Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I know this topic has been discussed a few times, but despite a lot of web searching and reviews etc I still can't really get to the bottom of what the difference in sound should be between the neck High Gain pickup and a re-issue Toaster pickup? Well I say "High Gain" but as mine is a 1978 model it would be the one before those fitted to the 4003's which I would class as true "High Gain" (I think mine is about 8.25).

I already have a re-issue Toaster pickup from another project and fitted it the other day on my 4001. I wasn't quite sure what to expect but to me it sounds to have more treble but has lost some of the "beef" that was in the sound, also I think the output is a bit quieter (I think it is wound to 7.25). Is this a fair assumption in what the difference in sound should be? i think there is less "hum" through my amp as well.

At the moment I am undecided as to whether to keep the Toaster on or to re-fit the original pickup, it does have a nice tone but am not totally convinced at the moment, I did swap the strings at the same time to a slightly heavier gauge (which in hindsight probably wasn't the best thing to do). I do read a lot of players singing their praise and fitting Toasters as an "upgrade" so hopefully someone can tell me their thoughts on them? Are Toasters mainly suited to be used in conjunction with the Horse-Shoe treble pickups?

The late 70s Hi-gain did have a sound of it's own, but they can be hit and miss with string to string volume etc. If you have a good one stick with it..
You are correct in that a Toaster is more Hi-Fi sounding and the Hi-Gain is slightly more hairy sounding.
I think John Hall once described the difference as:
The Toaster sound is like someone standing very close to you talking quietly, where as the Hi-Gain is someone at the back of the room shouting...

Sums it up perfectly really...

Eden.

Hi Eden and thanks for your reply.

The string to string volume level was fairly good with the stock High Gain, however I think it is probably even better with the Toaster (because it is a 6-pole unit which I understand works as a composite item and not per individual string).

Not quite sure what you mean by the High Gain pickups being more 'hairy' sounding - do you mean more agressive?

I might keep the Toaster on there for a while to see how I go with it, it only takes 10 minutes to swap the pickups anyway. Initially I might just put the old strings back on as I'm not getting a true comparison (the old strings were 40/60/80/100 and I changed them to 45/65/85/105 when I fitted the Toaster). If I feel I'm losing more punch after changing the strings then it will be a no-brainer.