High Gain Pickup Resistance

[admin]

I have a 1974s high gain pickup that measures a modest 5.2 KOhms which, compared to my 1990s high gains is about half. Every high gain guitar pickup that I have measured during the 1990s has consistently been around 10 to 11 KOhms.

I am wondering if all high gain pickups in the early 1970s were in the 5-6 KOhm range or if some were wound near 5 KOhms for the treble pickup and a hotter value for the neck?

I would be most interested in your observations.

[jwr2]

60's pickups were about 6.5k ohms ... 70's were usually 8k ohms modern 11k ohms ... early 70's was a transitional era ... 5 k ohms sounds a little on the weak side to me ... now I am talking basses but I assume the guitar pickups were similar ...

[rictified]

Could be normal or could be partially shorted, I have a 72 high gain that's about 6K and the toaster in it is higher, but 7.5 to 8.5K is normal for those. I've heard of them as low as 4K and functioning normally though, that was in a 4000 BTW.

[rickcrazy]

Well, like I told you in my recent e-mail to you, Peter, both pickups on my June '74 4001 read 5.2/5.6 K. In contrast, both pickups (now replaced with two of my own) on my 'all-black' April '74 4001 read 8.1/8.6 K. Oddly, the coil on the neck pickup looks as though it has been wound with no tension at all on the wire, i.e. it looks 'spongy', yet the pickup is surprisingly loud.

[admin]

Thanks for your email Sergio. Thanks also Jeff for your observations.

I am thinking that high gains may have been wound differently for bridge and neck pickups. Perhaps RIC will chime in.

The 5.2 K pickup I have is really cutting which accents the treble but makes for a thin sound and a weaker output that does not balance with the neck as nicely as it could.

I wonder also how far the resistance can be on both toasters and high gain guitar pickups before the tonality becomes atypical of the classic Rickenbacker sound? I have seen high gains in the 12K range and toasters in the 11K range.

[tony_carey]

quote....'I wonder also how far the resistance can be on both toasters and high gain guitar pickups before the tonality becomes atypical of the classic Rickenbacker sound'

What an excellent question Peter. I suppose that it depends on what your benchmark is. I find that all of my Rics give me what I think is 'that' Ric sound & all have hi-gains or hotter toasters. The weaker pickups sound less Ric like to me, although still recognisable as Ric.....but I know there are plenty here that would take me to task on that & feel the exact opposite!

[jps]

"The weaker pickups sound less Ric like to me, although still recognisable as Ric.....but I know there are plenty here that would take me to task on that & feel the exact opposite!"

Turn up the volume on your amp!