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Vintage Reissue Higains anyone?
Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:37 pm
by loverickbass
As of late I've been so tempted to throw some Higains on my 381 since, I've been told, where the first model to recieve them. But, I know the modern Higain are not the same as the late 60s early 70s versions.
Sergio, what was the makeup of those early Higains? Would it be possible to convert a modern one to more vintage specs?
Cole
Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:14 am
by rickcrazy
Affirmative. Unwinding a modern high-gain will get you pretty close. But there is a better answer. E-mail me, please.
Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 3:05 am
by loverickbass
Email sent Sergio.
Cole
Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 4:54 am
by loverickbass
Does anyone here have any closeup pictures of the early Higains that they could share?
Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:13 pm
by rickcrazy
Hmm... Where did the Rick Forum archives go?...
Anyways, no, I don't have any such pics, but for it's worth, the early bass high gain pickups had slotted round head screws for polepieces, whereas the polepieces on those for 6/12 string guitar were simply screw shafts protruding somewhat from the top of the pickup.
Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 3:59 pm
by soundmasterg
Those early ones were probably somewhere around 8k-9k right Sergio? I'd guess they were scatterwound too, although that wasn't a big deal back then as most pickups were made that way.
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:38 am
by rickcrazy
8.0/ 9.0 K? I'd say around 6.0 K.
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 7:29 am
by doctorwho
Here are a couple of not-so-good pics of the hi-gains on my 331LS:
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 8:10 am
by rickcrazy
Hey, thanks, Gary. While you're at it, can you measure the ohm rating of those pickups, please?
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 8:20 am
by doctorwho
I'll see if I can get to that in the next day or so.
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 9:04 am
by loverickbass
Gary, do you like the tone of those Higains? How do they compair to toasters?
BTW, what year is your 331?
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:44 pm
by soundmasterg
6.0k huh Sergio? My old '73 4001 was around 8k for the neck pickup and the bridge was dead, and TVJones rewound it to around 9k and it sounded great. Maybe the older ones or the ones on the guitars were lower?
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:54 pm
by doctorwho
Cole, it's an August 1970 (JH date code). Although I have not played it lately (or very much, for that matter), my recollection is that the pickups have a bit more low end to them compared with toasters. When I get some time, I'll try it out against my 1966 340.
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:29 pm
by rickcrazy
Greg:
Yes. I'd say somewhere between 6.0 and 7.0 K.
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 5:07 pm
by jwr2
The 70s high gains that I tested came in around 8k ohms