4004cii E-String observation

[86kubicki]

I purchased a 4004cii in the spring and noticed that it had the same issue with the E string that some folks have reported with some 4003s. It seems to lack the volume and tonal fullness of the other strings - someone else has described it as sounding "hollow". I tried adjusting the bridge and truss rods, as well as checking the nut, but nothing changed the character of the string. I installed TI flats, but again, no change. So today I'm playing and fiddling with the controls when I notice that when either of the pickups is soloed, the E string sounds great! As soon as I go back to running both pickups together, the problem returns. Now I'm no electronics expert, but does this situation make any sense from an electronics perspective?

[rickenbrother]

The pickups might be out of phase. Switch the leads on one of the pickups. It doesn't matter which pickup you decide to do it to. Then see if it is better.

[86kubicki]

Joey - wouldn't a phasing problem affect all strings? Or would the phasing perhaps just be most apparent in the lower frequencies of the E string?

[jps]

What layout do you with regard to pickup positioning? Is the neck pickup against the neck or away from it?

[rickenbrother]

Steve's bass has the pickups closer to the neck.

Steve, maybe it's just more noticeable on the lower notes? I'm not saying that switching the leads is a definite fix. Just a possibility. Not hard to resolder to leads, so it's worth a try IMHO.
I have a Cii with the pickups away from the neck and one with the pickups towards the neck. They both sound fine.

Maybe you just have a bad E string?

[86kubicki]

It one of the new design 4004cii's with the neck pickup placed right up against the fingerboard. I don't think its a bad string as I've tried two sets. Also the fact that the E string sounds fine when one of the pickups is soloed should discount the string as a possible culprit.

[rickenbrother]

Here' mine, Steve. It sounds fine with each pickup soloed, as well as when both are on at the same time.

[86kubicki]

Man, I'd love to be able to A/B our basses Joey to see if we can figure out whats going on with mine.

[rickenbrother]

Switching the leads is a simple thing to do, so it's worth a try.

[jps]

Man, I'd love to be able to A/B our basses Joey to see if we can figure out whats going on with mine.

Bring them both to MARF III.

[jwr2]

Thuis is a problem that goes beyond Rickenbacker ... Quite often a 4 string bass will have less than stellar performance of the low E string ... Also a 5 string bass can have a problem with a floppy B string ...

There are a few factors here. Basses with more strings resonate better. For example 8, 10, and 12 string basses resonate nicely. Modern 4 and 5 string basses have strong necks that do not fail as much as old vintage basses. But those weaker necked vintage bases would resonate better.

Bass design is a series of compromises resonance, strength, looks, etc ... all of these compete ... that is why there is no perfect bass ...

Also I firmly believe the 4004 has a fundamental weakness in the toggle 1 volume and 1 tone wiring. A volume, volume, tone wiring brings out some nice blending tones that the factory wiring misses. Most 2 pickup basses sound best with a slightly assymetrical volume or balance setting on the pickups. When both pickups are full volume there is a slight canceling of some frequencies. Basses growl more when one pickups has less volume than another.

[rickenbrother]

Man, I'd love to be able to A/B our basses Joey to see if we can figure out whats going on with mine.

Bring them both to MARF III.

I'd actually like to bring the trans red Cii/5 if I come. Very few people have seen one of those. I just worry about getting it back and forth.

[86kubicki]

Not sure about MARF yet - I'd like to go and bring a couple of basses, but its about a 900km drive one way!

[ken_j]

If the pickups are out of phase the bottom end will drop out. When I got my 650C the HB pickups seemed out of phase to me but were wired properly. I checked the magnetic poles with a Schatten Magnetic Polarity tester and found that the magnet in one of the pickups was reversed. This was confirmed through RIC customer service. I reversed the wires on one of the pickups and it was fine.

Schatten tester: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics ... ester.html

[nukebass]

How does one tell if a pickup is out of phase? This problem worries me a little since I have the Cii on order, but I also have a 650C with the same pickups. Is it something that is obvious?