Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Are the pickups on the 2060 and 2020 active like on the 2030 and 2050?

With everyone talking about their wish list for Rickenbacker to remake various guitar and bass models, just makes me wonder if John Hall has thought about re making the 2020 and the 2060 as its not only a beautiful bass as you can see by the mapleglo photos earlier, but pure craftsmanship, and as jeff has said their is more than just a resemblance to the 4004 range with the neck feel and profile, it is truely a very underrated and luxurious bass, wouldnt you agree Mr Hall? Just wish I could see one in fireglo!!

Here's my turquoise 2060. Unfortunately you can't see the double binding in this shot. It's currently in the shop, but when I get it back in a week or two I'll post some more detailed pics.

none of the 2000 series basses are really active ... there is no bass boost, or treble boost, or battery like there is in a real active bass ... the 2030, and 2050 have a circuit board that uses the low voltage signal in the cable coming from the amp to process the signal ... and the 2020 and 2060 have the same exact electronics as the 4004 basses ...

the early 2000 series have single coil pickups ... they have a lot of treble bite ... about 1990 they put in the hot humbuckers ... these are the hottest passive pickups I have ever seen ... my 2020 bass is hotter and louder than an active bass ...

The 2000 basses do have issues ... 2 or 3 of my 2000 series basses had a misalignment of the strings ... the bridge was placed offline 1/4" or so ... and my 2020 had a wobbly neck ... the neck screws were loose ... I had to put longer neck screws in to hold the neck solid ... and since I converted them to a 5 string bass the bridge was removed anyway ...

They could very easily make a 5 string version ... they could use an off the shelf schaller 5 string bridge with a spacing of 2 1/2" and the spacing at the nut is already exactly the same as a Carvin five string bass ... then they just add 1 more tuner ... then to dress it up they could add a quilted or flamed veneered top to the body and they would have an excellent 5 string bass ...

But surely the advantage of converting a 2000 series bass to 5 string is the fact the have fairly narrow necks, and if Rickenbacker produced one surely it would have a wider neck like a 4004/cii 5! Flamed or quilted veneer on top would look amazing too!

Hi Steve, you emailed me some photos of your 2060 last week I think, look forward to seeing more of it when the work on it is completed. How long have you had yours, had you ever seen any 2020 or any 2060's before or since purchasing it?

Hi Warren - I've never been a huge fan of the 2000 series, but aesthetically I love the 2060. The combination of the double binding, gold hardware and white pickguard looks very cool! I first saw a jetglo 2060 in a shop a few years ago and would have bought it on the spot except it had some significant wear. I purchased my turquoise 2060 from a place in the states about two years ago. Pics will be on the way once I get it back from the shop.

Well I just wish I could put my hands on a 2060 in mapleglo or fireglo somewhere! Ive got more chance outside of the UK in Europe as I believe quite a few were sold there!

So why havent many other people who own 2060's and 2020's registered on this site, or are there more but who dont speak? I can only count 2 or maybe 3 unless Im wrong!