Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Has anyone else experienced this problem?

When I switch from the midposition selector (both pickups) or the neck position to the bridge position, my 360 sounds out of tune. I say sounds because according to my electronic tuner, it is still in perfect tune.

It seems to my ear that the G is slightly flat when I switch pickups.

Any ideas outside of having my ears retuned? Has anyone else had this sensation?

Patrick: It may be that your pickups are too close to the strings, particularly the neck pick up. If this is the case the magnets may be "pulling" on the strings.

This problem is more likely to be observed with the neck pickup, as in your case, as this pickup has more string movement.

If you have Toasters the polepieces are long ALNICO rod magnets and these are always "ON" even if the pickup itself is not.

I have had this problem with a non-Rickenbacker and the problem was solved by increasing the distance between the pickup and the strings.

There are two ways to go obviously. You can raise the bridge or lower the river. If you can lower your pickup any further that would be preferable in my books.

Patrick Here's something I have found over the years of Guitar Repair. Some pick ups are wound kinds loose in various spots causing a mild microphonic problem. Some I've seen are so bad that no matter where you adjust the P-up height it doesn't help. The solution is to have them taken apart and dip them in hot parafin wax. This is a very simple thing to do taking extra caution not to break the coil wire, it's about the size of a large human hair. The wax stops the coil wire from vibrating that can cause non harmonic tones causing that out of tune problem. The Guitar that Peter posted for me recently I put new repro Toater P-ups on it. They both had to be taken off and wax potted because of the same problem you are referring to. After waxing them they sound great. hope this helps you.