Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi,

I love my 4001V63 but I find there is a difference of output with the E string. I mean the E string does not " kick *** " like the other three strings do.

Let me explain more: When both pickups used at full volume, I find I lose volume and sustain on my E string especially but when I turn down the horseshoe just a bit, I gain volume on the E string and sustain is better but not the best I have seen on other of my vintage basses. The same goes if I turn down the toaster pickup just a bit and keep the horseshoe all the way up. It seems like when both pickups are used at full blast, I lose volume output and attack.

I want the E string to kick *** like the other ones!!! Also, I am used to play with pickups volumes turned all the way up. Please, help me. Maybe it`s a saddle problem on the E string, I do not know.

I used different brands of strings and I still face the same difference of output in the E string volume. The E string just do not sound perfect in sustain and volume. Any ideas, let me know.

Are you playing thru an amp with built in limiter?
That's what your problem sounds like. Remember, the E string has more output energy than the rest of them. Compressors/limiters are designed to kick in when amplitude increases past a certain threshold, and upon beating on your E string you are generating more amplitude than you would when you play the other three strings.
Other than this, you may be playing the string too hard, causing it to travel in and out of the pole piece area. Another theory is that the pickup is too close to the strings. try backing the pickup a bit and see if that helps.

Thank you Charlie for your help.

I don`t play with a built-in limiter. Even if I ahd one, I would see when the limiter/compressor would kick in.

I don`t think I play too hard. When played unplugged, I feel the E string does not give the same resonance anyway than the other strings. I tried lighter gauges strings on the Bass (.95) but it seems not to change anything in the output and sustain of the E string.

I will certainly check again the pickups and try to back them up a bit like you suggested.

I am confused. Could the problem come from the Saddle itself or the Nut ?

I have the exact problem with my 71 4001s. I've tried a different bridge,nut and strings. I still have that problem. Maybe someone on the forum can share a few tricks that may work.

It seems I am not the only one who faces that little problem...

I just tried something this morning on the Bass. I put a brand new D string at the E string slot and played with it while keeping all the other three strings in place meaning I had D A D E tuning on the Bass.

The D string I just installed instead of the E string had less output volume than the regular D string still left on the Bass. Now, what should I check next ? Sorry for my written english, guys.

Let me know your thoughts.

Sounds like a defective polepiece.

The problem happens acoustically too. It's dead, period. I'm begining to think that it has something to do with the wood, and the nature of assembly. This sort of reminds me of the Fender Precision basses made in the eighties where a lot of them had a dead spot at 5th fret C. I once heard rumors that the reason Musicman basses were made with 21 frets was to avoid 5th fret C from pysically being in the exact same scale spot that Fenders were. I wonder if there were a way to pysically move the scale on the E string on Ricks, would that solve that mysterious problem. I know that moving the scale is impossible without adding a new fingerboard and placing the frets, nut and bridge to a different location, either closer to the headstock, or closer to the bridge.
this is just a theory. Let's see if Mark The MD has some input to this problem.

I know, Physically

I think moving it psychically would be more interesting> ;^)

A serious pickup mismatch? I don't think so. Pickups out of phase? Hardly likely. One or two wrongly installed (= with the wrong side up) polepieces on the toaster pickup? Nah, I don't think so, man. A weak polepiece on the toaster pu? Not impossible. Seriously misaligned toaster pickup whereby magnetic field barely reaches E string? Not impossible either. I'm afraid I can't take an educated guess on the problem.

I tried other things this morning with the Bass. I changed the E string saddle which brought the E string higher than the other strings. Well, the output was even less than what it was with the regular saddle, which did not surprise me

I feel the toaster pickup is not a problem as when played solo it provides an even sound on all strings.

I am wondering. Is there a way to raise the polepiece of the E string horseshoe pickup just a bit ??? I realized that the polepieces of the A and D strings are higher and the G string is lower and even with the E string. Let me know. That might be just what I need to do on the Bass.
Thanks in advance.

Stéphane, this issue has cropped up before elsewhere in the Forum. Basically you need to make the polepiece in question taller, in other words, you need to bring it closer to the string. Since the polepieces on the horseshoe pickup can not be adjusted, install a small washer or a nail head on top of the polepiece so has to render it taller and thus closer to the E string. It works, believe me. Let us know how it goes. Remember to use a bit of glue to hold said washer or nail head in place.

Adding anything to the top of the bridge pickup's E-string pole just sounds cheesy to me. I mean these are supposed to be among the best basses in the world right? I solved this problem by notching the E-string's bridge saddle a bit deeper. I used a Dremmel and made a nice rounded channel(as I did with all the saddles)making sure the string was as close to the pole piece as the other strings. I also had to notch the G-string's saddle deeper. I suspect this problem may be caused by the fact that fingerboard radiuses have changed from 7 1/2" to 10" since the Horseshoe pick-up was designed.

Well, guys my Bass now sounds excellent !!!

I removed the horsechoe pickup and looked at it and simply decided to turn it around (meaning the original G string polepiece is now at the E string polepiece) just to hear the difference of output with different polepiece at the E string. I also made minor adjustments to the action and as soon as I plugged in the Bass, WOW!!! The E string now kicks *** big time. I am sure I can pluck the E string, go watch a hockey period on TV and come back to the Bass and the string will still ring !!! All the other strings sound excellent also.

Even when playing the Bass with no Amp, I can see and hear the difference in sustain. Maybe it was simply the right adjustment of the action ??? I do not know but it worked !!! I knew this Bass was excellent !!!

Thanks for all your help. It made me working on the Bass, which I probably would not have done without your comments.

Glad you got it working! Congratulations!