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Rickenbacker Experts- Help Please

Geddy Claypool

Geddy Claypool

SX J-75/Traben Neo 4 -> SVT-CL/SVT-810E
Aug 3, 2008
656
276
Maryland
#1
I have, in my mind, my ideal Rickenbacker.

My perfect Ricky:
-4001/4003 styling
-Ultra-slim neck of the mid-70s Ricks
-Ultra high output, "growly" pickups from the early-80s Ricks
-Azureglo, Midnight Blue, Jetglo

Is there a certain production year that satisfies all of these preferences? Or do I just have to mod a slim-neck?

Thanks in advance.
 
#4
The Ricks with the really slim necks were the 1972 and older ones. I played a 1968 4001 as my main bass for 33 years. the neck was great. But the pickups were weak. I put 11k ohm 4003 high gains in that bass and remove the .0047 capacitor and that bass screamed. If I had even the remotest interest in playing a 4 string bass I would have kept it.
 
#5
My perfect Ric style bass ...

a 4001/4003/4004 styled body with a splated maple top. Rounded edges. A 3 or 4 band preamp. 5 strings with a 2 5/8" spacing at the bridge and a 1 3/4" spacing at the nut. 2 pickups that are actually wide enough to cover all 5 strings.

The only way I can get one of those is to build it myself.
 
#7
Yeah, the new 08's have a damn fine slim neck. They also have the push/pull pot that gets that old, and new (cap bypass) sounds. Really love mine. Theres a Mid blue at apple music portland oregon in stock (no affiliation), or was last time I was in there.
 
#9
More windings = more output voltage ("hotter"). But more windings also equals deeper and sometimes muddier tone.

IMHO, the pickups up my 2002 Ric were muddy and just too deep. It didn't sound like the Ric sound I had in my head and I was disappointed. I then read that 70s Ric pickups were wound to 8.5k ohms. Mine spec'd at over 12k. (!)

So I UNwound mine to 8.5k and I love it. Yes, it's not as "hot" as before, but only in output voltage (and that's why I have an amplifier!) But as far as TONE, they are way more growly and less muddy. I love the difference.

-M
 
#10
Geddy Claypool said:
I have, in my mind, my ideal Rickenbacker.

My perfect Ricky:
-4001/4003 styling
-Ultra-slim neck of the mid-70s Ricks
-Ultra high output, "growly" pickups from the early-80s Ricks
-Azureglo, Midnight Blue, Jetglo

Is there a certain production year that satisfies all of these preferences? Or do I just have to mod a slim-neck?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

One of my rics is a 1980 that is exactly the instrument you describe. Azureglo, growls like mad, thin neck 4001.

There's a pic of it in the Rickenbacker club thread.

GT
 
#12
Geddy Claypool said:
I have, in my mind, my ideal Rickenbacker.

My perfect Ricky:
-4001/4003 styling
-Ultra-slim neck of the mid-70s Ricks
-Ultra high output, "growly" pickups from the early-80s Ricks
-Azureglo, Midnight Blue, Jetglo

Is there a certain production year that satisfies all of these preferences? Or do I just have to mod a slim-neck?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...


Try this one:


[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#13
ZH_Driver said:
Dude, I can't remember the last time I saw one of your posts that didn't advertise yourself and your 4-2-5'ers. And that is here, on RR, and the main Ricky site.
Click to expand...

Dude ... it is a free forum ... so I talk about what I like to play ... I am not advertising anything ... There are a few of us who find it really fun to build and play and customize their own basses. I don't usually do work for others because it is at best a break even deal. But sometimes help local people out.

Why don't you like the fact that I like to build my own basses for me to play? If you don't like my posts then skip them. I post what I am excited about. You can post what you are excited about and I don't get down on you.

Is this another one of the Rickresource members coming here to pick on me. I thought we were past that. I still prefer my jazz to my Rickenbacker ... get over it.
 
#14
MikeyB said:
More windings = more output voltage ("hotter"). But more windings also equals deeper and sometimes muddier tone.

IMHO, the pickups up my 2002 Ric were muddy and just too deep. It didn't sound like the Ric sound I had in my head and I was disappointed. I then read that 70s Ric pickups were wound to 8.5k ohms. Mine spec'd at over 12k. (!)

So I UNwound mine to 8.5k and I love it. Yes, it's not as "hot" as before, but only in output voltage (and that's why I have an amplifier!) But as far as TONE, they are way more growly and less muddy. I love the difference.

-M
Click to expand...

I felt the same about the original stock pickups in my '92. They were way too hot for my tastes. Too muddy, lacking clarity and focus, muffled. I also unwound them (and experimented with Bartolini and Seymour Duncan replacements). The "unwound" Rickenbacker pickups sound the best to me and that's what I've got in mine.

Unwinding the pickups myself was a somewhat nerve-wracking experience, but in the end the patience paid off. Besides, I like poking around inside things to see how they work. :)
 
#16
keb said:
I felt the same about the original stock pickups in my '92. They were way too hot for my tastes. Too muddy, lacking clarity and focus, muffled. I also unwound them (and experimented with Bartolini and Seymour Duncan replacements). The "unwound" Rickenbacker pickups sound the best to me and that's what I've got in mine.

Unwinding the pickups myself was a somewhat nerve-wracking experience, but in the end the patience paid off. Besides, I like poking around inside things to see how they work. :)
Click to expand...

Cool! Glad to hear some affirmation on this topic.
FYI, I added the .0047 cap (and the bypass push/pull pot) when I reworked mine, but I find that I like the 8.5k pickup without the .0047 cap. Best of both worlds - clarity, aggressive growl, and still has bottom.

I think the 8.5k pickups with the .0047 cap engaged would work if you were playing in stereo (Ric-o-Sound) and ran the neck pickup to something else for the deep end. But for me, I prefer the bottom that comes off the bridge pickup vs. the neck pickup. And it's a simpler rig.

-M
 
#18
keb said:
I felt the same about the original stock pickups in my '92. They were way too hot for my tastes. Too muddy, lacking clarity and focus, muffled. I also unwound them (and experimented with Bartolini and Seymour Duncan replacements). The "unwound" Rickenbacker pickups sound the best to me and that's what I've got in mine.

Unwinding the pickups myself was a somewhat nerve-wracking experience, but in the end the patience paid off. Besides, I like poking around inside things to see how they work. :)
Click to expand...

I know a guy in Portugal who can unwind, or rewind Ric pickups.
 
#20
I personally like the mid-80s, just to throw another option into the mix here. Slim necks and hot pickups, and they often come a little cheaper than 70s and new Ricks. No mid blue from this era, but I think there are some azureglo this late.
 

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