• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Jazz w/pickup in Ric position vs. the real thing

PhR75

PhR75

Oct 20, 2021
2,071
11,071
Finland
oman5.bandcamp.com
#1
I have this mutilated hack job of a J-style bass that has one J-style OBL humbucker in approx. "Ric" bridge pickup position (plus two reverse P's in larger housings in Lee Sklar positions). I also have a '91 4003 and decided to compare how close they sound (Ric naturally with only the bridge pickup on). I'd say you could fool people with the mongrel Jazz when you don't hear the real thing. If the pickups were similar the results could be even closer.

20230803_130847.jpg
20230803_130839.jpg
 

Attachments

  • Like
Reactions: Eli_Kyiv, Shrubber, _Tay_ and 4 others
#4
PhR75 said:
Good point indeed. Here's without overdrive.
Click to expand...
Once again, very similar but I think I can hear the Ricky has a bit more bass and high mids. I wonder if that's due to the maple thru neck construction vs bolt on maple plus body wood? I guess the pickup is also going to add a certain Ricky flavour regardless of its position. With the right effects and EQ it'd probably be impossible to hear a difference.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: PhR75
#5
Sparky Mark said:
Once again, very similar but I think I can hear the Ricky has a bit more bass and high mids. I wonder if that's due to the maple thru neck construction vs bolt on maple plus body wood? I guess the pickup is also going to add a certain Ricky flavour regardless of its position. With the right effects and EQ it'd probably be impossible to hear a difference.
Click to expand...

Agreed. The Ric also had a fresher set of strings. I rarely use the frankenjazz without the overdrive as it is a bit dull when clean.
I originally assembled it to try the mod Richard Sinclair had in his Jazz Bass in the mid seventies (a Gibson EB bridge pickup in the same position) as it sounded so great and the "rickenbackerish" sound with the overdrive was just a happy accident or extra. Would be fun to try with a Ric pickup or even with a '51 style SCPB pickup.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sparky Mark
#6
Ice cool.
(And I was there for the first thread! :))
The Rick is ever-so-slightly bassier. To be clear, I agree that it is close, and that with equally-aged strings and the same pickups it would be even more so (I don't discount influence from wood and construction, but my gut feeling is they're at a lower order of magnitude compared to what pickup type and position, and the rest of the circuit, do to tone). Oh: did you play at roughly the same spot? Also a non-trivial detail!
 
  • Like
Reactions: DJ Bebop
#14
Is that American or European cardboard?

The clean clips; JB is more subdued (probably less high mids, more low) and I'd guess that in a mix you'd hear the Rick better at the same settings, and the character would be more recognizable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PhR75

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back