Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm thinking of switching my High Gain pickups to Toasters. Since none are available, I'm willing to just do the cover switch. How is this accomplished? Do I have to "destroy" the High Gains in the process? I like everything but the "look" of the HG's. Mike

What do you mean none are available? I thought you could get these from dealers, or even RIC.

New toasters are available from Mike Parks (The Rickenbacker Page) @ about $100. He also has toaster covers for about $20 which can be retro-fitted on high-gains with a bit of work. The conversion is a bit tedious, but not really all that difficult if you're reasonably good with tools. Since you're cutting off the buttons on the poles (or replacing the poles, depending on your chosen method) it's probably best to think of it as a one-way process. The pickup's sound seems to stay the same as far as most of us can tell.

I show how to do it here ... http://www.3dentourage.com/425/restoration.htm

I am thinking that someday I want to get another 4004 and do a 4-2-5 on it and put in 6 pole high gains converted to toasters ... and I would also wire it vvt with 250k ohm pots ...

Jeff, your pictures are great. I have a question though. Where did you get the polepieces to replace the originals? Thanks, Mike

from dismantled jazz bass pickups ...

I just re-used the original poles and they work great. I drove them out with a punch from the back after carefully peeling the rubbery magnet off the bobbin assembly. I positioned the bobbin over a block of wood with a trench cut in it and pounded them down into the trench and out of the pickup. Then I cut the bobbins off the poles with a Dremel tool and stuck them back in. They have spiral grooves in their sides, so they spin a bit as they're coming out or going in. The first one was a little scary, since I wasn't exactly sure what I was doing, but after that it was no problem. You can see the block of wood with tape padding on top in this picture.

You can also take a pair of vice grips and twist the heads off of the iron slugs ... the mushroom shaped head comes off easily because the slugs are soft iron ...

converting a high gain to a toaster I have reused the shaft of the iron slug, I have used steel rods and I have used alnico 5 magnet rods ... they all work ...

Jeff, do you notice much difference in the sound after using the Alnico 5 magnet rods as opposed to the original rubber/ceramic magnet?

I left the ceramic magnet in there ... so the tone on all 3 versions of converted pickups was similar ... the ones with the magnets should have a slightly more output ... I did the conversions for other people so I no longer have them to test ...

Basically the concept is you get the look of the toaster with the sound of the high gain ... For me the best application would be a 4004 bass because on the 4004 there is no room for the pole pieces ...

I also understand that the guitar types like the look of the toaster and the sound of the high gain ...

ok thanks. I thought you had left the ceramic out, which would of course change the sound quite a bit!

I play bass and guitar, and I like the toasters and the hi gains for different applications for both, but I like the look of the toasters better.

You know, they call Cylons toasters on Battlestar Galactica...now all RIC needs to do is add a red eye in between each side of the toaster that goes back and forth...haha!

How hard is it to add a middle pickup?

On a Rick... I guess you would need to drill some holes, de-solder and solder, and get a different pickguard. If you feel comfortable doing those things, I would say go for it. Just make sure it's not still under warranty!

How about adding a high gain in the middle. I have two vintage now. Any thoughts?