4004-C HB pickup issue....

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 10:34 am

I think Gregg was just being sarcastic about the return policy, that's all.

Actually, in the past we have required the return of a Limited Edition pickplate, when we had stock on them anyway, in order to replace a broken one.

The toaster top coil does not fit in the HB housing, at least correctly. The slots in the bobbin are designed to be retained by slots in the cover which aren't there on an HB cover. You'd need a new pickup baseplate as well.

The HB coils are only part of the assembly; the blades, base plate, magnet, and interior cover all have to go together to make it work, and everything is totally potted in epoxy during assembly.

silagyi · Post by **silagyi** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 10:44 am

Sorry John, no sarcasm intended on my exchange policy on pickups question. I've owned many Ric basses over the years (4001) but never really needed any parts to speak of for them from the factory.

So would the complete Toaster assembly drop into the 4004 body? I found these for $90 each at Rhoads. $80 a piece for the HB's at Rhoads also.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 2:00 pm

I've actually never tried this before but it looks like it might be a tight fit. The Toasters are about 6-7 mm deeper, due to the cylindrical magnets, and might require a bit more wood taken out of the cavity. The rest of it is the same.

I just checked to see if we had a body on the floor anywhere in production today to try it but I just don't have one to test.

Of course, the Toaster being so much lower in output, it needs to be close to the string, which will minimize the depth problem.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 2:13 pm

Didn't Jeff Rath and Jeffery Scott put toasters in their 4004's?

jps · Post by **jps** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 3:32 pm

Yes I have toasters in my 4004Cii. They are considerably lower in output than the HB-1s, but do physically fit with no problem. I just have a thing for toasters, so I crank up the amp. They are of course noisier also, being single coils. The HB-1s actually do sound similar to the toasters with some more "thickness" or bottom end to them, not to mention they are nice and silent.

I guess I am a glutton for punishment!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 3:51 pm

I have found that the toaster, hb1, and high gain are very similar in size ... the main difference is the iron slugs on the high gain makes them a little taller ... and yes you can put a toaster on a 4004 ...

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 3:56 pm

The toasters are more jangley ... more full range and less powerful 7.4k ohms ... the hb1 pickups are more high and low mid focused with a full bottom .. 13k ohms +/- sort of like a p-bass pickup on steroids

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 4:41 pm

That is a nice looking bass Jeff that toaster looks great on that bass, where did that extra string come from though?

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 4:44 pm

That is a nice looking bass Jeff, that toaster looks nice on it. I like them in the old position better. BTW can you get a reissue 4001 pick guard or maybe even a reissue 4003 pick guard with the old 1/2" distance and put a toaster on a 4003?

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Mar 09, 2004 6:10 pm

The 4003s5 and 4003s8 models came standard with the toaster in the neck position ...

there is plenty of room to put the toaster in the old position on a 4003 ...

silagyi · Post by **silagyi** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 6:12 pm

I found a used set of HB's on Bass Gear so I should have this pickup thing sorted out. Thanks for all the info and help.

Gregg

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 4:30 am

Gregg,

What did the HB end up costing?

silagyi · Post by **silagyi** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 5:56 am

I got the gold set for $120 used. Not the greatest price but better than $180 for new I suppose.

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 6:17 am

"... there is plenty of room to put the toaster in the old position on a 4003"

It looks like it, but has anyone actually tried it? I mean, putting an old-position guard on a recent 4003. Looking at the routing in my 4003 Shadow, I don't think I can position the pickup at 1/2" from the end of the fretboard. The base-plate is larger than the part of the pickup above the guard.

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 9:14 am

Gregg,
That's not all that bad, I'm surprised that you found a set. Email me if you would about your 4004.