Pickup options for a 4003..

[Mr.Mow]

Since my last thread was deleted... (guys if you're gonna delete threads.. you should explain why.. I have NO idea what it was that caused offense..*shrug* )

Ok, I'm not thrilled with the sound of my '03 4003.. I love the way it plays.. but I'm not big on the sound, its muffled and lacks definition (especially compared to my 70's ric copy which has a 6 pole toaster).

Before anyone asks.. 1. strings are new (2 sets to be sure) 2. the mute is down 3. its been setup and 4. I've tried adjusting the heights (lowering just seems to muffle, raising it gets too hot) 5. I'm using a decent amp..!

Right!!

What are my options for pickups? I know of the Seymours and Bartolinis, the band I play for owns a 4003 that I use, but has an EMG in the bridge (don't want to go down this route!).
Buying toasters from Ric is not an option due to us not having a local distributor.. paying the ridiculous prices people ask on ebay.. again, not really an option (some of those prices are crazy).

So.. where else should I be looking..? I've heard very good things about bartolinis (but the look.. eww..). I tried taking the pups out of my copy.. but the 6 pole toaster is very deep, would require some hefty routing.. not something I'm keen on..

[antipodean]

Hi Russ,

The problem you describe is odd - I would put my all of my Ricks (a 74 4000, a 74 4001 and a 00 V63) a little ahead of my J-bass for clarity (using the same strings). I use GHS Boomers or D'addario nickel rounds, depending on availability. Are you using flats or rounds? Maybe you have a problem pickup or something weird happening in the electronics. Do the tone pots work at all? It would be good to nail down the issue before committing to buying new pickups.

[jps]

Russell, you really should try and get together with Darren Trott and get things sorted out before considering any other option.

[tmossman]

New RIC hi-gains with adjustable poles.

[Mr.Mow]

New RIC hi-gains with adjustable poles.

Ah.. interesting.. when did they become adjustable?! I assumed they were all 'mushrooms'.

Pots all work ok, using d'addario rounds..

[tmossman]

Transitioned in around 2007-08.

[antipodean]

Russ, is the issue worse on one of the pickups or is it present on both?

[Mr.Mow]

Nah its general.. I don't think there is anything WRONG with the pickups.. I suspect its just a general 'thats just how it is' thing.. Put it this way, the guys I play with have an '04 4003, the neck pickup sounds almost identical to mine (the bridge on theirs is an EMG), I think its just an inherant 'thats how an 200X-200X highgain sounds like' thing.. not good or bad, I just don't really dig it.
Like the bass, like the feel.. just not diggin the thump..

[cassius987]

He could be right about that era of Rics. I played a 2003 Ric and thought it sounded like trash. But the caveat is that at that time I had no idea how to tell anything about a bass's setup and condition. Also I'm pretty sure I've heard nice recordings made from this era of Rics.

[guitfiddle]

He could be right about that era of Rics. I played a 2003 Ric and thought it sounded like trash. But the caveat is that at that time I had no idea how to tell anything about a bass's setup and condition. Also I'm pretty sure I've heard nice recordings made from this era of Rics.

I heard a guy play one from that era too, and I was surprised at the tone. Of course it could have been all kinds of other factors, but nonetheless it did not sound anything like I expected it to.

[smem]

Hmmm....what about the possibility of some kind of onboard preamp like the audere? Might wake the bass up a bit? I don't really know what say, my 2007 4003 has so much clarity sometimes it's almost too much, so I'm somewhat baffled here. There is also a tone control out there called the stellartone designed to work with passive pickups, they have a website maybe shoot them an email.
I don't think the new hi-gains with the adjustable poles are going to help much here as you said you already tried raising them and the muddiness just got louder. I think what is happening here is you're just not digging the sound of your pickups, which I understand in a way, there pretty unique sounding and very hot. I know the older pickups have lower output and may offer a less "muddy" sound, but this is purely speculation on my part. You're also going to have a tough time finding the older pickups on the market. All I can really say is good luck, I hope you get it sorted.

[jps]

When I got my '08 4003 with the adjustable pole pickups the tone was classic Rick, nice and bright with the RIC strings.

[johnallg]

Russ, either get with Darren and let him hear it, or unwind your pickups to around 8k. I understand what you are describing and changed out my pickups for that reason. I like the sound of the 70s in the neck and either a 70s higain at the bridge or the magnetic shoed 8k rewind Sergio did for me. Unwinding the higains you have to 8k will give you the definition you seek. Unless there is a wiring problem - I would start with Darren.

[aceonbass]

I can't imagine that changing pickups will make that big of a difference. Just to rule out any possible issues with the wiring, get a couple wires with alligator clips at both ends and bypass the circuitry by clipping one end on the positive wire from each pickup and going straight to the output jack. You could also try real 500K pots or even 1000K pots to brighten the tone up. This would be way cheaper than new pickups.