While looking through WD Music's stock of KA pickups (focusing mostly on the Toasters as the ultimate Ric-a-likes - and oddly enough they're out of stock.
I poke around, there's none on eBay, none on WD's UK shop or their US shop, so I figure
"what the hell" and send a mail directly to Kent Armstrong in person to see his reply.
Let's say the end result is slightly chilling.
Quote:
Dear Stealth:
We are not allowed to manufacture them any more as Rickey have a copyright on the design now !!!
Kent Armstrong
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Grisly, isn't it? Normally, I'm not the one to oppose copyright or patent enforcement insofar as it gives the original manufacturer exclusive rights for the first 20 production years, however this is slightly worrying as anybody who figures out how to wire a pickup that even remotely resembles a Ric toaster, they're not only unable to produce more than a prototype (of what might've been their own, genuine planning and design) but they're likely to get their hinds sued off them. That factor aside, I don't recall reading about Fender or Gibson suing people for pickup designs.
In terms of pickup toasters, what are we left with, aside from genuine (yet highly overpriced) original Ric pickups? GFS Retrotrons and TV Jones pickups spring to mind, but is that all?
