Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I read some time ago that the McGuinn signature model came with the "hot" 12k toasters. Is this because in 1987 the first "re-issues" were being made
and in stock to put on the guitar. Since Roger's sound was made on older 6-7k toasters it seems interesting - unless, of course he was involved in and tested
variations of windings at the factory - that he would approve this guitar which had a different output level.

I know Roger plays 12s with hi gains as well and sounds great and knows the tonal changes with higher windings. Does anyone know more facts about the evolution of this classic RIC?

Have a safe weekend, all.

donnellbw wrote:I read some time ago that the McGuinn signature model came with the "hot" 12k toasters. Is this because in 1987 the first "re-issues" were being made and in stock to put on the guitar.

That would be my guess. As much as I love my 370-12RM, I think the pickups (about 11K ohms) sound a lot "muddier" than the toasters on my 360-12CW.

The pickups on the 370/12RM would indeed be the "hot toasters". The scatterwound 7.4k ohm toasters started showing up around 2000, at the same time as the Carl Wilson models.

RIC most likely didn't put any special toasters on the McGuinn models, just what they were putting on the other reissues at the time, which were the hot toasters.

IIRC, the prevailing attitude at RIC at the time was that the 'hot' toasters were correctly wound - they surveyed several '60s guitars and came to that conclusion. The newer scatter-wound type was released after customers started complaining that the pickups were too hot.