Cosmo Valdemar

Whisky River - Budgie

One of THE bass albums for me.

I can't fault it. I do like low action, although not quite as low as yours so I can't guarantee it would manage that, but it goes low enough for me. I suppose the saddles could be filed if it needed to go lower. The saddles don't rattle at all - I think the early models did but if you look closely at my picture you'll see the saddle sit in grooves now on the baseplate. I need to be able to palm mute as well so swapping the bridge was a no-brainer for me. It's a complete improvement over the original. IMHO of course 😉

It practically plays itself!

Oh, definitely a Hipshot! It took seconds to tweak the action. Another bonus since fitting the new pickups is that the bridge pickup is straight and the bezel now fits properly!

Reindeer Are Better Than People - Frozen

I did consider the Geminis, as a luthier friend recommends them and they are certainly much less expensive than the Classic Amplification set I went for, but the demo vids didn't fill me with confidence - one set weren't in a Rickenbacker and didn't sound very authentic, and the other clip was too distorted to give an accurate idea of the tone. Both clips sounded good, but I was chasing a very specific tone, and Brad was on the same page from the off.

Update: I've just slightly tweaked the action - lowered the E and raised the A and D a hair - problem solved! Happy.

I didn't think to change the tone pots... I'm very happy with the new pickups though, I'd be surprised if I could get more treble out of them! It's certainly not as bad as I remembered it! I think I was unconsciously trying to come up with reasons to dislike it as I had a chance to sell it, and the lure of cold hard cash is hard to ignore! Having played it again I realised it is certainly odd, and very different to all other basses, but not 'uncomfortable'. But that's the Rick - a jumble of oddball ingredients that probably shouldn't work, but combined makes the most incredible sound. With these new pickups, it's finally giving me 'that' tone that I've always wanted from a Rickenbacker. CLANK. I HIGHLY recommend them!

Poor Twisted Me - Metallica

Johnny Blade - Black Sabbath

He's retiring later in the year, I think. I'm thinking of getting a set in 4004-style covers for a future project.

European Super State - Killing Joke

No Fronts - Dog Eat Dog

I've just installed a pair of Classic Amplification pickups into my 4003... VAST improvement on the tone. It's a cliché but it's like taking a blanket off the speakers. I've now got all the clank I could ever want - with everything on full in vintage mode it sounds like Jon Camp, real presence and growl. I am very pleased. The only downside is a slightly lower volume on the E, thanks to the non-adjustable poles, but I'm hoping a tweak of the action and pickup height will remedy this.

Dread and The Fugitive Mind - Megadeth

White Hammer - Van Der Graaf Generator

Creepy Green Light - Type O Negative

Terrible Lie - NIN

Fragile Dreams - Anathema

Kiev - Renaissance

Whipping Piccadilly - Gomez

Nuclear Holiday - 3 Colours Red

Snooze Button - Snot

Big Gun - AC/DC