Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

ilan wrote:Actually the high-gain had more clank. The horseshoe sounds fuller and more bassy than the high-gain. Now I can solo it and get a solid usable sound, something I never did with the original pickup. Output is about the same, which surprised me. Actually it sounds closer to the high-gain in my son's '86 (which is one of the best sounding Rics I have ever played). If I want a clanky treble pickup I have my Shadow.

Thanks Ilan! I may have to bite the bullet and do it.

I've meant to ask but would one of these work with a 5 string?

I hesitated on the last batch because I didn't know the answer to this and didn't want to buy something I didn't need (and take away from someone who might need it when I didn't).

sloop_john_b wrote:Lookin' sharp Ilan!

I would be curious to hear your thoughts on the new HS versus the Higain in your '86. I have been considering dropping a horsey into my v68 but am a bit fearful that it will change it "for the clankier".

John, leave out the .0047uF cap in line with it and it will be pretty bassy.

Tarrbot wrote:I've meant to ask but would one of these work with a 5 string?

I hesitated on the last batch because I didn't know the answer to this and didn't want to buy something I didn't need (and take away from someone who might need it when I didn't).

Not sure there is enough coverage from the 4 magnetic poles to give you coverage of all 5 and have them even. I'm thinking not.

Kevin,
That's one of the most beautiful Ric bodies I have ever seen. Beautiful.
John

johnallg wrote:

Tarrbot wrote:I've meant to ask but would one of these work with a 5 string?

I hesitated on the last batch because I didn't know the answer to this and didn't want to buy something I didn't need (and take away from someone who might need it when I didn't).

Not sure there is enough coverage from the 4 magnetic poles to give you coverage of all 5 and have them even. I'm thinking not.

No, the four pole horse will not work on a five string. There was at some point a few alnico slug five string pickups made that (If you could find one) be adapted to sit in the shoes.
I have made some steel shoes that I fitted to a Hi-gain five string pickup to see if it did impart some "horsieness" to the sound (this was on my ex S5). I believe that it did add some sag and compression to the sound and refined it somewhat. These shoes would also work on a regular Hi-gain as well... It's well worth a try if you are handy with an oxy torch and a file.....

Eden.

Thanks for that picture, Ilan! That should help me figure out what will be and what won't be coverd by a HS on mine.

The HS looks great on your bass!

Took the bass to rehearsal today. Plugged into the drummer's Ashdown bass rig, flat. I ended up playing 10 out of 11 songs with the RIHS solo'ed. This never happened to me before - I usually solo the neck toaster.

I take it you don't have the .0047 cap in line?

Your drummer owns the bass amp?

My drummer owns a mid '70s Precision bass, maybe the two of them ought to get together.

Yes, the cap is long gone.

Our drummer runs the rehearsal studio, so he owns all the gear in it, including the bass amp.

I have a V63 and run both tone pots all the way up. I find that on mine, neither pup sounds "great" soloed,but together they sound excellent. Mark

Re-issue HS pickups have the kick of an angry mule hehe! However, predictably enough being wound to roughly 10.0/12.0 K they sound somewhat "muddier" than the good, old high-gains.

I wish I had the same luck with a RIHS. I put one on my '72 and I find the output balance from string to string to be very uneven. Plus they are very sensitive to a heavy hand (not in a good way). To each their own, I guess.

But, I'm really hoping to find an older high gain to put in there. Would I be able to use a high gain bobbin and keep the shoe from my RIHS?

Isn't the holy grail of hi-gains the one with the greenish top and what looks like a portion of a fingerprint on one side of the top?

A Horseshoe in EVERY RIC!

As it should be, IMHO.