I have been daydreaming lately about modding a Ric with an old Eb0 pickup I have laying around. Every Ric I have ever played never has a loud neck pickup and the bridge pickup just blasts over it. Anyone else ever have this idea? and if so would it work??
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EB0 pickup on Rickenbacker?
- Thread starter thehippie
- Start date
Cliff Burton did it. So it is possible. I've never heard what it sounds like though in person. I'd be interested to see of anyone on here has any audio or video links.
well I love my Ric's bridge pickup tone and I love my EB0 neck pickup tone....I figured if you could get both on one bass, life would be complete
More likey you'd actually have to fill the hole in some, to give the EBO's pickup screws some grab.
Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
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I was thinking about that...I need to go home, take my pickguard off and do some measuring. I don't have a huge problem cutting out some of my bass; but the less the better.
Since you ask....
First, let me say that this is a very subjective area -
That said - here's my "Subjective" take: I hate the sound of a EB-9. HATE IT. All of those old Gibbys sound like a mud-fart to me (and yes, I've had an old gibby - my first bass was a mid-'70s EB-1). And I quite like the sound of a rick with a set of zingy steel rounds on it... It's iconic, and, for what it's trying to do, virtually perfect. Why muck with that?
I get the wanting the "best of both worlds" thing, but I suspect that by replacing the front p'up of your rick, you're just... well... "De-Rickifying" it. If you're cool with that, okay... Good luck reselling it - but me, were I in your shoes, I'd leave the Rick alone and get a EB-0 or EB-3. They're out there to be bought.
Like I said - this is a pretty subjective thing.
godofthunder59
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I appreciate the advice man...I was haveing the same discussion yesterday with one of my friends.
I know I really dont know what will happen in the future but I hope not to sell this bass. Also I have an EB-3 and I love the muddy sound
. True I dont know how it would mix with the back Ric pickup though; It couldn't sound to bad. Again like you said its subjective.
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I put one in one of my '73 4001s back in the early 80s. I thought it sounded great.
Here's the bass today, in need of restoration:
Here's the bass today, in need of restoration:
SGD Lutherie said:
That bass looks amazing! I still need to talk to my luthier and see if he can do a good job of it but I think im convinced.
Basses are made for toying with. If you wanna do it, do it! That one up there looks beautiful. Bet she sounded nice too, when she was playable.
One thing:
An EB0 pickup (at original strength) has a considerably stronger signal than the Rick pickup(s).
If you're running stereo you can adjust your levels separately - no problem.
But running mono, it might be weird. You do have your Rick's volume pots ... but I'd ask around and try to find someone who can comment on the blend.
I wouldn't mod the Rick. The Rick neck pickup has plenty of low end. It seems like it would weaken the bass near the neck.
An EB0 pickup (at original strength) has a considerably stronger signal than the Rick pickup(s).
If you're running stereo you can adjust your levels separately - no problem.
But running mono, it might be weird. You do have your Rick's volume pots ... but I'd ask around and try to find someone who can comment on the blend.
I wouldn't mod the Rick. The Rick neck pickup has plenty of low end. It seems like it would weaken the bass near the neck.
Is that one of those old DiMarzio mudbucker repacements?
How does it sound?
I always wondered about those.
How does it sound?
I always wondered about those.
Not an actual Ric, or an EBO pickup, but a very similar idea.
the bridge pickup on my 4003 is a lot louder than the neck pickup. even with the neck pickup raised as high as possible and the bridge pickup lowered as much as possible, the bridge pickup was louder. I bought longer adjusting screws and springs for the bridge pickup from the local hardware store and was able to lower it enough to resolve the problem. very easy and inexpensive fix.
nothing wrong with modding an instrument but if the goal is to have both pickups with similar volume, there are less invasive ways to achieve it. fwiw, I have a '72 EB-3, so I have an appreciation for all things mud. my 4003 gets pretty close with the right eq. not true mud but close enough for mud.
nothing wrong with modding an instrument but if the goal is to have both pickups with similar volume, there are less invasive ways to achieve it. fwiw, I have a '72 EB-3, so I have an appreciation for all things mud. my 4003 gets pretty close with the right eq. not true mud but close enough for mud.
