Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've been playing my 4003 for 2 years now, and over the course of a few string changes, changing pickup heights, changing amps and messing about with amp settings I can't seem to get the bottom "E" string to sound as good as the rest.

The "A" string really sings and punches right through, as such I end up doing most of my playing routed somewhere on it. But when I play a run that decends right down the scale to the lowest "E", you can hear the volume and the punch that the "A" string has almost completely disappear when I move on to the "E" string, as if I need to turn the amp (Ampeg SVT2P) up.

The trouble is, I play in a band with a "wall of sound" type guitarist and as such need to fill up more of the bottom end than the lower mids.

Is this a know flaw with the 4003? I know they're known for that low-mid growl but surely I shouldn't be avoiding playing the "E" string?

i had the same problem on my recent (2002) 4003. No matter the pickup height, string height, neck adjustment ,age/type of strings, amp settings etc - the E string was always "hollow" sounding and lower in volume to the others. (i no longer have that bass.)

I will add that my 1991 4003 has no such problem and is fantastic

That's exactly how my "E" sounds - "hollow" as if it's from an acoustic bass!

Damn, I though it might've been someting I was doing.....

I tried out a (gulp) p.bass today, it had all the low end presence that I wanted - maybe I'll have to "jump ship"....

Depending on amps, preamps, etc. I have seen that happen.

As for the 'wall of sound' g*tarist. Well.....have you considered a guitarist that understands the concept of instrument placement in a mix?

"Depending on amps, preamps, etc. I have seen that happen."

I'm pretty damn sure it's not the amp/cab - I've tried a few of these as well as DI'ing the bass and I get the same issue every time.

One suggestion. Make sure the treble pickup is installed correctly. Sometimes they get turned around when they are reinstalled after removing / replacing the cover. The E pole piece sits closer to the end of the bobbin than does the G pole. If it is turned around the bass will not sound right.

Ok, I'm a beginner at this, so when you're talking about the "E pole" you're talking about the circular thing that is under each string on the pickup right? And what is a bobbin?

Sorry to sound like a fool, I've just never messed around with the guts of a bass before!

It is not a silly question Matthew (Welcome to the forum BTW). Yes, the pole is the round metal post that sits under the string. If you look closely you will notice that the poles are not centered in the bobbin. The E pole sits closer to the E end of the bobbin than the G pole is to the G end of the bobbin. In sort form, the shorter end of the bobbin is the E side.

The bobbin is the pickup coil. Your situation is not unique but there has to be an answer. My 2004 4003's E can be more boomy that the other 3 (I adjust the pickup heights), so it should be possible to make it behave.

Ted, I just learned something. I never looked that close but I will now. And I will remember that. Thanks.

It may not be the cause of his problem but it is certainly worth a look.

Another thing that sometimes works is to adjust the truss rods very slightly maybe a 1/16 of a turn sometimes will work, they can resonate and cancel certain tones. One more that has worked for me is to take the neck pickup apart and actually slide the inner pickup itself toward the E side in the metal casing, there is usually a little play in there and this will sometimes make a huge difference, usually it's lack of bottom from the neck that gives that hollow sound. This is in addition to adjusting the pickups, changing the action, strings etc. Another thing that will almost always work is to file the E string bridge slot a little deeper compared to the rest of them bringing the E string closer to the buttons, just be careful and don't over do it.
Incidently none of my 6 (soon to be 7, probably Tuesday or Wednesday) 4001 and 4003 basses have this problem now. In fact the new 4003's have good loud E strings and this is partly because of my set up.

To add to Bob's excellent post, if the E is high up off the fretboard at the nut, file the nut a tad to lower it appropriately. It will also help the first 3 or 4 positions being in tune. Mine needed that and the owner at the shop I bought mine at did a really good setup for me.

Thanks for all your posts guys. I'm going to print them out and take them along with me to my guitar tech.

I had images of having to get a P or J bass, but I'm pretty sure with all this info I can get my rick sounding sweet!

Thanks again.

Also, I did check the pole relative to the bobbin - yes the pickup is attached the right way around. Still, I'm sure the other adjustments'll make all the difference.

Check the nut as John suggested. Rick basses leave the factory with the nut cut pretty high. This allows for a person to cut the slots to his or her personal taste. I like mine cut pretty low, to get the best possible action/feel. But be careful though, if you go to low, there's no going back, you have to replace it.

But before you do all that,,just check and see if the E string is simply "pinched" in the nut slot, in other words, the slot is to tight to allow the string to vibrate properly. If it is, simply take a little material out with a file.