NPD Toaster and Horseshoe Installed

ch willie · Post by **ch willie** » Thu May 23, 2013 6:55 pm

I've had the pickups for several weeks, and a buddy put them in for me today. This is the way I wanted the bass to sound for 35 years. I wish I'd done this years ago, but I'm not sure if Rickenbacker sold toasters and horseshoes separate from their guitars in the late 70s I'm a big fan of the McCartney Ric tone, and these pups do it. I put a new set of flatwounds on it, and it sounded like the bass on Sgt. Pepper. Put in a new dampening foam too. I was also getting some tones that sounded like an upright bass. Totally happy with these pickups. Excellent for that 60s Ric sound. Pictures of the 4001 coming soon.

ch willie · Post by **ch willie** » Fri May 24, 2013 11:32 am

Here are some photos. Check out the sig in the pup cavity.

Anybody know "Ruizo"?

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Fri May 24, 2013 4:15 pm

I happy to hear you found your tone, but for aesthetics my first choice would be to reuse the original treble pickup surround, if not then turn the one for the horseshoe around because it is on backwards.

cjj · Post by **cjj** » Fri May 24, 2013 4:34 pm

ken_j wrote:...but for aesthetics my first choice would be to reuse the original treble pickup surround, if not then turn the one for the horseshoe around because it is on backwards.

Yeah, it is on backwards. For some weird reason, that's the only way the holes in the RIHS surround line up with the holes in the body. Who knows why...

Looks great otherwise...

Seans · Post by **Seans** » Fri May 24, 2013 4:56 pm

Looks like the bass is strung backwards too,

edski · Post by **edski** » Fri May 24, 2013 5:14 pm

What's the output like on a horseshoe PU compared to a hi-gain?

Looks sweet, Willie!

8mileshigher · Post by **8mileshigher** » Fri May 24, 2013 5:15 pm

Toaster and Horseshoe --- I like !!

ch willie · Post by **ch willie** » Fri May 24, 2013 7:04 pm

Thanks guys. I had to put the pup on upside down because of the holes. Well, the pups sound great. They have a bit more oomph than the original pups, and there's a world of difference in the sound. I think the value for the bridge pickup is 9.something.

I know the pups are off historically--a 78 4001 with 60s pups--but I'm no purist. I'm more about the sound.

jps · Post by **jps** » Fri May 24, 2013 8:06 pm

Looks great, and I know from past experience that it sounds just as great.

I do agree with the others that you should either put the original surround back on, or man up and drill the new holes to allow the HS surround to be positioned correctly. While you're at it, do what's needed to get the toaster in the early 1/2" location, too.

cjj · Post by **cjj** » Fri May 24, 2013 8:26 pm

Yeah, I agree, but if it's gonna take routing wood, I'm not to sure about moving the toaster to the 1/2 inch position. Some have enough room already (depending on the year), others might be a small amount, but if it's a lot, well, I'd have to think about that...

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Fri May 24, 2013 9:12 pm

edski wrote:What's the output like on a horseshoe PU compared to a hi-gain?

Looks sweet, Willie!

About the same and about the same tone too. Closer than you would think they would be. I have had a new higain bridge, and have or had three RIHS, and both types measure about 11.5k ohms dc resistance and the only difference is the plastic magnet under the higain and the four alnico5 rod magnet pole pieces.

ch willie · Post by **ch willie** » Sat May 25, 2013 11:46 am

I was wrong. I should have written it down, but I think the Horseshoe is over 10

Lefty4001 · Post by **Lefty4001** » Sat May 25, 2013 12:38 pm

Nice setup fellow lefty. My '74 has "Bryan" written in the cavity. Maybe Ruiz replaced him on the line?

So, is that a 7.4 scatterwound toaster with the capacitor in line? I have a 4003S that I'd like to wire up like the earlier CS signature models, but I'm not exactly sure what that is. The current PUPs are both hi gains roughly in the 11-12 and no cap (and 1 inch spacing from the fretboard). When you solo the PUPs, they sound similar. My '74 has higains with the cap, 1/2" spacing and very different tones from the neck and bridge. But it's not quite the sound I've heard from the CS basses. I'll figure it out soon enough.

And don't worry about mismatched parts. Finding any reasonably priced lefthanded RIC bass can be a feat in itself. Keep the parts you've replaced in case the bass moves on in the future.

Glad you got that tone you've been looking for. I just got a fuzz pedal that works Goldilocks for me. I love the, "THAT'S IT" feeling.

paologregorio · Post by **paologregorio** » Sat May 25, 2013 12:46 pm

Are the "shoes" functional on the RI horseshoes? Just curious. Either way, killer looking p/up.

ch willie · Post by **ch willie** » Sat May 25, 2013 4:06 pm

I don't know if the shoes are functional or just for looks. I didn't try to take it apart, but I know Macca didn't leave the shoe on. I've seen others with them off too.

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