So we've reached the end of the Rickenbacker journey...!! So far, I've changed out the pots, added the vintage 'high pass' capacitor to a toggle switch, and replaced the normal bridge with a Mastery. But today, we'll be looking at the biggest difference between the modern guitars and the 1960s ones...the pickups.
I'll be replacing the Rickenbacker High Gain pickups - which have a fairly high DC resistance and use ceramic bar magnets - for some more vintage correct Toaster pickups made by The Creamery in Manchester. These have a lower DC, and use AlNiCo poles - as well as looking pretty glitzy too! I'm hoping these will be the missing piece of the puzzle to really make my 330 sound like the old ones. Will they give me the scoopy jangle and glassy top end I've been searching for? Let's find out?
What do you think? Which do you prefer? And why? Comment below!
Amps are a Dr Z Z-Wreck, a Vajra JTM45 clone and Orange Retro 50 - all running into a Zilla Studio Pro 2x12 cabinet loaded with Scumback S75-PVC AlNiCo and Celestion AlNiCo Gold speakers. Recorded with Aston Spirit Condenser, '70s Sennheiser MD441 and sE RNR1 ribbon mics, with a Schoeps CMC6 room mic.
0:00 Intro
6:27 Dr Z Z-Wreck
8:36 JTM45
11:51 Orange Retro 50
14:35 Outro
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jp@joeperkins.co.uk
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