Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I really love my Ric but I want to be able to do it all with it. I am so used to it I dont want a new guitar. I would prefer to just change the pick-ups. what do the Rickenbacker Humbuckers like?

What guitar have you got and more importantly what pickups are on it?

I have a Ric 330 with the Hi-gains.

What do you feel you can't do with it at the moment?

Well I want to be able to play heavier stuff when I feel like it like Metallica as the heaviest.

MMMmmm John its over to you. ( Id keep the hi gains on there the most versatile for different playing styles)

At the RIC 75th, Mark "Slick" Aguilar (Jefferson Starship) played a 330 that was equipped with humbuckers. IIRC it belongs to JH. No one who was there will ever forget his solo on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." It was awesome.

I'd just buy another guitar. I don't find that the RIC humbuckers, nor a hollowbody guitar would be ideal for that type of thing.

Well I dont expect to get it perfect but somewhat closer sounding. I also play alot of dirty blues like The Black Keys and think a humbucker sounding guitar would make it sound more authentic.

rickenvon wrote:I really love my Ric but I want to be able to do it all with it. I am so used to it I dont want a new guitar. I would prefer to just change the pick-ups. what do the Rickenbacker Humbuckers like?

I tend to agree with John B. Wanting one guitar to "..do it all..." is like the search for the Holy Grail. I love RICs, but you may want to play some guitars that have the ability to split the humbuckers into single coils.

When I installed HBs in my 360 five years ago, I was looking for something different. The 360's hi-gains were so close to my 1997's toasters (pre scatter-wound), that I had trouble telling them apart. To me it didn't make sense to have two guitars that sounded so much alike. The 360 has become my go-to electric blues guitar.

Ric humbuckers will give you the heavier sound you're looking for, but it's not full-on metal. Think Les Paul "chunk" and you're pretty much there. They also seem to like pedals that can add lots of gain to the signal. No noise but lots and lots of sustain. I love soloing with them and they sound fantastic with a slide.

can you post a solo with your ric+humbuckers

I had a Rick HB many years ago and wasn't able to detect a great deal of difference to the hi gain it replaced. I suggest you look at an active pickup. I bought a '66 335 years ago and someone kept the toaster covers on but inserted active pickups. An unreal guitar. I've been unable to figure out a brand of manufacture or if these were somehow a custom item. If I could replicate it for my other 335 I'd do it in a heartbeat- it sounds that good.

im thinking of somehow replacing the neck hi-gain pu on my 330 with an EMG. is taht even possible>