Red Rickenbacker 230

[octagon]

Thanks for the posts guys! Your 230 looks awesome in Blueboy Greg. Yes,if you you could post any photos or more info about these guitar that would be great. I think you are right that the pickups in my guitar are humbuckers. I did the "paperclip test" Mr Hall(quoted below) suggested in another thread.

"The most reliable way to tell for sure is to pop the pickups out of the body. If the back is metal, they're single coils. If the back is a small circuit board, they're humbuckers.

Also, the end of a paper clip will be attracted to each side on the face of a humbucker but only to the centerline of a single coil."

[paologregorio]

Those guitars are sweet players, and can look quite striking.

Nice pickup, congratulations!

[Grey]

[paologregorio]

That would make it a TeleStratobacker.

[soundmasterg]

Greg, nice post. I see you are into the blues.

Why yes, I am into the Blues, and thanks!

I will see if I can get you some more info and pics on these guitars and pickups. Now that I am done with school for a week I should have enough time. More to come.

Greg

[octagon]

Thanks Greg,that would be great!

[octagon]

What other kind pickups would fit a 230? A friend of mine bought a used 230 but the neck pickup is dead so he is looking for a replacement.

[aceonbass]

Nothing else will fit except for a very rare HB2. If it has a single coil in it, then he can get it rewound.

[octagon]

Ok,thanks Dane.

[soundmasterg]

Mitch, I happen to have fixed the original HB2 from my 230 that was non-functional for 5 years (used a microscope and some epoxy at work) and stuck it back in my 230.

I have the other HB2 pickup that was in there for awhile and it is available if your friend is interested in it? It works fine and is about 15.5k. I bought it from Rickenbacker's ebay store after I emailed Mr. Hall and asked if they had any available. He wouldn't sell it to me direct and I had to outbid everyone on ebay for it. I would sell it for the price I paid, which was $175 shipped. I know its spendy but where are you gonna find another? If your friend is interested, send me a PM. Otherwise I will probably stick the pickup on ebay again in awhile.

Also, I will post the pics and info I have on the two different pickup types in a little bit.

Greg

[soundmasterg]

Here are some pics of the 200 series pickups. The HB2 humbuckers are first followed by the single coils. There are also some pics of the formerly broken HB2 that was in my 230.

Greg

A newer HB2, bottom. Notice the epoxy goes all the way up to the circuit board.

Later HB2 top view. Notice the embossed name on the cover

earlier HB2 from my 1989 230. No emboassed cover

earlier HB2, notice epoxy does not go all the way and there is a gap to the circuit board

My repaired 230 HB2. Notice the new wire and new clear epoxy to protect it. Extremely small stuff here!! Had to use a microscope to fix it.

Single coils from the 200 series prior to 1989, top view

[soundmasterg]

Here are another couple pics.

Greg

Also, the later HB2 in my pics above is the one I have for sale...the one with the embossed cover.

Guts of 200 series single coil pickup

Another pic of my repaired HB2 in my 1989 230. I put tape on the pickup until the epoxy dried. I had to melt down to the bobbin with a soldering iron to find the wire and all I had was the tip of 44 gauge to solder to.

[jps]

Are you sure this isn't a photo taken by Curiosity?

[Grey]

Are you sure this isn't a photo taken by Curiosity?

[octagon]

Thanks Greg! I'll tell my friend.