Removing the cap

[cboehmig]

Did a search and found lots of posts about removing the 0047 cap in a 4001 to get some more bottom end out of the bridge pickup... but no directions on what exactly to do. Do I just take the cap out? Where is the cap in the circuit?

I've got a soldering iron and have rewired guitars and basses in the past, but thought I'd ask before I started hacking away. Thanks!

[ram]

Charles, you don't need to remove it. Just bypass it (solder a wire across the leads on the cap). That way if you don't like the mod you just undo it (unsolder or clip the shorting wire). I did it to my '74 4001 and like it. Good luck with it.

As for the how tos... check out Joey's site - very helpful!

http://www.joeysbassnotes.com/Joeys%20frameset.htm

[bails]

You don't even need to solder. Just twist a piece of wire around around both legs of the cap, and as long as the wire makes decent contact with the legs, it will be suitably bypassed.

[cboehmig]

Sweet guys, I removed the cap (but it will be easy enough to solder back in) and ran a wire in its place. I made a little clip to illustrate the difference:

http://www.rogerwatersneedsahug.com/4001CapRemoval.mp3

Excuse the **** playing. The first half was recorded pre-modification, the second half afterwards. I had to lower the pick-up a LOT after removing the cap but I like the sound now (it may be clipping a little in the recording on the second half).

I've put the cap up in a safe place in case I ever want to put it back to stock. Thanks gang!

[johnallg]

I installed the pot/switch from the RIC Boutique in my 75 4001 (wired cap out with switch down - opposite from my 2004 4003) and like it better with the cap out. With new D'Addario XL170s on, it has THE TONE.

I could never get that sound from my 2 other Ricks ('91 4003S/'04 4003) even with the '04 having a toaster at 1/2" and a RIHS.

[chrisjin]

I made a little clip to illustrate the difference...

Were you using only the bridge P/U for those recordings? Sounds like there's an decent amount of low end even in your 'before' recording so I thought maybe you were running both P/U's. On my 2007 4003 it sounds like every bit of conceivable bass has been sucked out of the bridge P/U when you engage the cap.

[VRICKY63]

Never understood the reason for the cap...it's a bloody bass for cryin out loud !! Off with its Cap !

[bob_atherton]

All but one 4001 that I've owned I have left the cap in. To me it looses its Rickness without the cap. For a fatter, rounder more old school tone I use a Fender with flats. To me that clip shows well were I am coming from. Keep your caps on chaps, especially with winter on the way...!

[cboehmig]

I made a little clip to illustrate the difference...

Were you using only the bridge P/U for those recordings? Sounds like there's an decent amount of low end even in your 'before' recording so I thought maybe you were running both P/U's. On my 2007 4003 it sounds like every bit of conceivable bass has been sucked out of the bridge P/U when you engage the cap.

Yeah, only the bridge pickup, but I did have the bass on the SansAmp boosted. So I guess it wasn't a particularly true test...

[rickaddict]

All but one 4001 that I've owned I have left the cap in. To me it looses its Rickness without the cap. For a fatter, rounder more old school tone I use a Fender with flats. To me that clip shows well were I am coming from. Keep your caps on chaps, especially with winter on the way...!

Counterpoint: For 20-odd years I played and loved my Rick. But it wasn't perfect. The neck was perfect, the balance, string-spacing, look, size, weight, build quality, playability...all perfect. There were only two problems: 1) The sharp body binding always bugged my right wrist, and 2) I wasn't able to get a decent, punchy, low-end bass tone out of the bridge pickup. I thought it was just the design of the pickup. Then I found out how to bypass the cap. WOW! There was my bass tone!

I might have made it big if I'd known this 20 years ago! I will NEVER go back. I have a 2006 4003 with the push-pull pot...this feature is useless to me. I pull it out whenever I'm sounding a little too good and feel like I need to knock myself down a peg or two!

I have to say though, I think playing style and pickup preference are key here. I play finger-style and strongly favor the bridge pickup (mostly with my band I keep the bridge pickup solo'd). Some people favor the neck pickup and have different needs/preferences.

[badeggs]

I play finger-style and strongly favor the bridge pickup (mostly with my band I keep the bridge pickup solo'd). Some people favor the neck pickup and have different needs/preferences.

I too play fingerstyle. Every pic of someone playing a 4001/4003, they're always playing over the bridge pickup, or between it and the bridge. Am I the only guy who plays over the neck pickup or what!? From the first time I played one, I found the edge of the pickguard up there was just by far a better place to rest your thumb than against the edge of the bridge pickup surround, at least for me. Maybe that's why I like the cap - I leave the bridge at 100%, dial the neck down to about 70%, and the thing roars like an angry demon. Why cut the cap and lose that signature sound? You need bass, turn up the bass on your amp.

Cut the cap? No way in hell!

[rickaddict]

And there you have it. Different strokes for different folks!

Maybe my preference for hand position has to do with my not very tall stature. Maybe its just the way my gorilla arms hang. I've tried to play over the neck pickup, resting on the pickguard, and even over the neck like Entwistle. None were as comfortable for me (or got me the tone I like) as removing the pickup cover and anchoring my thumb on the bridge pickup.

That's what makes these Ricks such great and versatile instruments. Different ways to play them and different tones from playing different ways.