Rick Norman Pickups
The pickup aftermarket is full of really excellent reproductions of vintage pickups. And these days, pretty much everyone uses plain enamel wire, the correct-style leads and good quality hardware, plates, screws and covers. Everyone has dissected a real old PAF, or a P90 or two, and come up with their version of the windings. And many of them do a credible job of emulating some real PAF or P90, somewhere. I went a step further. Not content to simply offer 'my take' on a PAF or vintage P90, I decided to develop sets of pickups that are based on and inspired by actual, real 1952 through 1960 Gibson Les Paul guitars and the semi-hollow range - ES335/345/355 - into the early 1960s. Not just guitars that I've somehow obtained resistance readings for, or heard on recordings, or played for a few minutes at a guitar show... these are vintage 1950s guitars with which I've spent real, quality time. I've been fortunate enough to play dozens of these old Les Pauls - P90 Goldtops throughout their entire range, Les Paul Juniors and Specials, 1958-1960 'Bursts', and ES335/345/355 guitars galore - through a huge assortment of modern and vintage amplifiers, in diverse settings from quiet solitary settings to loud, full-band settings. From these, I've selected certain guitars that I've found to be diverse in their sound and sonic balance - each offering something different in the sounds they produce through an amplifier and the music they inspire in the player. Thanks to the graciousness of their owners, I've had multiple opportunities to explore these great old instruments over and over again. I've had a first-hand (or first-ear, if you will...) education on their strengths and their nuances. I'm proud to offer Rick Norman Pickups in the following models:
Custom-shop Models Can't find what you need in the standard models? As with most modern pickup makers, I'll custom-make a set of pickups for you if you have something special in mind. At this time, Custom-shop models are limited to PAF-style winds. Contact me directly to discuss your needs.Options COVERS - Rick Norman Pickups humbuckers are available with or without polished nickel covers. Polished gold covers are now available by special order. POTTING - Potting is now available on Rick Norman Pickups. I hate the traditional goopy feel that fully-potted pickups have had, so I pot only the wound bobbins, and do so before the pickup is assembled. If you want your pickups potted, contact me BEFORE placing your order. BOBBIN COLORS - Bobbin selection is double-black or 'correct' zebra only. HOOKUP LEADS: Traditional single-conductor leads are standard. For those who like to experiment with the Out Of Phase sound option, I recommend that you take advantage of the option of a multi-conductor lead on one pickup. I don't recommend the popular 'magnet flip'. The orientation of the magnets is crucial to the sound of each pickup. Flipping the magnet will alter the tone of the pickup by itself. Having a multi-conductor lead allows you to accomplish Out Of Phase tones with a simple wire connection change at the volume pot, leaving the individual pickup in its original configuration to give you its best tone when used by itself. It also allows you to return the middle-position wiring to normal without having to remove the pickup from the guitar again to reorient the magnet. This option is available at no extra charge.Dealer and OEM orders welcome. Please contact me directly for information. |
