need some pickup change advice from the experts

[jetlennon]

Hey fellow Ric lovers,

Long story kinda short:

I love Rics! The look, sound ,history, artists the whole thing. 1 problem. I hate the necks! But thank god i found out about the 660 and the 650 series. So now i've got the 650 Dakota and absolutly love it!
Now here's the thing where u guys come in. I'm a huge beatles and overall sixties fan. I sing and play rhythm guitar in a 60's coverband. Although i like the humbuckers in the 650 i've been thinking about replacing them with the hi-gains. It's very hard to try Rics where i live so i'm just checking sounds on youtube. The toasters sound a little to thin and lets face it they are very expensive. The hi-gains sound great but would they sound good in my 650?

What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance for any opinions and/or advice

[jdogric12]

Others will know more than I about this and can chime in, but I think you definitely need toasters, and to change the pots too. It won't be cheap but it will be worth it for what you want.

[Clint]

What kind of amp are you using? Are you using an EQ pedal? A few gear tweeks may get you closer to the sound you want. To be honest, I don't hear enough of a difference between Hi-Gains and the HB-1 to justify a swap.

Many of the folks here rave about the Janglebox. It's a compressor with a built in treble boost. I don't use one myself but from the demos I've heard, it can pretty much make any guitar you plug into it a janglebeast.

[jetlennon]

My amp is a Vox AC30 C2. And i do own a janglebox. Maybe it's just in my head because i think my sound is pretty spot on. That's why i'm asking. I just don't wanna miss out.

[Clint]

Maybe it's just in my head because i think my sound is pretty spot on. That's why i'm asking. I just don't wanna miss out.

I know the feeling. We've all spent a lot of time & money going down that rabbit hole.

[Dom]

I like coil tapping the HB-1's. They have a great sound tapped. Just install 2 500K push pull pots and you are there.

[ken_j]

I changed out the HBs in my former 650 to high gains (with toaster covers) and loved the tone. I did use two bridge pickups as the string spacinging on the 650 is wider. This way the poles lined up better. This was an improvment to my ears.
If you stay with the HB pickups you may want to try 500 k ohm volume pots as this will brighten the sound a bit.