Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am working on a 2006 fireglo 4003 ... it has the new high gain pickups with the adjustable pole pieces ... very cool ... also it has the walnut headwings and the vintage tone circuit ... but it seems to not have the slimmer neck ... which is good because I am doing a 4-2-5 on the bass ... but with the new pole pieces I will have to look at my options for changing the pickups from 4 to 5 pole pieces ... I may do a neck toaster but I still have to look at the bridge pickup ...

Jeff, have you considered a naked toaster in the bridge position - with 6 magnets, they may have the coverage needed.

You could try to get a newer set that has the older pole type. Perhaps someone here would even want to trade.

Jeff, I have a 4003S/5 bridge pickup bobbin and pickup plate. Perhaps we could do a trade?

I have several other pickups that I can try in there ... I have several older high gains, hb1s, hb2s, toasters, and even a 5 pole Sergio pickup ...

but out of curiosity I strung it up with 5 strings and left the 4 pole pickups in there ... I raised the to center pole pieces to cover the 3 middle strings ... it seems to sound just fine ... no drop off in volume on any strings ...

"have you considered a naked toaster in the bridge position"

Why naked?

Naked it would look more origional, though I really like the look of yours. I've considered doing that on my MG. Maybe next time I get bored and have a spare $100 lying around. Jeff, how's it tonally compare to a early 70's 4001?

I can't make a comparison as this is an FL with Chromes on it, so the tone is totally different.

John - the pickguard is going out to you tomorrow, just scheduled a UPS pickup.

True. Thanks for replying.

I went with 2 modified 4003 5 pole pickups on the bass that is what sounded best to my ear ...

but here is a picture of a hb1 installed on a 4003 ... it will cover 4 or 5 strings quite nicely ... it had a nice snarly growl and bite ... and no single coil noise ...



I may have a pair of the new 4003 adjustable 4 pole pickups to trade for a pair of 4003 pickups from the 1990 thru 2005 era ...

Jeff, That's the setup I use on all of my 3000 basses and my 4008, only I leave the chrome cover on the pickup. Can't you just convert the new adjustable pole 4003 pickups to 5 poles by unscrewing the pole pieces, filling the holes with E-poxy and then re-drilling and tapping the holes for the middle three poles?

Ya I could do that to the new 4003 pickups ... but I used some 3 year old pickups that I already converted for this bass ... also the hb1 pickup works great in a 4003 ... you get the fat humbucker sound in a 4003 and you still have a Rickenbacker bite ... it is a good option for 4003 owners ...

John B - Thank you! I'll keep an eye out.