(4003 + 4004) / 2 = 4003 1/2

vito · Post by **vito** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:24 am

Hey folks, I could use some input.

I have a '06 4003 and an '04 4004Cii, both with RIC strings. I play through a Genz Benz 1x12 combo, generally flat eq. I love the mids and highs on the 4003, but I find the low end to be a little flabby for my taste. The bridge pickup already has a mean tilt toward the E string.

I love the low end of the 4004, nice and tight. But to my ears, the added grit of the 4004 sound takes away a little of the crisp, ringing of the mids and highs.

I've tinkered with the eq on the amp, but I can't quite get what I'm looking for, which is the best of both basses. Any suggestions?

markbass99 · Post by **markbass99** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:51 am

I'm playing my 4001/4004's through a Markbass/Sansamp RBI rack and also keep the EQ generally flat. All I do to compensate between them is tweak the lows down some when the 4004 plugs in, there's tons of lows in them hb's. And of course adjust the volume since the 4004 pickups are so powerful. No shortage of high's and mids coming out of my 4004's, I'm using DR rounds and I keep my pickups close to the strings(2mm's), could that be a factor? Oh, and my Epifani UL112 has an excellent tweeter that I keep turned down about halfway.

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:51 am

I'd try a higher tension string on the 4003 and back the pickup away from the E string a little. The new 4003's pickups are really hot. I play finger-style and bump my strings hard. I've found that getting the strings too close to the pickup and/or having lower tension strings results in flabby/poppy/farty noises.

I like Ernie Ball Roundwound Hybrid Slinky's:

http://juststrings.com/ebl-2833.html

Or the even higher tension (and more expensive) medium Elixers:

http://juststrings.com/elx-14077.html

The Elixers go on a little less bright, but keep that brightness for very long.

Good Luck, and Rock On!

bob_the_bass · Post by **bob_the_bass** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:34 am

I'd get a Mark Bass rig (right Mark!) - I can't believe the sound I get out of my Rics when I play through my CMD102P - awesome!

vito · Post by **vito** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:03 am

Hey, thanks guys. This gives me something to go on.

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:29 am

You're welcome. Its a good first step, anyway!

More radical solutions would be: Get a 4001 or an earlier 4003, the pickups are less growly/farty.

Or try a pair of Toasters in the 4004 and/or wire it up with 500ohm tone pots.

vito · Post by **vito** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 7:03 am

What about swapping a high gain and a humbucker on the respective basses? Whaddya think that would do?

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 7:15 am

I'd have to defer that idea to some of the forumites here that have done pickup switches on these.

I think Jeff Scott, Jeff Rath, John Biscuiti, and Dane Wilder might be able to help.

I do like trying the least expensive/invasive option first though.

Did I ever tell you about the time my brother replaced the engine on his mini bike?! He spent months converting it from a Suzuki 50 to an engine from another maker. He did eventually get it running well with the new motor. But long after all of the hassle he figured out that the problem with the Suzuki motor was...A fouled spark plug!

D'Oh!!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:02 am

the high gains sound good on a 4004 ... the problem I had is the pole pieces are a little too tall ... so sometime soon I will do another high gain to toaster conversion and try one or two high gains on a 4004 ... but remember the pots should probably also be exchanged to 250k ohm pots for single coil pickups ... and if you put a hb1 in a 4003 you may need 500k ohm pots ...

I currently have 2 4004 basses ... one has 1000k ohm pots and the other has 500k ohm pots ... the 1000k ohm pots give the Laredo a real edgy sound with lots of bite ... the ci with the 500k ohm pots has a more mid growlly sound ... both benefit from a volume, volume, tone wiring ... the asymmetrical volume settings bring more growl out of a 4004 bass ...

I have 2 4003 basses ... a 2001 4002 4-2-5 with 11k ohm pickups and 250k ohm pots ... it has the classic 4001/4003 Ric sound ... the other 4003 is a 1990 4003s5 oil finished with a 15k ohm high gain and a neck toaster and it has 250k ohm pots ... this bass has little different sound ... the oil finish brings out a little woody mid growl sound and the over wound bridge pickup makes it a little thicker sounding than a 4003 ... I also have a 4 string 4003 that is still stock ... a white with black trim ... I will either convert 4-2-5, or sell it, or trade for a 4004 ...

a big part of me getting the right tone out of a 4004 is wiring it vvt and the bass pod ...

as per the wimpy E string ... when I add a low B to a 4003 the E string performance increases as do all the strings ... the additional tension makes the bass resonate better ...

markbass99 · Post by **markbass99** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 12:57 pm

+1 on what the B string does for the E string, of course that's alot of work just to improve one string. I think most E string problems are just bad strings, I've had good luck with DR strings except their B strings aren't that good. Then I followed up on some suggestions to try LaBella Hard Rocking Steel B strings, man are they good. In the .128-.130 guage they have great tone and the intonation is solid.