Converted Rickenbacker toaster pickups-to share

fabgear · Post by **fabgear** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 3:38 am

Thought I'd share with those interested in this sort of thing a recent rework I did for a set of Rickenbacker pickups.

I was kicking around ideas a few weeks ago and thought some people might like the option of placing higher Ohm pickups on their lower impedance guitars, such as their C58s while keeping the stock look and placement of the originals. This would allow the stock "look" but would doulbe or triple the output.

Here's some pics of the finished reworked pickups(please keep in mind these are REAL Rickenbacker pickups that have been reworked by myself and are engraved on the back panels to make sure they are not passed off as anything other than what they are.)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v40/fabgear/Ric%20custom%20pickups/fabpickups3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v40/fabgear/Ric%20custom%20pickups/fabpickups4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v40/fabgear/Ric%20custom%20pickups/fabpickups1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v40/fabgear/Ric%20custom%20pickups/fabpickups2.jpg

In brief, here's the specs on them now:

• 10KOhm output
• short pole AlNiCo magnets installed
• custom replica rear covers to emulate the later 50's style, engraved with FABGEAR CONVERSION 2005 10K and my signature
• stock grey hookup wire(per request)
• mold impressions stock in corners(I did not add these)

Please keep in mind these were not reworked C58 pickups, as I'm not set up to rewind pickups.

The really nice thing is that all you'd have to do is desolder the leads off the wiring harness for these to be installed. If you ever decided to put your guitar back to stock for any reason, say for example reselling, it's a very simple procedure with no ill effects.

Just thought I'd share for those interested in this sort of thing.

-Jeff

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 3:43 am

good work dude ...

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:19 am

Very Nice Indeed! There's a set of mid 60's toasters on Ebay with 1 day left for bidding.

condo · Post by **condo** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 6:03 am

I was reading this and had a crazy thought. What would the result be if the button top screws on a high gain pickup were replaced with alnico pole magnets? (I guess you'd have to remove the original magnet too) I wonder what it would sound like. Probably strat-ish?

fabgear · Post by **fabgear** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 7:03 am

John,

I'm unsure if you know the typical construction of the Ric Hi-Gain as opposed to the "toaster" style pickups, so if this reply seems simplistic I apologize in advance. I'm merely trying to answer your question in the most clear way I can.

A modern Hi-Gain(as opposed to the early 80's ones) consists of a plastic bobbin, wire, the button pole pieces and the formovar style magnet underneath. The back covers are similar to the one I recreated, but slightly different(mine were based on the later 50's style ones and not the modern backs) and the cover is the open style, not having the piece going across the the length of the pickup.

A modern toaster(not the C series but recent ones) consists of the same bobbin as the Hi-Gain uses, wire, 6 AlNiCo pole magnets, the same back as the Hi-Gain but the "toaster" style cover.

Now, once you remove the buttons and the molded magnet, you've got the same "core" piece as a toaster. If you replace the buttons with rod magnets, you've got a "toaster" pickup core. Change the top and there you go. Depending on the winding Ohms you want, you can unwnd the pickup if needed.

Now mind you, if you haven't had experience doing it you can still mess up the pickup pretty easily but experimenting with a Hi-Gain can be fun and a good learning experience into the construction of these things.

ted_williams · Post by **ted_williams** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 9:09 am

On my 12 string, I replaced the hi gains with toasters. I found the neck pickup sound improved over the hi gain, but the bridge was too bright. I wanted the hi gain sound in the bridge, but I LOVE the look of the toasters. I pulled the button top pole pieces out of the hi gain (grabbed them with locking plyers and twisted them out). I replaced them with machine screws with the heads cut off flush with the top of the bobbin, and put the toaster cover on. That way, I got the sound and the look I wanted.

fabgear · Post by **fabgear** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 10:00 am

Good idea, Ted.

Another option might be either changing/adding a different value capacitor and/or changing the potentiometers to a lower value for that pickup. Both would roll off a lot of the high end and much of that brightness.

condo · Post by **condo** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 10:16 am

Ted & Jeff , Thanks for your input.

Im wondering which version of the high gains do I have? I'll describe them ... They are from an '89 Liverpool 350 and I think each of three pickups has a different pole spacing depending on its placement. The pickups are the older fiberboard tops not the universal molded tops that you see on current rics. I'm thinking I may have the older style but the guitar dates to the late 80's. Can you tell me more about the variations in high gain pickups from the early 80 and afterwards?

I like the high gains sound overdriven. However they are not so good to my ears when I play clean.

I think I once read somewhere that longer alnico poles yeild more note clarity. And shorter poles produce a warmer less defined tone. Is this the affect of long poles vs. short poles in a toaster pickup?

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 9:38 am

I had Jeff Rath rmove the buttons from some stock high gains for me and replace them with plain short pole pieces. He replaced the covers with new toaster covers and re-assembled them. They sound very hi-fi/bright on a guitar.

condo · Post by **condo** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 10:51 am

I was checking out my highgains and thinking about the bar magnet on the bottom. What effect would changing the magnet type have on the sound of the highgain. Has anybody tried this? I did a quick search and found these magnet types ... Samarium Cobalt (SmCo) and Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB). I believe I read here that the ric humbucker uses an SmCo magnet.

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 11:59 am

Jeff,
Quote: "or changing the potentiometers to a lower value for that pickup"

Rick pots are wired between the selector and the output jack. Any change to one volume pot effects both pickups no matter what is selected.

Schematics: http://www.rickenbacker.com/us/gschematics.htm

winston · Post by **winston** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 12:48 pm

Dane was that a less expensive change as opposed to buying a new or used set of toasters and modding them?

Just curious. I would like to put a set of toasters on my 360/12 and I am weighing my options.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 1:24 pm

I got the used but almost new highgains for $37.50 each. The toaster covers were $20.00 each and Jeff Rath "un-buttoned" them for free plus shipping. They are at least 3-5 ohms louder than a stock toaster top and that's what I was looking for. Although I've tested one on a guitar, I have yet to install and test one on a bass. These are going in the neck position of my custom Ricky double neck project.

winston · Post by **winston** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 1:50 pm

Thanks Dane, for the info. That is really helpful.