Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hello all,
So, I have a much-loved 2006 JG 4003 that simply will need different pickups. The reason is twofold:

1) I play tube amps pushed hard, and on stage the 60 cycle hum is pretty bad. I know, it's the nature of the single coil beast, especially when you have the bridge pickup cover removed. That being said, I tend to play dives with bad power and fluorescent lights everywhere. Hum city.

2) My 2006 has the non-adjustable pole pieces. Which would be fine, except I sometimes use a technique that I refer to as "aggressive muting" in order to get maximum kick-in-the-chest when the kick drum whomps. When I do this, yup, the strings smack the A-string pole piece. I could adjust my technique, but, honestly, with other basses I've used in the past, this wasn't an issue. In order to avoid the pole piece crack, I've tried adjusting the pickup height, but it has to be dropped pretty much as far as it will go. Which means that I'm not happy with the tone, but I'm still getting massive hum, and much lower output to the amp, which I like to overdrive a bit.

So, yeah, replacement pickups are in order. I fairly certain I want something humbucking, but relatively close to the stock 4003 sound. That said, I wouldn't complain if I got a bit more low-mids out the bridge pickup. I'd prefer if I didn't have to lose high-end, as I play with SIT Silencers into a 15" ported cab with no tweeter. FWIW, I tune to D-standard. Also, I use one of those amazing tubeampology bezels for the bridge pickup (since I switch between pick and fingerstyle a lot, it makes life so much easier).

So, HB1s? Bardens? Other (not Duncans or Barts, please)? I'd like the whole shebang installed for under $350, if possible. What would you do?

HB-1s, and rewire them so the coils in each pickup are in parallel (I believe they are in series as stock).

The HB-1s do look like the way to go. Now, some questions,

1) Series vs. parallel? How does this affect things?
2) Bridge pickup bezel? Anyone done this mod with the tubeampology/pickofthericks bezel?
3) Any weird mounting difficulties I should be aware of? Do the chrome covers come off the HB-1s before install?
4) Do I need 500kohm pots for the HB-1s?

Welcome to the RRF Page.

1) Series = standard humbucking wiring and sound, hum canceling. Parallel = single coil sound, hum canceling.
2 & 3) Same footprint as a high gain or toaster. You may need some washers/spacer to mount to the bottom plate. Most likely you will need to retain the chrome bezel.
4) I would in series but not sure about parallel.

4) Do I need 500kohm pots for the HB-1s?

ken_j wrote:4) I would in series but not sure about parallel.

I am thinking the original pots would be fine as the DC resistance of parallel wired HB-1s would be closer to hi-gains/toasters than not.

Wow, I had heard the the people here are friendly, knowledgable and really into the minutiae of all things Rick. Glad to find out the scuttlebutt is true. Thanks folks!

Hb1's can also be set up for coil tapping for EACH pickup volume,like what i have in my laredo. The pots were upgraded to 500ko,and they actually do a pretty good job of getting that single coil RIC "edge" sound,minus the noise interference,too. There is definitely an audible difference in the sound of the hb1's with the higher value pots,it really seems to open up the top end. Dane Wilder did the work on that bass,and also put a VVT wiring harness together for my cii,which i hope to find someone in my small town to install someday.

Well, on that tip, I'm in Chapel Hill, NC. Anyone know someone in the area to do the work that knows Ricks? I know a guy who I think does good work, but I don't know how many 4003s he's seen.

Check with Mike Parks, he is in Raleigh.

http://www.the-music-connection.com/ric.htm