Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I think I asked this before, but I really want to know the answer to this.

Basically, what are the tonal differences between the neck toaster that is currently available from Ric, the standard neck hi-gain, and the neck HB-1? And what effect would each different pickup have on the sound made by playing the middle position on the toggle switch?

the current neck toaster is a 7.4k ohm single coil scatterwound pickup ... it is known for its "jangley" tone ...

the current high gain is 11k ohms single coil ... it is more growlly and louder than the toaster ...

the hb-1 is a dual rail dual coil humbucking pickup that is overwound to about 15k ohms. The 2 coils are wired in series which makes for a fat, hot, growlly pickup ... the hb-1 is not quite as effecient in the high frequencies ... I think the hb-1 makes a great mid or bridge pickup ...

2 or 3 pickup basses always sound smoother with multiple pickups all at 10 ... and when you isolate a pickup it will growl more ... for a 4003 I prefer 2 high gains with all the controls to 10 and then I back off the neck volume to 7-9 range ...

the toaster is a weaker pickup ... and the hb-1 is very strong ...

Well, but see, when I isolate the neck pickup, I don't really want it to growl so much as it does. When I play with both pickups, I usually keep them both at full or back off on the neck like you said. However, with just the neck pickup, it growls TOO much for me when it's by itself. It sounds fine, but I was just wondering if maybe one of the other pickups would be more bassy or less harsh than the hi-gain. For some reason, I associate the neck toaster with a very deep, non-growly sound, or is that just the strings or amp sound?

The toaster is clearer than a high gain, also lowering the pickup can clear it up, sometimes that growl is distortion from overloading the pickup. The toaster on my 72 4001FL is pretty much just pure bottom, all the growl (and in spades) comes from the bridge pickup.

I prefer the sound of a toaster in the neck position of all the Ricks I've owned/played for the same reason, it sounds deeper and less growly to my ears. If you want less growl in the neck position I'd say fit a toaster. Can't comment on the HB1 as I've never played a 4001/4003 with one fitted, and there are other factors to take into account in the basses they're fitted as standard to.

Robert ... you might really like a neck toaster for your bass ...

That's why I'm asking. I might shell out the $85 or so it takes to get one from Rickenbacker. I just wanted to make sure that it wouldn't sound like junk. But then again, if I did buy it and didn't like it, I could always sell it on eBay for a ridiculously high price. Thanks for the info! I'll be considering it.

toasters are sweet ... they are a little cleaner than the high gain ... I prefer more growl so I usually opt for a high gain in the neck position ... but I always have at least one ric with a toaster in the neck ...

I fixed a 4001 azureglo for Steve Cooper a while ago ... the wiring was all screwed up and the neck pickup was dead ... I rewired it stock minus ric-o-sound, minus the capacitor, and with a neck toaster. It turned out to be one of the best sounding rics I ever played ...

Yes as Shaun and I both posted about 5 posts ago, you might want to try a toaster in your neck position as they are cleaner and deeper sounding, you also might want to first try lowering your neck pickup as that sometimes will clear up growl.

maybe he needed to hear it from more than one person ... when several of us agree on something it is usually a good answer ...

Actually, the reason I posted after everyone was because I hadn't been online for a while (I was at work), and Jeff happened to have posted most recently.

I did lower the neck pickup. It still sounds too growly for my tastes when played by itself, though much less so than where I had it before. Both pickups together actually sound much better this way (I guess the neck pickup being so high was diluting the sound too much).

Now lowered, however, it is, like I said, still a bit too growly, and it also has lost some of its bassy boominess because of the increased distance from the strings.

I'll probably order a toaster from the Ric website. Will all these positive opinions, it sounds like a good idea . . . hehehe.

Bob and I agree ... get the toaster ... you will like it ... plus it looks cool ...

I got two of them coming from Music 123 for 67 bucks a piece. I may put one on the 87. I need all of the hardware for that 4001 I'm restoring so I needed two pickups anyway! I may need to trade for a bridge p/u as I assume they are more different than just location?

Hey Jeff, if you and Bob agree it MUST be a great idea!

Yeah, I was thinking that in the back of my head . . .