4004cii/5 pickups

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 2:28 am

Does anyone know what style of pickups are currently used on the 4004cii/5? The first generation seems to have used an all-black pickup with adjustment screws through the back of the bass, (see Joey's bass pics in another thread). They also have "RIC" stencilled on them. They look exactly like the pickups on my 2060. I'm wondering if RIC plans on redesigning the pickup to be aesthically more akin to the pickups used on the 4004cii - i.e. black pickup in a gold mounting ring with adjustment done using the mounting ring.

jaymi · Post by **jaymi** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 4:24 am

that wold be cool. The only one I have seen is Joey's (at least decent pictures anyway)

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 5:13 am

as far as I can tell the 4004 and the 2020 and the 4004CII5 have the same basic pickup inside ... it is a dual rail series humbucker wound to about 15k ohms ... but the outside looks a little different ...

turlu · Post by **turlu** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 5:15 am

I asked the question directly to Ric and was told the C11 5 String pickups will stay the way they are with no gold mounting ring. It would look a lot better in my opinion with the mounting ring, but there might be a technical issue that I am not aware of.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 6:33 am

Lets ask Joey...

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 2:12 pm

Both of the pickups measure 1" x 2 7/8" ...
The last time I spoke to someone at RIC, they said there no plans to change anything about the pickups or how they are mounted on the 4004/5Cii.
I like it without pickup mounting rings. Pickup mounting rings are old style hardware mostly found on six string guitars. Most modern bass guitars do not have them.

Adjustment / mounting screws in the back of the body.

There are springs that attach to the standoffs that mount the pickup inside the cavity. I removed them so you guys could see the threaded inserts they have.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 2:19 pm

The outer strings are pretty close to the edges of the pickup! There must be some strong magnets in there to get any response out of the B and maybe even the G. 2 7/8 is the width of the pickups in my 2030. The 4004CII pickups must use some of the same parts. Cool bass Joey.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 2:21 pm

Thanks Ted!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 3:14 pm

That is the exact same size of the pickups on my 2020 ...

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 3:53 pm

I thought they would be the same pickups.

jaymi · Post by **jaymi** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 4:05 pm

Must have had a stock of them left over at the factory???

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 9:45 pm

The issue that I'm hung up on a bit as far as ordering a 4004cii/5 goes is that when I play I anchor my thumb on the bridge pickup. I'm concerned that since the pickup doesn't extend far beyond the strings, the B string might be hitting my anchored thumb when I pluck it. Joey - do you have any issues with the pickup size as far as signal strength or playing comfort?
They certainly appear to be the same pickups that were used in some of the 2000 series basses. I wonder if RIC is using up old stock or whether this pickup will continue being produced to be used in the 4004cii/5? Aesthetically I find the white "RIC" logo on the pickups a bit cheezy and out of place on such a beautiful instrument. Plus it will start to wear off as it has with my 2060. I wonder if there's a way to remove it without damaging the top of the pickup?

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 2:57 am

I have the same question about the signal strength, Steve. The outer strings are just so close to the edges of the pickup cases. I too anchor my thumb on the pickup when I play. It seems that I would have to alter my style a bit to play the 4004CII/5.

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 4:16 am

Unfortunately the chances of finding a 4004cii/5 in a store to try out are practically nil. As much as I'd like to order one, the pickup width issue is one I can't ignore. If there's a chance that placing my thumb on the bridge pickup is going to interfere with the travel of the B string, (and it hurts me to say this), I'll have to pass.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Feb 17, 2005 12:19 pm

I just converted my 2020 4 to 5 ... I used a Schaller bridge with a string spacing of 2 1/2" and a nut spacing of 1 5/8" ... I was BARELY able to get the strings covered by the pickup ... I think the rails inside the pickups are 2 1/4" +/- you can get a string slightly outside the rail and have it work ...

I had to run the strings asymetrically to get the G string to pickup ...