Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

This is an '82 360/12, the pickups have obviously been changed. These are vintage 60s toasters, right? I'm going to be selling the guitar, but I'm considering swapping the pups for hi-gains since that's what it came with originally and keeping the toasters for another guitar.



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I wouldn't necessarily say they're 60s toasters. But they look to be pre-1984.

Judging by the routing in the body they are original to the guitar, likely custom ordered with toasters (which I thinkwas an option for that period).

Considering the dark area underneath the pups I'm assuming there were hi-gains installed on this guitar for a long period and then these toasters were put in. I didn't realize you could custom order toasters back then, I thought they were phased out in the early 70s and then brought back (in the 90s?) as reissues..

Going by the darkened areas, I too, would expect that hi-gains with the foam cushions were originally on the guitar. I think those toasters may be the hot wound ones given the Phillips screws in the corners. Can you measure the DCR of those pickups, Adam?

Two facts you gents might not be aware of:

1.) Foam rings were standard from around 1970 until the mid-1980s, regardless of pickup type. See photo below of my '72 330/12 with original toasters. Foam rings...


2.) (and this is the big one) Since hi gain pickups have one large magnet attached to the bottom of the non-magnetic polepieces, they require a rectangular "swimming pool" pickup route in the body. Adam's guitar has the smaller oval route to fit the magnetic bobbins of a Toaster. Done believe me, just try and fit a hi gain!

collin wrote:.. the smaller oval route to fit the magnetic bobbins of a Toaster. Done believe me, just try and fit a hi gain!

Send me a sample guitar and some pickups to do some experimenting, please!

All the Rickenbacker guitars I have owned had toasters on them, except for the 730/12L (that may have had a hi-gain but I never could find it on that guitar ).

collin wrote:Two facts you gents might not be aware of:

1.) Foam rings were standard from around 1970 until the mid-1980s, regardless of pickup type. See photo below of my '72 330/12 with original toasters. Foam rings...


2.) (and this is the big one) Since hi gain pickups have one large magnet attached to the bottom of the non-magnetic polepieces, they require a rectangular "swimming pool" pickup route in the body. Adam's guitar has the smaller oval route to fit the magnetic bobbins of a Toaster. Done believe me, just try and fit a hi gain!

image.jpg

You got that '72 BG Collin? Looked nice.

godber wrote:

collin wrote:Two facts you gents might not be aware of:

1.) Foam rings were standard from around 1970 until the mid-1980s, regardless of pickup type. See photo below of my '72 330/12 with original toasters. Foam rings...


2.) (and this is the big one) Since hi gain pickups have one large magnet attached to the bottom of the non-magnetic polepieces, they require a rectangular "swimming pool" pickup route in the body. Adam's guitar has the smaller oval route to fit the magnetic bobbins of a Toaster. Done believe me, just try and fit a hi gain!

image.jpg

You got that '72 BG Collin? Looked nice.

Sure did, thanks Mark.

It plays even nicer!

Congrats!

Collin is correct.

Middle of 1982 (July or August?) is when you could order Toasters again.

Same time as the B Series guitars came out - RIC was calling them "Chrome Bar" pick ups.
I am not sure you could order them factory installed on anything other then the 320B, 360/12BWB and the 4003SB.

But the FC Hall era was more open to special requests - so who knows?