Basses with the Ric type pickup placement?

[PennyroyalWe]

I’ve often thought it would rad to have a 51 p bass with a second pickup right at the neck. Bet it would sound pretty close.

 

[jamro217]

A pickup tight to the neck, unless its a very shallow pup route, isnt great structurally, which is why Ric stopped doing it a long time ago. It requires hogging out a decent size chunk of wood right at the point of maximum stress. Personally I cant hear a difference between that and the 1" or so position off the fingerboard, at least on a Ric, nor have I ever seen a convincing comparison demonstrating any audible difference with the same strings and electronics. You could probably show a difference on an occilloscope, but if nobody can hear it.... There's a lot more to the classic Ric tone than just the pickup placement, starting with solid maple through-neck construction, the pots, etc.

The avatar pic is my '78 fretless 4001. I cut a new guard out of cream ABS and placed the neck pickup as far towards the neck as the cavity would allow. (By '78 the change in position towards the bridge had already been made.) It now sits about halfway between where a pre-1975 4001 would have it and where new ones do. I did it for aesthetic reasons and the sound difference is not that noticeable. It is unique in that no one else cuts their own guards for Rics. Fenders seem to have a plethora of custom guards.

 

[blacktocomm]

I know @Kenova put a neck pickup in his Peavey Patriot and was getting a decent Ric like sound out of it.

Peavey Patriot (famous basses impression)

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Pickguardian will make any Ric pickguard you like, in any pickup placement. He has templates for all the common versions, or you can get custom. Not cheap.though, I think they run $65 each, and it takes a while.

 

[groovaholic]

The Serek Sacramento: Link Removed

I’ve visited the Serek shop; they get the tone right but the ergonomics and quality control are nothing like Rickenbackers.

That’s because Serek basses are consistent and comfortable to play.

Pickup location isn’t everything, but it’ll get you 90% of the way there; I added a neck pickup to my P-bass and it sounds a lot like a Rick (reversed the coils too)

 

[Lo-E]

The Guild SB-202 looks like the pickups are in the right areas

This is true of the Guild B-302 as well and, while the pickups themselves are quite different, the solo’d bridge pickup is quite Rickish.

 

[ADHD librarian]

Billy's Yamaha?

 

[son_of_mogh]

Lakland <Skyline> Decade. Sorry I don't have a pic...

 

[MingusBass]

My Serek Sacramento is like a Rick that’s enjoyable and comfortable to play! Oh it looks pretty dope as well!

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

Hofner. In fact, Hofner was the first bass manufacturer to use two pickups.

 

[dkelley]

I've played that bass, assuming that is the one that was Chris Squire's, hence why it has the rick pickup placement. INCREDIBLE instrument. But not likely one that the OP can get their hands on to buy

This one, maybe?

Link Removed

 

[B-Mac]

What other basses out there where the neck pickup is right next to the neck and the "bridge" pickup is more in the middle?

Maybe these?
| Retrovibe

 

[ctmullins]

Sheehan’s bass, as well as the Gibson EB3, have the pickups in approximately the right place, but they have neck pickups with very deep, woofy tone. The Rickenbacker recipe calls for a bright, clear, moderate output pickup right up against the neck, not a mudbucker.

 

[Ric5]

 

[lastminute]

My Serek Sacramento is like a Rick that’s enjoyable and comfortable to play! Oh it looks pretty dope as well!
View attachment 5019536

What pickups are those??

 

[Will_White]

What pickups are those??

Serek B90s

 

[ADHD librarian]

There is also this little number...

a Retrovibe R30 “Telenbacker”

(I don't know a damn thing about it, other than it exists)

 

[MingusBass]

Serek B90s

Those are actually Serek Singles!

 

[MingusBass]

What pickups are those??

Serek Singles!

 

[Green Knight]

I'm getting an aftermarket Ric neck pickup for the bridge position on my EB-3 as we speak!

Some of the early Gibson EB's would probably be the closest. The bridge pickup is a bit closer to the bridge than the Ric's tho. Availability and price may be limiting factors . . .

Link Removed