Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Greetings,
I am interested in learning the difference between the year 200x higain neck versus the year 200x toaster, if anybody has any clips of before/after that would be really really nice. Thanks!

They are out there... I don't know where though. If I ever get time to do such a thing I'll do it myself.

Toasters sound a whole lot clearer if you ask me, but Hi-Gains have a tone all their own as well.

When I got my first Ric (a 2007) I was blown away by the Hi-Gain tone. So much clearer and more precise than what I was used to--other big-name American brands mainly. I use Toasters on two of my three basses for the extra precision and smooth tone (I mostly play bop and fusion), but I kept the Hi-Gains in that 2007.

I have before and after sound clips of E r i k's 4003 Blueboy before and after we replaced the neck higain with a toaster. If he doesn't mind, I'll find them and edit and post them.

If I may, the differences between the Hi-Gain and Toaster are a lot more striking in the bridge position than they are in the neck position, because the harmonic differences are more transparent.

Hm. I have a muddy, muddy, dull, and fundamental only sounding 4003- it sounds like a toaster will not solve the problem. Would still appreciate any clips though.

Welcome to the forum, Jimmy. What year is your 4003? I had two of them that were made in '81. I bought them new that year. They both had the same kind of tone that you've described.

jamespaul71 wrote:Hm. I have a muddy, muddy, dull, and fundamental only sounding 4003- it sounds like a toaster will not solve the problem.

Welcome Jimmy!
I'd say it would.. Toasters are more clear and articulate, but a bit less powerful. Toaster+ Hi-gain is a good combination.

Check the condition of your strings, I find that Rickenbackers really suffer once the strings are dead..

Eden.

rickenbrother wrote:Welcome to the forum, Jimmy. What year is your 4003? I had two of them that were made in '81. I bought them new that year. They both had the same kind of tone that you've described.

My distressed 74 4001 has a loom out of a 4003 from around that time. The pots are so far out of spec (volumes are at 180K) that it sucks the life out of the pickups. I'm going to replace them soon..

Eden.

its from a few years ago. I doubt its the pots since its not old and its been well kept. Compared to the sound in this video or the other one this guy posted: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VOc8sgW2tw , my bass has no midrange jangle or tone and its just boom. Sounds like someone scooped the middle bigtime. It just sounds muddy and the tone isn't defined like in that video.

edit- heres a link to a thread someone started that sounds like the same issue: http://rickresource.com/forum/viewtopic ... 3&p=544140

As muddy and dull that the two 4003 basses I had from '81 were, The the tone of 4001 that I bought new in '81 was unmistakeably Rick. How I wish I still had that one!

Jimmy, did you buy this 4003 used? What is the setup like? Have you changed strings and what type of strings are on your 4003?

rickenbrother wrote:Jimmy, did you buy this 4003 used? What is the setup like? Have you changed strings and what type of strings are on your 4003?

It was. Fairly low action, intonation is perfect, strings are presently some nice flats. I do not believe this is a no brainer kind of problem.

Jimmy, you ought to tell us the year. Lately I've heard tons of reports that 2003-issue basses have a tendency toward what you're describing.

Try the serial number decoder on rickenbacker.com if you don't know the year.

Hey there, would still love to hear a clip. No, its not a 2003.

I went with a toaster in the neck of my 2004 4003 because the higain was indistinct on the E string from G# on down (RIC factory strings). It was an 11.6k higain. The 7.4k toaster added articulation and clarity in that range - I could then discern the different note tones. Tone was very similiar with a tad less growl from the toaster over the higain.