Seymour Duncan Replacement Pickups for Rics...

brentsimons · Post by **brentsimons** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 10:08 am

Hi All,
Just wondering if any of you have used the Seymour Duncan replacement pickups for the 4003/4001? Is it possible to reinstall my original pickups if I didn't enjoy the tone of the new ones?
Brent

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 10:19 am

Yes, I've heard them, nothing wrong with them but IMO it's not a Rickenbacker-style tone at all.

Yes, you can reinstall the originals. AFAIK there is no modification involved.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 10:55 am

I have some ... you want them? I can give you a good price ...

I tried it and didn't like them ... this is a reversable mod ...

If you want humbuckers get a 4004 ...

ssajr · Post by **ssajr** » Sat Sep 06, 2003 3:19 am

I replaced the stock pickups in my 4003 with Seymour Duncans several years ago; not only did they alleviate 60 cycle hum, the instrument sounds much "bassier" and packs a lot more mid-range punch. The SDs also come with a plastic mounting plate for the bridge pickup which looks much cleaner than the "trench" the stock pickup was mounted in. I'll try to post some pics later today.

Sherm

ssajr · Post by **ssajr** » Sat Sep 06, 2003 3:46 am

picks of my Seymour Duncans

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Sep 06, 2003 6:28 am

Most of us here don't like the look or sound of the replacement pickups.

If you want to make a 4001 louder and fuller take out the bass cut capaciter ... that is the biggest reason the Seymour Duncan replacement pickups sound better to those who like them is because in the process of installation the capaciter is removed.

For me I love the modern Ric pickups from 1990 to present ... they are thunderous ...

mortivan · Post by **mortivan** » Sat Sep 06, 2003 6:54 am

Most of us here don't like the look or sound of the replacement pickups.

Or replacement bridges LOL!

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sat Sep 06, 2003 7:27 am

Those Seymours totally suck on a Rickenbacker bass, period. Go for a set of original Rick pickups, or have someone build new, improved pickups for your Rickenbacker bass.

mortivan · Post by **mortivan** » Sat Sep 06, 2003 2:48 pm

Brent,

Sergio has been known to wind some killer pickups ...

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 7:31 pm

I've also tried the Seymour Duncan replacement pickups in a 4003, I didn't like them, I put back the original RIC pickups within a few weeks. I didn't think there that much of a significant change in output from the SD pickups either.

weemac · Post by **weemac** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 11:32 pm

I had the SD neck pickup in a few different basses. It sounded fine in all of them apart from the Ric, it sounded a little weak on the E string if I remember rightly....

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 4:12 pm

Sherman,
what year is your 4003? If it is post-1989 the newer pickups are more powerful, with more bass and mid. They are great sounding, powerful pickups, but each to his own, there are a lot of differing opinions here. Although as was stated before most of us like Ric pickups best.