Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

jps wrote:

rickenbrother wrote:That's surprising, Mark. The hi gain pickups that have been put in 4002 basses the past several years have been very hot.

I want, I want; just exactly where are these recent 4002s, Joey?

Okay so I typoed, sheesh!! Then again maybe I didn't, but none for Jeffrey!

Besides, I can always edit it to be correct!

marc61 wrote:Interesting (at John) if the problem is with wiring as I gotta believe the wiring is factory.

When you said all knobs turned down and you still had volume, that is not right and points to a wiring/electrical problem. CC @ POTR could sort it out quickly, I would think.

marc61 wrote:Right now the bass is strung with flats (they have purple windings on the end, I don't know what kind they are). To me overall it sounds very thumpy but, I need a much brighter sound without losing bottom

Might that be Pyramids?
If you prefer flats D’Addario Chromes might be worth a try. Of the few flats I’ve tried Pyramid gives relatively low output, while Chromes gives a noticeably stronger output signal. Also the Chromes are brighter and less thumpy.

Wiker wrote:

marc61 wrote:If you prefer flats D’Addario Chromes might be worth a try. Of the few flats I’ve tried Pyramid gives relatively low output, while Chromes gives a noticeably stronger output signal. Also the Chromes are brighter and less thumpy.

Especially with a pick, but also notably with fingers too.

+1 on the Chromes. I just threw a set on my 4003 and they punch hard. I play mostly punk type stuff and have for almost 20 yrs. Apparently rounds are NOT mandatory for punk at all. Good luck.

Purple silks mean Pyramids. For punk you'll want rounds.

Could mean.

Ken Smith makes a set of slick rounds that look and feel (and sound) more like flats than rounds, and they have purple silks. Purple on the medium flat plum side as opposed to bright deep royal purple, as it were.

I tried a set on my 4003FL and they had an extremely dead sounding E string.

hmmm...I have a set of what I call the "JPS balanced" chromes somewhere around here. Worth a shot.

I've got a COY 4003AFG with D'addarios on it that really cranks out the sound when you lean in to it. I replaced the neck pu with a toaster, and left the stock "new" hi gain in the bridge. In all 3 positions this thing will match all the power of your playing. Ask Joey, he's played it, no lack of bottom end or output to be here.
Absolutely get the wiring checked, you may have phasing or ground leak issues going on, both which would acoount for signifigantly lower output and thin tone.

Well, I replaced the Pyramids with Chromes, raised the Low E pole piece a bit and the volume is definitely there. Not as bright as rotos, but definitely workable. Now the problem is the E string is rattling .Seems like it's the bridge.

whojamfan wrote:I've got a COY 4003AFG with D'addarios on it that really cranks out the sound when you lean in to it. I replaced the neck pu with a toaster, and left the stock "new" hi gain in the bridge. In all 3 positions this thing will match all the power of your playing. Ask Joey, he's played it, no lack of bottom end or output to be here.

That 4003 is awesome, Mikey! You set it up so well too!

Any advice on my buzzing E string? It's a .95. Not sure but the old one was probably a 1.00 or a 1.05. I don't think it's the pole piece

Marc,

Could it be that the notch in the saddle is now too wide and the string is vibrating a little? The alternative is that the same issue exists at the nut (i.e. the slot is now too wide).

I have seen people deal with these kinds of issues with bits of cardboard or paper to fill out any gap but that strikes me as very temporary at best. I'm not sure if that jack-of-all-trades, superglue, can be used to fill the saddle notch. Super glue and plastic shavings have been mentioned re nut slot repairs....

Overkill is a new saddle and/or new nut. I'm sure the more sagacious amongst us will have better recommendations.

Hard to tell but, it seems to be coming from the saddle. Very upset because the bass is cannot be played. It's like so close but, so far

You can't play punk with flats. The bass will sort of just "plarp and blarp" on the down and up pick, and the up pick will be very noticeable. Go with something round wound. I use a standard gauge D'Addario string and sometimes a standard Rotosound set. I also plug into the Rick O Sound jack and only use my bridge pickup. I use a heavy gauge pick and I play behind the bridge pick up cover. I also Eq and compress my sound. If I want a bit more bite I roll the tone knob up a little bit. Flats really are not the way to go here.