Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am thinking of getting a 360 6 string. I don't know much about pickups, except some of you mention the ohms (?) of the different era pickups. I do understand this has to do with loudness. I also understand that an easy response would be that if I want a Ric to sound like it did in the 60s ... get "Vintage" pickups. But...

What are the differences in sound and tone between the Hi Gains and the "Vintage" pickups? Is there a big difference between the "Vintage" from a few years ago and the ones they make now...I have heard some of you discuss this.

Btw, Back in '91 I had a reissue 1997 and sold it. Someone here said Ric has changed the Vintage pickups since then. Are they better now... what did they change?

I sincerely thank you for any help.

grant it just depends on what music you play and if you use the guitars live or just around the house. (is this the P.C. way to sat this, PETE M)
I like the scatter wounds for the tone but if you need to play louder go with the more modern style Rick PU....
tom

I'd agree with Tom on the high-gains for all around rock tones. If want a more 60's tone try the toasters. A TON of this depends on the amp rig you plan on using.

Thanks. Between this post and the one under "ask a luthier", it seems I may stay with the "Vintage" P.U. BTW. I use a Fender Princeton amp.

I think it would be interesting to know what percentage of people buy new Rics with the "Vintage" vs. the High Gains.

BTW pt.2

This may be a silly question to some of the people here but...

Tom, when you said "...if you need to play louder..." did you mean volume wise. I understand one P.U. can be louder than another, but can't you just turn the amp up??? I'm sure it is a bigger deal than that...but I honestly don't know much about P.U.s.

the vintage 60s PUs didnt have as many turns of wire on the bobbins so theyre not as hot as the newer vintage style theyre hotter and the hi-gains that came out in the 70s are also hoter than the 60s PUs, I think Rick now has went back to the original amount of windings...
70s-90s Hi-gains/blacktop PUs and later Vintage toasters reissue PUs are louder with less tone...
the 60s toasters and newer vintage scatter wound reissues are not as loud but have a sweater tone...
Does that make any sence???
Most people would disagree with what Im saying but you just really have to deside for yourself....
good luck tom

Thanks a lot! I think after all this I am going to go for the "Vintage" P.U.s. Slowly but surely I'm learning there is more to guitars than just plugging them into an amp and playing. LOL

Thanks again.

Grant