The Rickenbacker Club Part Five

[kombi]

... Hipshot bridge ...

I bet this has been asked a couple of times before in other threads, but how do you like the Hipshot bridge? If you're honest, do you feel any changes to an original Rick-bridge? Because i uhm... only got a Rickenfaker (i hope i don't get banned out here ) and thought of trying out the bridge.

BTW: I'm totally excited to hear the sound of this bass. Do you have any soundfiles? Excellent job on this one!

 

[DanEly]

Not sure where you read this. I own two fretted Rics and both have small frets, but they don't show any wear yet--one of those basses has seen more than 100 shows! All with nickel rounds. I wouldn't worry much unless you're one of those Roto-heads, in that case there might be problems.

Circle K Strings do very well on a Rickenbacker.

Yeah Im a roto head. Dam it.

 

[BlueTalon]

I bet this has been asked a couple of times before in other threads, but how do you like the Hipshot bridge? If you're honest, do you feel any changes to an original Rick-bridge? Because i uhm... only got a Rickenfaker (i hope i don't get banned out here ) and thought of trying out the bridge.

BTW: I'm totally excited to hear the sound of this bass. Do you have any soundfiles? Excellent job on this one!

No sound files yet. I still have some tweaking (fixing) to do on the controls, so it doesn't get the full sound yet. But the main problem is, I have never made sound files before. I need someone to step me through the process.

Regarding the bridge, keep in mind that this bass has had a made-for-Gibson Schaller bridge on it for the last 30 years. On my previous Rick, I replaced the original Rick bridge with a Badass. I do not care for the original bridge, at least the ones from decades ago (perhaps they have changed since then -- if so, I can't say anything about the new ones).

As far as this Hipshot goes, so far I like it, but I don't yet have any real experience with it. Would I recommend it? Sure. Will I still recommend it in a year? Don't know.

 

[Azari]

2010 Mapleglo 4003... i spent so much money on the bass that i cant afford a decent camera!

 

[Ric5]

what happens when you put a quarter pound P bass pickup in the bridge slot on a Rick?
THIS

I have thought for years that that seymour duncan pickup would be an excellent choice for a Rickenbacker.

A replacement bridge would work well on that bass as well.

 

[Fletz]

I've been playing my 08 Pbass almost exclusively lately but decided to go all Ric this weekend. I'll let you know if I am sucked back into Ricdom with a vengeance.

Here's this weekend's rig:

 

[gnjpowell]

Raise the pickup too far and the magnet's pull on the string will damp the string reducing or killing sustain and output level...

 

[Jaymi]

I have thought for years that that seymour duncan pickup would be an excellent choice for a Rickenbacker.

A replacement bridge would work well on that bass as well.

I am looking for a black aluminum hipshot to change it out!

 

[cassius987]

Raise the pickup too far and the magnet's pull on the string will damp the string reducing or killing sustain and output level...

This problem really only manifests itself with strong magnets situated close to the end of the fingerboard. A bridge pickup would have to be very, very powerful to cause these issues by acting on such a taut part of the string length.

 

[NOISE!]

Will a current 4003 PG fit a late 70s 4001? thanks.

 

[Jaymi]

it does but the shape is slightly larger and the holes will not line up..

 

[JoshuaTSP]

Last of my mods done....

Treble bezel, reverse polarity bridge pickup, and swirl pickguard.

 

[kcole4001]

Very nice!

 

[JoshuaTSP]

I don't think anything else needs improving....

 

[Spectrum]

What does reversing the pickup polarity do?

BTW, I may as well ask for a number while I"m here. Here's POB:

 

[Jaymi]

What does reversing the pickup polarity do?

BTW, I may as well ask for a number while I"m here. Here's POB:

390

 

[JoshuaTSP]

Zero noise when both pickups are on.....no tonal change.
there's a how to thread out there.

 

[Spectrum]

Thx.

About my question: My Westone Spectrum bass has a "phase reversal" pull pot which, when both (and only both) pups are selected, causes the sound to get really trebly and super bright. Is that what reversing your pup polarity does?

Edit: looks like there's my answer...

 

[kcole4001]

Here's the how-to thread.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f38/[rickenbacker-4003]-rwrp-bridge-pickup-mod-tutorial-761909/

Works beautifully, I highly recommend it to anyone using a two pickup single coil bass that isn't already hum-cancelling.

 

[JoshuaTSP]

polarity and phase are two different things.