Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi Experts !
As Melissa B. has a beautiful 220 Hamburg in MID for sale I'd like to know more about these models (header). Maybe some of you can help lightning it up a bit for me. Did the search already... Where are the main differences between these models ? Pickups, neck width/shape and so on.. Thanks for your kind input!
Alex

There are really only 2 models, not 4. They changed the numbers for some reason at one point. The deluxe IIRC is the 250/260. The basic model is the 220/230. I had a blue 260 (gold hardware!) and liked it... not enough to never sell it, but no real complaints either. I have a 2030GF and love it.

Thanks Jason ! Are the pickups on the 230 Glenn Frey the same as on the 220 Mellybee is selling ?

Not Jason, here. Yes, they are the same pickups (HB-2).

Thanks Jeff, I was sure you would chime in with some infos

So, are you going to take a trip to Texas and pickup the guitar in person? I hear the weather is perfect this time of year there.

xpitt wrote:Hi Experts! I'd like to know more about these models - where are the main differences between them ? Pickups, neck width/shape and so on.. Thanks for your kind input! Alex

This is a good starting point, Alex: http://www.rickresource.com/rrp/RIC200series.html.

Meantime, I have sent you a more comprehensive reply by email.

jdogric12 wrote:viewtopic.php?f=1&t=21

Thanks guys, the links helped a lot , now I know a little more about them. From what I read the HB2 's are special noiseless single coils. The neck width seems to be the standard of 330/360, not the wider ones (650, 660, 380). But it's worth thinking about it.
Thanks again !
Alex

Yes, and since they're mostly from the late 80's, they'll be on the smaller side of small. Which I love!

The HB-2s that were on my old 2030GF were very silent, noise-wise; if they are singlecoils that is amazing! I believe they are humbuckers, hence the name of the pickups (HB-2). They are also pretty high output, similar to HB-1 pickups IIRC. The 2030GF was a great sounding bass.

jps wrote: The 2030GF was a great sounding bass.

Those of us with the good sense to keep ours agree

jdogric12 wrote:

jps wrote: The 2030GF was a great sounding bass.

Those of us with the good sense to keep ours agree

I am happy with my decision.

According to Mr. Hall, around 1988-1989 was the transition point between single coil pickups and humbucking pickups on the 200/2000 series instruments. Before that time single coil pickups were used that were the same as the 3000 series I believe. I have a couple of those around here but I haven't used them on anything yet. They have a U shaped metal frame with a samarium cobalt magnet in the middle and the coil wound around the magnet. The pickup is arranged in such a way so that one pole is on the magnet and the opposite pole is on the metal on each side, which makes the pickup very quiet as far as hum is concerned for a single coil pickup.

The humbucking pickups used were the HB-2, which is the same as the HB-1 except for the mounting method. The HB pickups are made just like a Gibson full size humbucker design for the most part, though there isn't a keeper bar since there are no adjustable pole screws as in a Gibson pickup. The HB has a samarium cobalt magnet in between both bobbins with one pole going to one bobbin and the other pole going to the bobbin on the other side, which gives opposite polarity to each bobbin, just as in the Gibson pickup. The pickup is epoxied and has 4 wires coming out of the epoxy and going to a PCB with some terminals on one end. Since the wires are separate it is possible to use coil splitting on these pickups. They are powerful and quiet pickups from a hum level perspective, and very loud pickups from a sound level perspective. They are also VERY hard to repair if they get damaged. (Ask me how I know!) The early ones have a gap between the epoxy and the PCB that can allow the wires to get nicked, which is what happened to the one from my 1989 230, but I was able to fix it after about 4 years of being inoperative. I will add that the early HB-2's seem to be a little less hot, and I like the sound of them better.

Greg