Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

It is hard to compare what the toaster in the bridge position sounds like vs. a high gain or horseshoe on a fretted bass as being fretless it has it's own sound. With the original high gains in it, the sound was very dark and full sounding without a lot of high end. The toasters are still quite full sounding but they do give more brightness to the tone. Using just the bridge toaster I get more midrange meat similar to a Jazz Bass' bridge pickup but with more depth to the tone. Plus it looks tres cool!




The pickguard in these pics is a prototype I got from Ken Swearingen.

Thanks much Ken!!!

Jeff, I hope you don't mind but I've "harvested" your pics for my PC wallpaper. Thanks alot, I can't stop looking at it.

Cole

Jeff,

That looks great!

I can send you higher res versions if you want!

I am considering using a toaster in the bridge position of my brand new 05 4003, but does anyone know where I could obtain a vintage horseshoe pup without busting into my kids 529 plan? Also is there some routing required to install either of these pups? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

its a simple drop in mod-till you try and find one!

welcome to the forum!

Welcome to the family Bill! The horseshoe pickup simply drops in place as it uses the same mounting hardware and dimensions with the exception of the vintage surround. That has different mounting hole positions. You can put the pickup itself in the current style surround with no modifications required. I have this arrangement in my '73 4001:



Mounting a toaster in the bridge position is easy as there are mounting holes already on the plate so you just need screws and nuts to attach the toaster.

BTW, I wouldn't worry too much about your kids' funds, they will understand what it truly important in life, eventually!

Thanks for the input! I've got two toaster pups on order from Rickenbacker. How does the bass sound with the two toasters as compared to a toaster & a horseshoe? I have a feeling it will probably sound similar, the alnico magnets seem to be one of the important pieces to the sound of the vintage pups in general.

BTW Jeffrey, did you cut the bridge pup plate cover or were you able to obtain a vintage one? If you cut it what did you use. I don't think you can order the old pup covers from Rickenbacker. Thanks agin!

The surround was not cut. As far as sound, remember mine is a fretless so it is difficult to make a fair comparison to a fretted bass! However I think you will like the way it will sound. The neck toaster is full and warm just like they were on the vintage basses with toasters. The bridge position has a nice midrange bump which works quite well for the fretless and I am assuming will have good grind for your fretted 4003 as I can certainly get that from my 4005WB, whose bridge toaster is right up against the bridge. I aslo use D'Addario Chromes flatwound strings so that will definitely have an affect on the sound; with RW strings I think you will get all the brightness, clank, grind and everything else you are expecting along with a really cool look!