High gain Rickenbacker pickups

ocoaibass · #1 11-27-2011, 02:50 PM

I've asked this question before, but didn't get a reply, so here's a succinct version. Do the newer, high gain neck pickups really put out more buck than the older toaster pickups? Does it have better undertone?

Ric5 · #2 11-27-2011, 03:29 PM

What do you mean by buck?

What do you mean by undertone?

You post doesn't make sense to me.

**line6man** · #3 11-27-2011, 03:36 PM

Also, note that passive pickups do not have gain. They are not gain stages that amplify, there are merely transducers that convert magnetic energy to electric energy.

I<34080 · #4 11-27-2011, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

Also, note that passive pickups do not have gain. They are not gain stages that amplify, there are merely transducers that convert magnetic energy to electric energy.

the name for the new pickups is "hi-gain" or something to that effect, which is what he was saying.

and i'm using "new" loosely

Ric5 · #5 11-27-2011, 05:29 PM

The old toaster and horseshoe pickups on the 60s 4001 basses were weak pickups. They were replaced by a new design called "high gain" ... they were called that because they were louder than the old horseshoe and toaster pickups.

**line6man** · #6 11-27-2011, 05:57 PM

Interesting.

I'm going to add this in with "input" jacks and "tremolo bridges" and such.

Axtman · #7 11-27-2011, 06:18 PM

Older Rickenbacker 4001 pickups were "underwound" and weaker and more treble response. Newer 4003 pickups are "overwound" and stronger with more of a bass response.

ocoaibass · #8 11-27-2011, 11:01 PM

I was just talking ridiculous slang. Excuse me. What I'm asking is basically an opinion on the newer 4003 neck pickups as compared to the older, toaster style. I get that passive don't have gain, per se.

I wondering about how the increased bass response effects the Ricky growl. You know, am I better off with my newer bridge pickups for that sound, or will I dig the neck ones if I'm looking for that Paul D'Amour, Chris Squire attack & rattle, but I'm playing lower tuning & heavier string, so I want more response in the 100k area.

**steddy2112** · #9 11-28-2011, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axtman

Older Rickenbacker 4001 pickups were "underwound" and weaker and more treble response. Newer 4003 pickups are "overwound" and stronger with more of a bass response.

Eh the sound is more from the wiring of the bridge pickup with a capitcator(off the top of my head) that pretty much acts like a high pass filter on the bridge pickup.

The newer pickups are way hotter than the old ones. I've seen em as hot as 12-13k, where as the older ones are some serious weak sauce 6-8k

Duke21 · #10 11-28-2011, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steddy2112

Eh the sound is more from the wiring of the bridge pickup with a capitcator(off the top of my head) that pretty much acts like a high pass filter on the bridge pickup.

The newer pickups are way hotter than the old ones. I've seen em as hot as 12-13k, where as the older ones are some serious weak sauce 6-8k

Yes, the push/pull function thus vintage/modern function is applied to the bridge pup. Quite a big different between these two modes.
Also the "new" pups have individual pole hight adjustment which is very useful.

ocoaibass · #11 11-28-2011, 09:44 PM

Ok, well I ordered 1 from pickofthericks.com. If anyone's interested in the difference it makes, I'll try & post some follow ups/samples. I didn't record any before & afters for when I replaced the bridge pickup...

ocoaibass · #12 12-09-2011, 04:34 PM

I have to say, although I'm not blown away by the new neck pickup, the pairing of it with the matching bridge pickup I'd already installed made a huge difference, all around! I don't know if there was a phase issue before, but it seems likely. Now they are both light years clearer, punchier, & musical than before. So far I can't find any dead or dull frequencies, which I certainly felt there were before.

Success.

Sartori · #13 12-09-2011, 05:11 PM

I use a toaster neck pickup and a hi-gain bridge pickup, as I really like the toasters in the neck position.

SGD Lutherie · #14 12-09-2011, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sartori

I use a toaster neck pickup and a hi-gain bridge pickup, as I really like the toasters in the neck position.

Me too. My two '73 Rics have toasters.

Lately I have been rewinding newer high gains back to older lower wind specs for people.

Duke21 · #15 12-10-2011, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

Me too. My two '73 Rics have toasters.

Lately I have been rewinding newer high gains back to older lower wind specs for people.

Is the neck pup on the newer 4003 high gain? I know the bridge is high gain .
I'll love to have toaster neck pup and keep the high gain in the bridge. These bridge pups with the vintage / modern switch are really great. The make my Rick the most versatile bass in my collection tone wise, including me Geddy!

Sartori · #16 12-10-2011, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

Me too. My two '73 Rics have toasters.

Lately I have been rewinding newer high gains back to older lower wind specs for people.

Ah, see, I actually like the modern, hotter pickup for the bridge position.

ocoaibass · #17 12-10-2011, 07:36 AM

I think the 4003 have the high gain in the neck, while the 4001 have the toaster there.

SGD Lutherie · #18 12-10-2011, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke21

Is the neck pup on the newer 4003 high gain? I know the bridge is high gain .
I'll love to have toaster neck pup and keep the high gain in the bridge. These bridge pups with the vintage / modern switch are really great. The make my Rick the most versatile bass in my collection tone wise, including me Geddy!

I believe they are both high gains on the 4003. The thing is, Ric has used the name "high gain" on them for a while, and the older ones were not wound as hot as the newer ones.

The toasters can be a little light on the bass though. I actually replaced mine with different pickups back in the day. But now I like them for that classic Ric tone. The toasters in my Ric are the long magnet ones, and as with all the toasters are actually guitar pickups with six magnets.

SGD Lutherie · #19 12-10-2011, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sartori

Ah, see, I actually like the modern, hotter pickup for the bridge position.

The rewinds I did was because they weren't getting a bright enough tone. The old bridge pickups are about 7-8k, and the new ones are about 12k.

cheesybass · #20 12-10-2011, 09:48 AM

The two best things I've done for my old '73 are to replace the bridge with a Hipshot and the neck pickup with a toaster. I like the extra sustain of the Hipshot and the old-school hollow sound of the toaster.