Horseshoe availibility ??

[janglerocker]

I'm sure this will come across as a question with an obvious answer, but as a newbie regarding Rick basses, i just gotta ask.... Have horseshoe pickups been offered at any time by the rick boutique? How often do they show up on auction sites? Are they insanely expensive? Methinks the answers would be NO, Rarely, and Yes, respectively.

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.

[woodyng]

yes. and especially yes on the insanely expensive part.

[weemac]

Yes very expensive!
Although they do sound great I feel that making sure you have the Toaster in the neck position will get a good 80% of the sound for 20% of the price. The Horseshoe is the last 20% for 80% of the price of a pickup upgrade.
Having a Toaster/Highgain setup seems to give the greatest variation in sound with just minor tweeks to the respective volume pots.
But thats probably not what you really wanted to hear..........
emac.

[ajish4]

Ah, my favorite topic....HS pickups!

Yes, at one time I believe they were available directly from RIC.

WHEN they show up on Ebay, the TRUE RI HS pickups go for anywhere from $700.00-1000.00.

MANY people have figured out that if they keep their eyes peeled for a Postwar lap steel, they are buying them and then pulling the HS and re-selling the lap steel. This seems to land them a HS for about $300.00-500.00 dollars depending on condition.

Another, less popular option is to pickup a 4001C64, pull the HS and install a Hi-Gain and then resell the C64! Don't laugh, it's been done!
I've seen at least two of them sell in the area of $1800.00 without the HS. PROBABLY the cheapsest way to get a true RI HS!

The day RIC offer's these again, I'll be ordering..........oh I don't know, at LEAST 10 I think!

[johnallg]

The day RIC offer's these again, I'll be ordering..........oh I don't know, at LEAST 10 I think!

That will be 20 then, as Dave Pascoe has said the same thing.

[janglerocker]

Probably shooting myself in the foot here but I figure someone from the forum should end up with this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rickenbacker-Bass-R ... dZViewItem

[jps]

Look at it this way, you will still have one good foot.

[janglerocker]

Look at it this way, you will still have one good foot.

But I won't have a horseshoe to put on it.

[soundmasterg]

I've been thinking lately of selling my RI horseshoe from around 2000/2001. I've never used it and was going to put it in a project that I still haven't finished yet, and I can use the money more right now than a pickup not in use. I'll probably ebay it unless someone wants to offer me some good money. I'm liking the $700-$1000 that someone mentioned earlier. The pickup would come with the surround and everything is in perfect shape. I can get readings for people if they want them, but right now I'm just kind of gauging interest....I'll probably make a post in the for sale section soon after xmas or list it up on the bay. Feel free to email me with any questions, comments or offers. If I get a good enough offer, I may just sell it without putting it on the bay.

Greg

[janglerocker]

I see it sold for $405. I had put a $400 max bid in and was at work all day. No idea who won or how much I would have had to up my bid to get it.

[just_bassics]

Dan, I picked one up on ebay about eight months ago for around $600.00, including the surround. It was an unused reissue pickup still in it's factory packaging. I was hesitant at first, as the price seemed a bit high, but now it looks as if I got a real bargain. So, they are out there, just keep your eyes peeled and be ready to pay the price - IMO, it was worth it!

[johnallg]

I have $450 into a RI and a surround, bought separate.

[jwr2]

selling horseshoe pickups and other desireable spare parts does not seem to be a rickenbacker priority

[ajish4]

I have $450 into a RI and a surround, bought separate.

Lol, I won't even GO THERE!

[rickfan60]

Both types of RI horseshoe pickups sound great (V63 and C64). They are both strong and loud. I love my V63 but to be honest, it sounds nothing like my vintage horseshoe pickup. The C64 pickup is closer (not quite as hot) but still not a vintage sound. It is not clear to me whether people are spending those big bucks on the VRI pickups for the looks or the sound.