330/360 with a humbucker.

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Fri Apr 25, 2003 2:44 pm

I put two on my Carl Wilson 360/6. Great sound!
http://www.homestead.com/aurs3/moddedCarl.html

tblair · Post by **tblair** » Fri Apr 25, 2003 5:06 pm

Be careful, here's what can happen when you humbucker a Rick...

1967 366/12 OS:
http://www.tblair.com/images/misc/366-12-hb.JPG

1969 381:
http://www.tblair.com/images/misc/1969-381-hb.jpg

wmthor · Post by **wmthor** » Fri Apr 25, 2003 7:51 pm

I've also been toying with the idea of humbuckers in my 360.

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon May 05, 2003 3:07 am

For those who are thinking of installing a RIC humbucking pickup in place of a vintage or high gain, I have only one thing to say. DO IT! I just finished installing a RIC humbucker on my Model 350 and the effort was more than worth it.

At first I was worried that it would take away some of the jangle and I have to say, it added the jangle factor by a just noticeable difference. Having rewired the fifth knob, there are now 6 distinctly different sounds and I can honestly say I like ALL of them. I especially like the middle and bridge (humbucker) combination. While at first thought, many would think that this installation resembles that of a 350SH, but this is in appearance only. The Hoff's does not allow for the same flexibility of pickup sellection. this guitar goes from a rocking humbucker to classic jangle and many points in between. The sound is much more three dimensional and has been opened up by this installation and fifth knob rewiring.

The modification has also included putting a .001 microfarad capacitor on the volume pot of the neck pickup which takes a rather tired only bassey tone to a very warm and more trebly sound. My 350 has come alive and through an AC-30 verges on the euphoric.

So by all means, add a humbucker. You will be glad you did should you have a 350. I am betting that you will love the change on the 360 or 330 as well. The worse case scenerio would simply mean putting your old pickup back in place. I think you have everything to gain and nothing to lose in this regard.

jerrymac · Post by **jerrymac** » Mon May 05, 2003 10:52 am

I have a 620-12, and I replaced the high-gains with humbuckers. Awesome sound, way better than the high-gains. Cleaner, more jangle AND warmth as well (real warmth, not muddy at all). Sounded great on my old Dakota as well.

wmthor · Post by **wmthor** » Mon May 05, 2003 11:44 am

Peter, did you replace all three pickups or just the bridge pup?

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon May 05, 2003 1:35 pm

Richard: I replaced the bridge pickup only with a humbucker. To my way of thinking it is the contrast between the humbucker and the other pickup combinations that has a very full or as Jwilli commented, sort of high fidelity effect. Without question my 350 has a presence it did not have with the three toasters alone.

buckbyrd · Post by **buckbyrd** » Mon May 05, 2003 6:36 pm

I plan to replace the hi-gains on my 360 with toasters, but add a humbucker? Man, I just don't know. I'm uncomfortable thinking I may be compromising the integrity of the guitar, if you catch my drift. I would like to hear the results of a humbucker replacement, though.

jerrymac · Post by **jerrymac** » Mon May 05, 2003 7:22 pm

Keith,

That's the beauty of Ricks, the pickups are interchangable, so you don't have to hack up the guitar and you can always restore it to original specs.

jerrymac

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon May 19, 2003 7:21 am

Here is a photo of my Model 350 with humbucker in the bridge position.

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Mon May 19, 2003 3:18 pm

Peter, can I have that 350 back??

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue May 20, 2003 2:45 am

John: I can't imagine ever parting with this guitar. I want to thank you again for sending it my way. Not only does it look very different since its time at your place but I have to tell you that the biggest difference is in the sound. The high gains were nice but the humbucker and toaster pickups in concert with the rewiring has given this instrument a new lease on life.

sir_andrew_of_left_coast · Wed Jun 11, 2003 7:32 pm

No explosions, Mike. The only possible difference I can think of would be the length of the leads. (Perhaps a 'neck' pickup has slightly longer leads?) I seriously doubt there's any difference with the pickups themselves...

bruceglaser · Post by **bruceglaser** » Thu Jun 12, 2003 1:53 am

I posed that question to Rick customer service awhile ago because the pickups have different part numbers on the schematics. I was told that there are no differences between the neck and bridge pickups. My question was about the hi-gains and humbuckers. I don't know if that's true of the current toasters.

corey · Post by **corey** » Thu Jun 12, 2003 5:40 am

Hmmm...interesting. I thought about changing the bridge pickup to a humbucker on my 381v69, but I am another one who is hesitant, not because of the change to the guitar, but because I am very happy with the toasters. I play along fine to Peter Buck stuff - his 360 with two HB's and my 360 with two toasters.