Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

My two cents is that they all sound different, but the end result on stage is much less obvious than we make it out to be in discussion. Your setup will play a huge role in what happens with the pickup's inherent sound. I know most about Toasters and modern Hi-Gains. I've only played a Horseshoe once, and it was an RI. Anything I could say about the older Horseshoes would be pure speculation. I will say, of all the Hi-Gains, I just love the modern ones the most. The older low-Z ones are nice too, but I'm not as in love with the transitional period where they gained ohmage but were not yet adjustable pole.

My OTHER two cents (I believe that comes to four) is that all of RIC's pickups sound really, really great when carefully set up with the rest of the bass. Whereas I have had hit-or-miss results with aftermarket stuff.

Because they are so easy to set up for tone, timbre, and output from string to string, and because they are easy to convert into RWRP pairs, I prefer modern Hi-Gains.

cassius987 wrote:My two cents is that they all sound different, but the end result on stage is much less obvious than we make it out to be in discussion.....

Words of wisdom. When I practice alone, it's easy for me to obsess over all the subtle nuances of my tone. When jamming, I'm just part of a very colorful mix.

Ommadawn wrote: What about a V63? I'd get closer to a vintage 4001 than a 4003, don't you think?

Soundwise, I think a 4001C64 might get you closer still.

I can attest that the C64s I've played all had a bit more of a "vintage sound" (I loved the 1/2'' spaced Toaster with rounds)... plus newer ones have that sweet two-piece neck.

cassius987 wrote:I can attest that the C64s I've played all had a bit more of a "vintage sound" (I loved the 1/2'' spaced Toaster with rounds)... plus newer ones have that sweet two-piece neck.

+1, especially since one of those C64s that Joshua played is now mine (thanks again for test driving it for me, Joshua!).

My 4001C64 has "vintage sound" in spades. Dialing in a good McCartney sound is just about effortless. Solo the neck pickup, roll the tone off, dial up the mute, and there ya go!

As for people accusing the bass of sounding "thin" in some way, you can always bypass the cap that runs to the horseshoe. This procedure will be performed on my C64 soon enough, but with a push/pull pot so that I will have the option of the standard C64 tone, or a more beefy tone with the cap bypassed.

I see that you also own a 4003, can you get close to the vintage sound you are talking about with it?

I was watching some old Genesis footage and found Mike Rutherford with his Rickenbacker, it looks like a V63 but it seems to be modded isn't it? Anyone could tell me more about his Rick?

At 3:09 we can see it well :


Thanks

That's one of the original 1964 Rose Morris 1999's, the model that the V63 is a replica of. Chris Squire had one. So did John Entwistle, Pete Quaife, Maurice Gibb, Roger Waters and a handful of others. You'll find lots of information on these here on this forum if you search for it.

Rose Morris was the company that imported Rickenbackers into the UK (and Australia, and probably a few others). When they did, they renamed the model the Rose Morris 1999. Also, instead of the Deluxe models...the UK market preferred the more spartan, less expensive look with no binding and a dot fretboard.

Oh thank you very much for the explanation, I understand now, this is great!! The famous RM1999!

So slowly but surely I'm getting more and more interested in the V63

I'm in a very similar situation to the OP, and would like to thank everyone for the great read.
Definitely got me some hunting to do!

Thanks!!

Hey welcome here!

So do you have any idea of which model you will choose?

Ommadawn wrote:I see that you also own a 4003, can you get close to the vintage sound you are talking about with it?

I'd say I can approximate the sound with my 4003, but higains will never sound just like a toaster and a horseshoe, especially when you consider the 1/2" spacing on the toaster.

Overall, I'd say the 4003 is the more versatile of the 2, while the 4001C64 has more "vintage vibe" both in terms of tone and looks.

My poor man's RM1999 with its 1/2 neck pup spacing and RIHS have a tone that my 4003 just cannot duplicate.

Ommadawn wrote:I was watching some old Genesis footage and found Mike Rutherford with his Rickenbacker, it looks like a V63 but it seems to be modded isn't it? Anyone could tell me more about his Rick?

At 3:09 we can see it well :


Thanks

I've seen Mike play that bass a few times (in person).

4001's all day.