Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've got a clean set of high gains off a newer 4003 that i would trade for a set of 4001 pickups or early 4003's .The output of these are killing me and i would prefer the lower output of the 4001's.Help me please..............

Really? You would do that? I have a set or two around here. Are your pickups really recent - like 2000 or later?

Yes Ted , They are 2001's to be exact

try lowering the pickups away from the strings ... this will lower the output ... it will also make them less bassy ...

Have you tried that Jeffery? You may want to give that a go before ripping your pickups out.

I have'nt yet . Though tonight the thought did cross my mind . I just feel the 4003 high gains have too much output for my taste . Everyone i've ever tryed has .Im still looking for 4001 pickups . They have a mellower tone . Let me know Ted if ya want to trade .

I found the 4003 pickups to be too hot also, which is why I have toasters on my 4003FL. Besides, the toasters look really great on it.

Jeffrey:

Didn't you put a hipshot bridge on that bass?

This pic is pre Hipshot. Here is one with it.

Hey Jeffery, I have a set from a 73 4001 I might want to trade.

Hey Tim , Yes i did . It is an absolutely killer bridge. A great design that has long been needed in my opinion . I have always been a ric purist . i love how the original Ric bridge looks . But the intonation and adjustment there of has always been a pain in the arse. The hipshot has the basic look of the ric bridge and solves the rest of the problems . (are you reading this John ?)It does seem to have a very slight effect on the tone and sustain . Not enough to be significant however.I had to play around with the string length screws a little.They are different lengths and i had to change where they were originally to get the correct intonation . But other than that i would recommend the Hipshot bridge highly to all my Rickenbrothers on the forum .Ben , You.ve got mail.

Tried lowering the pickups . Helped a little but there still too hot . I believe that a 4001's lower output is the key for my taste

Jeffery, you will not lose as much output as you think, and will keep the same tone characteristics, but will get clearer tones at the same time. Compared to the toasters or early high gains, the current ones - TO ME - sound a bit hardened and garbled, but then I like the more clear sounding upper registers. Hope this helps.

i lowered the pickups quite a bit . They are a little bit clearer sounding , but they are still harsh . They are really hot pickups

set the eq on your bass different ... with an old 4001 you can really boost the gain and the tone settings ... turn your gain down and master volume up and set all of the tone controls in the 4-6 range ... because the 4003 is hotter than the 4001 you have to eq it differently ... also try a capacitor ...

but you can get a 4001 sound out of a 4003 ...

also try rolling off the volume a little ...

try lighter gauge strings ...

try a neck toaster pickup ...

for the bridge pickup try one of these ... http://www.seymourduncan.com/compareTon ... .asp?ID=96