The pole pieces on RIC pickups that take Allen keys are absolutely adjustable. In fact you can remove them, replace them with headless Allen screws, then put Toaster covers on them.
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First time Rickenbacker owner! (review)
- Thread starter birminghambass
- Start date
That's good to know! I stand corrected, I've read that they were Non adjustable in multiple locations, including here on TB, so apparently it's a misconception that gained a lot of traction. How much travel can you get upwards on the pole pieces?
The "tail lift" pictured is extreme, but it was definitely an issue to a lesser degree on many 4001 basses of the 70's-80's, including my 78' 4001, which developed about 1/4" of lift in the 4 years I owned it. Ric was certainly aware of it, which is why they finally designed the V2 bridge with string anchors independent of the bridge. At any rate, no chance of tail lift on newer basses. It's unfortunate they let a known manufacturing defect fester for so long, which didn't help their reputation for QC. The V2 is also fully adjustable for individual string height and intonation, though I really never had much trouble with the V1, pretty much set and forget. I've had an Allparts aftermarket Ric style bridge on my clone build going on 8 years with no sign of lift, so I havent felt the need to upgrade it.
The "tail lift" pictured is extreme, but it was definitely an issue to a lesser degree on many 4001 basses of the 70's-80's, including my 78' 4001, which developed about 1/4" of lift in the 4 years I owned it. Ric was certainly aware of it, which is why they finally designed the V2 bridge with string anchors independent of the bridge. At any rate, no chance of tail lift on newer basses. It's unfortunate they let a known manufacturing defect fester for so long, which didn't help their reputation for QC. The V2 is also fully adjustable for individual string height and intonation, though I really never had much trouble with the V1, pretty much set and forget. I've had an Allparts aftermarket Ric style bridge on my clone build going on 8 years with no sign of lift, so I havent felt the need to upgrade it.
The adjustable pole pieces are actually long enough to go through small holes in the magnets, but you don’t wanna gar them so high they no longer make contact with them. RIC actually did address the lifting tailpiece with two extra screws on the 4003, but removed them after receiving complaints about the aesthetics. People could still add the screws now, but opt to spend over $150 on a HipShot, so go figure.
Yeah, the Hipshot seems like a solution in search of a problem, and they've gotten as pricey as a V2 at $190 or so, but the one problem they do solve is the mute teeth making palm muting behind the bridge pup effectively impossible.That custom bridge you made is an elegant solution, but most people don't have the skills, so they either live with it as-is or swap it out for a Hipshot. The Babicz insert just seems like an overpriced partial solution, and still doesn't allow palm muting. When these Ric threads surface every couple months, I always say the same thing: if you want the best basses they've ever made, buy a brand new 4003, single DA rod, better bridge, peeling finish issues solved, and back to thinner necks. Their "warranty" still sucks, but it is what it is. Having owned a 4001, I don't get the high regard, other than pure vintage appeal, people have for them.
friendly reminder to all the people seeking geddy lee style tones: geddy lee himself hasnt used ricks regularly in decades.
Also with my rick at least… the Geddy and Squire tones everyone wants are lurking… SOMEWHERE in the bass.. it takes EQing and patience to coax them out. At least for me. Thats why geddy tried like a million different amps and preamps before finally abandoning his rick altogether… I believe there are other basses in the modern day that can get you in that territory with less tweaking. Nowadays I think the 4003 bass is actually more suited to traditional type stuff you’d stereotypically use a P Bass on. Maybe I’ll put flatwounds on mine.
Also with my rick at least… the Geddy and Squire tones everyone wants are lurking… SOMEWHERE in the bass.. it takes EQing and patience to coax them out. At least for me. Thats why geddy tried like a million different amps and preamps before finally abandoning his rick altogether… I believe there are other basses in the modern day that can get you in that territory with less tweaking. Nowadays I think the 4003 bass is actually more suited to traditional type stuff you’d stereotypically use a P Bass on. Maybe I’ll put flatwounds on mine.
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They changed the bridge and switched their basses to have 1 truss rod in 2022. That was when Ben Hall replaced his dad John as CEO. Ben is responsible for a lot of positive changes with more recent 4003 basses.
This is why I have flats on one Ric and rounds on the other. More Ric bassists need to turn the tone knobs and experiment with their basses. The versatility of a Ric 4003 is truly something to behold.
With enough experimentation, I was able to get a tic-tac bass tone (both the upright bass and Bass VI sides) with only my Ric.
The poll seems to lack more 'like it' choices, so the closest I picked the 'Sometimes they're great' choice.
I love my 93 4001. I have used it for full nights of playing 80's gigs, it fits right in with all those songs. It sounds awesome playing slapped lines, and can sound fat with the slight twist of the treble tone. I sound nothing like Geddy at all. I can cover Kool & Gang, EWF, Queen, INXS, GnR, and up to Alicia Keys and Fugees, you name it its done it.
I don't get excessive buzzing unless I stand near the electrical panel at one venue I regularly play, but stay away and it's fine.
Like a Jazz bass I have one volume knob set slightly backed off: in this case it's the neck knob. The bridge pickup is the more powerful of the two, so I just add enough neck pickup to fatten it up, otherwise full-open on both sounds scooped and clanky.
Edited to add: I never want to sound like anyone famous. I always just be myself, my tone on anything I play.
I love my 93 4001. I have used it for full nights of playing 80's gigs, it fits right in with all those songs. It sounds awesome playing slapped lines, and can sound fat with the slight twist of the treble tone. I sound nothing like Geddy at all. I can cover Kool & Gang, EWF, Queen, INXS, GnR, and up to Alicia Keys and Fugees, you name it its done it.
