Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Richard: There has been much discussion with regard to the resistance of the pickups on Rickenbacker guitars over the years. the toasters have ranged from about 4-8 K Ohms. There is no standard reported in the measurements provided by owners and so the margin for error may be considerable. As the horseshoe (1 1/2 inch) pickup has been touted as perhaps the sweetest sounding of all, I am wondering if you have ever measured its resistance?

Not meaning to step on anyones toes, I am new here but I have measured alot of them and re-built/restored probably around 100 units. The 1-1/2" are around 1.68- 2K, its heavy gauge wire so it doesnt compare to modern pickups. Some of the 1-1/4" are the same but they later went to a finer gauge wire.
The earliest one I have seen had a square bobbin and had the heavy gauge wire but it had more turns than the later 1-1/2".
I would be interested in hearing what anyone else has found, it has taken me quite some time to figure out whats what with the various rick steel pickups.

Jason: A very belated thank you for this information. By all means give us the benefit of your knowledge and experience with regard to these pickups. I would be interested to know which ones you prefer with respect to sound.

I dont look through here very often I usually go to the Steel Guitar Forum, gets more action, not complaining. The Ricks are really considered by a large percentage of players to be the pinnacle of lap steels and for good reason. They are the stuff.
I think more of the tone difference in in the guitar than the pickups, the earlier string through bodies do have a bit fuller sound and sustain but not a whole lot.
Beleive it or not I have taken one pickup, wound it with 38 gauge took it apart wound it to the same turn count with 42 gauge and really couldnt hear much of a difference then went on to fool around with turn count for the rest of the day.
On a more modern design using different wire gauge would be more likely to affect tone.
There is a magic turn count that you can wind to which is slightly over stock that will fill out the frequency response regardless of shoe size.
I think any of them can sound good if the pickup is working properly.