Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

In my 4003 project thread, John said it was possible to modify a modern Rickenbacker high gain pickup into a toaster style pickup using the following method: "Take a high gain, pull out the poles, cut off the magnet on the bottom, chase the holes with a 1/4" drill, buy 1/4" x 5/8" alnico5 rod magnets, get a toaster cover, and make your own. Unwind the higain to 5k-7.4k also."

I'm not sure if John was talking about modifying a 6-pole high gain made for guitar or a 4-pole high gain made for bass, but it made me wonder if a high gain bass pickup modified into a 4-pole toaster style pickup would sound even better since it would have 4 poles properly aligned with the strings. Or would only having 4 poles cause the pickup to lose what Ted refers to in his Anatomy Of A Rickenbacker Bass – Part 6 – The Pickups thread: "The wide field setup by the large poles gives the Toaster a smooth and even string response." And what if instead of using 1/4" alnico rod magnets, one was to use 5/16" or 3/8" alnico rod magnets in such a 4-pole toaster style pickup?

I wanted to see if anybody has ever done this with either a 4-pole or 6-pole high gain pickup, and how it compares to the 7.4k toasters that have 6 pole pieces. And since a high gain costs half the price of a toaster, and you could unwind the high gain to any impedance you wanted, does anyone think it might actually be a better option than buying a 7.4k toaster pickup.

ianmatth wrote:I'm not sure if John was talking about modifying a 6-pole high gain made for guitar or a 4-pole high gain made for bass, but it made me wonder if a high gain bass pickup modified into a 4-pole toaster style pickup would sound even better since it would have 4 poles properly aligned with the strings. Or would only having 4 poles cause the pickup to lose what Ted refers to in his Anatomy Of A Rickenbacker Bass – Part 6 – The Pickups thread: "The wide field setup by the large poles gives the Toaster a smooth and even string response." And what if instead of using 1/4" alnico rod magnets, one was to use 5/16" or 3/8" alnico rod magnets in such a 4-pole toaster style pickup?

I wanted to see if anybody has ever done this with either a 4-pole or 6-pole high gain pickup, and how it compares to the 7.4k toasters that have 6 pole pieces. And since a high gain costs half the price of a toaster, and you could unwind the high gain to any impedance you wanted, does anyone think it might actually be a better option than buying a 7.4k toaster pickup.

I was talking about modding a 6-pole. I have modded a 4 pole higain this way and there are two things to consider. The pole spacing on the two higains (neck and bridge) have different spacings, and if you drill out the holes to 5/16" on the bridge coil, you WILL hit copper on the end hole that is closer to the edge. Don't ask, but Sergio came to my rescue and that coil resides in my 4003S within magnetic shoes and it sings beautifully, thank you.

Things to consider using 4 pole coils - in the neck position I would think 1/4" poles would suffice (about the size of the button heads). In the bridge, RIC uses 5/16" magnet rods in the reissue horseshoe pickups but if you play it safe and use a 4-pole neck coil, the poles will not align perfectly with the string spacing there. A 6-pole would be better in the bridge for that reason.

I cannot provide much useful info on the differences in sound because all the experiments I did with various combinations had different winding readings. I can say this - a new 7.4k scatterwound Toaster and a 70s 8k higain sound very similar - they both have the more clearer pitch definition over the more muddled low note pitch definition of the high windings higains.

Then there are those who like alnico magnets over the plastic kind on the higains. I like Toasters (alnoco) and I like 70s higains (plastic magnets). You decide.

One last comment. I've found I prefer my Ricks that have balanced windings in the two coils. I have a V63 that both the Toaster and RIHS (both alnicos) have around 14k windings, I have a '75 4001 with both higains (both plastic magnets) that have around 8.4k windings, and I have a 4003s with a '73 higain (8k plastic magnet) and a custom magnetic shoe pickup also wound to 8k and they are my favorites. This is only a personal choice, but I do not prefer the sound of the 11.4k to 13k higain pickups. YMMV Come to think of it, my 4004C has the same value winding HB1s at both positions and it is also a keeper. My 4003 with the reissue Toaster (7.4k) and the RIHS (12.6k) is alright because it has RIC/Maxima flats on it and can thump!

What do you mean by "plastic magnets"?

A technical term. The rubbery plasticy bars under higains.

I was going to say..... The first plastic magnet capable of operating at room temperature was developed in 2004.... I didn't think Ric was using them in 70s HGs.

The ceramic magnets used in the RIC hi-gains have a rubbery consistency to them.