Assistance with Pickups in a Model 480.

Chip_Ficyk · Post by **Chip_Ficyk** » Sat Mar 10, 2001 7:59 pm

Mark,
I recently brought a Model 480 back to Rickenbacker status (see 480 pickguard template). It looks and sounds great. One problem though. I installed Hi Gains from a 90's 330 and the bridge pickup sets too high to allow the string height down to where I'd like it. Currently the last fret to the string is almost over 1/8". I like it at 1/16". There are no grommets or a foam gasket - the pickup is flat on the wood. The problem is the buttons mimic the neck radius of the 330 and the G and D strings are too high for the flat neck of the 480.

A few thoughts I need your help on. First, call me crazy, but could I cut the buttons off with a hacksaw without killing the pickup or totally damaging the sound? It'll look kind of like the original Hi Gains too. Next, I thought about toasters, but have you ever installed a toaster in the neck position of a 480? I fear there is not enough clearance in the cavity with the poles protruding down and I don't want to route it since at the bottom of the cavity is the bolt on neck. I guess I could have a toaster in the bridge position and keep the Hi Gain in the neck position, but I was hoping they'd match for aestetic reasons. Though both styles sound different from each other, they do sound similar too, and appealing enough to me. I know I could also go with the Rick humbuckers, but I've never heard any and don't want to lose that Rick sound. How do the humbuckers compare to toasters and Hi Gains?

Lastly, since it is a bolt on neck, maybe it could be shimmed, but I've never done that before. To me this would be my last choice. Is that a potential choice and how is it done? Is it difficult? Thanks in advance for any assistance or insight you can provide.

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 11:39 am

I'd change the neck angle using a shim first .Set the angle to where it should be .

I use shim stock made of brass.You can use just about anything .business cards ,whatever.

After I figure out what the 'correct' angle should be ...I perform a cool trick.

I wax the neck with some paste wax.Just around the area of the neck that is the heel and inside the cavity.Then I remove the guard and wax around the neck joint.

Then after the shim gets re possitioned I glue it in place with some cyano acrylate glue ,then mix up a dab of polyester body filler for the automotive industry.I then add the hardner and put a gob (that is the correct American term for it ) on the are next to the shim and remount the neck .This will spread out the 'Bondo' and fill in the are under the neck .This also takes up any slack in that area.

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 11:54 am

This also works really well with any bolt on neck.

The wax is used so that it may be removed at a later time.Don't wax the area that the filler is being added to on the body cavity.

After you do this ,wipe all excess materials off .Bondo and or wax.
then re-assemble.

Chip_Ficyk · Post by **Chip_Ficyk** » Tue Mar 13, 2001 2:07 am

Thanks Mark,
Sounds a bit detailed and since I've never done this before, I'm wondering if this is something I should handle or leave it to a guitar tech.

Also regarding the toasters in the neck position on a 480 and the depth of the cavity, have you ever done this or seen it done? I've been thinking about the toasters in this guitar because not only do they sound good, but I think they'd look pretty cool.

And lastly, any comments on the sound of the Rick humbuckers as compared to toasters and Hi Gains?

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Tue Mar 13, 2001 6:52 am

To my knowledge ...I have never heard the Rick humbuckers.
Because of the fact that they occupy the same size of space as a Gibson Les Paul deluxe or firebird pickup ....I would guess them to be more like that sound than say the LesPaul Standard/Custom/ES-335/SG type tone.Given that Ricks are made of maple for the most part ...you will get lots of lows and highs with a drop in the upper mids and a sharp peak in the low mids.(Sound almost like a weather report)

I'd have to get my calipers out and measure the differences to see if there would be a problem,in the switching .I doubt it .

The shim thing is something that I do ,and have never heard of anyone else doing it .BUT!!!it's not that brilliant of an idea .On the 480 guitar ,the tongue of wood that has the screws in it is not that thick.This 'Bondo' shim will help .
Bondo can be purchased at a hardware store as can the wax.It's inexpensive and it really is not hard to do.Plus Bondo can fix the dents in walls.You will find all kinds of uses for it .

A lot of Techs ,are not too creative.Some are just guitar playwers with a #2 phillips bit and a Stew/Mac catalog.Sad to say.If the guy that you use has al kinds of weird jigs about the shop...he's your man.

Chip_Ficyk · Post by **Chip_Ficyk** » Wed Mar 14, 2001 5:28 pm

You definitely described me, a guitar player with a Phillips #2, that is. I'm brave, but I know my limits. If it weren't a Rick, and it was a "cheap" guitar, I'd try it. But this one is not one for me to experiment on.

Let me know what you find out with the measurements (I'm assuming your talking about the depth of the 480's neck pickup cavity having enough clearance for a toaster pick up - I hope).

Thanks also for the insight on the humbuckers. Hopefully I can find one to try. I do like the sound of the Gibson mini humbuckers so I may enjoy the Rick humbuckers. Probably sound great through my Hiwatt.

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Thu Mar 15, 2001 5:28 am

The mini humbuckers are a great sound with a HIWATT,see Pete Townshend circa 1975 .

With any humbucking ,the wider the coils the darker the sound ,as long as the magnet is touching both rows of polepieces(in each coil) This "therory" is of course WRONG in the case of the Fender 1970's style humbucking .That pickups polepieces were/are the magnets.As that pickup was designed to have a 'familiar sound',it does do that well .Meaning ...it sure does not sound like a Gibson pickup.

Chip_Ficyk · Post by **Chip_Ficyk** » Thu Mar 15, 2001 7:08 pm

Funny you bring up Pete Townshend - that's why I own Rickenbacker and have a HIWATT. He was a major influence on me and the style I play (except smashing). Sounds like the humbuckers are something I should definitely look into. Thanks.

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Thu Mar 15, 2001 7:53 pm

Pete on a Rick was early on and by 'Tommy' had stopped using Ricks.

No Rick with a humbucking sounds like a Les Paul.

And no Les Paul with toasters sounds like a Rick.

Chip_Ficyk · Post by **Chip_Ficyk** » Sat Mar 17, 2001 8:50 am

Agreed! That's why I am putting this 480 back to as close to original as possible. Shame on the guy that put the DiMarzio's in this 480. If he wanted that sound, he should have bought a guitar that came with these pickups.

But my Rick 1997 reissue through the HIWATT sounds incredible! I had the honor of meeting Pete years ago back stage. We chatted about equipment and he told me he had never played a Rick through a HIWATT and asked me how it sounded. In awe, I said "loud". Real smart to say to a guy who has hearing issues! But it's true - it's like a Rick with a shot of testosterone.