Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

...In a manner of speaking, of course.

I've pulled the Kaufmann in favor of a trapeze (that's been mentioned in another thread or two). I've disconnected the middle pickup, not so much because Lennon was rumored to have done so but because I really don't want the "glassy" strat-ish tone that the middle pickup brings. Having disconnected it, it really wasn't too big a step to unscrew it and pull it off the guitar.

I'm finding really that the guitar is more playable without the middle pickup, as my 'default' picking location/motion had me hitting the middle pickup with my pick quite alot.

I am REALLY liking this guitar as it is now (minus the Vib-rola, trapeze tail, middle pickup gone, 12-54 flatwounds). Sure it's no longer recognizable as a "325C58" 1958 325 Re-issue. What it is now is a modded/adapted USA -made Rickenbacker set up to be PLAYED. Woo hoo hoo!!

http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Gro ... 310C58.jpg

I'm thinking that must be a big improvement. If I could find a 325 with a slimmed-down neck, I'd do it up just like that and have a blast. Good show!

I was actually thinking of doing the same thing regarding middle pickup removal, as it does get right in the way of picking or strumming for my style. What is under the pickup? Is there just a small hole for the wires? It's hard to see from the picture. Thanks! Rick

Rick, you have three small holes. The hole for the wire is probably visible in the pic. Then there are two other very small holes for the height adjustment screws (the philips-head screws).

Another thing I've considered here is getting (if I could find one) one of the Ric humbuckers (as found on the Hoffs model) and putting it in the bridge spot. The bridge toaster is rather weak (again, as it's supposed to be in a 'vintage' configuration). I'm running my neck pickup at 3/4 volume (or less) to compensate for the bridge pickup's lack of strength. One of the toaster-sized Ric humbuckers would probably be higher output, and I imagine the vintage tones would still be around more or less.

The humbuckers require a cavity in the body of the guitar; it's not a surface mount pickup. Adding one would be a fairly destructive procedure.

"The humbuckers require a cavity in the body of the guitar; it's not a surface mount pickup. Adding one would be a fairly destructive procedure."

Well we don't want to do that, then! The nice thing about all the "mods" I've done is that I can "go back" if I like (I don't expect I will -- but I can). The guitar is still the guitar structurally, though practically "better" for my purposes as a result of the changes.

As stated in another post...I have a couple JG 325C58 guitars is "reliced" condition for sale that would be good candidates for modification projects as discussed in this thread. I would sell them for under $975 each.

It's interesting that many of the hobby guitarists and collectors like the look (and condition) of a new guitar but John's and most playing musicians instruments are hammered.

Jim
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As stated in another post...I have a couple JG 325C58 guitars for sale. They are in "reliced" condition with some nicks and dings, which would make them good candidates for modification projects as discussed in this thread. I would sell them for $975 each. Parted out these guitars are worth more than that!

It's interesting that many of the hobby guitarists and collectors like the look (and condition) of a new guitar but John's and most playing musicians instruments are fairly well played and battle scarred.

Jim
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Although RIC humbuckers do have a rectangular magnet that extends below the bottom edge of the pickup, it extends no further than the six poles on the bottom of a toaster top. At least this is the case when comparing the toaster and humbucker I have.

Lawton,

If you want to put a high output toaster on there, I may be able to help. I've done some that I've rigged with short pole magnets, and , they'll require no additional reworking of the stock guitar, but give you a much higher output.

Just let me know if you need me to help.

-Jeff

Lawton,
"One of the toaster-sized Ric humbuckers would probably be higher output, and I
imagine the vintage tones would still be around more or less."

Less. Or not at all! The C58 Toaster pickups have about 3.5kOhms of resistance, which gives an inductivity of ca. 0.6 H (my guess). This gives the typically (unique) bright sound of the Hamburg model, best heard in "I saw her standing there" (Bridge pu, Vox amp/bright channel/non top boost or treble and bass pots on minimum/ flat wound strings). Or, with the tone pot in cut position the hollow sound of "I want to hold your hand" or "Roll over Beethoven". If you want an "All my loving" sound, take the neck pu (middle pu disconnected).

The Vintage 7.5kOhms (approx. 2.5H inductivity)pickups are perfect for the jangly sounds, for the 12-string guitars (even my 325V63 6-strings jangles a little). And they have the 325/Miami sound heard in "I'm happy just to dance with you",or
the lead guitar sound in "Long tall Sally".

In my opinion you won't get these sounds with an humbucker, but maybe a nice, lively, modern ( if overdriven/distorted) sound you are lookin for.

P.S.: I have no 325C58, nor a 12-string, just a 325V63. But I fiddled a lot with the pickups (wounded down from 12kOhms to 7.5kOhms, and with a trick,
emulating 3.5kOhms pickups, more or less). My guitar cable capacity is about 1,200 pF, my amp is a small WEM tube amp from the 80s, heavily modified to sound similar to the AC15 or AC30 non top boost class (I hope). I have Pyramid flat wounds on my guitar.