My Ric has a weak E-string!

[Ostrobothnian]

Here´s the problem:
Everything about this bass is excellent except the E-string
It is kinda weak, empty-sounding. And no, it´s not "the ric-sound", this is just plain wrong. I use 45-105 Rotos. What can be done?

[LB75]

Might find some help here

http://www.rickresource.com/forum/vi...string#p227403

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by Ostrobothnian

Here´s the problem:
Everything about this bass is excellent except the E-string
It is kinda weak, empty-sounding. And no, it´s not "the ric-sound", this is just plain wrong. I use 45-105 Rotos. What can be done?

Nothing. This is typical on the 4001/3. On newer instruments, the PU's are supposed to have adjustable pole pieces; you could raise the ones for the E string and see if that helps.

The easiest fix is to just use limiting/compression to even it out and that'll improve the sound in general...

LS

[Mastermold]

What year is your Ric? As unclejane said the newer ones have adjustable poles.

[Suatie]

When you say "newer", what do you really mean?

Does anyone know when they started producing the adjustable poles?

[willsellout]

post 2006 I believe. I wouldn't buy a Ric without the adjustable pole pieces. They make a world of difference.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

If you don't have adjustable poles, can you raise the E side of pickup?

[Floyd Eye]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

If you don't have adjustable poles, can you raise the E side of pickup?

Why yes, yes you can. You can also lower the other side so the output is even.

[audiomitch]

This is a common complaint, and I had the same issue. I have a '05 4003, so no adjustable poles on the pickups. Luckily, I had the right year model and was able to twist/pull the posts and cut them shorter to match the E string. Works absolutely perfect now.

There's a lot of solutions out there, just have to find the right one for your particular model.

[LightGroove]

Originally Posted by audiomitch

This is a common complaint, and I had the same issue. I have a '05 4003, so no adjustable poles on the pickups. Luckily, I had the right year model and was able to twist/pull the posts and cut them shorter to match the E string. Works absolutely perfect now.

There's a lot of solutions out there, just have to find the right one for your particular model.

So you drop $3000 and need to modify the pickups... yikes

[audiomitch]

Originally Posted by LightGroove

So you drop $3000 and need to modify the pickups... yikes

$3000?

These basses sell for $1600 brand new, a couple hundred bucks more than a USA Fender.

[Ostrobothnian]

Mine is a 4003 from year 2004 so no adjustable pole pieces here... I´ve tried to use compression and such but the volume from string to string just isn´t even. The E is just being trampled.
It really bugs me that I love this bass to death but because of its disability im almost unable to use it on gigs...

[mac94]

If anyone has this problem and has the adjustable pole pieces, try lowering the poles on the other strings instead of just raising the one on the e string. Worked for my 09.

[mcm]

Trade for a pbass

[mac94]

And, like other brands, they are in need of a setup when you get them unless you happened to buy from a decent store. Most of the online places don't even open the box before they ship them out.

[lfmn16]

Originally Posted by audiomitch

$3000?

These basses sell for $1600 brand new, a couple hundred bucks more than a USA Fender.

Yea, but nobody ever changed anything on a fender. They come perfect from the factory.

[Jools4001]

Originally Posted by mcm

Trade for a pbass

Yeah, that'll do the trick....

That is if you want to sound like all the other guys that take the 'safe' option and use the most ubiquitous bass on the planet. If you want a bit more individuality, as the OP seems to, you'll just want a better answer to your specific problem than just some guy that recommends people simply follow the rest of the herd.

So, to the OP: My 4001 suffers from a tendency to have a weak E string, especially on the neck pup. Mine is a toaster, which is essentially the same pickup as a guitar. It has 6 magnet slugs that are glued into place within the coil former. They can sometimes come unglued, so if yours is a toaster you may want to check that they're in place. Also you could try what I did an simply place these magnets a little deeper on the E string side. Other than that, there's not much adjustment to be had on the neck pup, as you will know.

The bridge pup is a different story and you should be able to adjust the bass side so that it is very close to the strings - just don't go too far or you will get too much magnetic pull along with wolf tones and even strings hitting the pup...better to compromise on overall gain and lower the treble side rather than get the bass side too high.

My Ric also responds to minor tweaks on the trussrods, so if I change the make of string or the guage that I'm using, and find that the string balance has gone out of whack a little tweak on one of the trussrods makes a difference. I don't know why, must just change the resonant frequency of the neck somehow.

And yes, Rickresource and Joey's bass notes are your friend. it's worth persevering with because, as we all know, the sound of a nicely set up Ric in full flight, has a sound that a P just can't do

[mac94]

Originally Posted by Jools4001

Yeah, that'll do the trick....



My Ric also responds to minor tweaks on the trussrods, so if I change the make of string or the guage that I'm using, and find that the string balance has gone out of whack a little tweak on one of the trussrods makes a difference. I don't know why, must just change the resonant frequency of the neck somehow.

Yup. Forgot I had to do that with the truss rods also.

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by Ostrobothnian

Mine is a 4003 from year 2004 so no adjustable pole pieces here... I´ve tried to use compression and such but the volume from string to string just isn´t even. The E is just being trampled.
It really bugs me that I love this bass to death but because of its disability im almost unable to use it on gigs...

Hate to say it, but this is why the other best day of my Rickenbacker career was the day I sold them (the other best day was the day I bought them).

But honestly, the other guys are right, IMO. It's time to abandon it if a reasonable effort to get it to work for you has failed. Once you start cutting into things or shelling out precious cash for amps, effects, and etc., that's when you know it's time to look at something else. _especially_ if it's draining your wallet.

I owned a total of 3, a 70's 4001, a 4003s and my current '99 or 2000 (not sure what year) 4003. They all had/have the weak-E problem so it's basically an inherent problem.

Until I finally had the money to buy something else, I dealt with it at gigs by using compression or simply driving the amp to clipping to act as a limiter. I sold both my gigging Ricks sometime in the early 90's for $400 and had no regrets (that went into the L2K fund which I finally spent in '99).

So in the meanwhile, that's what I'd do - just run the bridge PU and a lot of gain in the amp.... But I feel your pain, and did for many years and many gigs lol....

LS

[RickenBoogie]

The OP changed from Ric strings to Roto's. As with most any bass, this requires setting the bass up for the new strings. The trussrods need a tweak, and the pups are adjustable. There's no reason to abandon a bass when a little set up work will have it playing perfectly. Jeesh, some of you expect everything to be perfect- but in life, it isn't. Bottom line: change string gauge, expect to need a set up.