Trying to punk rock my 4003

[marc61]

My son really wants me using the 4003 for our group. Here's my issues after the first rehearsal with it...The pickups are just not strong enough. I need a super hot bridge pickup. Also, the E string seems to have a huge drop off in volume. Right now the bass is strung with flats (they have purple windings on the end, I don't know what kind they are). To me overall it sounds very thumpy but, I need a much brighter sound without losing bottom

Suggestions?

[beatlefreak]

Is it possible to raise the bridge pickup closer to the strings?

[marc61]

I guess I should try. There seems to be something wrong with the wiring too. With all the knobs turned off, I still get sound

[FretlessOnly]

I would think that if you have your PUs set up high, anything hotter than a Rick Highgain is going to force you to pad your input anyway, unless you like clipping and the sound of tearing paper.

Short of that solving it, I would think you need a hotter rig, not a hotter bass. If I play my two 4003s on anything more than about 30% of my rig's capacity (GK 700 w 2x12 Neo cab - nothing huge), I'll be replacing glass all over the house.

[johnallg]

I guess I should try. There seems to be something rong with the wiring too. With all the knobs turned off, I still get sound

Something IS wrong with the wiring. Sort that out first.

http://www.rickenbacker.com/pdfs/19507.pdf

[marc61]

I would think that if you have your PUs set up high, anything hotter than a Rick Highgain is going to force you to pad your input anyway, unless you like clipping and the sound of tearing paper.

Short of that solving it, I would think you need a hotter rig, not a hotter bass. If I play my two 4003s on anything more than about 30% of my rig's capacity (GK 700 w 2x12 Neo cab - nothing huge), I'll be replacing glass all over the house.

It's definitely not the rig. At rehearsal, they have SVT 450's which I hate. The sound is better with my minimark II and 2x10 gk cab. If you A/B my P bass with the Ric, the difference(in volume) is tremendous.

Interesting (at John) if the problem is with wiring as I gotta believe the wiring is factory.

[stevebasshead]

I guess I should try. There seems to be something rong with the wiring too. With all the knobs turned off, I still get sound

I've had this on a circuit I made. Foolishly I missed off earthing the lugs on the volume pots and couldn't figure why they rolled off some but not all volume. There should be either a wire going from one of the outer lugs to the pot casing on each of the volume pots. Either that or the lug should be bent over to the casing and soldered in place. Check that yours has this and that the soldering is sound.

[antonius]

Fitting some roundwound strings and boosting the mid frequencies might help boost the perceived volume level of your bass. Ricks throw out a lot of low frequency sound which isn't always clearly audible without being matched by some mids. Just a thought.

[gareth]

My son really wants me using the 4003 for our group. Here's my issues after the first rehearsal with it...The pickups are just not strong enough. I need a super hot bridge pickup. Also, the E string seems to have a huge drop off in volume. Right now the bass is strung with flats (they have purple windings on the end, I don't know what kind they are). To me overall it sounds very thumpy but, I need a much brighter sound without losing bottom

Suggestions?

As an aging punk rocker, this is how to do it.

GET THE FLATS OFF IT !

I use stock RIC roundwounds. You can use Rotosounds if you want even more bite. I personally find they lack warmth on a RIC.

There you go

Now, eq the amp with the middle knocked out a bit and turn up. A mixture of 4x10 cabs work well for fast recovery time for punchy 16th notes.

Trust me, that setup has let me knock out punk rock for the last 30 odd years.

[rickenbrother]

Mark, from what year is this 4003?

[marc61]

Mark, from what year is this 4003?

2007

[rickenbrother]

That's surprising, Mark. The hi gain pickups that have been put in 4002 basses the past several years have been very hot. I've had to lower the bridge pickup in my '02 4003 Turq because the output is so hot.

[paologregorio]

Get the circuit sorted first. If the bass lacks sufficient volume after the circuit's sorted, add an additional bar-type magnet to the one that's already on the pickup; no mods/adhesives neded-magnetism will hold it up against the other magnet, and boost the output. You should be able to find some suitable magnet material at a hardware/DIY/Home improvement store, or else at some place like Michael's Art/Craft Supply.

If you want to further punk up your 4003, follow Paul Simonon from the Clash's example, and pick up some water-based poster paints, then splash drops of a couple of different colors on the front of your bass Jackson Pollack style. It should easily come right off with some polish after the gig.

[jps]

That's surprising, Mark. The hi gain pickups that have been put in 4002 basses the past several years have been very hot.

I want, I want; just exactly where are these recent 4002s, Joey?

[antipodean]

My guide to dialing up a bright, clanky punk tone:

Step 1: Use rounds - I prefer GHS Boomers, but Rick and D'addarios will work fine. Go for a medium gauge (lights won't give you enough bottom). Stainless rounds are a no-go if you follow step 3...
Step 2: Solo the bridge pickup - the neck pickup is going to give all those fundamentals that will mud-up your sound.
Step 3: Play hard. I mean really hard, to the point where you think you are about to break your pick and/or your strings. This kind of attack will give the ultimate in bright tone, however, if combined with stainless rounds, you'll need a refret after about 5 gigs.... It will also give you a massive work-out and may require that you raise the action a little. Edit: I realise this may well be preaching to the choir, so to speak...
Step 4: Amp specific - generally boost the highs a tad, but some solid state amps (GKs in my experience) just need a gentle boost at the bottom end as the highs are already spot-on. I find steps 1-3 do 85% or more of the job in any case....

As regards the quiet e string - this may change with a new set of strings, particularly when moving to a radically different type of string. It has been suggested by cleverer folk than me that backing off the pickups a little can help if the issue persists.