Recommendations for 4003 project

[ianmatth]

I have a Rickenbacker 4003 body that I wanted to hook up with an Audere active pre-amp, high-end single coil pickups, either a Hipshot or some type of Leo Quan Badass Bass bridge, and tuners. I was thinking about Villex pickups because I've heard excellent things about his pickups and I'm using him for a custom project with David Minnieweather, but I don't want to lose the Rickenbacker sound. As for the bridge, Hipshot has a direct replacement that is available in aluminum or brass. Leon Quan BadAss Bass bridges are made out of a high density zinc alloy. As far a tuners, I'm not so particular, but figure I'd go with Hipshot Rickenbacker tuners. Any suggestions or advice regarding pickups and which of those 3 bridges I should choose would be greatly appreciated. I currently have a 2009 4003, 2008 4004Cii, 2005 4004L, and the red 1998 4004L Jeff Rath 4-2-5 conversion: http://www.3dentourage.com/425/98%20red%204004L5.htm

[MiroN]

Hi,

I have two Hipshot bridges, one on my 4003, other on my lemmy style.
I love this kind of bridge, easy to set up and with a big sustain.

p.u...... I have different solution,Original HiGain, Seymour Duncan, Bartolini but I'm looking for active solution maybe EMG.

[ianmatth]

I'm leaning towards a brass Hipshot, I figure I should be able to hook up a direct replacement bridge myself. Still want to hear some more pickup suggestions. I was reading about some 7.4k toaster pickups in another thread, so that's an idea.

[cassius987]

I tried an Audere Classic 4 in my 4003... 100% reversible, easy to wire in, and can be made to work in stereo as well if you ask for it. It also works with the stock pickguard if you get the parts put in there creatively... the biggest problem is that the pickup selector switch is very close to the pots compared to what would be comfortable, because of the size of the module and the battery.

The sound was phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal. I ran it with Toasters and got a crazy, wonderful, full-bodied response. It's a pretty quick short cut to high-definition rock star sound for a little over a hundred dollars.

I didn't keep the preamp in because I'd like to get a pickguard to fit it better (there was a bulge in one spot with the stock); I have been designing that but have been pretty lazy about keeping on the project. Still, I gigged the bass with that mod a handful of times, and EVERY time I had people coming up to me and asking me to sub for their group or just flat out join them. It was so complimentary it was humbling. Tone is a big deal.

[ianmatth]

Thanks Cassius987, I'm definitely going with some toasters, might even think about putting toasters in a 4004. You were talking about using some toasters even lower than 7.4k, so I wanted to get some thoughts on that, and what would be the best place to buy them (I'm obviously looking for the cheapest price, so if anybody has some used toaster pickups to sell I'm interested.) Going with the brass hipshot replacement bridge and hipshot replacement tuners. I'm using a Ric body, not modifiying a Ric I already have, so unless I steal a jack plate, truss rod cover, or pickgaurd off one of my other Rics, I'll need those as well. I don't care that much about Rick-O-Sound stereo output, but if it's easy enough to get an Audere preamp hooked up that way and get a jack plate with 2 inputs, I might as well have it. Ric truss rod covers are way too expensive for what they actually are, so I might just forget about having one at all or maybe get a custom one that says something else. Now as far as the pickgaurd, I can find one for a 4003 or 4001 for a decent price on eBay, but if there are issues with the Audere Classic 4 fitting correctly underneath it, maybe I should get something else. And what if I wanted to use an Audere 3ZB instead so I could get the benefit of their Z-mode. They have different configuration options, so maybe one would fit better than another. Any thoughts from Cassius987 or anybody else would be appreciated.

[jps]

I'm definitely going with some toasters, might even think about putting toasters in a 4004.

Like this one I used to have?

[johnallg]

Ian, the only way to get toasters that are wound lower than 7.4k is to rape an old instrument (very expensive and dubious) or unwind a 7.4k to the 6k they were back in the 60s.

[ianmatth]

I had heard Joshua talking about a 6.8k toaster for the neck pickup and a 7.3k toaster for the bridge pickup in a 4003, so I thought those might be stock. I guess he just unwound 7.4k toasters a little bit. It seems that pickofthericks.com indicates the 7.4k toaster is for the neck pickup. I'm going to assume those who go the double toaster route are just putting that pickup in the bridge position as well, let me know if I'm mistaken. Another option would be to use an HB-1 from one of my 4004s in the bridge position, which might give it more tonal options. Any opinions as to which is better?

[superdick2112]

I tried an Audere Classic 4 in my 4003... The sound was phenomenal.

Cassius, could the Audre Classic 4 be used outboard & built into a stompbox?

[cjj]

Yes, the double toaster route is just putting a toaster in each position, neck and bridge. The HB-1 might be a great choice too as they are great pickups. It it said that they sound a lot like a toaster when used as a single coil pickup. To do that, you have to take the heat shrink tubing off of the "extra" wires at the end of the pickup cable and ground them.

I did that via a switch on my 4004Cjj, it definitely has a different sound, but I'm not familiar enough with the sound of a toaster to tell you if it really sounds like one.

[johnallg]

Dane W has a converted 4003 (8 stringer) and he has an HB1 in the bridge position. It sounds HUGE. Hopefully he'll pop in and add his view.

[ianmatth]

So I've definitely decided on a 7.4k toster for the neck, but I'm still not sure for the bridge pickup. It was between a toaster and the HB1 from my 4004. I'm also thinking about Seymor Duncan's SRB-1b, and I also saw something called a NOS Rickenbacker pickup from 77/78 that looks a little like an HB1. Any feedback or thoughts on these options if I'm using the 7.4k toster for the neck pickup?

[cassius987]

I had heard Joshua talking about a 6.8k toaster for the neck pickup and a 7.3k toaster for the bridge pickup in a 4003, so I thought those might be stock. I guess he just unwound 7.4k toasters a little bit.

No, Chris Clayton sent me a 6.8 K Toaster last year. The difference is not huge but going from a 7.4 to a 6.8 in the neck position (the original neck pup went to the bridge), I can say there was an increase in clarity and a decrease in mud that was noticeable. iiipopes also picked it up on first listen.

I just recorded that bass last week with my former bandmate, backing up his solo acoustic efforts. Using a Baby Blue condenser (if I recall), I got the most authentic upright sound I have EVER heard. I will post it later. I was using both pickups full on, tone rolled off.

[johnallg]

Ian, a toaster in the bridge position would balance with the neck toaster better. An HB1 is a LOT hotter in comparison.

[ianmatth]

Thanks John, I assume you'd say the same thing about the SRB-1b, but what about the 77/78 NOS pickup? And to Joshua, I'm guessing that 6.8k toaster came out of an old Ric so it's probably not too likely I'm going to come up on a toaster less than 7.4k. POTR sells the 7.4k toasters for $150 each, and from what I've been seeing it's unlikely I'll find a better price. I might call then up and ask some of these questions tomorrow. One last question to Joshua, you mentioned the Classic 4 being a tight fit, do you think it's so tight a 3ZB would be out of the question, because if I could fit a 3ZB in there, I'd go for it.