Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm currently building a guitar and I am planning on putting a pair of mini humbuckers in it. Right now I'm trying to decide on what kind. The guitar is all mahogany solid body neck through with a scroll headstock(viola like). I'm trying to choose between TV Jones Filtertron Plus, Gibson Alnico V Minis, and Rickenbacker Toasters. I'm relatively new to mini-humbuckers and would like some of your opinions on how each of these sound, if at all possible. The reason I want mini-humbuckers is pretty much because I don't have a guitar with them on it. Please enlighten me. Thanks

The Rickenbacker toaster pickups aren't humbuckers. They are single coil pickups.

As timothy said the toasters are not HBs, but Ric's HB-1 is an awesome mini HB. In comes standard in the 650 series. As to explaining the tone - well you cant. It is unique to itsself. Ive had people come accross showroom floors to find out what I was playing, and they were all pretty supprised to see a Ric at the heart of it all.

your best bet is to find a 650 and play it, Good luck though. depends how big of guitar shops you have around. If you only have GC then you probably dont stand much of a chance.

You would not be disappointed in the HB for you project - it will definetly have good tone that is different then anything else you got..

JP

Thanks guys,
I'll try to find a Rick with HB-1s before I make my choice. Have any of you played the TV Jones Filtertron Plus or Gibson Mini HBs? I know this is a strictly Rick forum, but I'd like to hear about the others. Maybe, you could tell me why you prefer the Rick humbuckers.
~Reggie

I am not a fan of the mini's. I had them in my 69 Gold top. I would consider thed TV Jones.

I played the TVJones Filtertron Plus pickups in a Koll guitar recently. This is the guitar that was used to review the pickups in Guitar Player magazine. They're fabulous pickups. I like original Filtertrons, and I like the ones on teh Gretsch reissues too, but these new ones from TV Jones are really nice. A little hotter than the standard Filtertrons, probably as hot as a regular PAF, but more highs. The highs are not shrill however, which is what my experience was with Gibson mini humbuckers.
As a side note, I very much like the Rickenbacker humbuckers that are on the 650 also. hope that helps you out.
Greg

Just wanted to concur with Greg. The TV Jones Filtertrons are awesome. Nice punch, great highs, very articulate and responsive pickups.

Nobody has mentioned the Seymour Duncan "Pearly Gates" humbuckers, so I will.

I've put one in the neck position of my Tele and it's just bone-crushing. Very thick, rich tone. Think Billy F Gibbons, who also uses Pearly Gates.

I agree with you on the Pearly Gates, except he was asking about mini humbuckers. The Pearly Gates is a full size humbucker.