Ricky Frypan 1 1/2" Pickups vs. 1 1/4" Pickups

Michael Winslow · From: San Francisco, California, USA

I read this quote on the link listed below. Is the 1/2' pickup that much better than the 1/4" pickup? What are the current market values for each? Does it really matter , or is just havimg a real frypan worth the price of admission? Specifically, is the 1/2' pickup that much better than the 1/4"pickup? Should a buyer just go for an Excel? And why are metal bodies of "little interest?" except for "nickel plated models?" What's the lowdown on purchasing these instruments besides $$$$$$$$??? Gimme the details, please....thanks...

Rickenbacker Bakelite prewar lapsteels with 1 1/2" wide magnet horseshoe pickups are considered collectible and excellent sounding instruments. Metal body models are of little interest, except for the nickel plated models. All postwar lapsteel models with 1 1/4" wide horseshoe magnets have little collectability, but are fine utility instruments.
http://www.provide.net/~cfh/contact.html

Jeff Au Hoy · From: Honolulu, Hawai'i

I think, universally speaking, the metal bodies sound just as good as a frypan or bakelite. They're all just different. Same thing with the 1/4" vs 1/2" pickup... just different sounds... equally fantastic in my opinion. They all have that sound that anything Fender, Gibson, etc. can't rival. Well, I take that back, the wood bodied Magnatone laps can sound similar. I think there might be a nostalgia factor since certain famous artists used certain instruments on certain famous recordings.

The excel is a real nice guitar with excellent tone in my opinion. The workmanship on the excel makes vintage instruments feel clunky. However, with the stock pickup, it doesn't have the Rickenbacher sound, no matter how you adjust it.

Kelvin Monaghan · From: Victoria, Australia

I would agree with Jeff the metal body's sound awesome.I have a '37 metal with 1 1/2'' p/u fabulous tone,different to my Pre War bakelite but just as good in it's in own way.I dont' hear a huge difference in the 1 1'4 pickup, a little more toppy I think the big difference in tone is due more to the string thru design used on the Pre War opposed to the Tailpiece on the Post War.I think one day the Metals will also become sought after.Any Vintage Rick with a Horseshoe has gotta be a good steel.My 2 bobs worth. Cheers Kelvin.

Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

Yeah, Jeff is right in my opinion. The magnetism difference from 1 1/2 to 1 1/4 is not very much. Those pickups are over rated in my opinion also. There are Rick wood bodied types around, but the horseshoe pick up doesn't make them sound any better than any other pickup. The magic in the Rickenbachers has to do mostly with the body material of the guitars, wether bakelite or metal.
One of these days I'm gonna slide a humbucker in my bakelite just to hear the difference. I would bet it would still sound good. Smile

Dave Zielinski · From: Pennsylvania, USA

I gotta say, I play a #59 metal body beater three nights a week.... Remagged by you know who, and it sounds fantastic. I play it through a Supro Thunderbolt or a tweed bassman, and it just has the tone. It has the "sleeper" 1-1/4" pickup. i wouldn't trade it for the world. New 250K pots and a 0.05mf cap makes them sound great with deep boo-wah range.

I would have to say the metal bodied skinny pickup ricks are super underrated and you can get them for cheap. Not to mention they are somewhat indestructable. Very good for giging on a budget, and the tone is better than alot of the other vintage stuff out there. hopefully it doesn't catch on, I'm buying everyone I can find!

Rick Aiello · From: Berryville, VA USA

Mike Neer · From: NJ

Gotta agree with Rick, those Horseshoe pups ARE the difference. I also will say that the 1 1/2" mag pups blow away every 1 1/4" mag pup I've ever played, although the 1 1/4"ers sound great, too.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links

Gary Lynch · From: Creston, California, USA

I am no expert by any means but my Rics, wooden bodied consoles, have a great sound and it is nothing like any other pick up I've played. I also own Fender Deluxe models but prefer the Ric tone.

Todd Weger · From: Safety Harbor, FLAUSA

I have two cast aluminum frypans (25") that used an A25 as the template. They both have 1-1/4" horseshoe Ricky p'ups from circa '49 or '50 that were lifted from a wooden console. Both of these sound amazing to me. Sustain, tone, feel, "that" sound... I'm sure there are plenty that are way better, but I have to say that these are the best sounding steels I've ever played, and I have to say from what I can tell, it's as much the cast aluminum body as it is the pickup. I'd be curious to hear what a frypan sounded like with a, say, P90 p'up or similar in it, just to see if the body played a bigger part than thought.

I love my Stringmasters, but have to say, I don't really want to play them so much lately after getting the pans. The tone is just toooooo juicy..

TJW
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Todd James Weger --
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, E13, A6); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Custom-made 25" aluminum cast "fry pan" with vintage Ricky p'up (C6); 1938 Epiphone Electar (A6); 1953 Oahu Tonemaster; assorted ukuleles; upright bass

Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

I couldn't agree more about the frypans Todd, but that great tone includes most bakelites too. I'm not familiar with the steel or brass bodies Ricks, never heard one.
I mostly respectfully disagree about the mojo of horseshoes
, and I have built and used a bunch of them.

That Rick Aiello is trying to get my horseshoe pickup!! Very Happy

Gary Lynch · From: Creston, California, USA

The early National laps were cast and the pickup is not a horseshoe. Ask Rick A. about the tone they put out. Awful in comparison to the Ric pickup. So, cast bodies are not the definitive answer to this topic. And Jeff Au Hoy says all the models have the tone. I have to respect these two men's opinion as they can walk the walk. Also, it allows me to think I'm not dreaming it all up.

Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

Yeah Gary, I looked at one of those old Nationals. Come to find out it's not aluminum, it's cast zinc. Of course it's still cast and I understand what you mean about the different pickup.

And you are not dreaming it all up. Everyone has an opinion and a taste for certain tones and I respect yours. Very Happy

Don Kona Woods · From: Hawaiian Kama'aina

May I ask a stupid question, since they are permitted on the Forum. Embarassed

From what points are the measurements of the 1 1/2" mag pup and the 1 1/4" mag pup made on the Rick's?

Thank you for your patient reply. Embarassed

Aloha,

Don

Rick Aiello · From: Berryville, VA USA

Harry Dietrich · From: Robesonia, Pennsylvania, USA, R.I.P.

And here I thought the tone is all in your hands. Wink

Harry

Don Kona Woods · From: Hawaiian Kama'aina

A picture is worth a thousand words!!!

I could see 2 possible points of measurement, but the picture makes it clear. Therefore my Rick A-25 is a 1 1/2" mag pup.

It appears that the size of the mag pups give an indication of the time (date) is was produced. Correct or Incorrect?

Thanks, Rick.

Aloha, Smile

Don

Gary Lynch · From: Creston, California, USA

Don,

Check this site. Scroll down to the pickup and lap steel info. Some good basics.

http://www.provide.net/~cfh/rick.html

Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

I have a wood lap steel blank, made of 5/16 " thick layers of maple and purple heart. It's shaped like a bakelite, and the pickup pocket is routed for a horseshoe set-up, which I have built for it. Actually it just needs the finish on it to be done, and wire it and finish the case. If you guys who think that pickup will bring this thing to life are correct, I'll be happy as hell if it sounds good Very Happy

BILL

Gary Lynch · From: Creston, California, USA

I bet it sounds better than good.

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