Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm rebuilding a 660MG and decided to put Hi-Gain pickups in it.

Long ago I researched when the Hi-Gain pickup bobbin went from the flat fiber-top to the plastic molded bobbin. See: viewtopic.php?t=404086. That change happened around August of 1991.

Now, when I bought two of the old fiber top pickups, I noticed that the shape of the inner cutouts of the covers were not identical.

One had straight sides and the other had curved, sort of barrel-shaped sides.

I'm starting to research when the change from barrel-shaped sides to straight sides happened.

So far I see that current Hi-Gains have straight sides and so do the ones back to 1990. Ones from the 70's have the barrel-sides.

Does anyone know when the change happened?

Looking through the Register, it looks like the switch to the straight-sided cutout happened around July or August of 1988.

This is a 620 from July 1988: http://www.rickresource.com/register/us ... llsize.jpg

It's barrel-sided.

This is another 620 from July 1988: http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... p?id=37686

It's also barrel-sided.

Here's a 330 from July 1988: http://www.rickresource.com/register/us ... llsize.jpg

It's barrel-sided.

Here's a 330 from August 1988: http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... p?id=20016

It's straight-sided.

Here's a 330 from September of 1988: http://www.rickresource.com/register/us ... llsize.jpg

It's also straight-sided.

This is from January of 1989: http://www.rickresource.com/register/us ... llsize.jpg

It's also straight-sided.

Anyone have another opinion?

I agree. My hi-gain covers on my 320JG and 360-12WB FG ckbd are older, @ 1981, and the interior bobbin sides are not symmetrical. this leads me to believe they are ground-out toaster covers.

I've been wondering about this for a while. I have a 620 with one of each!! Bridge is rounded and neck pickup is straight. Dunno if you can see it in this pic.

Nick: What's the serial number on your 620, please?

7143

Funny, I've been meaning to ask about this for the last five or six years and I have a lull at work and log in and the topic comes up.

There should also be a letter and a number above the jack.

LenMinNJ wrote:There should also be a letter and a number above the jack.

Willing to bet a dollar it is H1 7143 from Aug 88.

http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... lebrity%3D


My next guess would be F4 from June 1991.

Ha ha. Yes H1. I thought I got a great deal.

nick_st_hilaire wrote:Ha ha. Yes H1. I thought I got a great deal.

I think so! Mind you I think 620s in general are priced at much less then their true worth...

That guitar's great support for the dating of the changeover!