Installed a horseshoe on my '73

[sloop_john_b]

Actually the high-gain had more clank. The horseshoe sounds fuller and more bassy than the high-gain. Now I can solo it and get a solid usable sound, something I never did with the original pickup. Output is about the same, which surprised me. Actually it sounds closer to the high-gain in my son's '86 (which is one of the best sounding Rics I have ever played). If I want a clanky treble pickup I have my Shadow.

Thanks Ilan! I may have to bite the bullet and do it.

[Tarrbot]

I've meant to ask but would one of these work with a 5 string?

I hesitated on the last batch because I didn't know the answer to this and didn't want to buy something I didn't need (and take away from someone who might need it when I didn't).

[johnallg]

Lookin' sharp Ilan!

I would be curious to hear your thoughts on the new HS versus the Higain in your '86. I have been considering dropping a horsey into my v68 but am a bit fearful that it will change it "for the clankier".

John, leave out the .0047uF cap in line with it and it will be pretty bassy.

[johnallg]

I've meant to ask but would one of these work with a 5 string?

I hesitated on the last batch because I didn't know the answer to this and didn't want to buy something I didn't need (and take away from someone who might need it when I didn't).

Not sure there is enough coverage from the 4 magnetic poles to give you coverage of all 5 and have them even. I'm thinking not.

[Johntheson]

Kevin,
That's one of the most beautiful Ric bodies I have ever seen. Beautiful.
John

[weemac]

I've meant to ask but would one of these work with a 5 string?

I hesitated on the last batch because I didn't know the answer to this and didn't want to buy something I didn't need (and take away from someone who might need it when I didn't).

Not sure there is enough coverage from the 4 magnetic poles to give you coverage of all 5 and have them even. I'm thinking not.

No, the four pole horse will not work on a five string. There was at some point a few alnico slug five string pickups made that (If you could find one) be adapted to sit in the shoes.
I have made some steel shoes that I fitted to a Hi-gain five string pickup to see if it did impart some "horsieness" to the sound (this was on my ex S5). I believe that it did add some sag and compression to the sound and refined it somewhat. These shoes would also work on a regular Hi-gain as well... It's well worth a try if you are handy with an oxy torch and a file.....

Eden.

[doctorwho]

Thanks for that picture, Ilan! That should help me figure out what will be and what won't be coverd by a HS on mine.

The HS looks great on your bass!

[ilan]

Took the bass to rehearsal today. Plugged into the drummer's Ashdown bass rig, flat. I ended up playing 10 out of 11 songs with the RIHS solo'ed. This never happened to me before - I usually solo the neck toaster.

[jps]

I take it you don't have the .0047 cap in line?

Your drummer owns the bass amp?

My drummer owns a mid '70s Precision bass, maybe the two of them ought to get together.

[ilan]

Yes, the cap is long gone.

Our drummer runs the rehearsal studio, so he owns all the gear in it, including the bass amp.

[ricmic]

I have a V63 and run both tone pots all the way up. I find that on mine, neither pup sounds "great" soloed,but together they sound excellent. Mark

[rickcrazy]

Re-issue HS pickups have the kick of an angry mule hehe! However, predictably enough being wound to roughly 10.0/12.0 K they sound somewhat "muddier" than the good, old high-gains.

[FretlessOnly]

I wish I had the same luck with a RIHS. I put one on my '72 and I find the output balance from string to string to be very uneven. Plus they are very sensitive to a heavy hand (not in a good way). To each their own, I guess.

But, I'm really hoping to find an older high gain to put in there. Would I be able to use a high gain bobbin and keep the shoe from my RIHS?

[coolhandjjl]

Isn't the holy grail of hi-gains the one with the greenish top and what looks like a portion of a fingerprint on one side of the top?

[ajish4]

A Horseshoe in EVERY RIC!

As it should be, IMHO.