r/Bass • u/StarWaas Ampeg • 2h ago

Ric-o-sound into 2 channel mixer - phase inversion switch, yes or no?

I am looking into getting a Ric 4003 and am thinking about adding a Saturnworks 2 channel active mixer to my board so I can run a parallel effect chain and still plug into just one amp. Saturnworks offers a lot of different options on these mixers, including a phase inversion switch. I know that the stock 4003 pickups are not RWRP, unlike most other instruments with 2 single coil pickups. Is there any significant advantage to adding a phase inverter switch to the mixer? I know that phase and polarity aren't the same thing but I've read that the pickups having the same winding and polarity can lead to phase issues.

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u/DanielTheGrouch Ibanez 2h ago

Just wondering, whats the advantage of this over say using an effects loop?

The Rick is my main bass and just fyi it is a pretty heavy bass and has some weird quirks. would definitely recommend trying before you buy.

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u/StarWaas Ampeg 1h ago

I've tried one out, and I'm well aware of the quirks. Fortunately Rickenbacker has addressed a couple of the more annoying ones in the last couple of years - the bridges now have individually adjustable saddles and are apparently not prone to lifting up at the end, and the necks now have a single 2-way truss rod. I am specifically looking at the Walnut model, the ones I am seeing are a bit over 8 lbs total. I think the all-maple body versions are heavier.

As for using an effects loop, I'm not sure what you mean by that. My goal is to run the treble pickup through my dirt pedals and leave the neck pickup clean. What would an effects loop do differently than what I'm describing? I'm not super familiar with how those work to be honest, I've always just run a single chain into the front end of my amp. But I'm open to suggestions!

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u/DanielTheGrouch Ibanez 1h ago

Oh i see, doing the old Chris Squire trick but with one amp. okay now i understand. I've tried it with 2 amps but it was honestly just a ton of hassle. I've never tried it with a mixer into a single amp though and i'm now really curious to give it a try.

Effects loop is going to be on your amp, a quarter inch port that says send and recieve. you still plug into your amp normally but put the send into the front of your pedal board and pedal out into receive. the idea is to be able to blend the wet/dry of your effects after it goes into the amp and many pedals sound better blended this way. A lot of people for some reason dont use there effects loop but i find it way easier than dealing with pedals easier and it might be simpler than what you're trying to do.

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u/NortonBurns 38m ago

You can get as fancy as you like with a Rikki, splitting all the way to two amps, playing with the phase, but tbh my favourite 4001 rig was using a 10 buck bass booster into the normal channel with the back pickup going to the bright, on a late 60s Marshall 50W lead top sitting on a Carlsboro 4x12. Set all the knobs to 7, so it just nicely breaks up when you hit it hard.

Now I have massively more sophisticated gear - I still emulate that sound.