Converting 4003 electronics to 4001CS

[bassman2k]

I am attempting to get a 4001CS sound out of my 4003. Could this be achieved by replacing the neck pickup with a hot toaster, and the bridge with a horseshoe? Were the horseshoe pickups of the era different than they are today? Would a custom wound (12k) high gain from Custom Amplification match the hot toaster sound?

[aceonbass]

The current 8K Toaster pickup is closer to the original CS specs, so an overwound 12K Toaster won't be necessary. The current reissue Horseshoe pickup may be slightly hotter than the original CS part, but that shouldn't make much of a difference. The current 4003 wiring uses 330K pots for everything, which is all wrong for a CS, which would have had 500K tone and 250K volume pots. I build harnesses to correct this using original vintage spec and NOS 60's parts.

[iamthebassman]

Do whatever Dane says. Always.

[jdogric12]

Get a tracking number though.

[bassman2k]

I don't intend to use the cover of the horseshoe, and I would just use the surround that is already in my 4003. Is the raw pickup the same or similar to a bridge hi gain?

[aceonbass]

The raw reissue Horseshoe pickup is built more like a Music Man pickup with magnetized Alnico slugs. The sound is a bit harsher and edgier to my ears. John Hall claims that the non magnetic shoes do have an effect on the tone of the pickup, so if you remove the shoes, the tone may change. With the right picking technique, a current hi-gain can sound a lot like Squire's original tone. The hi-gain has poles that are magnetized by the magnet below the bobbin.

[loverickbass]

Yeah, Dane's the man. All my babies have his harnesses.

[aceonbass]

Get a tracking number though.

I never ship without a tracking number, and have had only one order lost by my preferred carrier, USPS.

[Captain Bob]

Yup.....Dane will fix you up. He is first rate, knowledgeable and reasonable.
I have one of two harnesses he constructed for me in my SnowGlo.

[johnallg]

To my ears, there is little to no tonal difference between a current high gain treble pickup and the RIHS pickup, shoes or no shoes. Sadly.

[jps]

To my ears, there is little to no tonal difference between a current high gain treble pickup and the RIHS pickup, shoes or no shoes. Sadly.

Yeah, but our ears aren't like they used to be.

What?