Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Has anyone tried putting 2 of the Neck position toaster pickups on a 4001 or 4003. In other words a toaster where the bridge highgain or horseshoe usually is. Is this workable? What about the difference in sound ?

I think Rickenbacker did this on the 4002?
and the 3001?
they didnt use Vintage type PUs though,
they placed the Hi-gain type.

Robert: The arrangement of which you describe was, of course, used with the Model 4005. You can count on losing bottom end in my view, but the toasters do respond well to a wide range of frequencies and as such make them a good choice for a bass pickup.

The sound output in the treble position is just too low with the Toaster Top. A High Gain works much better, but the best is one of our humbuckers . . . it really kicks bass. I did this first in one of Paul McCartney's basses, the black one you see him with sometimes. In any case, note that the treble pickup mounting plate has for many years sported two normally unused mounting holes spaced, surprise(!), exactly for these pickups to be mounted.

THanks for the responses !!
John, I'm guessing that the McCartney bass you mentioned is his 4004. I've been waiting for a photo of him with it. Everything I see of him anymore shows him with the Hofner. I know he did some great lines with the Beatle Bass but he wrote some outstanding lines with his Rics too !!

No, not the 4004, which is the natural Walnut one. It's a 4003 style and now that I think about it, it's a 5 stringer, which is another reason it has the humbucker.