Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Was there ever a 620 "VP" model made with toasters?

Has any one out there dropped some toasters into a 620? Well, not drop a toaster on a 620 but more like swap out the high gains for low gain pick ups?

If so, did it sound good? I have an idea to turn a 620/6 into a "poor mans" narrow neck 660/6 - if I can find any V Pup's.

I did a thread search and did not come up with anything on this subject.

Thoughts, comments (be gentle)?

There are 3 in the register.
Two with images.
I'm sure they sound wonderful.

At one time I owned a 620 VP VB FG.......a more or less modern version of a 625. These were all factory options, from the time when these options were available on new orders.

Only three words for me to say:

Go for it!

320capt wrote:Was there ever a 620 "VP" model made with toasters?

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I ordered a JG 620 with toasters in 1994, but never took delivery of it... Between the time that I ordered it and it arrived I had become unemployed..

I had to let the dealer restock it and sell it.

The one that got away!

B

I had the hi gains taken out of mine and replaced with toasters and they sound great.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd23 ... G_0197.jpg

I put a 12K toaster in the bridge with the 0.0047 cap and a Ric HB with a toaster cover on it in the neck of my 620. I prefer it way more than with the Hi-Gains. Not that the Hi-Gains were bad, it's just my preference. IMO the 12K gives it more jangle but with a little hotness of the Hi-Gain, and blending in the HB gives it a little more sustain and punch.

I also put on the older style black hex knobs. Gives it a nice vintage vibe.

That's a neat idea to mix the pickups.

I recently unexpectedly picked up a 2006 620 JG locally that was a good deal even though I felt I really wanted a FG - until I saw the picture of that lefty with the checkered pick guard.

That is far out cool!

and you don't even have to mix them, you can put pair of hb1 and use ric 500k tone push/pull pots to split the coils. that way you get both sounds - humbuckings and single coils. it works quite well even with 300k volume pots.

I ordered my brand new 620 FG VP from Mike Parks in June 2000 and took delivery in September. It was a factory option at that time. I got exactly what I want. The VP toasters are more pleasant to my ear than the high gains I have in my 330. My 620 is in the Register. Jon

I wish I understood all the pickup/switch lingo because the VP's with a push pull to single coil sounds like something I'd like to do as well.

I ran across a reissued Hagstrom Super Swede once with a coil tap that was dandy.

Brian, your checkerboard guitar is a converted 620 to a 625 from the 1960's - 1970's?

What would VP's run now? They seem to be pretty rare now that RIC does not carry them in stock anymore.

320capt wrote:I wish I understood all the pickup/switch lingo because the VP's with a push pull to single coil sounds like something I'd like to do as well.

I ran across a reissued Hagstrom Super Swede once with a coil tap that was dandy.

Brian, your checkerboard guitar is a converted 620 to a 625 from the 1960's - 1970's?

What would VP's run now? They seem to be pretty rare now that RIC does not carry them in stock anymore.

You could probably find a used one on ebay for around $1500.Or you could get a regular 620 and put toasters on.I had a 1983 620 that I put Toasters on and it sounded great!

320capt wrote:I wish I understood all the pickup/switch lingo because the VP's with a push pull to single coil sounds like something I'd like to do as well.

You can't do a push pull to single coil with toasters (VP) as they are only single coil so what would you switch between?

jps wrote:

320capt wrote:I wish I understood all the pickup/switch lingo because the VP's with a push pull to single coil sounds like something I'd like to do as well.

You can't do a push pull to single coil with toasters (VP) as they are only single coil so what would you switch between?

But couldn't you wire them in series and and make the 2 pickups into one humbucker(sorta) and have a switch to toggle between the HB and SC sounds?

Mitch your 620VP FG looks mighty fine.

What I was woundering about is how much the low gain vintage pickups are running for now days to be able to put them in a 620.

They do not seem to come up on ebay much at all and RIC does not seem to keep in stock many of their spare parts anymore.

My local store has a set of high gains for $99 but said they have not been able to get the VP's in for over a year.