4003 toaster score!

[tinman 1967]

Hello, Im brand new to this forum. Its great! I look forward to spending time here, taliking about my favorite subject.

I have wanted a RIC bass since I was around 14 years old, Im now almost 45....... (raising a family, and putting food on the table are much more important that getting my dream bass)

Any how, I was able to finally get myself a brand new FG 4003 a few months back, and I have to say Im loving this instrument!

I have always thought the look of the toaster neck pick up was so cool compared to the high gain,

Well........... last evening, I some how put a last minute bid on a brand new reissue "toaster" neck P/U on that auction site that we all seem to occasionally look at.

Lo and behold, I won it! under $150....... I think I did pretty well. Hopefully it will be a great mod to this great bass!

Any thoughts?

[ricmic]

Tinman, welcome, and you are going to love that toaster. I have a toaster in the neck position of my V63. I love the tone of that pickup. Did the seller tell you what your toaster meters out at? Just wondering about it matching up well with your bridge position Hi-gain pickup. Again, welcome to the forum, and please post some pictures of your baby so we can drool to. Mark

[ram]

Welcome to The Forum! I think you will like the toaster... i just put one in my '74 4001 a while back and love it! Now all you need is a reissued Horseshoe! And if you have any shots please post!

[tinman 1967]

I hope I like it too. I mean, I really think that the instrument sound fabulous just the way it is. It was one of them old "I think Ill through a bid on this" deals,..

I do know that they are really great lookingto me, and I have heard that they sound wonderful.

Just hope I can solder it in with out messing anything up, I have never done it before. (Any tips?)

[8mileshigher]

Just hope I can solder it in with out messing anything up, I have never done it before. (Any tips?)

Can't resist the pun --- there should be lots of soldering tips on this Forum !

Why not start by checking Joey's Bass Notes http://www.joeysbassnotes.com/ he has a nice section on Ric Bass maintenance videos, including some handy soldering how-to stuff ! And as he is the moderator of this Forum, you can always check in with Joey for more advanced coaching.

[tinman 1967]

Thank you. I will definately check that out.

Im a welder by trade, so I have many "tips" on that subject Im pretty new as far as guitar set up, especially wiring and such, and I really dont want to make a mistake doing it myself, Yet Im not one to "sub" things out to others. Ideally I would love to have an experienced person do this as I watched. I will check out Joeys bass notes for sure! Thanks again!

[johnallg]

Welcome and congrats Ken. When you remove the pickguard to change the pickups, use a soft cloth to protect the body. Just look at where the grey cable from the existing highain pup goes to the switch and pot bosy (grounding) and so the same for the grey cable that comes with the toaster. I like them for the clarity of tone you get.

[marcinkus]

Kenneth, you will love the toaster... as long as you use the "vintage" selector. The 7.4k toaster has a low output so the 12k hi gain pickup will overcome it.

[johnallg]

Kenneth, you will love the toaster... as long as you use the "vintage" selector. The 7.4k toaster has a low output so the 12k hi gain pickup will overcome it.

Or adjust the bridge pup down to balance.....

[tinman 1967]

Well I dropped the new "toaster P/U in this morning..

Its great! Its a bit lower in volume than the bridge P/U so I Raised the toaster as much as I could, and dropped the Bridge P/U. Its sounds great. Seems to be a bit of a more mellow sound. I love it!

Did a bit of testing when I was done , as my daughter was playing Beatles Rock Band.

(What better to play along with right?) Im very happy!