Ric 4003 - Optimal Pickup Height Unlocked

[Gyver]

Howdy,

Been a while since I have posted... Picked up a 2024 Ric 4003 in December and have been endlessly tweaking it to discover the "perfect" pickup height to obtain its "perfect" sound. I have read many posts on the topic, and of course everyone wants a different sound so I understand that the "perfect" pickup height really doesn't exist. And Rics are notoriously unique creatures, so applying the parameters I have used with Fender Jazz and P basses has not been much help. But after much tinkering I have discovered this:

Lowering the neck pup as far down as it will go, while lowering the bridge pup equally low, results in a clear and aggressive sound that is not boomy and undefined, yet still retains its aggressive characteristics. Most posts I have read have said the opposite - to raise the neck pup as high as it will go. And Ric pups are low output (especially setup like this), so for a long time I was reluctant to go the low route. But the sound clarity is excellent, and a proper amount of bass / treble output is present without being "messy." (my apologies for so many "quotes"). I use a clean boost at the beginning of my pedalboard chain to make up for the lower output of the pickups, but simply turning up the amp works as well.

Also I have found that with the tone knob in "vintage" mode, setting both volume and tone knobs at 100% sounds great. In modern mode, backing the neck pup volume off slightly while keeping the bridge volume and both tone knobs at 100% sounds great.

I'm using D'Addario Pro Steels for strings, and having the pups set low seems to also make a big difference in decreasing string noise on what I would consider to be a noisy string. I have read that Geddy Lee found it difficult to dial in the sound he wanted on his Ric, and it is easy to see why. But after much trial and error, simply setting the pups lower than one might normally consider seems to be a great place to start for a great Ric 40003 sound. If you are on the Ric tone quest, perhaps give this low-pup setup a try and good luck!

Gyver

 

[Jeff Scott]

Perhaps that is why I am a big fan of toaster pickups.

 

[mikeswals]

Yup, neck pickup sunk all the way down is how mine is set too, otherwise it's boomy if any higher.

 

[gtirard]

Howdy,

Been a while since I have posted... Picked up a 2024 Ric 4003 in December and have been endlessly tweaking it to discover the "perfect" pickup height to obtain its "perfect" sound. I have read many posts on the topic, and of course everyone wants a different sound so I understand that the "perfect" pickup height really doesn't exist. And Rics are notoriously unique creatures, so applying the parameters I have used with Fender Jazz and P basses has not been much help. But after much tinkering I have discovered this:

Lowering the neck pup as far down as it will go, while lowering the bridge pup equally low, results in a clear and aggressive sound that is not boomy and undefined, yet still retains its aggressive characteristics. Most posts I have read have said the opposite - to raise the neck pup as high as it will go. And Ric pups are low output (especially setup like this), so for a long time I was reluctant to go the low route. But the sound clarity is excellent, and a proper amount of bass / treble output is present without being "messy." (my apologies for so many "quotes"). I use a clean boost at the beginning of my pedalboard chain to make up for the lower output of the pickups, but simply turning up the amp works as well.

Also I have found that with the tone knob in "vintage" mode, setting both volume and tone knobs at 100% sounds great. In modern mode, backing the neck pup volume off slightly while keeping the bridge volume and both tone knobs at 100% sounds great.

I'm using D'Addario Pro Steels for strings, and having the pups set low seems to also make a big difference in decreasing string noise on what I would consider to be a noisy string. I have read that Geddy Lee found it difficult to dial in the sound he wanted on his Ric, and it is easy to see why. But after much trial and error, simply setting the pups lower than one might normally consider seems to be a great place to start for a great Ric 40003 sound. If you are on the Ric tone quest, perhaps give this low-pup setup a try and good luck!

Gyver

Very interesting. I'm beguining to design a new custom Rick style bass with a luthier friend, we'll check that question of pickup height and experiment. Yes, I would have thought the opposite (the higher the cleaner), good to know you get more clarity with a lower position.

 

[Iristone]

With stock pickups, a good trick is to raise the pole pieces while lowering the pickup itself, similar trick to a guitar humbucker. I set my bridge pickup this way to emulate an early Hi-Gain, and it sounds great with a neck Toaster and vintage cap.

 

[Gyver]

With stock pickups, a good trick is to raise the pole pieces while lowering the pickup itself, similar trick to a guitar humbucker. I set my bridge pickup this way to emulate an early Hi-Gain, and it sounds great with a neck Toaster and vintage cap.

Cool, I might give that a try as well. How high do you raise the poles?

 

[Jeff Scott]

Cool, I might give that a try as well. How high do you raise the poles?

The pickups with hex wrench adjustable pole pieces just require the correct Allen wrench and you can raise them (carefully, as the ones that I had were quite tight).

 

[Iristone]

Cool, I might give that a try as well. How high do you raise the poles?

About 2.5-3mm would suffice. Earlier Hi-Gains before Kim John-Hall should have a bit of pre-raised pole pieces, and the new overwound ones should be raised a bit even higher for more clarity.
For neck pickup I use a Toaster raised all the way up. It's still not very close to the strings, but gives a healthy output and a deep but clearer tone like Sir Macca's "Come Together". Ironically, it's higher gain than the stock overwound Hi-Gains of the Kim John-Hall era!

 

[tubedude]

Kim John-Hall. Perfect!

 

[JimmyO]

The pickups with hex wrench adjustable pole pieces just require the correct Allen wrench and you can raise them (carefully, as the ones that I had were quite tight).

Seconded. Poles on my 2022 4003 are extremely tight. Decided not to mess with them.

 

[Gyver]

About 2.5-3mm would suffice. Earlier Hi-Gains before Kim John-Hall should have a bit of pre-raised pole pieces, and the new overwound ones should be raised a bit even higher for more clarity.
For neck pickup I use a Toaster raised all the way up. It's still not very close to the strings, but gives a healthy output and a deep but clearer tone like Sir Macca's "Come Together". Ironically, it's higher gain than the stock overwound Hi-Gains of the Kim John-Hall era!

So I raised the pole pieces on the bridge pup one full turn, and holy crap did it make a difference! Clarity and punch, with an appropriate amount of neck pup "wool" that I think is the essence of the 4003 sound. Kept the poles all the way down on the neck pup. Both bobbins still set low. I prefer this setup in vintage mode, but it sounds great in modern mode as well. Volume and Tone on both pups at 100%. Thank you for the tip, total game changer!