U2 & Guitar Gear: Q & A

Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:Just bought a rickenbacker 330 6 string Got a great price for it on the bay, on it's way here now. I'll post some pictures and general thoughts once it gets here!

Here's a picture that was on the auction of it. So sosososososo excited to get it.

[image]

Originally posted by anstratdubh1979:[..]

Nice. Congrats on the purchase.

Suggestion for improved tone - Swap out the pickups for the 'toaster top' vintage (lo-gain) version.

Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:[..]

Yeah people have already been telling me to do that. Will probably do it eventually, I haven't sampled the toasters myself, but I've heard great things about them. Expensive set of pups though.

Originally posted by thechicken:[..]

Everything Rickenbacker is expensive.

Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:[..]

Yeah people have already been telling me to do that. Will probably do it eventually, I haven't sampled the toasters myself, but I've heard great things about them. Expensive set of pups though.

Originally posted by KAVALID:I am still searching for a good chime tone similar to 'Heartland'

Herdim pick / AC 30 / Fender Strat / Modulation Delay

Any suggestions?

Originally posted by anstratdubh1979:[..]



The wisdom is:
-- Low gain pickups have a wider spectrum of tone.
-- Hi-Gain pickups have a narrower spectrum of tone.

So it is is Edge / Vintage / wider spectrum of tone you want - The vintage style pickups are athe way to go.

Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:[..]

I've heard the newer 7.4k output toaster pickups leave something to be desired. In fact a lot of ricky players say that the hi-gains are more versatile than these. But they do say that if you can find a pair of 12k output toasters, thsoe are the best and should never be passed up. I've also heard the hi-gains sound better on the 6 strings. At any rate, I'll have to see how I like it when it gets here!

Originally posted by anstratdubh1979:[..]



Hi-Gains are not horrible. Ed O'Brien and Thom Yorke of Radiohead have Ricks with Hi-Gains and they get a good sound. The same can be said of Peter Buck of R.E.M.

But they don't have the range of tone that the 'vintage style (toaster top) pickups.

When I was first going to buy a Rickenbacker, I asked Dallas about the pickups. He said "definitely vintage style". I had the same conversation when I met Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) and was told the same thing.

I've owned Ricks with Hi-Gains and a Rick with the vintage lo-gain pickups. The vintage lo-gains sound best to my ears.

In the end, you have to trust your own ears. What sounds best to you.

Originally posted by anstratdubh1979:The pickups list for $150.00 each ($300.00 for a set), on the Rickenbacker website.

You might be able to pick up a set on EBay for cheaper.

Patience isn't a bad thing. You will be happier longer if you take the time, save the money and get what best works vs. what one can get 'right now'.

If you know how to install the pickups yourself then that can save you some money. Friend of mine had a set put in, in New York. I don't remember exactly what it cost her but I remember it not being too horrible a rate.