Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

From Musicians Friend:
The Rickenbacker 4003 Bass is famous for its ringing sustain, treble punch, and solid underlying bottom end. It's also famous for its distinctive, elegantly curved body shape, accentuated by a subtle strip of binding, deluxe triangular fretboard inlays, stereo output, neck-thru-body construction, double truss rods, and high output single-coil pickups with wide response range and unbelievable clarity.

The Vintage Tone Selector activates a capacitor in the treble pickup circuit to emphasize the high end. Pressed in, you get the familiar 4003 sound, pull it out to add bite and crispness.

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Say what? Press what in and pull what out? Is this some new feature for the 2006?

Yes.

"Vintage Mode" tone selector push/pull switch, as well as Walnut headwings for 2006.

Good, eh?

For those of you who know what the "vintage tone" is (vs. the tone of a recent model 4003), how do you think this will alter the sound, depending on if it's on or off?

-Greg

It cuts down on bass frequencies. It will sound brighter vs. a newer 4003.

It will give you more of the "classic" RIC sound.

Has anyone here put the cap in with a reissue horseshoe?

"Did I miss something?"

Yes.

I'll give you a report on the tone selector in...7 days now

"Has anyone here put the cap in with a re-issue HS?" I did. Well, sort of. In mid-2005 I rewound a re-issue HS pickup for someone, and before returning the pickup I tested it on my '86 4003 with the cap: massive output, great Rickenbacker tone.

I may try adding a push / pull selector to one of my V63's!

My C64S came with Horseshoe and cap. I tried to like it, but my V63 just sounded so much better to my ears that I had to do something about it!

So the cap has now been bypassed, and my ears are happy!

I wouldn't mind having the option of the push/pull selector, but I don't think it would get much use.

I've had a cap in my CS for a few months; took it out the other day. I prefer it without to be honest. But my 72 possibly sounds better with it in, so a push pull option could be useful. It'd certainly give more options when recording.

Are you bypassing (shorting) or removing (open circuiting) the capacitor?

I bypass it, Peter.

Hmmm.... does this mean that the C64 I just bought - made in 2003 - has this cap on the horseshoe pick up? If it does, that means the bass is being cut and the treble boosted?

Hoping to be enlightened.

- Tim