Reissue vintage pickups in a 4003

Steven_Brence · Post by **Steven_Brence** » Mon Jan 15, 2001 2:47 pm

I own a one year old 4003 and am considering picking up the reissue vintage toaster and horseshoe pickups to replace the stock high gain models. Has anyone done this? Will they fit without serious modification? I would just buy a 4001v63, but I like the binding and neck inlays on the 4003.

Thanks

lucien_s · Post by **lucien_s** » Mon Jan 15, 2001 3:15 pm

My understanding is the vintage pickups will drop right in a regular 4003, since the dimensions are all pretty much the same.

Or, if you want to just go ahead and get a v63, there's one at a music store here in Austin, TX for quite cheap. They're dropping the Rickenbacker line and blowing their ric stuff out the door for about cost. I got a factory new 4003 JG from their other store for $900 just the other day. They want only $1250 or something like that for this v63 and they still can't seem to get rid of it (typical fracked up Austin music store: they couldn't sell water to a man dying of thirst in the desert). I can give you their phone no. if you want it.

Or hell, if I can sell my other basses, I might buy it myself

So hurry

.

LS

gregson1 · Post by **gregson1** » Mon Jan 15, 2001 7:14 pm

I have a '97 4003 (Turquoise) that I did this with and am very happy with the results. The only change I made is in not using the Horseshoe pickup bezel. It's quite a bit bigger than the original high gain bezel and I thought it might bite into the paint. The horseshoe pickup fit perfectly through it, too. It's a totally reversible modification.

rick_j. · Post by **rick_j.** » Sun Jan 21, 2001 1:24 pm

i have a 1977 rick 4001 that i removed the pickups and added a toaster pickup and a horseshoe pickup,and ALSO removed the 1 capacitor and put in a straight wire,and this bass is now a monster--easily the loudest passive pickup bass i have ever owned.there isnt anything it cant do.and it was so easy. just a few soldering jobs to do,and thats it. i highly recommend trying different pickups,so this way you will know if you like a different sound. you could always go back to the originals.

GT · Post by GT » Mon Jan 22, 2001 9:26 pm

I own a '76 4001 and am considering several options while in search of "the tone". One is to change out one or both of the pick-ups to vintage or the Rick humbuckers, the other is to move the neck pick-up closer to the neck. (ie: the same placement as on the earlier models & the vintage re-issues) I'm guessing that if rick j. made the vintage p/u's work on a 77, they would work on a 76, so rick j., if your out there, any words on the tone difference would be appreciated. Also, anyone that has the humbuckers, has moved the neck p/u or has opinions on any of this, I would be most interested in hearing about it.

rick_j. · Post by **rick_j.** » Tue Jan 23, 2001 4:26 pm

gt--i tried the humbucking pickups,and was not satisfied at all with them. i think they only work with all the changes that are in the new models,and that is why R.I.C.uses them in those models only.also,i did move the neck pickup 1/2 closer to the neck,and put on a re-issue earlier-style pick guard to match,and am quite pleased with that. that mod works well. but the biggest and most significant change is the removal of the 3rd capacitor,and replacing it with a straight wire. this one mod alone will transform basses made around this period. let me know if this helps.

GT · Post by GT » Wed Jan 24, 2001 12:28 am

rick j.---Thanx for the info. My 4001 was rewired so that the "rick-o-sound" jack has the capacitor in the circuit and the the other jack bypasses the capacitor. I no longer have stereo capability but I never used it anyway. (The wiring was done by Arnquist of this forum. Rather ingenius isn't it?) But, I still feel like it's missing something. I really have to dig to get my 5th fret harmonics to ring and this is where the movement of the neck pick-up comes in. Opinions on pick-up placement welcomed. As far as changing the pick-ups out completely? Still open to opinions on tonal differences. Thanx!!!!

rick_j · Post by **rick_j** » Sat Jan 27, 2001 10:58 am

gt--if you are talking about the fifth fret harmonics on the E string,some rick basses,including mine,seem to have a dead spot on that string right on the A note. it is also obvious on the D string where the other A note is. i am not sure why they have this problem. i am sure there might be some people out there who have encountered this same problem,and maybe someone might have found a fix for it. anyone have some suggestions?