Hi Group,
Now, with the exception of all the funny remarks we can make about the age
of this Bass guitar,(I've heard them all) Can anyone give me some advise
about SOUPING-UP this Rickenbacher 4001 series bass. Info on some decent
replacement pickups and pot changes that would increase the usability. I'm
not going to buy another simply because I'm not a bass player per-say. I'm
just goin' to play some triad type stuff for my church, but want it to sound
the best it can. also is there a MOD to make it active instead of Passive.
Thanks ALL

Well, a Rickenbacker 4001 is just a fine bass with a unique tone. It's a
classic tone and if you don't like it you may offer it for selling and buy
yourself another type of bass guitar. Maybe Fenders, a Jazz Bass or a
Precision?
Or, and that's my second advice, buy yourself another bass amp with much
more bass enhacement. Rickis tend to suffer of being short in the low
territoy.
Best wishes

bence

"Tim Miller" wrote in message
...
Hi Group,
Now, with the exception of all the funny remarks we can make about the age
of this Bass guitar,(I've heard them all) Can anyone give me some advise
about SOUPING-UP this Rickenbacher 4001 series bass. Info on some decent
replacement pickups and pot changes that would increase the usability. I'm
not going to buy another simply because I'm not a bass player per-say. I'm
just goin' to play some triad type stuff for my church, but want it to
sound
the best it can. also is there a MOD to make it active instead of Passive.
Thanks ALL

Tim Miller wrote:

Hi Group,
Now, with the exception of all the funny remarks we can make about the age
of this Bass guitar,(I've heard them all) Can anyone give me some advise
about SOUPING-UP this Rickenbacher 4001 series bass. Info on some decent
replacement pickups and pot changes that would increase the usability. I'm
not going to buy another simply because I'm not a bass player per-say. I'm
just goin' to play some triad type stuff for my church, but want it to sound
the best it can. also is there a MOD to make it active instead of Passive.
Thanks ALL

Ricks are particularly immune to souping-up. Buy a good bass preamp,
preferrably not onboard, and go vrooom. The Alembic bass
preamps are good bass preamps. The preamp on a Fender Blues
Deluxe can be a mighty fine bass preamp.

Many production basses are
bags-of-parts aseembled for you - Ricks are an actual instrument,
that cannot easily be taken apart and modified by nonprofessionals.

If you want a modern sounding bass, buy a modern sounding bass. There
are many, many options. Some are not expensive. Resale on Ricks is
very good...

If you are not a bass player per se ( you did say "triad type
stuff...")

1) Play fewer notes than you think will work. Then play even fewer.
Don't be afraid to lay out altogether*.
2) Roll the treble off if in doubt.
3) Learn to be part of the musical furniture, not the painting on
display.
4) There are Fender Precisions, and there is everything else.

*There was a thing with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers live on
TeeVee recently, and their most excellent bassist, Howie
Epstien (RIP), laid out almost more than he played. This
guy *knew*.

G'luck.

--
Les Cargill

If you enjoy souping up stuff, it's easy to soup up a Fender Precision,
which also sounds really good out of the box.

Since you're not a bass player per se, you probably haven't spent hours
obsessing about which pickups work best for what, or setting the mute to
exactly the right position to just kiss the strings, or taking the time to
learn the nuances of plucking or picking closer to the neck or closer to the
bridge, or mastering the potential of newly changed strings.

There are devices less expensive, and certainly less heavy, but plugging any
bass into an Ampeg SVT is one of the best mods around...

....Paul

--
************************************************** ********
"In the analog realm, it ain't "OVER" 'til it's over."


"Tim Miller" wrote in message
...
Hi Group,
Now, with the exception of all the funny remarks we can make about the age
of this Bass guitar,(I've heard them all) Can anyone give me some advise
about SOUPING-UP this Rickenbacher 4001 series bass. Info on some decent
replacement pickups and pot changes that would increase the usability. I'm
not going to buy another simply because I'm not a bass player per-say. I'm
just goin' to play some triad type stuff for my church, but want it to
sound
the best it can. also is there a MOD to make it active instead of Passive.
Thanks ALL

Les Cargill wrote:

Ricks are particularly immune to souping-up.

The conspicuous exception being the Bartolini 6S, a single coil pickup designed
to replace the foam string mute in a Rickenbacker bass bridge. In case your 4001
doesn't have enough clank/tinkle (and while the Classic Chris Squire/Jon Camp
4001 tone is *all* clank/tinkle, I've found more often than not a typical
off-the-shelf Ricky is overly dull & thuddy) this pickup is the cure. It's also
about the only aftermarket part you can put into a 4001 without modifying the
instrument irreparably.

