My recent conversion
Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 2:42 pm
I recently converted 2 hi-gain Rick pickups to fashion toaster covers. I consulted Sérgio via email. I also emailed and talked with Jeff Rath. Their prior experience was very helpful with this project. I thank both of you for your help.
Since I planned on trying these out, and with the possibility of a permanent replacement on my 650C, I chose to use two bridge hi-gain pickup assemblies due to the wider string spacing. I also had an older high gain that was given to me that I used to test prove the method that I wanted to use.
Here is the process I used:
• Remove the pickup cover.
• Removed the magnets with a chisel-blade X-ACTO® knife.
• Removed the pole pieces from the bottom side with a punch. • Drilled out the pole piece holes in the bobbin to 0.250”.
• Cut new pole pieces on a lathe to the same length as the thickness of the bobbin, 0.400”. The pole pieces were cut from 0.250” diameter cold rolled steel (1018). I wanted to use the larger diameter pieces so as not to have any dead spots in the magnetic field.
• Using a large dowel pin (approx. 0.500” x 6”) chucked up in my drill press, I pressed the pole pieces into the bobbin until flush with the bottom surface (where the magnet mounts).
• Glue the magnet back on. Note: Not being sure what glue to use I emailed both Sérgio and RIC customer service. I didn’t have much luck finding the glue Sérgio used. RIC CS wrote back: ” We use super glue for our pickups. Nothing special.” So I went to the Loctite® web site and chose to use #380. This seemed to be the best application due to the combination of materials in the pickup. It worked great.
• Reassemble the pickup with a new toaster cover.
These pickups work fine and have no dead spots when string bending. They have brought a whole new sound to the 650. I will post a cross-thread in the guitar section with pictures of the guitar with these installed.
Since I planned on trying these out, and with the possibility of a permanent replacement on my 650C, I chose to use two bridge hi-gain pickup assemblies due to the wider string spacing. I also had an older high gain that was given to me that I used to test prove the method that I wanted to use.
Here is the process I used:
• Remove the pickup cover.
• Removed the magnets with a chisel-blade X-ACTO® knife.
• Removed the pole pieces from the bottom side with a punch. • Drilled out the pole piece holes in the bobbin to 0.250”.
• Cut new pole pieces on a lathe to the same length as the thickness of the bobbin, 0.400”. The pole pieces were cut from 0.250” diameter cold rolled steel (1018). I wanted to use the larger diameter pieces so as not to have any dead spots in the magnetic field.
• Using a large dowel pin (approx. 0.500” x 6”) chucked up in my drill press, I pressed the pole pieces into the bobbin until flush with the bottom surface (where the magnet mounts).
• Glue the magnet back on. Note: Not being sure what glue to use I emailed both Sérgio and RIC customer service. I didn’t have much luck finding the glue Sérgio used. RIC CS wrote back: ” We use super glue for our pickups. Nothing special.” So I went to the Loctite® web site and chose to use #380. This seemed to be the best application due to the combination of materials in the pickup. It worked great.
• Reassemble the pickup with a new toaster cover.
These pickups work fine and have no dead spots when string bending. They have brought a whole new sound to the 650. I will post a cross-thread in the guitar section with pictures of the guitar with these installed.
