Bass pickup is too quiet

[rckstdy45]

Ive just received my Rickenbacker 4003 but have some problems with it.....hopefully someone can help

First off, the G-string is alot quieter than the other three on all the pickups...when im playing, my E-A-D strings will be quite loud and power, but when I play the G its suddenly quieter.

Second, my bass pickup is very quiet. I'll usually always use my treble pickup be it seems to be very loud and powerful.

Any suggestions would be great

[rickenbrother]

Have you tried raising the pickup height by turning the screws on either side of it clockwise? There isn't very much room for adjustment so don't turn the screws anymore after they feel tight or you might crack the pickguard. If it's a new 4003, it will have individually adjustable pickup polepieces. Get the right size allen key and adjust the height of the polepieces as needed. You might have to raise the G string polepiece on the treble pickup also if it is lower in volume than the other strings.

[just_bassics]

Welcome to the forum, Daniel.

Is it possible that the G sting is bad? I've encountered that before in six string guitars. I have a Firebird V that had low output from the high E but a new set cleared it right up.

I have three Ric basses and my bridge pickup is much hotter on all three. If it really bothers you, contact Sérgio Silva on the "Winding up" forum and he can build you a neck pickup to match your bridge. Many forum memebers speak very highly of his work.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to Pete and all forum members. Pete, thanks for all your hard work keeping this forum great!

[ustabawannab]

That's interesting.

A month ago Wades got in a MG and I contemplated moving my JG deposite and getting it instead. I played it amped for a bit and found the neck pickup was half the volume of the bridge. Wade adjusted the pole pieces and even went so far as to take the pickguard off and remove the spacers to raise the PUP. No luck, it was dramatically quieter. He was going to submit the PUP for warranty replacement and I decide to wait for my JG. It's been 8 months, what the heck,eh

I'm going to stop up there today to see how the fix went. Mr. Hall would be pretty mad at me if I suggested a potential bug so I'll chalk this up as just one of those random isolated things. I'm just A, surprised that it left the factory like that and B, surprised how long it's taking for the JG I ordered in April to show up. Could there be any correlation?

[rickenbrother]

Is it possible that the G sting is bad?

That's possible. Daniel have you ever changed strings on the bass? Check to make sure the string the string is installed properly. It's also possible that the mute pad is touching the G string.

The bridge pickup has more height adjustment travel than the neck pickup, so it can get closer and be louder.

[fatcat]

It's not so random, I had the same G string problem with my 2006 4003 FG.Problem was more on the bridge pup than the neck pup.The one that's harder to adjust.

[ustabawannab]

Alex and Wade solved the problem and I took great advantage

Yes......It's MINE!!!!!!

It's a neeeeeew TOASTER!!!


Wade recieved the warranty high gain along with a toaster he had previously ordered. He thought, wouldn't it be neat if.....?
It was fate. It was fixed within a day of me walking into the store to wish them a Merry Chistmas. To heck with the JG, I couldn't walk away from this one. It's miiiiiiine!

[rickenbrother]

Nice Jeffrey, congrats! You ex is doing well also:

[ustabawannab]

Gee. I thought she'd be a 5ver by now

We have a thing for blondes, eh? (Sorry about the thread highjack)

[rickenbrother]

Gee. I thought she'd be a 5ver by now

No, I was contemplating turning it into an 8 string.

[johnallg]

Beautiful wood, fellas.

Sorry if that sounds a little risque!