FENDER/RICKENBACKER MUSTANG BASS BUILD

[Meddle]

I don't see how it could sound anything like a Rick given the fact that Ricks are all maple neck through basses, and Mustangs are bolt on maple necks with alder bodies. I believe body and neck construction have more to do with a basses sound than the pickups.

Pickup construction or pickup placement? I think sticking a pickup down at the 24th fret position, and then at the 3rd-fret harmonic equivalent position from the bridge give a Rick bass its unique tone. The slightly shorter scale than Fender also make the strings slightly less taught at equivalent pitch, which also adds to the unique tone.

Rickenbacker fans often seem to think that Rick bases conform to a completely different set of laws of physics... then again Rickenbacker fans are cagey about the wiring in Rick basses, as though caps and resistors act completely differently in a Rick instrument, and again don't follow the laws of physics.

I suggest that OP doesn't get their hopes up, and that Chris Squire tones will fall onto their lap. However I think they will be surprised at what happens when you put pickups in the classic Rick positions, and lose the typical Fender "sweet spot" placement.

 

[Ric5]

I think sticking a pickup down at the 24th fret position, and then at the 3rd-fret harmonic equivalent position from the bridge give a Rick bass its unique tone. The slightly shorter scale than Fender also make the strings slightly less taught at equivalent pitch, which also adds to the unique tone.

Actually it is not the 3rd fret but rather 2 1/2 fret harmonic.

 

[jmorbita]

Actually it is not the 3rd fret but rather 2 1/2 fret harmonic.

I'm confused and have no Rick to measure... could anyone please confirm this?
Is it the third or two and a half fret?

So if you had frets all the way up tp the bridge, the pickup would be placed on the 39th fret, or right between the 38 and 39 fret?

 

[pilotjones]

I'm confused and have no Rick to measure... could anyone please confirm this?
Is it the third or two and a half fret?

So if you had frets all the way up tp the bridge, the pickup would be placed on the 39th fret, or right between the 38 and 39 fret?

Search more a thread, started by me a few months ago, on pickup positions. On it I got a definitive answer on Ric positions.

 

[ICM]

Subscribed! My vote is to go for the mod regardless of how it sounds. Ricks are cool, mustangs are cool and I{d imagine a toaster and horseshoe pickup would look really sweet on a mustang. Really curious to hear how it would sound as well.

 

[jmorbita]

Thanks Pilot,

here's the thread you mention:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/rickenbacker-pickup-position-986818/

so to try and get similar placements, i went to stewmacs fret calculator, and apparently the neck pickup's center on a rick 4003 is roughly located where the 37th fret would be.

 

[JIO]

Well, the curious thing about comparing apples and oranges is, it results in a much better diet than comparing Cheetos and Fritos.

Or Twinkies and Slinkies.

Or Pop Tarts and Lawn Darts.

he's a poet n' don't even know it

 

[Aceonbass]

Subscribed! My vote is to go for the mod regardless of how it sounds. Ricks are cool, mustangs are cool and I'd imagine a toaster and horseshoe pickup would look really sweet on a mustang. Really curious to hear how it would sound as well.

That's $350.00 worth of pickups. Really? For that kinda bread you can put a couple high end Jazz style pickups and active electronics in the thing. It's easy to spend someone else's money, by who here would actually do this?

 

[Ric5]

That's $350.00 worth of pickups. Really? For that kinda bread you can put a couple high end Jazz style pickups and active electronics in the thing. It's easy to spend someone else's money, by who here would actually do this?

I have put Rick pickups in a non Rick bass 4 times with good results ... and they were all 5 string basses ... Sometimes I do modify the pickups.

Actually I will put pretty much any pickup in any bass. If it doesn't work the I keep changing untill it does work.

 

[Stranger Danger]

That's $350.00 worth of pickups. Really? For that kinda bread you can put a couple high end Jazz style pickups and active electronics in the thing. It's easy to spend someone else's money, by who here would actually do this?

I'm not going to do it right now because I just moved and don't have the cash but when the time is right, this is definitely something I want to do. I would probably go with the 4004 pickups and electronics though.

 

[Beej]

That's $350.00 worth of pickups. Really? For that kinda bread you can put a couple high end Jazz style pickups and active electronics in the thing. It's easy to spend someone else's money, by who here would actually do this?

I politely disagree, even low feature high end stuff would be at least 30% more than that. 350 is not an expensive pickup investment at all...

 

[Aceonbass]

My Audere pre was less than $150, and I'm pretty sure a pair of nice Jazz style pickups could be had in the $200 range. Don't forget the RIC pickups would require the additional expense of different electronics.

 

[Duckwater]

I don't know about a Mustang but here is my RickenFender P Bass. Started life as a 60th Anniversary P in Fiesta Red. Has full Rick 4003 electronics including push/pull on the treble pot.

I get the grit and versatility of a Rick with the ergonomics of a P. This was built in Florida and bought here on Talk Bass.

That is AWESOME

 

[Beej]

My Audere pre was less than $150, and I'm pretty sure a pair of nice Jazz style pickups could be had in the $200 range.

You said "high end", that would preclude using an entry Audere and J pickups that fall under $100 each. Sure, a slightly upgraded set of electronics could be had for the same price as the rics, but not a "high end" set as you implied/stated.

Don't forget the RIC pickups would require the additional expense of different electronics

Passive electronics...so, realistically, under $50 for nearly any configuration.

For what the OP is looking for, his ric pickup option is just as appealing as anything else and it has the benefit of sounding pretty original and looking cool...

 

[jmorbita]

That's $350.00 worth of pickups. Really? For that kinda bread you can put a couple high end Jazz style pickups and active electronics in the thing. It's easy to spend someone else's money, by who here would actually do this?

Besides I don't think the op asked anything in regards to costs of doing this...