rickbacker pickups

[Ric5]

I have a project running (5 string), and would love to impart a little Rick magic. I've always thought that part of the Rick sound is the neck PUP being located right at the neck. Is this a valid idea? If so what PUP would you place right at the neck?

The neck pickup is part of the sound but also the bridge pickup (located half way between where the Fender jazz puts its pickups) is imporatant to the sound as well.

 

[Tomkat8]

I had a 4001 from the 80's, that I installed Alembic activator pickups and electronics... It still sounded like a rick.. On steroids.. Lol.. but the same character.. So I think the rick sound is way more than the pickups.

 

[iiipopes]

If you put the OFFICIAL RICKENBACKER HI GAIN PICKUPS on a bass in VERY SIMILAR PICKUP POSITIONS TO A RICK BASS, then yes it will sound very much like a rick. Some people will argue that a big part of the tone comes from a Ric being neck thru and all maple with whatever fretboard they use, but thats 99% just myth/untrue.

Only actual Rickenbacker pickups will sound like it though, the seymour duncan or whatever other brands replacment pickups will 9/10 times not sound like a 4003.

I respectfully disagree. I have an HB-1 in my custom half-fanned fret P/J in almost exactly the same place. It sounds like a P-bass with a little more growl. It does not sound like a Rickenbacker at all, and I used to own a 4001, currently own a 4002 (yes, "2," not "3"), and work on my friends' 4003's.

 

[muskyman]

I should know this, as I owned one for years. What type of PUP are the originals in neck and bridge position in Chris Squire/Geddy Lee Ricks?