HB1 in the bridge position on a 325?

[grgb]

Anyone ever made that modification, and if so were you pleased and what middle and neck pickups did you use, hot or scatter wound toasters or something else?

[jdogric12]

I have a replica of the Jackson Browne prototype, with an HB at the bridge and 2 90's hi-gains. Wired for any combo. It is super verstaile.

[mike_d]

Are there any concerns adding a humbucker to a 325/350 style Rickenbacker harness that already has single coils. I’ve been curious how a HB would sound in a 350v63 that has scatterwound toasters, basically a Susanna Hoffs wannabe without binding.

[grgb]

I have a replica of the Jackson Browne prototype, with an HB at the bridge and 2 90's hi-gains. Wired for any combo. It is super verstaile.

Thanks just looking for something that’s reversible if I don’t like it. I have a 325v59 that being from 1995 has hot toasters in it. I was thinking about either going with three Creamery ‘63 toasters or two toasters and the HB1. I have Glen’s Loom in the guitar and I am not sure of the applicable pot values.

[doctorwho]

FWIW, I've not done a modification, but I have owned two triple-pickup guitars with a humbucker in the bridge position:

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Although I never took a picture of the wiring on the 350SH, I did so for the "623":

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[Uffingdon]

“I was thinking about either going with three Creamery ‘63 toasters or two toasters and the HB1.”

Just a heads up regarding the Creamery Toasters, great pickups for sure but they are taller than RIC’s and might be to close to the strings when mounted on the grommets.
I put a couple on a 620/12 and had to use the foam pads and squish’em right down.

[grgb]

“I was thinking about either going with three Creamery ‘63 toasters or two toasters and the HB1.”

Just a heads up regarding the Creamery Toasters, great pickups for sure but they are taller than RIC’s and might be to close to the strings when mounted on the grommets.
I put a couple on a 620/12 and had to use the foam pads and squish’em right down.

Good to know. Not saying you’re wrong but I emailed Jaime at Creamery a good while back … I’ve been dithering about doing this for ages … and he told me they’re the same height but have squarer corners to avoid copyright issues with Ric. Perhaps that has changed.

Anyway, I checked Ric’s site and it shows that scatter wound toasters are in stock now and the price is not that much more than Creamery because of the tariff on the shipment from the UK. The only reason I considered Creamery is Ric seemed to be perpetually out of stock on those plus Creamery will adjust the pickup strengths to taste instead of having them all the same.

I’m just looking for something to brighten up the guitar a little … I have another thread along those lines in a different forum, should have posted here … compared to where it is now without having to over process it externally like I do. I know it’s going to be hard to make a short-scale 325 sound like a 620 or 360 but I want more from it than chunka chunka Lennon rhythm circa 1963. I keep it around instead of selling it and getting one of those other models because I am the rare adult the 325 is perfect for, I’m short, I have short arms, I have tiny hands and fingers and I can play stuff on the 325 that I can’t come close to playing on a standard scale guitar.

That’s more relevant to me than Lennon authenticity. I thought installing Glen’s Loom would help and it has … I play middle pickup only a lot, great sound … but I want to go farther. I am also thinking about ditching the Sorkin bridge … it was there when I bought it … and going back with a standard bridge and see what that does to the sound. Although I plan to keep the Hofner teacup knobs that the previous owner installed. IMO they fit the guitar better than the original oven knobs or Burns knobs.

[Uffingdon]

Here’s a pic

[grgb]

Here’s a pic

Honestly from an aesthetic standpoint that’s not a bad look especially on a MapleGlo guitar, not sure about from a functional standpoint vs. the grommets.

[rkbsound]

Other options - gold foils https://www.rickresource.com/register/v ... ine%3Dtrue

[admin]

I started with three high gain pickups in my 350 Liverpool and made numerous changes to them over the years as I experimented with RIC high gain, toaster (hot and scatterwound) and humbucker types. I agree with Jason that the toaster/humbucker combination was good and I quite enjoyed the tone. At the end of the day I settled on three scatterwound pickups and a Glen Lambert wiring harness. The warmth of the neck and middle pickups alone and together won the day for me. At the present time I have it strung with flatwound strings.

[jps]

What flatwounds do you have on it, Peter?

[admin]

Currently I have D'Addario Chromes. My preference is for Thomastik Infeld but availability and price tempers my choice.

[jps]

My only experience with the TIs are from a very nice little PRS guitar that a friend of mine used to own.

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Pricy, but I assume they last a long time while still sounding good like their bass strings do; if so they really are a bit of a bargain in the long run.