Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

This is a question for our esteemed moderator and host, who I think has a 350v63 with a Rick humbucker installed, or anyone else with knowledge of Rick humbuckers who might like to chime in. I am the proud owner of a Monty Brown 350v63, which I love, but although I own several guitars, every one of them have single coil pickups in them, and I would like to try the sound differences in a humbucker for inspiration/songwriting. Can anyone comment on the sound and tone of the Rick humbucker, how it differs from the "Gibby" sound, and what experiences you have with humbuckers in a 350v63? I know the Susanna Hoffs LE has a humbucker, but it is in the middle position, which seems wierd to me, but since the mod would be completely reversible on my 350, I am considering doing it. Comments please?

Gene, the SH's humbucker is in the treble position. I did own a SH with the HB in the middle position but it had been modded. In fact, it had been disconnected.

John,
I didn't realize, that makes more sense to me, but then the Hoffs guitars are not so easily found! So what did you think of the sound?

Since only the two toasters were working, it sounded like most RICs. I would love to own a HB equipped 350. The pickups are very quiet. Still sounds like a RIC.

I put 3 Rick HBs in my buddies 355JL about 15 years ago, and while it is Not like a toaster equipped Rick, it really sounded great. Totally dead quiet PUs.We wired it as it came soldered up from the factory[the HB PUs ,I mean]as only humbucking functionally.A Rick HB does Not sound like anyone else HBs, Gibson, Gretsch, whoever. Totally in a class of their own. I like them.

Hoffs, at one time at least, had humbuckers in both bridge and middle positions in her 350SH.

Squirebass, I tried the humbucker in several positions in my 350 and it sounded best in the bridge position. I also tried several combinations of humbucker, high gain and toaster pickups. At one point I have a humbucker in the bridge, a toaster in the middle and a high gain at the neck.

The problem that I ran into was the noticeable difference in the hum associated with pickups as you went from one to another. In the end, I was not happy combining the toasters and the humbuckers, al a Hoff.

I suspect that having three humbuckers would be the best option. They are quiet, but to my ear at least, did not give the classic sound that I was looking for. In the end, I returned to the toasters.

Interesting, I may have to try that configuration, having three humbuckers... I wonder if I could find three of them pretty easily...and if I have the guts enough to step off the cliff like that, since I love the guitar's jangly toaster vibe too.