Rickenbacker with EMGs?
- Thread starter crguti
- Start date
idsnowdog
Imperator of Indignation
Re: Rickenbacker with EMGs?
I am of a split mind about modifying Rickenbackers:
On the one hand any guitar is just a vehicle for customization with your choice of pickups. If a Ric style bass has the playability that your looking for then it would be worth finding a Ric copy and modifying it instead of buying a real Ric and modifying it. I have a Univox 4001 copy and I have the SD set in it. They sound great, but they don't sound like your typical RIC bass.
On the other hand people who buy/play Ric's want the traditional sound of a Ric and are concerned about their collectors value. Modifying them tends to ruin any collector value and most collectors wouldn't consider it.
I am of a split mind about modifying Rickenbackers:
On the one hand any guitar is just a vehicle for customization with your choice of pickups. If a Ric style bass has the playability that your looking for then it would be worth finding a Ric copy and modifying it instead of buying a real Ric and modifying it. I have a Univox 4001 copy and I have the SD set in it. They sound great, but they don't sound like your typical RIC bass.
On the other hand people who buy/play Ric's want the traditional sound of a Ric and are concerned about their collectors value. Modifying them tends to ruin any collector value and most collectors wouldn't consider it.
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Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: Rickenbacker with EMGs?
I say do it. Mod the Rick. Destroy it. Everyone did to some degree.
Lemmy did it
Glover did it
Geddy did it
Cliff did it
The only guys who I can think of that didn't mod their Ricks usually did away with them for something else with only a couple of exceptions like Chris Squire.
Paul wouldn't take the thing until they made a specifically left handed version for him and then gave it to him for free. A lot of musicians would only bust out the Ricks if they wanted to look cool in a music video or for live but would record with something else.
Rick basses are lookers first and foremost and that's why a lot of people want them. At least the 4001s. They fixed A LOT of problems with the 4003s including stronger frets, a push pull pot to get more modern sounds out of it (as well as the old school Ricky twang), easier to adjust truss rods, I think they even reworked bridge and kept the same aesthetic, etc. . . So there isn't much of a need to mod them with the Badass bridges or the Jazz Bass or Gibson pickups like they used to anymore. But if you want some EMGs in there I say go for it, but I think you're gonna have to do some routing in order to fit them in. I don't know how comfortable you are with that. Maybe not for the bridge pickup though (the one under the cover), I've seen jazz bass style pickups fit in there without much (if any) modification. Heres an example.
The things are so expensive and hyped and back-ordered now; wouldn't it just be the BEST feeling of indulgent sacrilege to cut one up and cram some unique stuff in it? So punk rock.
I say do it. Mod the Rick. Destroy it. Everyone did to some degree.
Lemmy did it
Glover did it
Geddy did it
Cliff did it
The only guys who I can think of that didn't mod their Ricks usually did away with them for something else with only a couple of exceptions like Chris Squire.
Paul wouldn't take the thing until they made a specifically left handed version for him and then gave it to him for free. A lot of musicians would only bust out the Ricks if they wanted to look cool in a music video or for live but would record with something else.
Rick basses are lookers first and foremost and that's why a lot of people want them. At least the 4001s. They fixed A LOT of problems with the 4003s including stronger frets, a push pull pot to get more modern sounds out of it (as well as the old school Ricky twang), easier to adjust truss rods, I think they even reworked bridge and kept the same aesthetic, etc. . . So there isn't much of a need to mod them with the Badass bridges or the Jazz Bass or Gibson pickups like they used to anymore. But if you want some EMGs in there I say go for it, but I think you're gonna have to do some routing in order to fit them in. I don't know how comfortable you are with that. Maybe not for the bridge pickup though (the one under the cover), I've seen jazz bass style pickups fit in there without much (if any) modification. Heres an example.
The things are so expensive and hyped and back-ordered now; wouldn't it just be the BEST feeling of indulgent sacrilege to cut one up and cram some unique stuff in it? So punk rock.
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F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Rickenbacker with EMGs?
I bought a friend's 1977 4001 a few months ago. I wanted the specific sounds that only a Rick can make.
I bought a friend's 1977 4001 a few months ago. I wanted the specific sounds that only a Rick can make.
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: Rickenbacker with EMGs?
this is why I would buy a Rick.. as well as hofner etc.
this is why I would buy a Rick.. as well as hofner etc.
Kamanda~SD
New member
Re: Rickenbacker with EMGs?
Please...please. If It's a real Rick don't do it (unless they manage to make a rick emg somehow). If it's a copy...go for it!
Please...please. If It's a real Rick don't do it (unless they manage to make a rick emg somehow). If it's a copy...go for it!
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: Rickenbacker with EMGs?
Rout out holes for like 3 fuglybuckers in the rick and have them tilted sideways.
Rout out holes for like 3 fuglybuckers in the rick and have them tilted sideways.
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: Rickenbacker with EMGs?
They weren't afraid, you shouldn't have to be either!
They weren't afraid, you shouldn't have to be either!
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Rickenbacker with EMGs?
SD makes passive replacement pickups for 4001/4003. So does Bartolini. In my opinion, Bartolini is the best bet for mass producing active ones. The fact that even they do not offer these speaks volumes.
I have considered using up spare J and EB pickups to Burton-ise an MIJ Rick-alike. Unfortunately, some people are almost as precious about those "lawsuit" era replicas as they are about the real thing.
SD makes passive replacement pickups for 4001/4003. So does Bartolini. In my opinion, Bartolini is the best bet for mass producing active ones. The fact that even they do not offer these speaks volumes.
I have considered using up spare J and EB pickups to Burton-ise an MIJ Rick-alike. Unfortunately, some people are almost as precious about those "lawsuit" era replicas as they are about the real thing.
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: Rickenbacker with EMGs?
Yeah, a lot of those japanese copies were actually really awesome. I can imagine some people would get attached.
Yeah, a lot of those japanese copies were actually really awesome. I can imagine some people would get attached.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Rickenbacker with EMGs?
Ever since I bought my 4001, I have been trying to detach a friend from his Greco lawsuit Rick.
Ever since I bought my 4001, I have been trying to detach a friend from his Greco lawsuit Rick.
dg27
New member
Re: Rickenbacker with EMGs?
Here are a couple of pics. I apologize for the quality.
Here's how it began life (only mine was blue).
I used it for many years and after I switched primarily to Fenders there were a number of things I didn't like. I swapped out the pickups for SDs and Maricela arranged for a matching chrome cover for the bridge pickup.
I never liked the 3-way switch, so I swapped the original controls for a rotary, master volume and master tone. I also always hated the bridge pickup mounting. Pickguard by Pickguardian (Tony Dudzik).
At the time I posted on a Rickenbacker forum about it and was nearly burned at the stake.
I love it the way it is now, though I may be alone in that opinion.
dg
Here are a couple of pics. I apologize for the quality.
Here's how it began life (only mine was blue).
I used it for many years and after I switched primarily to Fenders there were a number of things I didn't like. I swapped out the pickups for SDs and Maricela arranged for a matching chrome cover for the bridge pickup.
I never liked the 3-way switch, so I swapped the original controls for a rotary, master volume and master tone. I also always hated the bridge pickup mounting. Pickguard by Pickguardian (Tony Dudzik).
At the time I posted on a Rickenbacker forum about it and was nearly burned at the stake.
I love it the way it is now, though I may be alone in that opinion.
dg
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