RIC Pickup Analysis

[jingle_jangle]

Not sure which pickup the magenta/pink line shows, but it reminds me very much of a typical RIAA response curve for a phono cartridge. I suspect this could have been designed in.

[rickfan60]

After looking them over some more it seems they are showing us how the pickups respond to different frequencies with the toaster having the more even response. Are the Y axis values the difference between the the pre and post pickup signals? Am I even close?

[cassius987]

As I stated before above each photo, the dark blue line is the RIC pickup in question. The other three lines are a Nordstrand NJ4 in three impedance settings. It represents a traditional Jazz Bass pickup for comparison.

I too received word from a high authority that there is no shielding. Apparently Mr. Meadows jumped to conclusions or maybe he was referring to the chrome cover. I don't know. In any case he makes a great preamp--that much is certain in my mind.

In any case David told me he disassembled the pickup via e-mail.

This isn't 100% right. Now that I go back over his e-mails he just implied that he knew what was going on--I guess he jumped to conclusions and I took it to mean he actually did the leg work.

Please don't misjudge him--he's a good guy and has been great to me. His preamp is great. If anyone deserves any flak here, it's me, not him. I probably shouldn't have bothered to post this. No one wanted to see it anyways--I just thought it was novel.

[cassius987]

Looking back over the whole thread I am pretty sure nobody got what the graphs are about: the RIC pickups are the blue lines, the other three lines are Jazz Bass pickups. It's that simple.

[rickfan60]

I don't think anyone was offended. How was the signal applied to the pickups?

[johnallg]

I don't think anyone was offended. How was the signal applied to the pickups?

I wondered that too, Ted, when explanation was asked for. I concluded we didn't have enough info. The graphs are good as a comparison of the two responses though.

[cassius987]

Hm, for that info I'd have to talk more to David. He'd probably provide it quite willingly. Actually, I'm willing to bet it's already on his website: http://www.audereaudio.com. He does these kinds of analyses all the time to analyze his Z modes against one another and posts graphs. If I dig anything up I'll link it.

You can bet for sure that just like the NJ4 Jazz pickup in 3 Z Modes, the RIC pickups are being loaded through his preamp--this is not a passive tone analysis. Nonetheless the ability to contrasts the pickups against the Jazz pup and each other is neat.

[woodyng]

i would imagine a hi-gain pickup on that chart would have (a lot?) more presence in the higher frequencies....

[cassius987]

Absolutely--that's my guess too.

[rickfan60]

When microphones are tested it is apparently done acoustically. With a pickup I am guessing the signal is run in through the coil leads rather than oscillating the magnetic field around the poles.

[johnallg]

I would think the Hi Gains would have less high frequencies - Toasters are brighter pickups. To me Ho Gains are darker sounding pickups, and harder to discern note differences in the lowest registers of a 4 string bass, at least to my hearing.

[cassius987]

I totally disagree with you there John--but that's just me. Toasters are more precise but they definitely lack some of the top-end of Hi-Gains, IMO.

[beatlefreak]

What I see from the two frequency response graphs shown is that the RIC Toaster has a cutoff frequency (-3dB) of about 750 Hz. It rolls off steadily at about 3dB/octave until about 10k Hz, then rolls off more sharply at 15dB/octave from 10k to 20k Hz.

The RIC Humbucker has a slightly lower cutoff frequency of 500 Hz, rolling off at 4dB/octave until 10k Hz. It nose-dives at about 25dB/octave (extrapolating due to the hump in the curve) above 10k Hz.

[dcr]

Based on those graphs, why wouldn't I prefer a pickup like the Nordstrand? Equalizers are useful things--I could always dial out any high frequencies I didn't want. Pretty hard to boost high frequencies that aren't there in the first place, though.

Confirms what I already thought: the HB1 is too dark for me. And butted up against a fingerboard? Fuhgeddaboudit.

[cassius987]

You may very well prefer the Nordstrand. I think it is David Meadow's favorite (at least as a standard--check his web site), and yep, they make Nordys very well. As for me, the Toaster is where it's at.

Of course you also have to remember that the Nordstrand there is intended to approximate pretty much any Jazz Bass pickup so what you may really be saying is that you just prefer the tonal character of Jazz Bass pickups.

Pretty hard to boost high frequencies that aren't there in the first place, though.

That's definitely true for passive basses, but not so for active. Or, as you say, with an EQ--those frequencies are there already, they're just under-represented. Really the ideal pickup would just be a totally flat line if you goal was variability through an EQ or onboard tone control. The NJ4 definitely does begin to approach that "flat line" pattern so if you want to stick one in your Jazz Bass (or your 4003 if you buy a pickguardian plate for a few more dollars) you probably could.

What would be neat is if we could do the same analysis on Hi-Gains and aftermarket Ric pickups. I wouldn't risk shipping 4002 pickups for this in any case.