Toaster? HG? HB-1? Other? Which one for "fattest" sound?

[Oz_Greg]

.
I haven't been able to find a decent shootout or comparison of the various pickups to suit 4001/4003 basses anywhere.

I want to try to fatten my 1980 4001 up a bit, I'm not liking the sound it currently produces.
I've tried all sorts of tweaking of my amp and still can't find anything I like.
I've tried heavier gauge strings, flats etc.
It currently has (fitted by the previous owner) EMG active pickups in it, which I have never been entirely happy with.

While I would probably prefer to make/keep it all Ric, I'd be willing to put another pair of aftermarket pickups in it again if necessary.

BTW... I can't afford another bass. Besides, I want to keep this one.

Greg

[jps]

Welcome, Greg! Check to see if the .0047µF capacitor that is in-line with the bridge pickup is there. This cap deliberately cuts the bottom end from that pickup; if it is there put a piece of wire across the leads of that cap and you will find the bottom end you seek.

BTW, put the original pickups back in the bass!

[cjj]

Welcome to the RRF!

Yeah, what Jeff says...

[rickenbrother]

Welcome to the RRF!

Yeah, what Jeff says...

Yeah, what CJ says...

[jps]

Yeah, what Jeff says...

Yeah, what CJ says...

Yeah, what Joey says...

[rickenbrother]

Yeah, what Jeff says...

Yeah, what CJ says...

Yeah, what Joey says...

Yeah, what we said...

[Badanovski]

The EMG's are light on the mids & tend to sound sterile. They are however very quiet(no 60 cycle hum). You might want to consider HB-1s if you think a little buzz would drive you nuts.

[chefothefuture]

Yeah what they said.
Though the current high gains seem to be
a lot bigger sounding than the early 80s ones.

Ixnay on the terafray arketmay!!!!

[cjj]

Yeah, it always bugs me when people put some crummy aftermarket pickups in a Rick and call it an "upgrade." I mean really, do you think RIC, which ONLY builds high end instruments, is going to put low end cheapo pickups in ANY of their instruments? Get real!

Sure, there are aftermarket pickups that are just fine, great even, but you can rest assured that RIC puts in the best pickups they can make into every instrument they sell. Perhaps some people want something different, and that's fine, but it's a long stretch to call it an "upgrade."

[Oz_Greg]

.
Wow! Thanks for all the fast responses guys!

Welcome, Greg! Check to see if the .0047µF capacitor that is in-line with the bridge pickup is there. This cap deliberately cuts the bottom end from that pickup; if it is there put a piece of wire across the leads of that cap and you will find the bottom end you seek.

Naah, that one's already gone mate. Its not the .0047µF cap thats the issue here, its been removed completely. I was hoping it was the issue when I first checked to see if it was there!

BTW, put the original pickups back in the bass

If they had come with the bass when I bought it 20 years ago I would have!
If they sounded "fatter" I would track down a pair and buy them, but all the original 4001s I've heard don't sound fat enough for my liking, so I'm leaning away from the OEM pickups at this point in time. (.... and BTW, I do realise this is a trait of 4001 series basses. Its just not my thing.)

The EMG's are light on the mids & tend to sound sterile. They are however very quiet(no 60 cycle hum).

Yep, one thing I could never complain about with these EMGs is noise. They are definately quiet.

Greg

[Badanovski]

I had a 74' 4001 & an 80' 4000. My mentor had a 73' with toaster & early hi-gain. His pickups made the pickups in my basses sound whimpy in comparison. My current 4003S came with Bartolini's, really punchy pickups & still has the ric tone.

[jps]

Here is a set of pickups with associated electronics to go with them for your Rick (no affiliation, except I may go for them! )

[Oz_Greg]

.

Here is a set of pickups with associated electronics to go with them for your Rick (no affiliation, except I may go for them! )

I saw that ad this morning actually! (Thanks all the same.)
I haven't bid because I'd be going in blind, wondering if they were better or worse than what I have now.

Mmmmm, food for thought.

cheers,
Greg

[chefothefuture]

There's a fellow in France building a repro of the Hagstrom BiSonic.(Used in the 60's Guild Starfire)
They look like he's not using the large case like the Hammon Dark Star uses and
I had thought one would fit in the treble bezel of a Rick quite nicely.
That might over power the neck pup some....

[antipodean]

If I had a Rick 4001/3 husk, I'd look to fit it with HB1s and set them up to have the progressive coil-tap feature outlined by some of the technical gurus who post here. That would give a nice "fat" sound in full humbucking mode and the option of a more vintage sound as you tap the pickups.