Ric hi-gains iwth adjustable pole pieces

[Oskar]

I have a set of these installed in a 610 and really like them, but can't find a lot of information on them. I'm wondering if Rickenbacker actually made these. The pole pieces need to be adjusted with a hex wrench. Would appreciate any info, when they were made and if they still are. Thanks.

[jdogric12]

There are about ten years between the end of the 610 (the 90's?) and the beginning of those adjustable higains (2006?), so I seriously doubt they're original.

[jdawe]

The current Rick Hi-Gains have adjustable pole pieces (since around 2006, I think). When did you get your 610? Could a previous owner have installed new pickups?

[Oskar]

I should have clarified in my post that they are not original to the 610. I got them in a swap and installed them myself. I'd never seen them or heard of them before so I was curious as to how they stack up to the older high-gains and the Toasters. I think they sound great, personally.

[jdawe]

I have a 1996 620-6 with the older non-adjustable Hi-Gains and a 2009 620-12 with the newer adjustable pole Hi-Gains. Both sound great to my ears, but I can't detect any significant difference between them that I can specifically attribute to the pickups (as opposed to the more obvious difference that one is a twelve-string with TI flats).

The difference between toasters and Hi-Gains is more pronounced, but to me anyway toasters don't necessarily sound better, just different.

[fabgear]

The only audible difference you'd hear would be due to how you have the poles (which are simple button head Allen screws) adjusted in relation to the strings.

Other than that, it's the same wire, bobbin etc.... It's nothing "special", besides giving you more wiggle room in dialing up or down specific strings that may be soft or loud.

There could be many reasons for the change, but I'd like to think it was simply to give more versatility to a surface mounted pickup than before.

[fenderslash]

I remember before the adjustable ones started to be fitted at the factory there were many threads on forums with people saying that the volume on their high "E" string was too quiet (I suffered from that on a couple of non-adjustable hi-gained equipped Rics myself). I believe the adjustable pickups were released to cure that issue.

[iiipopes]

It wasn't just the weak high-E. Mr. JH upgraded the pickup all the way around. They have more jangle than old 12 to 14kohm button-top high gains; more guts than the underwound high gains that are in the bridge position of a lot of '80's guitars; a little edgier than toasters, and obviously brighter than HB'1's. If I ever got another RIC guitar, and Toasterbuckers still had not been invented or developed yet, these are the pickups I'd get.

[Tommy]

If I were to buy a new 330, would it come with adjustable pole pieces? Are they now standard on Rics or are they an aftermarket item?

[antipodean]

If I were to buy a new 330, would it come with adjustable pole pieces? Are they now standard on Rics or are they an aftermarket item?

All hi-gains now have adjustable pole-pieces. A new 330 will have them.

[Tommy]

All hi-gains now have adjustable pole-pieces. A new 330 will have them.

Yes! Thanks for that.

I am getting close to getting me a new Ric and your news that they now come with adjustable pole pieces is great news. I have a twenty year old Ric 12 string with no adjustable pieces and I have a hard time getting equal volume balance across all the strings. I love fiddling with polepieces on my guitars to get a balance just perfect. Glad to hear the new Rics now allow for this.