Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

G'Day Sergio,

I have two Rick's one has HI Gains the other 7.4k Toasters. Here in Australia getting Ric parts is really, really .....(insert lots of "really's here) hard.

I love the sound of the VP Toasters and would like to convert my 360/12 over to toasters. If I could buy a set of toasters I would, but the inflated prices on ebay seem (?) excessively inflated!

So my question for you is, can I build myself two PU's that gives me that tone I'm after from some basic parts and wire? I see Stewart MacDonald is advertising wire and bits on it's web site. If it is possible could you advise how to go about it? I've read a few articles on the Web as to how to make generic PU's and think I could pull this off.....except the chrome covers that is, but the tone is more important to me than the look. Maybe I'll get some covers latter

Cheers,

Si.............

Hey Si.

Building two toaster-style pickups is not that hard really: you'll need #44 wire, twelve Alnico-2 or -3 magnetic slugs, and some not-too-easy-to-bend plastic sheet stock to fashion the top & bottom bobbin plates from. Let me know if you need more specific information as to how to put the pickups together & winding them. Cheers.

Si, it would be easy to unwind the high gains to 7.4k, then pull the magnet off the bottom, pull (or unscrew on the newer) the pole pieces, chase the holes with a 1/4" drill bit, then insert magnetic alnico5 rods. Sounds like a lot but it isn't. Of course then you'd need covers, available from POTR or Mike Parks, among others.

Thanks for the responses guys.

Think I'd like to leave my Hi Gains so I can swap them over if I was unsatisfied with the result.

Sergio,

Yeah if you could give me a bit of a steer as to how I would go about it that would be great

Cheers,

Si......

(sound of screeching tyres! )
Hi again, Si. Sorry I went away on you sort of. I'll send you a PM very soon. Stay tuned. Regards.

No worries Sergio

Look forward to hearing from you.

Si.....

You will...