HB-1 in the NECK of a 330?

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Tue Nov 25, 2003 6:25 am

I am contemplating dropping a rick bucker into the neck of my 330. I know most people usually put it into the bridge.

Has anybody done this? What does it sound like? Too muddy? I'll be getting the guitar set up for 12's (string gauge) and will probably put some flatwounds on it at some point.

I do like the sound of my pickups currently - but am curious to see how "warm" I can get my 330. I usually play clean stuff. I'm thinking that a neck bucker will get me more fullness when soloed, and add some "oomph" when combined with the bridge (where I have a hi-gain) without an unreasonable loss of jangle. I just about never use the bridge pickup soloed (on this or any other guitar)

If worse comes to worse I can always exchange the pickups from neck to bridge for a hotter "lead" sound (not that I play "lead" lines all that much anyway.) What do y'all think?

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Nov 25, 2003 7:16 am

John: You may wish to consider the difference in interference you get between these two types of pickups.

The HB will be whisper quiet in comparison. This contrast may result in you finding the high gain somewhat intolerable.

This is a highly subjective experience, but it was only after I installed the humbucker that I really appreciated the noisey quality of the high gain or the toaster for that matter.

In the end, I say give it a whirl as you can always swap out the humbucker for the high gain. Experimenting with sound pickup differences is typically easy with Rickenbacker guitars.

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Tue Nov 25, 2003 7:40 am

At the moment, I am not getting much (noticeable) noise from my hi-gains - but then again, I play in a small apartment where the hum from lots of electrical appliances pervades everything.. . . at "respect the neighbors" volumes, noise has not posed much of a problem - yet.

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Nov 25, 2003 7:45 am

I understand your point. Nontheless, when you turn up the HB to play and then switch over to the high gain the contrast in noise will be, at least in my experience, noticeable. Having said this, given your current playing style and venue, I don't think that the HB in the neck position will offer you a whole lot more.

wmthor · Post by **wmthor** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 2:16 pm

I ordered a set of HB's for my 360. The idea has been tossing around in my head for quite some time.

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 3:07 pm

Richard: I think the set is the way to go rather than having different RIC pickups on a 300 series. I realize that Susanna Hoffs had mixed pickups on her 350 but also noted that she added a second humbucker later on. I will be very interested in your comments regarding the tonality of the HBs in the 360.

jjhboots · Post by **jjhboots** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 4:06 pm

Interesting conversation. Do you order your humbucking pickups from Rickenbacker or someone else?

jps · Post by **jps** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 5:31 pm

I got my pickups from www.the-music-connection.com/ric.htm .

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 6:37 pm

well, in the short term I am going to see how a switch to pyramid 11's sounds before taking the HB plunge. . . .

dannyboy · Post by **dannyboy** » Sat Nov 29, 2003 2:09 am

If I had to do a change of pick ups on a 300 series, I would definitely change the set instead of just one. The high gains are so different and so noisy that I don't think it would do a good mix with the HB. My 2 cents!!

wmthor · Post by **wmthor** » Mon Dec 08, 2003 7:33 pm

My humbuckers arrived today, but I'm 1,000 miles away and won't be home until Friday evening.

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 9:34 am

The pyramids sound fantastic btw - I like them far more than the D'addarios I had on there. I haven't noticed a bending problem as others have.

I think I'm gonna stick w/ hi-gains and some day, in a galaxy far, far away, get a 620 with buckers or a Laguna.