Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Im installing a toaster in the neck pos of my 4003 and want to try my HB1 in the bridge position.
Which mounts should I use?

The ABS plate that currently has the standard treble pickup on it is already predrilled to suit to suit the HB-1. Thats just John Hall thinking ahead!
The toaster should fit straight in if you have a bass version or will need some nuts for the mounting screws if it is a guitar one.....

Eden.

Are the HB-1s really that much hotter then a toaster ? If they are & you use the .0047 cap. won't the outputs be fairly balanced? Then when you use the HB-1 by itself cut out the cap & it should kick butt. Just wondering.

aceonbass wrote: You'll be able to get a brighter sound out of an HB1 with a .047uF tone cap though, and a 500K volume pot. Many here change their single coils out for HB's here without changing any of the other components, which doesn't get the most out of an HB1.

Oops.....I meant to say a .022uF tone cap.

Well the toaster I bought turned out to be a fake.
So I've stuck with the HB1 in the neck and bought another HB1 for the bridge.
I've got the output levels pretty matched now so will try on a gig tomorrow night and see.
Next will be to try the 500k pots and Cap Dane suggests.

My 4003 with dual HB1's.
I'm glad I made the choice. She runs in stealth mode now. Just like my 4004.
Nice even levels and I haven't lost too much growl.
A little bit of filing meant I could keep my thumb rest surround too.
All my basses are strung BEAD which makes harmonic adjustments impossible with the factory bridge, hence the hipshot.
Chrome and black is the look ATM.
Might try the 500k pots suggested though
Thoughts?

Yes to all Dane. The strings are 60, 80, 100 and 125 so pretty average.
If you can get the harmonics absolutely perfect with a Ric bridge, you're a better man than I.
Btw, what will the 500k pots give me?
Cheers, Pete

The 500k pots will give you a brighter tone plus more definition. I felt these were a must for my former 650C until I installed toastized high gains. For a bass I would hvave to try it to see. You can lift the ground (open circuit) from one of the volume pots to give you an idea what it will sound like. The only thing is you would not be able to turn that pickup all the way down with the volume control.

I split the difference and use a .033 orange drop tone cap, to get a little more upper mid to lower treble presence. My HB1 is an older one that measures out @14kohms dc, and it has a sizeable resonance (measured) at @ 1.3 kHz, on my bass with its particular volume and tone circuits. I believe (it's been a few years since I looked "under the hood") I don't have the full 500kohm pots, but I think I bridged them with a 1 meg resistor to bring them down to a hybrid curve 330kohm control. I agree: the resonance is not high enough to sound good with a .0047 inline cap; it sounds "honky" instead of "jangly" with one to my ears. I agree the 500kohm pots are necessary to bring out as much usable treble as the pickup can produce, but on bass, do you really want all the top end possible? Some do. I'm content with staying in the trenches with a tad bit of natural rolloff.

aceonbass wrote:All that needs to be done to get a B string to intonate on a stock 4003 bridge is to shorten and round off the rear of the B string saddle so it travels further rearward. An extra 1/8" of travel can be gained in this manor. I've gotten 4003S5's to intonate with .130 B strings. Using a .022 uFtone cap will also add to the brightness of the pickup, which tends to be a little dark with 330K pots and .047 uF caps.

Thanks Dane. Great idea re the shortening of the saddle. I never thought of that.
I used to use a bit of gaffa, folded several times, in between the front of my S5 bridge and the tailpiece to give me better intonation control. It angled back a little ways but hey?