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Rickenbacker Bass

Rickenbacker 4003s Bridge Pickup

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    2
F

Freddie Murphy

May 29, 2020
2
1
#1
Hello,

I am new on this website and I wanted to ask you a question on Rickenbacker 4003 and 4001 bass.

I have a 4003s and I want make it into a Paul McCartney replica (c64). I don't want it to be perfect. I have already sanded it down. I have the toaster pickup. However, the bridge pickup. Will I get the same sort of sound if I still keep the 4003s bridge pickup? To capture the c64 sound?

If anyone can reply, that would be great!
 
#2
Freddie Murphy said:
Hello,

I am new on this website and I wanted to ask you a question on Rickenbacker 4003 and 4001 bass.

I have a 4003s and I want make it into a Paul McCartney replica (c64). I don't want it to be perfect. I have already sanded it down. I have the toaster pickup. However, the bridge pickup. Will I get the same sort of sound if I still keep the 4003s bridge pickup? To capture the c64 sound?

If anyone can reply, that would be great!
Click to expand...

no, you need a horseshoe pickup. It’s a different design with different characteristics.
 
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#4
elgranluis said:
no, you need a horseshoe pickup. It’s a different design with different characteristics.
Click to expand...
For many years, Paul had a hi-gain in the bass, so depending on what era of Macca the OP is interested in, that could be appropriate.

A key part of Paul's sound, however, is the toaster in the 1/2" location, so that needs to be addressed.
 
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#8
FranF said:
The irony is, in the Beatles, he didn't use the horseshoe. Neck only, and it was closer to the neck, so there's that. It will sound a bit different. When he got the overwound hi gain treble pickup put in in '76, that's when the tone got big. Bottom line is, leave your hi gain and use it for late-Wings stuff, and use the neck for Beatles stuff.
Click to expand...


Are you sure about that? He had a VERY good full sounding neck pickup if that's true.
 
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#10
Seems it's been discussed a few times at RickResource, Beatgear Cavern, here on TB, and others. Photographic evidence in '65-69 shows the toggle down, which normally would indicate treble only, but aurally, that's not what most of us hear on those records. There's reason to believe that his switch was installed upside down, making the down position neck pickup only, which makes more sense. He's known for preferring the sound of neck only, and since '61, right up to now, it's the only Hofner setting he ever uses.
 
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#11
bobyoung53 said:
I'm pretty sure he used it on the whole album also on Magical Mystery Tour and a lot of other stuff actually.
Click to expand...
It's also on all of Rubber Soul except the leftover Help track Run For Your Life. Also all of Revolver except She Said She Said (Harrison on Burns NuSonic), also half the White Album, and some of Abbey Road.
 
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#12
FranF said:
Seems it's been discussed a few times at RickResource, Beatgear Cavern, here on TB, and others. Photographic evidence in '65-69 shows the toggle down, which normally would indicate treble only, but aurally, that's not what most of us hear on those records. There's reason to believe that his switch was installed upside down, making the down position neck pickup only, which makes more sense. He's known for preferring the sound of neck only, and since '61, right up to now, it's the only Hofner setting he ever uses.
Click to expand...


Yes, I've noticed that too about the switch and have wondered the same thing if it was upside down, but he did play with a lot of bottom so it's possible he used only the neck and he used a pick so that would make it more trebly too, I may have even been part of the discussion on the Rickenbacker Forum, if I ever meet him I'll ask him:laugh:.
 
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#15
FranF said:
The irony is, in the Beatles, he didn't use the horseshoe. Neck only, and it was closer to the neck, so there's that. It will sound a bit different. When he got the overwound hi gain treble pickup put in in '76, that's when the tone got big. Bottom line is, leave your hi gain and use it for late-Wings stuff, and use the neck for Beatles stuff.
Click to expand...
+1, @FranF. If I’m not mistaken, wasn’t the Horseshoe pickup broken or completely dead (and had been for quite some time) when Paul finally took the bass to Rickenbacker for repairs sometime in the early 70’s?
My experience for simulating Paul’s tone on Beatles material has certainly been flats, pick, and neck pickup with the tone control considerably rolled back.
 
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#18
R4001-2.JPG

I'd have to agree with Jeff, pretty much. But, don't forget; early 4001's had Hi-Gain pickups, too. Like my October-built '73, for instance. Depending on how obsessed with copying Sir Paul's Rick you are, you will definitely need the neck pickup this close to the neck. And, early Hi-Gains were... well, "Hi-Gain" only in comparison to the toaster pick ups that they replaced. IIRC, toasters ran around 6.5K ohms at best. The Hi-Gains that replaced them, ran around 7.5K ohms. Mine are about 7.2 K now, but they are going on 47 years old, after all. Again, if you're really obsessed about it, you'll need pickups in this output range to get Sir Paul's tone. Hotter - as in "Modern" - pickups will sound way too bright, IMO; and, you want more... "Mellow", maybe? But, don't worry about loud. That's what the volume control on the amp is for. Plugged in to my Fender Rumble 500? My old 4001 w/flats can still rattle your fillings out - without breaking a sweat...:cool:
 
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