hybrid 4001

[DBR]

Hello Folks,
Happy Holidays...
I am wondering if it's possible to create a hybrid active/passive bass. How I mean can I keep the toaster original neck pickup passive while making the modded P bass bridge pickup active? The
reason being is that there is not enough output from the P mod. No matter how much I raise the pickup it's the same low output results. I'm thinking about the EMG active P pickup for a replacement and the wiring confusion between the Ric-O-Sound connectors. Is there a way to do this without losing that Ric-O-Sound? If so...is there a diagram? Thanks for the help.
Ric

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

it is tough in a 4001 cavity to start filling it up with extra stuff like pre-amps and batteries. once, i had modded my '64 with an alembic rick style rear pickup and active electronics. didn't like the glassy sound so i went with my '73 pickups. i find it hard to believe a p bass p/u has low output. they are usually pretty robust. in my ibanez mc980 8-string, the previous owner had removed all the guts so it had no preamp,thus low output. in that bass, i made a copy of an electro harmonix power booster preamp (the small one that plugged into your guitar) and wired it in with a battery. i put a switch to shut off the battery which made it active and passive. worked really well ! problem you'll have is spitting the active p/u from the neck p/u without going stereo. why not go back to the original style p/u ? they're pretty ballsy now, i hear from the others on this forum. would be cheaper than all the modifying you're gonna attempt with possible negative results.

[jps]

why not go back to the original style p/u ? they're pretty ballsy now, i hear from the others on this forum. would be cheaper than all the modifying you're gonna attempt with possible negative results.

+1

[doctorwho]

+2

The bridge pickup on my 4003S/5 Blackstar was so loud I had to lower it to balance it with the neck pickup!

[rickenbrother]

why not go back to the original style p/u ? they're pretty ballsy now, i hear from the others on this forum. would be cheaper than all the modifying you're gonna attempt with possible negative results.

+1

+2

[DBR]

I would love to go back to the original pickup but the routing nightmare would be hellish on the eyes, wouldn't it? I would think so. There is a pic of the Ric I'm talking about on this forum. It's one of the pics in the '' and the "I FOUND ONE" threads. You can actually see the mod as I purchased it like that. I didn't really care for the mod, but I love the way the bass feels. As you can tell, I'm one happy Ric owner (once again). I would love to improve the quality of volume on the rear end perhaps with an EMG preamp boost or something like it. From what you described, that just might work. I think I'll take off the plate real soon and check out if a 9V will work then I will need to find a place for a PC board for a preamp boost. It might work out. Who knows!? No more harm can come to it thaan has already been done, can it?

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

can somebody find that link ??? would like to survey the damage.

[stevebasshead]

This is the one, I think...http://www.rickresource.com/phpBB3/view ... +found+one+

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

Re: I Found One
by (BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS) on Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:21 am

well dbr...with those dimarzio p-p/u's that far back , you're cheapest way out would be to have a metal or plastic plate in the shape of an early '60's chris squire type surround made with the usual rectangle cutout for a rick p/u and use the same holes that exist now. this would camoflage the routs. or get a v63 type surround off ebay and a RIC p/u. this would be short of maple filling the holes and repaint $$$$$$$$$$. if you want to restore it , put it in a paper bag (lol) and sent it to mr. jingle and tell him BAD RONBO sent ya !

if those are dimarzios, they would have two ceramic bar magnets under the coils and you should be able to "peel the paint" (as gentle giant would say) with loads of gain . maybe you have a bad connection (cold solder joint) or even a short to ground . that would be a 4 wire system with red green white and black for phasing possibilities with a mini switch. i had those in my '76 black roger waters style p-bass. they was load and low middy with a bit o' honk. if you know a repair dude , take it to him to have the wiring checked.

there are so many ways to a mod job correctly, and it still amazes me when somebody does a job like that ! they could have emulated a '60's surround and made it look nice. you should have seen what my '64 looked like when i found it. when they did the p mod , at least they did the routs on each side of the existing rear p/u rout. i'm kicking myself for not taking pre restoration pics.

question...why the badarse bridge mod ????

[DBR]

Sorry I haven't gotten back to anyone on this. The surround p/u sounds like a better way to go. I don't really want to fill the holes. Just leave it the way it is for now. I prefer the Badass as they are more stable IMHO that the stock bridge. Whenever I had a stock bridge, they always seem to rattle and make all sorts of buzzes. I just assume not use the stockies. Thanks for the help.

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

well, if you go with a different bridge, consider one of the solid aftermarket versions that emulate the style and size of the original so as to save your bass from excavations which are hard to reverse. they did not have those in my day.

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

btw...there's a bridge in the for sale area for ya if it's not taken yet !!

[jps]

btw...there's a bridge in the for sale area for ya if it's not taken yet !!

What, the Peace Bridge is for sale?

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

that would look great on a rick...nice n' bulky !