Adding A Rickenbacker Pickup To A Precision

[grenadilla]

Is it feasable to add a Rickenbacker pickup near the bridge on a Precision Bass? Maybe a neck pickup to be switched on with a pull=pot or dual pots for volume and tone for each pickup ?? I know the string spacing is wider on a Fender but I already have PJ basses.

[cassius987]

Measure your string spacing--the Ric pickup is likely to be too narrow. However it would probably work great closer to the neck and the Fender some of that deep thud they don't usually have. The P pickup is almost as close to the bridge as a Ric bridge pickup.

[jps]

I used to have two '72 Telecaster Basses (at different times) back in the late '70s that I put a Rick hi-gain in the bridge position, along with a BA II bridge with notches cut in the saddles to get the string spacing narrow enough for the hi-gain. It worked just fine.

[johnallg]

I would think you'd have better luck with a toaster with its 6 poles.

[iiipopes]

There's nothing new except the history we don't know: Stu Cook of CCR added a Toaster in the "neck" position of his P-bass in @ 1970.

Yes, string centers on Toasters are @ 2 1/6. That's too narrow for a bridge position pickup, whether J-bass bridge pickup position or Rick treble pickup position, on Fender-style stock bridges with their 2 1/4 inch spacing. It will work for J-bass neck (barely) and Rick neck positions.

As Jeffrey did, I used a reissue "bolt stock" bridge on my P-style fanned fret bass with the Rick humbucker and narrowed my string spacing at the bridge to @ 2 1/8. Even then, with the fanning of the frets and the rotation of the pickup to match, it is a close fit to get everything covered at the D-G segment P-bass pickup location.

Rick Hi-gains are @ 1 15/16. That's too narrow for just about anything else but a Rick, unless the string spacing at the bridge is 2 1/8 or less, and only then in the neck. For it to work fir a bridge position pickup, it can't be any wider than 2" Rick standard.

[Rubsoul]

I would just buy a Jazz Bass and sell the Precision ...