73' Rick, what to do.

[Gizmot]

If you want to make it look better, buy the pickup cover and possibly a new pick guard (make certain that you get one that fits correctly). I think that the stock tuners look nicer, but they're probably not any better than what you have.

If you want it the bass to sound better (and give yourself more tonal flexibility), you simply have to put in the 4003 high-pass bypass. I've been playing a Ric for almost 40 years and was totally blown away once I put that in. If you don't want it or want it to sound the way it does now, you can do that by simply engaging the two-position pot. Trust me - it's a gigantic improvement.

 

[lfmn16]

I would get rid of that POS. Message me and I will take it off your hands, but only because I'm a good guy!

 

[PortlandBass77]

If you like it keep it as is. Don't potentially ruin the mojo for yourself.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Yeah, I'd try to return it to form - - the problem? What if in doing so, you ruin the how well it plays / sounds?

 

[Jeff Scott]

That's a good question. Seller said it was a new toaster, so I assumed it's the modern scatterwound style. Looks like the modern pickups (has the circles on the plastic like this). I didn't know they had a higher impedance version in the 90s.

The high impedance toasters have Phillips screws in the four corners (the screws that hold the cover to the baseplate). And, yes, the circles/dimples at the ends of the "toaster slots" do indicate scatterwound toasters as these are modern ones (these are also on early toasters, too).

 

[coreyfyfe]

The high impedance toasters have Phillips screws in the four corners (the screws that hold the cover to the baseplate). And, yes, the circles/dimples at the ends of the "toaster slots" do indicate scatterwound toasters as these are modern ones (these are also on early toasters, too).

Great to know thanks!

 

[mc900ftj]

Long story short, I picked up a 1973 Rickenbacker 4001 on a trade with the intention of trading it off. Well, It is the best playing and fitting bass I have ever owned. That's saying a lot considering the list of basses I have owned. I have never been a big Rick fan, but this has changed that. The problem I am having is, do i go back to original with it, or keep it as is.

It has the original pickups and pots that appear to have not been touched other than a few wires being replaced. pickguard, truss rod cover and finish all appear to be original as well.

The tuners are old schallers, the bridge is a Badass (not a II or a III). and obviously the bridge pickup cover is not original but it matches the cover around the bridge. Usually I would hop on ebay and find the correct parts. The dilemma being all the aftermarket parts seem to be period correct, and from what i have been told about this particular bass, were installed when this was nearly new (something tells me a Geddy fan owned this bass). I really do like the look of it, gives it some originality in a world full of jet glo vintage Ricks.

If you owned this Rick, what would you do? (BTW, i am running it through an ashly SC-40 preamp, a match made in heaven)
View attachment 623895

If it plays and sounds good, I would play the SNOT out of it...as-is! If you want to trade, let me know!

 

[jamro217]

Nice bass. Yay! If it ain't broke, don't fix it. However, if you decide to extend the tonal range by adding a cap bypass there are three ways to do it. 1.) Add a jump wire right alongside the cap. This will bypass it, but it doesn't allow you to engage the cap, so it's not adding choices, just replacing one. 2.) install a push/pull pot. 3.) Run the cap and a jump wire through a mini toggle. The third option is not suggested if you wish to keep the original pickguard intact. If you replace the pickguard, it seems like the best option, because even in poor lighting you can see what position the switch is in, and chances of hitting the switch by accident are less than that of pushing the tone pot in inadvertently. It looks like the previous owner had a hard pick attack on the bridge pickup. Ouch!

 

[Matthew_84]

...something tells me a Geddy fan owned this bass...

If you owned this Rick, what would you do?

If it sounds something like Geddy's Ric, I'd keep it as is, but he is my biggest influence in my desire to own a Ric so take it for what it's worth.

 

[JMacBass65]

if you decide to extend the tonal range by adding a cap bypass there are three ways to do it. 3.) Run the cap and a jump wire through a mini toggle. The third option is not suggested if you wish to keep the original pickguard intact.

Thats how I did mine. My Rick is pretty jacked up, from the original owner, and then the stupidity of my youth, so I wasn't overly concerned about a small hole in the pick guard

 

[the harp unstrung]

if you ever sell it

...and that's when the fight started...

 

[7dollarbologna]

I'm "Rick curious", is the stock rick bridge subpar? I haven't seen many people doing this.

 

[Jaco Taco]

I'm "Rick curious", is the stock rick bridge subpar? I haven't seen many people doing this.

Yes, it is. It's a bitch with intonation among other problems. A lot of Ric players sub it out for a Badass (in the old days) or a Hipshot Ric replacement bridge.

 

[paranoid30]

Yeah, I'd try to return it to form - - the problem? What if in doing so, you ruin the how well it plays / sounds?

That is EXACTLY why a lot of people are suggesting to keep the badass bridge. The bass sounds great and the OP loves it, there's no reason to go and change something that affects the sound, for now, right?

The pickup cover, on the other hand, looks like a really poor job. The bass is black, so there's no risk of removing it and finding out that the finish has aged differently under the cover. I would definitely look for a replacement.

Or maybe create a new cover, but one that looks better

 

[bolophonic]

If it sounds good, I wouldn't mess around with it.

 

[jamro217]

Thats how I did mine. My Rick is pretty jacked up, from the original owner, and then the stupidity of my youth, so I wasn't overly concerned about a small hole in the pick guard

It does seem to be the most logical choice, but keeping mods completely reversible is always the best policy. You never know.

 

[AnalogKid4003]

Best Ric upgrade ever!

 

[hypercarrots]

i can't tell from the one picture but it doesn't even look like a mismatched knob. rickenbacker knobs often lose the metal cap.

 

[gjohnson441496]

Enjoy it as is. Nice looking instrument.

 

[callofcthulhu]

You should complete the look and get a metal pickguard and TRC.