Hi Gain Neck, Toaster Bridge

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 10:54 am

I tried this out yesterday in my 330 and it sounds really good! I tend to play lead lines with my neck pickup, and the toaster (with cap mod) in the bridge adds a really cool flavor. The hi-gain is fuller, silkier, and darker, and of course the toaster is bright and a bit clangy. Nice contrast between positions. The 5th knob is critical - you've got to keep it rolled all the way back to balance the output of the pickups when you switch back and forth. BUT if you roll up the 5th knob in the middle position you get a really cool Gretsch-y sound. Or leave the 5th knob all the way up for a great lead boost.

I was kind of afraid the hi-gain would totally overpower the toaster, but I'm glad I tried it. I think I'll keep it this way. For a while, at least! Anyone else try this?

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 11:55 am

I have thought about this often Ethan & wondered why it wasn't commonplace. I have seriously thought about using a toaster in the middle, flanked by hi-gains in my 3 p/up models. I am not a toaster fan, but have noticed that 3 hi-gains add a lot of bass end, which is ok, but not if you are changing gtrs on the same amp settings. A toaster in the middle might give a really nice balance...extra fullness, without the extended bass end which COULD lead to 'muddiness'.
You might just have convinced me to try it Ethan.

paul_shover · Post by **paul_shover** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 4:18 pm

Tony,
If you do this, tell us how it turns out. Thanks

blackhdwr · Post by **blackhdwr** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 5:58 pm

I did this same thing with my 360-12. While in for a 12 string "make-over by Mark Arnquist, I purchased a toaster and had the cover powdercoated black (to match the other hardware). Mark installed it at the bridge position, while I waited, on the day I picked it up. My original intention was to eventually add one at the neck, when I could afford it, but now I think I'll leave it the way it is. Dramatic tone differences between the two and the 5th knob really effects the sound. I did not however, add a cap when I did the exchange. We discussed it and decided that it probably wasn't neccessary for the sound I was looking for. Besides, it could always be added later. I'm happy with the results and encourage others to try it.

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 10:17 pm

Will do Paul. I am going to try it next week.

adam_swapp · Post by **adam_swapp** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 8:09 am

I had that very setup in my 610: bridge hi-gain and neck toaster. I liked the toaster better than an HB or new hi-gain that I used for comparison at the time, so I screwed it in.

However, I subsequently acquired an older (70's?) hi-gain which I now believe is a better fit for the neck pup. IMHO, the older hi-gains (which aren't as "hot") seem to be a bit more articulate in the neck position. Moreover, the visual contrast between the bridge hi-gain and the neck toaster is trés gauche.

Again, this is only my opinion (and yours may differ based on musical taste, playing style, etc.), but I liked the setup enough that I just went on the hunt for another old hi-gain so I could pull the toaster from the neck of my 625. And another thing: the older hi-gains sell for about half the price (or less) of a toaster. Very serendipitous, eh?

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:32 am

Yeah the hi-gain/toaster combo looks a little weird. I think Johnny Marr uses an older 360/12 string with this combination in the Talking Heads video for (Nothing But) Flowers. If it's cool with Johnny Marr, then it must be OK!

adam_swapp · Post by **adam_swapp** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:38 am

Actually, if you read my previous post carefully, you'll discover that I'm an idiot (some of you already suspected that). My previous setup was just the opposite of the one you're describing: I had the hi-gain in the bridge and the toaster in the neck. Sorry about that.

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 12:52 pm

Well, now that I think about it - Johnny Marr might not have that set up either. Maybe it was a black pickguard but a white TRC...

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 2:47 pm

Hey, Adam, I'll ship the high-gain next week - that's a promise!

johnashfield · Post by **johnashfield** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 1:08 pm

I am gonna try this tonight!

2 weeks ago I put on the Ed Roman 12 saddle bridge, which does change the tone. It evened out the string volumes, but it added a certain harshness I didn't like. So I put in a pair of the toasters but they just sound so wimpy and hollow, but sweeter.

Maybe a combination would do the trick?

johnashfield · Post by **johnashfield** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 8:22 pm

OK, the switch is made. It's too late too crank the amp so I'll hear it tomorrow.

John Hall posted that the new headstock improves sustain. I thought more wood = more sustain? I guess I am way wrong?

johnashfield · Post by **johnashfield** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 10:25 pm

I couldn't waittill my band practiced.

I played both my 360 and my 360/12 thru the amplitude plug in on ProTools, on a Fender Twin setting.

WOW! This sounds really good, rich and jangly.

In a way though, doesn't having a hotter PUP in the neck replicate the effect of having the cap on the bridge PUP, like ric used to do in the 60's?

johnashfield · Post by **johnashfield** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 10:25 pm

I couldn't wait till my band practiced.

I played both my 360 and my 360/12 thru the amplitude plug in on ProTools, on a Fender Twin setting. With a hi gain in the neck, and a toaster at the bridge.

WOW! This sounds really good, rich and jangly.

In a way though, doesn't having a hotter PUP in the neck replicate the effect of having the cap on the bridge PUP, like ric used to do in the 60's?

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Sat Jan 22, 2005 7:38 am

Yes, I suppose it does. I hadn't thought about
it that way!

I've always thought the toaster bridge sound was *the* Rickenbacker sound, and the hi-gain sounds different enough that it makes a nice compliment to the toaster. I've been playing my 330 constantly since I put in this combination of pickups and I have to say I really like it.