Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Nate,
I disagree; A Fender is a Fender.A Rickenbacker is
a Rickenbacker,However a hybrid sound may be in order to the musician whom owns/mods one.
It isn't pretty on E-bay but you don't have to by it.I also have some nasty news for ya...It's Wood!
It will go bye bye l8er on in time.Yes,We all die.
Dont sweat the small stuff.Play Maaan Play...
Bill

Good point, Bill, I never thought about the hybrid sound.

I'd like to hear one myself.And play in a diffrent manner if it is warrented <sp again..

Besides, one of my favorite artists - John Fogerty- also combined brands of pickups when he put a Gibson humbucker on his Rickenbacker 325. And I think that tone is great. To each is own.

Sometimes a replacement PU is very necessary and adventageous. My 66 Fender Mustang guitar had VERY weak stock PU's. I replaced them with some DiMarzio Fast Trac I's, and the output was radically enhanced.

The tone changed a bit, but it's still recognizeable as the same guitar compared to some recordings I did a long time ago with the original PU's. But it is a far better player now.

The guitarist I play with was in love with this guitar, and ended up replacing his stock PU's on a 40th Anniversary Strat...again, the tone changed, but mainly the guitar is hotter. Still has a recognizeable Strat twang, only it can get more ballsy.

But I agree that fundementally the major factors in a guitar or bass's sound is the construction of the body and the placement of the PU(s).

I keep mine stock, if I need a new part I buy a stock part, if I want a Fender sound I buy a Fender etc. All the parts contribute to the sound and most of all the way you play.

I'm like you Bob, if I was to change something on my Rics, I would use Ric parts. I almost did with my 330 when I was thinking of installing toasters in place of the HG.
I would try to keep it in the family! And I would do the same with a Gibson or a Fender!

Well, I'm currently pushing my 4001 back in time a little with a toaster and a horseshoe in the birdge position.

I'd like to use Ric parts to do that, but I'm not really afforded that option as they won't sell them. I'll be using a very good custom made replica for the horseshoe instead.

Close enough, Gareth!

Besides, one of my favorite artists - John Fogerty- also combined brands of pickups when he put a Gibson humbucker on his Rickenbacker 325.

And let's not forget that Stu Cook took the neck pickup off his 4001 and put it on his Precision in the neck position.

I've put RIC pickups in Fenders, twice in the bridge position of '72 Tele Basses and currently a friend of mine has the Jazz Bass that I put a high gain in the neck position.