Heretical & Non-Heretical Modification Ideas

[cassius987]

You know if it ain't broke don't fix it? Well... I'm kind of bad about still wanting to fix it. I have two mod ideas for my awesome 4003FL, one heretical, one not-so-heretical.

Not-So-Heretical: I really like my 4003FL and the figured bubinga fingerboard is a trip. If it ever wears out one of these days, though (I can see indentations from the strings forming in the clear coat even with my flatwound TIs), how hard would it be to replace the fingerboard with a traditional fretless fingerboard like ebony? I think if I did that I'd also have the bass refinished from AFG to Mapleglo or Walnutglo by some talented person, because AFG+ebony seems kind've wrong in my head.

Heretical: I like my mute pad on my 4003, but on my 4003FL I really don't enjoy much from it. I had a sick idea when I thought about what else you could use that cavity for: another pickup. However, I have no desire to remove wood to accomplish this. Has anyone ever considered putting a thin pickup in there to just sit in the cavity, and linked it up to the treble pickup tone for certain configurations?

My idea (remember, I'm an electronics amateur, so this could easily be crazy talk) was to reconfigure the control harness so the push-pull turned this third pickup on or off, taking out the cap altogether. I don't use the cap on my fretless. However, the push-pull is on the tone pot, not volume, so I wonder if this even makes sense.

I was kind of thinking I could drop one of my old, unused Jazz Bass pickups in and see how it sounded, but it would be so close to the strings that it probably wouldn't sound very good. Still, I lined it up and it appeared that it would fit in the cavity without removing any wood. However, it would sit very close to the strings. The only thing to contend with would be the wiring after that point...

This might be an awful idea, and if so go ahead and shoot it down--I don't want to keep thinking about it if it's dumb. But do comment on the fingerboard thoughts either way.

Thanks.

[incubus2432]

Bartolini used to make a p/u for the mute cavity.....not sure if they still do though. You should be able to use the push/pull switch as an on/off for the p/u but I'd rather wire it your existing controls are v/v/v/t. That way you can blend the p/u's to your liking.

*****edit.....I just checked the Bartolini website and they do still list the mute cavity p/u. Scroll down to the 6JH.

http://www.bartolini.net/information/ba ... s_pu_s.htm

IMO.....Barts sound great in a Ric bass but my opinion is in the minority on this forum. They make a 4003 sound like a 4004 (again IMO) slightly cleaner overall tone, still very Ric-like, with a slight kick to the lows. I swapped out both stockers for Barts when I had 4003's and was quite happy with the tone.....however, I'm not sure how they'd mix with stock single coils. I have no experience with the tone of the 6JH p/u.

[cassius987]

I was kind've wanting to use a pickup anywhere from 5-8K, thinking that might bring out some good tones there. I am looking to enhance the treble tones coming from the bass more than anything. The lows all the way to the upper mids are great, but the treble could use some definition.

Once I get a Toaster installed in the bridge position I may feel very differently, but nonetheless I am entertaining this idea.

So the SD pickup removed wood, or didn't remove wood? The only thing I'd want to contend with would be the wiring. I don't want to carve out a place for the pickup to sit.

[incubus2432]

SD pickup?

I'd imagine just about any p/u placed in the mute cavity would enhance treble since it's so close to the bridge. My LK bridge p/u soloed sounds too harsh for my tastes (you can see how close it is to the bridge in the pic below) but with the other p/u's it just adds to the overall "bite" and the harshness is diminished. It's a great mix and sounds HUGE!

[cassius987]

So I guess my main worry is, is it feasible to stick a pickup in the mute assembly area and wire it in to some configuration without losing any more wood than you would need to get the wires to the harness area? And if so, what pickup is ideal? I have been looking at 50s P Bass style pickups as well as Tele style pickups and Jazz Bass pickup types.

Also, to ground the treble pickup, would you just ground it on the pickup (since you are removing the metal mute pad seating assembly)?

[atomic_punk]

Former heretic Jeff R stuck Seymour Duncan 1/4 lb. 5 string bass pickups in the mute cavity of his 4003s5 basses. Worked pretty well.

[johnallg]

Josh, as for toasters vs higains, you will loose some output (lower # of windings and poles at the neck not able to get as close to the strings) but you will gain clarity in the mids and highs. More pitch definition.

[cassius987]

Josh, as for toasters vs higains, you will loose some output (lower # of windings and poles at the neck not able to get as close to the strings) but you will gain clarity in the mids and highs. More pitch definition.

Absolutely, and that is fine with me. I was "reared" on a Jazz Bass and a MusicMan Stingray; when I got to my first 4003, I was in love with the tone, but good Lord is it loud! It's not a bad thing, it's just something that I don't mind sacrificing because I'm used to a lot less and normally don't need so much.

[headbanger]

"Heretical & Non-Heretical Modification Ideas"

Even discussing it is Heresy

[wints]

Yes, you could always replace a worn out board with another harder wood such as ebony, and replace the mute with a bart. A rosewood board/toaster combo will give a much warmer tone than most other variables but then there's your fingers, and that's are a huge part of fretless sound. I don't like the cap at all, it simply removes an essential part of the sound that should be there.

I have a 73 FL and a 80 Musicman FL and they are obviously very different basses. The 73 is much softer, as you would expect, while the MM is far more versatile to the ears, especially with it's ebony board/electronics.

[ajish4]

My new 4003FL AFG is undergoing a few changes.

Most notable, Alembic activator pickups & electronics.

The mods are fully reversible which is what I prefer. I had the SAME FLEETING idea bout the Ebony fingerboard but as Andy stated.....(my luthier said the same thing) the sound would not be as warm.

The ONLY non reversible mod is I'm having brass ferrules counter sunk into the body so the screws on the pickguard can be removed to change the battery. Also, I'm having a new two piece (early 80's style) unit made.

[cassius987]

I got a hold of Jeff Rath and read some of his posts as well and he indicated a lot of disappointment with the Bartolini pickup. I'd rather use an extant, proven pickup from a guitar or bass model we already know. I just need it to fit the cavity, have a reasonable level of resistance (I would think it'd be best to have it below the double digits), and sound warm, like I'm after.

What about the Lipstick pickup, would one of those fit? Or how about a Tele rhythm pickup (neck position)? There's always Jazz Bass pickups but I don't always like how those sound.

[cassius987]

More info: I've been comparing width at nut of various guitar models to the Ric 4003FL in order to see which pickups would generally cover the same amount of space, although I know this may not be the best item for comparison. (It is, however, a commonly available measurement.)

It appears that the Fender Telecaster shares the same width at the nut as the Ric 4003/4003FL. Therefore I am leaning towards trying the Telecaster rhythm pickup. Any thoughts?

[johnallg]

I would think knowing the actual measurements between the prospective pickup's poles is more important - you already can measure the string spacing on the Rick at the mute position.

[weemac]

I've got the bart mute in one of my basses and they are not really worth the bother. It really just messes up the sound....
Eden.