Does anyone have any experience putting a Ric HB-1 in the neck position of a 4003? Good idea bad idea? What could i expect sound wise? I am not wanting to replace the bridge pickup just the neck. Thanks in advance. 
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Rickenbacker HB-1
- Thread starter BAMonBASS
- Start date
i have not done that exactly,but the hb-1's are great sounding humbuckers. you probably would need to change the volume and tone pots in order to get the best sound from it,though. and because these pickups have a very robust bass tone,you might also want to put a coil tap on it to get the single coil sound too.
Ric5
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I have done this mod. The main problem is the hb-1 does not have the threads on the base plate to accept the screw like the bass high gain pickup does.
The hb-1 comes wired series and it is 15k ohms. But it can be wired parallel or single. My experience is it does not sound good in single coil mode. Also I don't really like these pickups for neck pickups. They are better as a bridge pickup. Put a toaster or high gain in the neck.
As per the pots you can use the stock wiring. The newer 4003 basses have all 330k ohm pots. Older one have all 250k ohm pots, and really old one have 250k ohm volume with 500k ohm tone pots.
The hb-1 comes wired series and it is 15k ohms. But it can be wired parallel or single. My experience is it does not sound good in single coil mode. Also I don't really like these pickups for neck pickups. They are better as a bridge pickup. Put a toaster or high gain in the neck.
As per the pots you can use the stock wiring. The newer 4003 basses have all 330k ohm pots. Older one have all 250k ohm pots, and really old one have 250k ohm volume with 500k ohm tone pots.
Thanks guys. I haven't really explored the toaster that much do to cost being so high for a single pickup. If you don't mind Ric5 could you elaborate on what you didn't like about the HB1 in the neck position? I am just a curious mind and like to do minor mods. I have been just tinkering with the idea of trying to make my 4003 sound a little unique while still maintaining the Ric growl.
- Feb 16, 2008
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I had read that the HB1 was a more bassy pickup which is why i have been exploring the option. So it sounds like its just personal pref. What is it about the toaster that everyone seems to like. I am assuming the stock neck pickup in my 2011 4003 is a high gain?
that's interesting, Jeff,but i happen to think the hb1's sound great tapped. i have a laredo set up this way,and i usually leave the forward pickup in the tapped position. i believe you have said you prefer the sound of the newer higains to the older ones,too. i will agree to disagree with you on that as well. i generally prefer the tone i get from weaker pickups to super hot pickups of any design. i think my danelectro pickups are something like 3-4 k in output,but it is a great sounding bass,as an example of this theory. i have an old higain in my 4000 that reads about 7.5k,and it sounds fantastic,and so on. to the OP,having said all that-a toaster is probably the best way to go,for a different sound and ease of installation,
Ric5
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I find the hb-1 in the neck position too thick sounding ... but if you run it parallel then it might be an excellent neck pickup.
I like fat overwound bridge pickups and thinner neck pickups.
Ric5
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In the neck position the hb1 in single or parallel would be nice. But in the bridge position it only sounds good series.
Taht being said ... the hb1 was designed to be a series humbucker. The high gain was designed to be a single coil pickup. That is what they both do best. I find the hb1 in single or parallel mode seems to lack personality. It loses the Rickenbacker growl.
Ric5
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Joe barden makes Rickenbacker replacement pickups that have a nice tone and they are humbuckers.
HB1 sound good! Little darker then original pups but still contains that Ric sound.
Depending on string height set them 1/2" spacing between the low-E and high-G string, use the original p/u set screws from the original neck pickup, I use springs instead of original rubber grommet to get the pickup set little higher in the pickgurad. I have little relief in the neck setup, 6/64 on low-E between the top 12th fret and bottom of the E string and needed to bring the pickup higher. You may need to use nuts if screws treads dont tapper into the holes on the HB-1, slowly screw the screws in with a little pressure; its easier to do this on flat hard surface.
For bridge pickup I used the original black mounting base, cantered and applied the new pickup foam mounting pad, using small drill bit, drill two holes, use the two new mounting screws to mount HB-1 to black mounting base. Solider the ground wire that was attach to original ground lug to HB1 ground base.
Depending on string height set them 1/2" spacing between the low-E and high-G string, use the original p/u set screws from the original neck pickup, I use springs instead of original rubber grommet to get the pickup set little higher in the pickgurad. I have little relief in the neck setup, 6/64 on low-E between the top 12th fret and bottom of the E string and needed to bring the pickup higher. You may need to use nuts if screws treads dont tapper into the holes on the HB-1, slowly screw the screws in with a little pressure; its easier to do this on flat hard surface.
For bridge pickup I used the original black mounting base, cantered and applied the new pickup foam mounting pad, using small drill bit, drill two holes, use the two new mounting screws to mount HB-1 to black mounting base. Solider the ground wire that was attach to original ground lug to HB1 ground base.
The mounting plate already has holes in it to allow HB-1 and toasters to be attached to it.
Ric5
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I put a hb-1 in the neck position in this bass here. I also put a toggle for single/series/parallel functions.
It works pretty well
In some of my previous posts I state that the hb-1 is too thick for a neck pickup ... well the above bass changed my mind ...
It works pretty well
In some of my previous posts I state that the hb-1 is too thick for a neck pickup ... well the above bass changed my mind ...
Ric5
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One thing to remember if you mix RIC single coils and HB1 pickups is that the polarity is reversed on he HB1, so you'll need to switch the red and blue wires. If you don't do this, you get a big volume drop when both pickups are combined. I also feel the HB1's make a good neck pickup. I don't feel that the stock electronics are properly matched to humbucking pickups. One of the reasons many think these pickups sound dark, is due to the stock electronics. The stock values for RIC electronics were all over the map for years, but are now 330K with .047uf tone caps for everything. The pots really aren't the best choice for single coil pickups and are way off for humbuckers. In either case the volume pots should be in the 500K range, with volume pots being 250K for single coils, 500K for humbuckers. I like .022uF or .033uF tone caps for these pickups. I and many of my customers find that these revised values bring out the brightness in tone that people expect from a Rick, while giving a more sold bottom end with no hum. The best of both worlds really.
Ric5
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I mix lots of pickups ... so from time to time I have to reverse a couple of wires ... no big deal ...
I also should have stated before! I built new wiring harness using 3 CTS 500k pots, 1 CTS push/pull pot, 2 switchcraft stereo double closed circuit jacks, new caps, I did use the original 3 way switch. The sound is just fantastic with nice warm ric tone without the hum. I now love my 1989 4003 even more!
I shield the cavity and the back of pick guard using HAVC aluminum tape (it’s very conductive & easy to apply) been using it for years with great results. It’s so quiet now on stage and in the studio.
I also own a newer 2011 4003 midnight blue; each bass has their own characteristics. The HB1 with 500k pots are close in tone with the single coil with 330k pots, the HB1 are little hotter and meatier. I play blues and on stage the HB1’s sound just awesome.
I shield the cavity and the back of pick guard using HAVC aluminum tape (it’s very conductive & easy to apply) been using it for years with great results. It’s so quiet now on stage and in the studio.
I also own a newer 2011 4003 midnight blue; each bass has their own characteristics. The HB1 with 500k pots are close in tone with the single coil with 330k pots, the HB1 are little hotter and meatier. I play blues and on stage the HB1’s sound just awesome.
