Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

walker wrote:A toaster in the bridge position! I've only seen that once before. How do you think it sounds compared to the standard high gain?

I can tell you I didn't do it without first hearing the Hi-Gain and gigging on it. I took my brand new 4003FL to one of the nicest jazz gigs I had been invited to for a long time and it did really well--lots of upright tone. However, the notes were just not as warm as I had hoped. I would say the tone was a bit sterile, especially in the upper part of the register. I had been compiling Toasters for just such an event and with iiipopes' help I had the second one installed in the bridge (I was kind've scared to do it myself). For a fretless, I feel like the double Toaster setup really adds to the sound--to the clarity and depth of the notes and to the fretless character. This is probably due to the broadened magnetic field. The sound is very, very smooth, silky, and professional sounding. It sounds like a true "boutique bass" to me now.

I would STRONGLY recommend this mod for fretless basses. For fretted, I have no idea what would result. I am 100% content with two Hi-Gains in my fretted 4003.

...That said, when I get my 4003 MG [fretted], I have two more Toasters and will try this...will report...

Hey Josh,beautiful bass,nice information as well.

Good to know, Josh. Thanks for sharing that info. I have a '76 4001FL with the stock high gains in it, and it may be worth my time to try this same toaster option one day.

walker wrote:Good to know, Josh. Thanks for sharing that info. I have a '76 4001FL with the stock high gains in it, and it may be worth my time to try this same toaster option one day.

Well, if it ain't broke, don't fix it... but for me, the Toasters really improved the sound, especially in the upper register. It went from thin and semi-sterile to thick and warm.

Cool shot Tom, love the 8 being played at the end of '08...

And Joshua great idea with the toaster on the fretless.

I seem to remember that Jeff has two toasters on his 4005???? Was that a standard set up for a 4005?

ram wrote:Cool shot Tom, love the 8 being played at the end of '08...

And Joshua great idea with the toaster on the fretless.

I seem to remember that Jeff has two toasters on his 4005???? Was that a standard set up for a 4005?

I believe it is and I got the two Toaster idea from Jeff, who did the same thing with a 4003FL that is still out there somewhere. That said I didn't do it BECAUSE Jeff did it, but when I wanted a warmer sound and I remembered what he had done I went "Hm..." so credit goes to him for the inspiration.

cool thanks - both of you. I just went thru the 4005 Model of the Week and saw both Toasters and High Gains... still very cool application on a fretless.

aceonbass wrote:4005's had toasters until around 72-73 I would guess. I had a basket case '66 long ago that came with toasters, one of which I put in my '74 4001 before i sold it , but that's a story for another day....

I don't believe that any 4005's were produced between 1970 and 1973. 60's one's have toasters, '74 and on have higains.

Here is the "Bass of Inspiration"!

Alex Heist has it now.

gearhed289 wrote:Happy New Year! Saying goodbye to 2008 with a 4003S/8.

Awesome! I know a lot of people complain that the 8-string headstocks look ugly, but I think they look great!

Tom H, saying goodbye to 2008 with an S/8, very cool!

I agree with you, Harry. I think the S/8 headstock looks great.

jps wrote:Here is the "Bass of Inspiration"! Alex Heist has it now.

Not a bad heist, all things considered.

AAAAH HA HA HA HA HAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Sorry. Had to go there.

I just heard a recording of my 4003FL that was made a month ago while I was playing with a jazz 5-piece. The recording was just made with a Zoom H4 but the clarity is hard to believe. The way the Toasters shape the note you can actually see the dots forming on the sheet music! I will try to share clips ASAP in another thread--just need to get the files and figure out how to upload them somewhere respectable that won't gobble up anyone's intellectual material (2-3 of the songs that night were originals). PM me if you all have any advice as to this matter.

rickenbrother wrote:Tom H, saying goodbye to 2008 with an S/8, very cool!

I agree with you, Harry. I think the S/8 headstock looks great.

Yup. A lot of potato head fans here, but I like the S/8 the best!