How can I get my treble pickup more bass?

Vintage, Modern, V & C series, Fretless, Signature & Special Editions

Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4

User avatar
nextcliffburton
Junior Member
Posts: 103
Joined: Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:08 am

How can I get my treble pickup more bass?

Post by nextcliffburton »

Hello! I got a 80' 4001 and I was wondering how I can give my higher treble pickup more bass to it. The middle position has alot of good bass and some treble but I find it losses a bunch of the growl the higher position has. I was thinking using a a/b switchbox and hooking up my Ampeg 2x15 withthe settings more bass and my Ampeg 6x10 with more treble and Mid's so When I'm using the higher position It will have a good low bass from the 15's but wont losse the trebly growl. Any advice on if this would work or what I could do? Thanks Alot!!!
rickaddict
Senior Member
Posts: 6163
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 7:46 am

Re: How can I get my treble pickup more bass?

Post by rickaddict »

I'm confused, nextcliffburton. You seem to be referring to the treble (bridge) pickup, but you're also using the word higher (as in toggle switch up -- which would be the neck pickup.)

If you want more bass from your bridge pickup on a 1980 4001, I highly recommend bypassing the .0047 capacitor in the tone circuit. It's a very easy and reversible modification and it forever changed my old 4001's from frustrating and annoying to full, deep and beautiful tone.

See joeysbassnotes.com for an explanation on how to proceed with the mod.
User avatar
nextcliffburton
Junior Member
Posts: 103
Joined: Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:08 am

Re: How can I get my treble pickup more bass?

Post by nextcliffburton »

Sorry for the confusion! I wasn't sure how to say what I ment but If the Treble Pickup is the bridge (I should know this, bein a musician for 7 years) then yes that's what I ment. I'll check out that mod!
User avatar
jingle_jangle
RRF Moderator
Posts: 22679
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:00 am
Contact:

Re: How can I get my treble pickup more bass?

Post by jingle_jangle »

Whoah. I'm confused, too...

You've got an eighty-foot-long bass and you want MORE out of it? Are you trying to knock down buildings or something? :lol:
User avatar
cjj
RRF Moderator
Posts: 10931
Joined: Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:17 pm
Contact:

Re: How can I get my treble pickup more bass?

Post by cjj »

Probably trying to create earthquakes or something...
:roll: :lol:
I have NO idea what to do with those skinny stringed things... I'm just a bass player...
User avatar
nextcliffburton
Junior Member
Posts: 103
Joined: Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:08 am

Re: How can I get my treble pickup more bass?

Post by nextcliffburton »

BEWARE OF...


RICKEN-KONG
User avatar
cassius987
Senior Member
Posts: 4723
Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:11 pm

Re: How can I get my treble pickup more bass?

Post by cassius987 »

Seriously though, modern Rics have way more bass than most other passives out there, including Fender. And the cap is bypassed on those. I know it's not a popular belief but I've owned many passives and the Rics always have the most bottom.
jakeox
Intermediate Member
Posts: 1123
Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2007 7:40 am
Contact:

Re: How can I get my treble pickup more bass?

Post by jakeox »

You definitely want to bypass the cap as referenced in the first reply. That will restore the full range of bass response to your bridge (treble) pickup.

I always find the bass pickup/treble pickup distinction confusing -- they're both bass (guitar) pickups, right?! But I think I understand the issue here just fine. You switch to the bridge pickup only and it's far less bassy -- that's the cap.
User avatar
paologregorio
Senior Member
Posts: 6376
Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2007 12:56 pm
Contact:

Re: How can I get my treble pickup more bass?

Post by paologregorio »

I try to avoid the confusion by referring to the two pickups as neck pickup and bridge pickup, though I'm as guiltay as the next player of having referred to them plenty of times as "bass/treble" pickups.
User avatar
doctorwho
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 12652
Joined: Tue Jun 11, 2002 3:28 pm

Re: How can I get my treble pickup more bass?

Post by doctorwho »

paologregorio wrote:... I'm as guiltay as the next player ...
Working on your French, eh Paul? guilté :lol: :lol:
It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing. - Seneca
User avatar
jps
RRF Consultant
Posts: 37496
Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2003 6:00 am

Re: How can I get my treble pickup more bass?

Post by jps »

Re: the other Jeff, here is a photo showing the mod; the red wire is soldered across the .0047µf cap that is cutting out the bass from the bridge/treble/high :mrgreen: pickup.
User avatar
fatcat
Intermediate Member
Posts: 1198
Joined: Tue Aug 29, 2006 5:00 am

Re: How can I get my treble pickup more bass?

Post by fatcat »

Has anyone here tried putting the capacitor on the neck pickup,if so what did it sound like?
User avatar
johnallg
Rick-a-holic
Posts: 17688
Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:13 pm

Re: How can I get my treble pickup more bass?

Post by johnallg »

fatcat wrote:Has anyone here tried putting the capacitor on the neck pickup,if so what did it sound like?
Hmmm, never occurred to me.....
User avatar
cassius987
Senior Member
Posts: 4723
Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:11 pm

Re: How can I get my treble pickup more bass?

Post by cassius987 »

johnallg wrote:
fatcat wrote:Has anyone here tried putting the capacitor on the neck pickup,if so what did it sound like?
Hmmm, never occurred to me.....
iiipopes recommends sometimes putting a weak resistor in series with it, but he never mentioned a cap.
User avatar
beatlefreak
Senior Member
Posts: 6160
Joined: Wed Jun 14, 2006 5:45 am
Contact:

Re: How can I get my treble pickup more bass?

Post by beatlefreak »

doctorwho wrote:
paologregorio wrote:... I'm as guiltay as the next player ...
Working on your French, eh Paul? guilté :lol: :lol:
Pardon his French...
Ka is a wheel.
Post Reply

Return to “Rickenbacker Basses: by Joey Vasco & Tony Cabibe”