thats why I'd leave them with the toasters and just put one of my Highgains in the bridge. I'd like to have a twelve like that. Since I have the 360/6 already.
In addition I'd still have a spare highgain and Toaster. You never know.

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Wed May 11, 2005 9:33 am

I think you're right. Unfortunately for me I've never played a toaster.... can you describe the difference in sound between a vintage 7.4k-ohm toaster and a hi-gain? More jangle? Is there a better description than that? And whats the sound difference between a single toaster in the neck position (like a 360) and two toasters at the mid/neck position (like a 370)? thanks in advance for any help since I'm kinda in the dark here ... What I REALLY need to do is find a Ric with toasters and discover it for myself!