I don't get excessive buzzing unless I stand near the electrical panel at one venue I regularly play, but stay away and it's fine.
Like a Jazz bass I have one volume knob set slightly backed off: in this case it's the neck knob. The bridge pickup is the more powerful of the two, so I just add enough neck pickup to fatten it up, otherwise full-open on both sounds scooped and clanky.
Edited to add: I never want to sound like anyone famous. I always just be myself, my tone on anything I play.
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If that's true, then thank you for correcting me. However, even the genuine Ricky bridges were prone to lifting to some degree.
The classic Squire tone is surprisingly difficult to emulate, at least for me. I haven't heard anybody do it better than Mark Walker, except maybe the Band Geeks guy, and he uses a fairly expensive Helix effects processor.
Speaking for myself,
Both my Rics were made before the updated bridge.
My reasons for using the Hipshot, is because the stock bridge didn't go low enough for the action I prefer.
I'm also very particular about my action, so I need individual string height adjustment.
Last, the mute assembly is a waste of space for me.
The adjustable spacing is a nice feature, but I haven't adjusted either.
I have one (a wonderful 2017 4003 in mapleglo). It looks the part, it has that sound. But of all the basses that I own, it’s consequently the one that fights me the most. Rather unpleasant to play, hard to dial in and to keep dialed in (whether it’s setup or eq’ing it),…
I’ve been a Rick guy since I started playing in the 1970’s, favoring them even when I had other basses in my brood. I owned several 4000,4001,4002,4005, and V63 (or 4001-S) basses over the years.
Once I discovered the 4004 models in 2007, I became obsessed with them, owning 7 over that period til now..(they were introduced in 1993 and produced for 20 or so years). I still have as my main bass a ‘98 Cheyenne, and a backup ‘06 Cii. There were still some minor and easily fixable issues with these models, but they were absolutely the best designed basses for playing ergonomics.
Shielding was unnecessary with the hb1 pickups, which also were the best combination of power and clarity that RIC ever produced.
(After replacing the anemic mismatched factory pots and caps.)
I look at the modern 4003-S models (especially the walnut ones) now and again, but have no real desire to get one.
Even with the improvements made, I just see it as retrograde compared to the Cheyenne’s design.
I would love to see the 4004 Cheyenne reissued with the 3 piece neck, full size tuners,and 4002 pickup spacing.
Just keep that mute obstruction away from it!
Once I discovered the 4004 models in 2007, I became obsessed with them, owning 7 over that period til now..(they were introduced in 1993 and produced for 20 or so years). I still have as my main bass a ‘98 Cheyenne, and a backup ‘06 Cii. There were still some minor and easily fixable issues with these models, but they were absolutely the best designed basses for playing ergonomics.
Shielding was unnecessary with the hb1 pickups, which also were the best combination of power and clarity that RIC ever produced.
(After replacing the anemic mismatched factory pots and caps.)
I look at the modern 4003-S models (especially the walnut ones) now and again, but have no real desire to get one.
Even with the improvements made, I just see it as retrograde compared to the Cheyenne’s design.
I would love to see the 4004 Cheyenne reissued with the 3 piece neck, full size tuners,and 4002 pickup spacing.
Just keep that mute obstruction away from it!
You are kinda correct, the Hipshot did solve some issues I didn't realise my 4003SW had. Given the opportunity to buy my Hipshot bridge second hand for less than half retail, I got it mainly out of curiosity but was surprised how much it improved the tone, playing comfort and sustain. I can now adjust for perfect intonation with individual string heights and spacing to my exact preference.
I've replaced a few bridges on basses over the years with little to no real improvement, but this one did make the above significant improvements for me.
I love a nice Ric. I’m usually playing short scales these days but love the two old Rics I have. I was never bothered by the binding. The bridge was a pain to initially adjust , but once set I’ve found the necks to be incredibly stable. Both of mine have the old style spring rods. I love the neck feel , and that sound. Mine are strung with flats and set to thump. They do that really well.
Beautiful things!
Beautiful things!
@woodyng2 nailed it, the 4004 models adressed and solved nearly all the common gripes about 4001/4003 models.... and then very few people bought them! Maybe Ben Hall will reintroduce them, even as a limited specal run. I'm sure they'd sell out if it was a small run. I'll admit I was always a sucker for the extra bing of shark fin inlays, body and neck binding, etc., but you pay for that bling in ergonomic compromise. Having a Schaller roller bridge on my Lemmy clone build, I've really come to appreciate being able to fully palm-mute, and it's fully adjustable for intonation, string height, and spacing, like the V2, minus the fairly useless mute. The binding still digs my forearm a bit, at the moment I'm rocking an old sock with the toes cut off as a "forearm protector". Classy, huh? Dependiing how you play, that hard binding edge will either be a non-issue or... you'll be digging through the sock drawer for the one with the hole in the toe. I could get one of those volleyball forearm protectors, but it wouldn't have the same janky appeal as my old sock.
Mark actually plays a ‘64 4001, which is essentially what Squire played, so that helped. PS:I made the pick guard on that bass.
Ben Hall is not the CEO at RIC. John still holds that position.
...Sweet!My ‘76 RIC was my ‘main squeeze’ for 35yrsPlaying FrankenFenders now
(pic circa 1980ish)
Do you still have that,(looks like), series 400 bass rig? Mine was just a single 2x15, and never got to run it @2ohms with another cab. Must have sounded monstrous~ Not super-high power, but essentially bullet proof! 
