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Hiding Rickenbacker 4003s5 Dorito Pickups

#42
Gilmourisgod said:
Since Ric is the only company I know of that makes triangular 5 string pickups, its hard to buy that being a purely technical decision, particularly with Rics long track record of form over function, looking cool first, working well often a distant second. Whatever the rationale, they sound good, but so do lots of other more traditionally shaped rectangular "soapbar" style 5 string pickups. I suspect both utility and aesthetics played a part in that decision, and the user response seems about evenly split. I hated the look at first, but its grown on me over time.
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If RIC did what everyone else does, they wouldn't be RIC.

Wedges pickups and dual truss rods forever!
 
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#44
Love mine, dorito pickups not withstanding.

2-5s.jpg
 
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#45
Jaysaintny said:
I've wanted a Rickenbacker since I started playing at 16. I think they just look and sound great for punk rock. Now I'm finally in my thirties with a little extra money and have been eyeing their latest five string model since 2018, but man, I just cannot get past those black Dorito-shaped pups. Over the past few years, I've gotten past the other cosmetic hang ups that I had, but this one just irks me to no end.

I still prefer the older models, but they are very hard to find, especially the 4-5 conversions. Alas, I will have to settle for the new 5er. Any ideas to hide the pups aside from a black pickguard? Due to the odd shape, the only thing I could think of fitting is maybe a Mudbucker cover? I know I'm obsessing but just want to grab some creative ideas wherever I can find them.
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The pickups' cover shape is peculiar at the least .. but the solution is simple .. buy a four stringers and problem solved .. who needs a fifth string, especially for punk, come on!
 
#47
#48
Beej said:
Cool, thanks for posting that. So, the weird shape is the result of making 5 string pickups out of 4 string parts, that's clever and very Ric. Repurposing their existing pickup parts into 5 string variants. :D

Cuz this is cheaper. :smug:
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Actually the weird shape enhances the performance of the Low B and E strings and reduces phase cancelation ... I don't think that had any 4 string parts that even resembled what is in those pickups.
 
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#50
EtoBb said:
I liked everything about that bass except to me, the B string sounded quieter than the rest.

I really wanted to buy one but couldn't get over the volume difference, even after adjusting pickup height. I'd love for someone to tell me I'm crazy because those basses sound, feel, and look great.
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On the one I had, the B string sounded duller; I played someone else's and it was the same clang-clang-clang-clang-thud.
 
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#51
The thing I didn't like about the 4003s5's styling is the pickguard; I think it would've looked better with a teardrop shaped one (like the AC) or none at all (like the 4004).
However, they've surface-routed the wiring channel from the neck pickup, so it has to be covered.
I also don't think it's a 4003, but RIC seem to have decided that's the brand of a whole range of products now.
 
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#52
Perhaps I have a strange and unpopular opinion.
I agree that we buy a bass with our own money and want everything in it to be as we need it. To do this, there are thousands of fender-like basses, various kits and parts, alternative hardware manufacturers, as well as hundreds of modern designs with a wide variety of shapes and materials. But none of this applies to Rickenbacker! If you have chosen Rickenbacker, you have embarked on the path of trust. You either accept it or you don't. If you don't like the design of the bridge or the shape of the pickup, this is not the instrument for you. This is not a custom, this is not a bass for improvements. Other basses are dogs that you train and teach and become the way you want them to be. Rickenbacker is a cat that cannot be trained, you will have to get used to his character.

(I am not a connoisseur of pets, I just said these words as an illustration of my thought)
 
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#59
Certainly you could get some kind of toaster or T-Bird pickup surround and only mount it to the guard effectively covering the objectionable Jetson's like pickup. Or.... like a regular standard punk/HC guy play a 4 string BEAD, because "G", nobody wants to hear that string anyway.
 

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