Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi all! Having offered my 480 for trade elsewhere here, I have come to the idea of letting it go, after all. But I need new pickups, or at least one for the bridge. I'm thinking HUMBUCKERS OR PAFs. Yes, maybe it's heresy, but to really make use of this beautiful guitar (great action, playability, neck and looks), I really need a bigger and punchier rock tone.

Here's a couple of photos of how the pickups are mounted (not my guitar, but similar in this sense):




Could someone please answer these initial questions about Ricky pickup changing:

1) What brands (if any) offer humbuckers that might fit a Rickenbacker without re-routing or cutting the scratchplate (maybe staggered pups?)?

2) What humbuckers/PAFs would you suggest for punchy riff rock with a vintage twist? I need a tone that's fat and aggressive, yet articulate in the highs department. And yes, I know I will lose the Ricky jangle with replacements...oh well...

3) Will I encounter any problems in mounting other brand pickups? Modifications or extra parts (like mounting rings) needed?

4) Any other concerns or things I should be aware off)?

Cheers,
MIKE

I wonder if anyone has ever tried the Ric Humbuckers in a 480? I'm going to assume it would fit but I'm not sure...

http://www.rickenbacker.com/cart.asp?viewitem=00060

Patrick: The RIC humbucker certainly fits, however, I would definitely stay with the high gains and the RIC strings for this model.

Mikko: The bridge pickup on these models was sometimes thin. On mine, the bridge high gain was only around 5K. I now have a 13K high gain in that position and that is what I recommend. Please take a reading of your bridge pickup as I would be intrigued to know its resistance.

The best case scenerio might simply be to put a newer high gain in that position. I would be more than pleased to swap your 1970 high gain (should it be of low resistance) for a 1990s high gain at 12.5K or so if you decide to go that route. Rewinding is also an option.

I would not go the non-stock route with this guitar Mikko.

Peter,

how can I measure the readings...I know nothing about tech stuff. And what does the change in the readings mean in practice tonewise?

In what sense do you think I shouldn't go non-stock? Collectability-wise or tonewise? As for collectability-wise, that's why I was asking for pickup brands that could be put on this guitar without modifications to the guitar - so that I could change the original pickup back if wanted.