I second Les' suggestion to get a good outboard preamp, no sense mucking about
inside your bass when there are perfectly serviceable solutions that will sit in
your rack or clip on your strap.

/Bob Ross

"Tim Miller" wrote in message ...
Hi Group,
Now, with the exception of all the funny remarks we can make about the age
of this Bass guitar,(I've heard them all) Can anyone give me some advise
about SOUPING-UP this Rickenbacher 4001 series bass. Info on some decent
replacement pickups and pot changes that would increase the usability. I'm
not going to buy another simply because I'm not a bass player per-say. I'm
just goin' to play some triad type stuff for my church, but want it to sound
the best it can. also is there a MOD to make it active instead of Passive.
Thanks ALL


Other than the infamous badass bridge mod I don't think I'd muck with
it...the tone is what it is, and what it's famous for.

Are you running roundwounds or flats?

Roundwounds are cool on Ricks if you want that Squier/Geddy type of
sound, but flats are very cool on them too. Think of that old Beatles
(Paperback Writer) tone, that's a Rick with flats.

Flats will greatly increase the low end as well, if that's what you
are after.

Analogeezer

There is a cap on the bridge pickup that can be bypassed with a straight
wire. It will give that pickup some power and bottom.
You can then use it by itself.
You might also install a pop up pot to switch it in or out.
Greg Dwinell


"Analogeezer" wrote in message
om...
"Tim Miller" wrote in message
...
Hi Group,
Now, with the exception of all the funny remarks we can make about the
age
of this Bass guitar,(I've heard them all) Can anyone give me some advise
about SOUPING-UP this Rickenbacher 4001 series bass. Info on some decent
replacement pickups and pot changes that would increase the usability.
I'm
not going to buy another simply because I'm not a bass player per-say.
I'm
just goin' to play some triad type stuff for my church, but want it to
sound
the best it can. also is there a MOD to make it active instead of
Passive.
Thanks ALL


Other than the infamous badass bridge mod I don't think I'd muck with
it...the tone is what it is, and what it's famous for.

Are you running roundwounds or flats?

Roundwounds are cool on Ricks if you want that Squier/Geddy type of
sound, but flats are very cool on them too. Think of that old Beatles
(Paperback Writer) tone, that's a Rick with flats.

Flats will greatly increase the low end as well, if that's what you
are after.

Analogeezer

I agree with this. A Ric 4001 bass is known for its tone like all
Rics. It is something you either love or hate I guess. If you want to
mess with it to get a different sound you should probably just get
something else. A hacked up Ric is just going to decrease the value if
you do all that and still don't like the sound. Rics hold their value
extremely well, unmodified.

Like someone mentioned the bass tone in Paperback Writer or in my
opinion one of Paul's best, his bass line in While My Guitar Gently
Weeps, pretty much sums up the Ric bass sound. Go to the store play a
bunch. If you want a "standard" bass sound check out the Fenders
either a P bass or like recommended a Jazz Bass. I am a guitar player
but have owned a Ric and currently own a Fender P bass, but have
played the Jazz Bass and prob go that route if I was to buy another.
If you have the cash try out a Music Man bass, my favorite of the lot
but also not what I am willing to pay as bass is not main thing. If
you want to go cheap and modify check out the Squires which are a
great deal and just upgrade to the Fender pickups. I have not looked
into the basses but if they are like the tele's and strats they are
quality built and set up but with cheap pickups and in my tele
switches. Replace the junk parts and you are good to go.

I do not have a bass amp but my 1966 Dual Showman head and 2 15"
bottom sounds great with it, and was actually used in the 60s as both
a guitar and bass rig with good results. Since it is a pain to set up
and mic just for bass lines and I am a guitar player really, I usually
find myself just running direct most of the time. You can still find
good blackface Bassman heads floating around for under $300. Get it
retubed and capped and you will be in tone heaven if you are looking
to go the amp route.

Just some things to look into. Hope it helps.

Dave


"Locsmándi Bence" wrote in message ...
Well, a Rickenbacker 4001 is just a fine bass with a unique tone. It's a
classic tone and if you don't like it you may offer it for selling and buy
yourself another type of bass guitar. Maybe Fenders, a Jazz Bass or a
Precision?
Or, and that's my second advice, buy yourself another bass amp with much
more bass enhacement. Rickis tend to suffer of being short in the low
territoy.
Best wishes

bence