Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

As I ponder what to put in my '68 restoration when the time comes, I can't help wondering if anyone has ever done a comparison recording or video of different Ric or other replacement treble pickups in the same bass?

Obviously what a pickup sounds like in one bass doesn't mean it'll necessarily sound the same in another, but it could give a reasonable benchmark. I've actually done comparisons before but have never recorded them. Personally I'd like to hear a real Horsie (Ric or Lollar) compared to a reissue Horsie, compared to a screw top high gain, or one of those Classic Amplification '60s. Anyone fancy doing it?

Shawn,

Not interested buddy, sorry! You bring up a real interesting idea. While it's the whole instrument that makes up the final product, tone wise, out of all the Rickenbacker bass treble pups I've owned, I really gravitate towards the late 60's early 70's slotted pole piece pick up. Now the button top in my Shadow is no slouch by any means, I've loved every slotted pole piece pup I've ever played. My 73 had one and it was the treble pup I compared every other Rickenbacker to. My 72 has one and I love that bass' tone! So much so that that bass has knocked my Spector NS2 into back up duty. what makes this pick up sound like it does? Beats me. It's basically 4 machine screws two slabs of circuit board material and a few thousand wraps of real this copper wire.

Tone is very subjective and what floats my boat may not be what floats yours.

Sepp

Of course that's true Sepp, but it would be interesting to hear a comparison in the same bass; once you change the instrument there are too many other factors that inform the differences. No two of my many Rics have sounded the same acoustically (although the 2 CSs were very similar and totally different from my V63).

My favourites so far have also been the screw top high gains. I once tried a reissue horseshoe in my FG '72, and although it had some of the qualities of the screw top it sounded overpowered and somewhat blurry in that bass; less complex, clear and growly. I also had one of Sergio's in there for a while; that retained the clarity of the screw top but with extra bite, although it wasn't quite as warm as the old pickup, which I probably would have expected. Of course it's likely that there will be individual differences between pickups too, but still, potentially an interesting exercise.

FWIW I used to love doing this sort of thing; I used to swap stuff around all the time.

I've got the classic amp versions in my bass. They blow away any stock pickup that's for sure.

loverickbass wrote:I've got the classic amp versions in my bass. They blow away any stock pickup that's for sure.

In what ways? Please enlighten me! Would be nice to hear from a CA user as they're currently top of the "probable" list.

They have more power than the stock pickups, but without losing any highs. Very articulate. More growl,more of everything good about the bass without losing any of "the sound." I hope that makes sense. They craftsmanship is top notch too. Up there with Lollar, if not better. No kidding.

Shaun,

As you know, I'm in the process of ordering my pups from Brad at Classic Amplification. He asks a million questions as to what you are looking for. He explains that options you can get and how that affects tone. The guys is fantastic to deal with and you are really part of the process!! You sorta have to know what you want as far as what era wind you want but he'll walk you through the process. So far it's been a blast!! I can't wait to get them and then I'll be jonesing for RIC to manufacture my bass so I can drop them in!

Sepp

Well that all sounds great!

I guess what I'm after would be similar to my FG '72. In fact I can provide him with some video clips of that bass in full flight, so it could work well. Sepp, am I right in thinking you ordered his neck pickup too, with a Ric toaster cover to be fitted? Cole, what models do you have in yours?