We started with carefully analyzing the pickups in the bass of Lemmy Kilmister and then made them even ruder - that’s right, even more attack and punch - while also making sure they had plenty of clarity under heavy distortion. The results are three unique pickups, each hand-built in the Seymour Duncan Custom Shop and available in individual neck, middle or bridge models, or as a complete set in two or three pickup combimations. Available in either a direct mount for Lemmy Signature Basses or pickguard mount for traditional Rickebacker® basses.
We are passionate about quality so we ask for your patience while we craft your pickup. For shipping time estimates, please visit the Shipping & Returns page.
Posted by Jesus on 11th Feb 2020
I have a Rickenbacker 4003 and was having issues with the output on the neck pickup. My bridge pickup was fine, but I didn’t see the point in buying one pick up with out the other, so I went with the set. I’m extremely happy I did. Not only are they great when you’re playing loud with distortion, but they are also quite nice when you play clean. Great pickups. I recommend them to any Rick owner.
Posted by Greg Landstrom on 19th Oct 2019
The first thing I need to say is with the Lemmy pickups installed, your Rickenbacker will still sound like a Rickenbacker. It will have bigger low end, a ton of midrange crunch and a glassy high end. If you have a clean tone, these pickups will deliver a more full range sound with more sustain. Almost like an active Rickenbacker, if that even exists... Once you get into overdrive tones, Look out! fantastic things start to happen. get as raunchy as you want ant every note comes through with power and clarity.
I have never spent this much money on a set of pickups,
If you want to play rock music on a rick,
these pickups are the best there is, and they are worth every penny.
I installed them in my 2018 4003s. It is my third Rick. and now it blows the others away.
Posted by Gregory Landstrom on 26th Aug 2019
I have been playing Rickenbacker's since the late 70's. I dig how they feel, and how they play. I have had 4. My newest one is a satin black 4003S. Once I got it home, I played it almost non stop for almost two weeks. It was brilliant. Then I took it to rehearsal along with some other basses, including my Geddy Lee Jazz bass that I refitted with Quarter Pounders. (it's a monster)
In comparison the Rick sounded weak and had a lot of hum going on.
I started searching for new pickups for my Rick.
There are few choices.
Once I saw the Lemmy Kilmeister set, I said, oh yeah!
They are a bit expensive, but totally worth every penny.
My bass still sounds like a Rickenbacker,
But bigger and badder than any other one ever.
You can really get the over the top Lemmy tone, but the direct sound is very clear with more bottom end and alot more punch. Sustain is enhanced too.
Turn your Rickenbacker into a....
ROCKENBACKER!
My only gripe is that I wired my bass exactly like the diagram that came with the pickups, and I had a phasing problem with both pickups on.
A quick rewire and KABOOM!
Monster tone.
Get these for your Rick
You won't be sorry
Posted by Doc on 1st Oct 2017
I had a set of SRB-1's in my 4001 for a few years. I loved the bridge pickup very much but the neck pickup had such little output comparatively that it was practically unusable. I tried a Bartolini in the neck but I wasn't a fan because it had a darker tone than I liked and low output.
I asked the Duncan Custom Shop to rewind my SRB-1n for more output to match the bridge pickup; they recommended the LEMMY KILMISTER SIGNATURE pickup and I went for it, and later picked up the bridge pickup as well.
I installed these (covered, nickel, traditional mount) and I have to say they are absolutely beautiful! They have a warm sound with good punch and lots of output, and of course they sound phenomenal when pushed into distortion. I wired them with pull-pots for a series/parallel configuration which gives me lots of great tonal variations. To be honest I think I liked my SRB-1b a little better than the Kilmister bridge pickup because the SRB-1b seems a little clearer and has a little more punch, but then the Kilmister bridge does have more character.
I would be ecstatic about these pickups were it not for the "stratitus" effect! The magnets are pulling on my strings so hard that my notes warble; the higher up the neck I go the more they warble until it sounds like I'm playing through a rotating speaker! It's not easy to set you intonation when your strings warble. I've lowered these pickups as far as they can go which slightly diminished the stratitus and noticeably diminished the tone.
I wondered, how could Lemmy have used these pickups?? I took a look at his custom bass and noticed that his bridge pickup is nestled up against his bridge where the strings are stiffer. Aha!
So now I'm in a quandary; I can't really use the bass as-is in any professional context, I certainly can't record with it, but I love these pickups! I may try a set of JBE's and keep the Kilmister's for a custom bass built around them (=$$$) or sell them on eBay (sadness).
