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Funkybot · October 30th, 2009, 07:31 PM

Does anyone know if there's a difference between the 12 and 6 string Rickenbacker pickups?

I bought an Agile electric 12 and hate the pickups, but if I could replace it with a set of Rick Hi-Gain's I'd be happy a camper.

Wayne Alexander · October 30th, 2009, 11:06 PM

For a 12 string, don't get Rick high gain pickups, get Rickenbacker toasters, the vintage wind ones which measure about 7.5K ohms. That's what gives you the Rickenbacker sound in a 12 string. To specifically answer your question, if you're using a particular type of Rick pickup (highgain, modern toaster with 11K wind, vintage toaster with 7.5K wind) there is no difference between the pickup you'd use in a 12 string versus a six string. But believe me, you want the vintage wind toasters. That gives you Beatles, Byrds, Tom Petty, etc. sounds from the 12-string. The high-gains will not give you that sound.

Jellyroll · October 31st, 2009, 12:47 AM

Also, for the authentic 60's jangle tone, a .0047 cap between the bridge pickup and volume knob is standard, and makes a significant improvement in tone.

FirstBassman · October 31st, 2009, 12:56 AM

... as will a compressor, metal fingerpicks and McGuinn's talent.

rhomco · October 31st, 2009, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstBassman

... as will a compressor, metal fingerpicks and McGuinn's talent.

A "Jangle Box" will send you into "Byrdland" and you will never play without it again.
Seroiusly,
Rob

Funkybot · October 31st, 2009, 02:00 PM

It seems like the toasters are considerably harder to come by. I've only seen one set on eBay and the guy wants $199 per pickup, whereas the higains sell for around $75. Is the difference really worth it? I wouldn't mind ending up with more of a Smiths/R.E.M. tone rather than a Beatles/Byrds tone if that's what the difference between the pickups would equate to. If the higains would just sound terrible on a 12-string however, that would be worth knowing too.

FirstBassman · October 31st, 2009, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhomco

A "Jangle Box" will send you into "Byrdland" and you will never play without it again.

J/B owner Steve seems to troll the Internet for any posts about his device so I'll just withold any comment except maybe to say - there are a lot of compressors on the market.

craigs63 · November 4th, 2009, 11:51 PM

I have the Agile 12 string (the blue one with mirror pickguard), one of these days I'm going to put a coil tap switch on one or all of the pickups, that might get me closer to what I want to hear (without having to fight the fretboard on my Rick).

Funkybot · November 5th, 2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigs63

I have the Agile 12 string (the blue one with mirror pickguard), one of these days I'm going to put a coil tap switch on one or all of the pickups, that might get me closer to what I want to hear (without having to fight the fretboard on my Rick).

I've got the same one in black. What an awful pickguard. I ended up just removing it.

Let me know if you find a way to improve upon the tone any.

Chrismo · November 5th, 2009, 02:16 PM

This might be a stupid question - but are any of the Rickenbacker pickups noiseless?

eggman · November 8th, 2009, 12:14 AM

Howdy,

To answer the original poster's question: No; a Rickenbacker P/U is a Rickenbacker P/U. To answer the post above me about noiseless Rickenbacker P/Us, they make a direct drop-in replacement that is a humucking pickup. I think Rickenbacker guitars are fantastic; I just wish I could play thier 12-string guitars to my satsifaction! They sound great in the hands of others, LOL.

Eggman

October 30th, 2009, 07:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
Funkybot TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: NJ Age: 28 Posts: 36	Are Rickenbacker 12 String P/U's Same As In 6 String? Does anyone know if there's a difference between the 12 and 6 string Rickenbacker pickups? I bought an Agile electric 12 and hate the pickups, but if I could replace it with a set of Rick Hi-Gain's I'd be happy a camper.

November 5th, 2009, 02:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
Chrismo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia Age: 21 Posts: 1,391 7 Photos	This might be a stupid question - but are any of the Rickenbacker pickups noiseless? __________________ Well let me just quote the late-great Colonel Sanders, who said..."I'm too drunk to taste this chicken." http://thetonechasers.wordpress.com/

November 8th, 2009, 12:14 AM	#11 (permalink)
eggman Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bossier City,La. Posts: 1,633	Howdy, To answer the original poster's question: No; a Rickenbacker P/U is a Rickenbacker P/U. To answer the post above me about noiseless Rickenbacker P/Us, they make a direct drop-in replacement that is a humucking pickup. I think Rickenbacker guitars are fantastic; I just wish I could play thier 12-string guitars to my satsifaction! They sound great in the hands of others, LOL. Eggman Last edited by eggman; November 8th, 2009 at 12:16 AM. Reason: I ommitted the letter "e" from the word noiseless.

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October 30th, 2009, 11:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
Wayne Alexander Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 1,351	For a 12 string, don't get Rick high gain pickups, get Rickenbacker toasters, the vintage wind ones which measure about 7.5K ohms. That's what gives you the Rickenbacker sound in a 12 string. To specifically answer your question, if you're using a particular type of Rick pickup (highgain, modern toaster with 11K wind, vintage toaster with 7.5K wind) there is no difference between the pickup you'd use in a 12 string versus a six string. But believe me, you want the vintage wind toasters. That gives you Beatles, Byrds, Tom Petty, etc. sounds from the 12-string. The high-gains will not give you that sound.

October 31st, 2009, 12:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jellyroll Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: Detroit, MI Age: 38 Posts: 319	Also, for the authentic 60's jangle tone, a .0047 cap between the bridge pickup and volume knob is standard, and makes a significant improvement in tone.

October 31st, 2009, 12:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
FirstBassman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 2,511	... as will a compressor, metal fingerpicks and McGuinn's talent.

October 31st, 2009, 02:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
Funkybot TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: NJ Age: 28 Posts: 36	It seems like the toasters are considerably harder to come by. I've only seen one set on eBay and the guy wants $199 per pickup, whereas the higains sell for around $75. Is the difference really worth it? I wouldn't mind ending up with more of a Smiths/R.E.M. tone rather than a Beatles/Byrds tone if that's what the difference between the pickups would equate to. If the higains would just sound terrible on a 12-string however, that would be worth knowing too.

November 4th, 2009, 11:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
craigs63 TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 25	I have the Agile 12 string (the blue one with mirror pickguard), one of these days I'm going to put a coil tap switch on one or all of the pickups, that might get me closer to what I want to hear (without having to fight the fretboard on my Rick).

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