Best pickup for Rickenbacker tone

[RJ Guitars]

Hey Garage crew,

I've had the bug for an electric 12 string for a while. Finally tonight I won an Ebay auction for a Dean Sarasota 12 string. This is a hollowbody guitar that has a set of Humbuckers and the six string version is said to sound something like a Gibson ES-335 - we'll see about that. Is there any hope that I can swap out some pickups or do something otherwise get a Rickenbacker sound?

I know that there is a lot of talk about Rickenbacker going to hotter pickups in recent years - like 11 or 12K ohms. Now the word is that they have gone back to a resistance of 7.4K ohms... but I assume it's more complicated than just getting the right resistance to get what I want out this guitar. Do they make a pickup that will go into the humbucker holes and deliver the sound I want?

I really love the guitar on the old Brian Adams "Run to You" tune and that is what I have in my mind as the sound I want.

Any help appreciated,

rj

[jaysg]

What you want is known as a scatterwound toaster. There's a guy at the Rick Forum named Sergio something or other, who does those...now in a humbucking slot, I'm not sure. Lollar got in trouble for one or some of his Rick pickups, but he's a great resource and could probably direct you.

[surfsup]

Try fralin too, he knows his stuff.

[David Root]

RJ, you might have been better off buying a Rick 12 string in the first place. Of course they ain't cheap, I've been looking for a short scale Rick 6 string at a reasonable price for years.

[RJ Guitars]

RJ, you might have been better off buying a Rick 12 string in the first place. Of course they ain't cheap, I've been looking for a short scale Rick 6 string at a reasonable price for years.

David, I knew that but wasn't ready to jump that high yet... but probably I'll end up going down that path eventually. I occasionally have a compulsion to explore all the unlikely paths paths before I take the easy road.

Thanks guys for the info on the Scatterwound Toaster Pickups, it was all new stuff to me. It almost sounds like each pickup could have some random qualities and shouldn't be especially difficult to reproduce, although i haven't found a lot of alternatives to the Rickenbacker originals, except one...

I found exactly what I was looking for, at least if the description is believable. I am greatest among skeptics that these are the ticket, but for $38 I might just complete the proof that there isn't a cheap way to get where I want to go.

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Memphis-Aln ... p_658.html

Anybody know anything about these? I am not sure whether to order a pair or a single at this point.

rj

[tele caster]

The surf 90's have a more convincing sound to me. Single coils though.

http://www.guitarfetish.com/GFS-Surf-90 ... c_259.html

[rp]

http://www.rickenbacker.com/cart.asp?category=Pickups

[surfsup]

I've heard others talk highly of the surf90s. TVjones does some good pickups for that "jangle" because he does Gretsch pups, though not sure what the mount is for these "toasters". SOunds like RJ already ordered up.

[xtian]

I got a set of Lil Puncher ("hot rail" style humbuckers in single coil size) from guitarfetish, and like them a lot. I would definitely consider buying from them again.

[Reeltarded]

Seymour also makes a Ricky. It sounds like a Ricky.

Rics play like crap, and make that sound. Always better with another guitar.

[jaysg]

Seymour also makes a Ricky. It sounds like a Ricky.

Rics play like crap, and make that sound. Always better with another guitar.

I think some of the guys at The Rick Forum took it hard when the only Rickenbacker seen at The Concert For George, wasn't played, it was his 12 sitting in a stand. They used a Fender for If I Needed Someone.

There was a comment attributed to Marshall Crenshaw about 12 string electrics. He didn't name a brand, but he said, 'they all feel like cardboard.' I think we know what he meant. They sure do look pretty though.

[Teleguy61]

RJ, you might have been better off buying a Rick 12 string in the first place. Of course they ain't cheap, I've been looking for a short scale Rick 6 string at a reasonable price for years.

David, I knew that but wasn't ready to jump that high yet... but probably I'll end up going down that path eventually. I occasionally have a compulsion to explore all the unlikely paths paths before I take the easy road.

Thanks guys for the info on the Scatterwound Toaster Pickups, it was all new stuff to me. It almost sounds like each pickup could have some random qualities and shouldn't be especially difficult to reproduce, although i haven't found a lot of alternatives to the Rickenbacker originals, except one...

I found exactly what I was looking for, at least if the description is believable. I am greatest among skeptics that these are the ticket, but for $38 I might just complete the proof that there isn't a cheap way to get where I want to go.

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Memphis-Aln ... p_658.html

Anybody know anything about these? I am not sure whether to order a pair or a single at this point.

rj

The guitar fetish pickups are chinese made, just FYI. As are the Xaviere guitars.
I bought one of the guitars, as his warehouse is about 10 miles from where I live, so I could pick it up. I had my tech friend do some fret work, and it's a pretty darn good guitar for $195, plus $50 in fret work.
The pickups, guitar fetish PAF "clones" were very second rate.
I put DiMarzio Air Zone Tone Zone combo in and it is a real guitar.
Just my experience.
George

[David Root]

I knew they couldn't be artisan built in the US for $38. I built a lot of pickups before I became obsessed with amps and sold most of them wholesale. Lowest I would go was $30 each for Strats sold 30 at a time.

[RJ Guitars]

I ordered one of the Memphis Alnico from Guitar Fetish neck position pickups and I'll give it a listen and report back on that.

I've also heard that the flatwound strings are an important part of the old Rock tone... any comments on that?

rj

[rp]

I've also heard that the flatwound strings are an important part of the old Rock tone... any comments on that?

I was going to just say, "do it now" but then I remembered 12 string - pita, but you have to take the strings off to swap the pickup, so that would be a good time.

Below is my first real guitar - only golden era piece I held on to. Bought in 1978 for $250 with tags and OHSC. I used to keep the action high and play slide on it. Lately I set it up for normal playing and after 33 years I finally got around to putting flat wounds on it. Awesome old school sound. I believe it's what you're looking for.

I used these GHS Flat Brights, just cause I've played friends' jazz boxes w/ flats and thought they were kind of dull and was worried about that. I don't know enough about flats to recommend anything more. But, yeh if you have a hollow body for the price of a pack of strings you should try flats.

edit: hmmm, they make 12 string flats???