Comparing 4003 to 4004. Soundclips anyone?

[MANI4005]

Hi there all. I've been hearing good things about the 4004 on this forum and was wondering if there are any soundclips (or links to soundclips) around to hear the personality of this bass as I've never seen one in "the flesh". I have a '78 4001 myself so I'm interested In hearing a comparison between either a 4001/3 to a 4004. Can anyone here do a side-by-side test? I always thought the 4004 looked a bit odd when it was first released and didn't really warm to it. NOW it looks just right I think, it seems like it's time has come! (maybe it was ahead of it's time in the first place) Hope you can help!

[rickenbrother]

Simon, this is something, I've been wanting to do for quite a while. I need to find the time. I have a few sound clips of 4001 and 4003 basses. I need to get some of 4004 basses and do some side by side, same riff comparisons.

[rickfan60]

That is a really great idea Joey. We need some well made A/B samples for those who want to know the tone differences. Maybe even a repository for forumites to submit their own A/B samples per certain ground rules like same riff, same amp, same type of strings, same settings, same recording technique.

[badeggs]

I gotta get over to POTR and try a 4004 someday. Always been curious...

[rickenbrother]

That is a really great idea Joey. We need some well made A/B samples for those who want to know the tone differences. Maybe even a repository for forumites to submit their own A/B samples per certain ground rules like same riff, same amp, same type of strings, same settings, same recording technique.

Thanks Ted. I even have a few sound clips of E r i k's (Blueflamerick) Blueboy 4003 before and after we installed a toaster pickup in it. Yes, you can hear the difference.
Actually what I'd wish could be done if possible, is a database of sound clips that can correspond with instruments of forumites that are in the registry, especially the ones with pictures would be pretty cool. Though I don't know if server space would allow that.

[cassius987]

Considering how easy it is to swap out pickups on a Ric (because of the switch), I don't know why we couldn't just use a standard 4003 to model all 3 pickups (in each position). Oh, and throw in the Horsey for fun I guess.

I think it's harder to hear the difference between two guitars with the same pickups but slightly different construction (4003 vs. 4004 with HB1s in each, Hi-Gains in each, or Toasters in each). I don't know how well this would work. It would likely depend on the riff being modeled.

Also, getting the recording tech (player) to play each sample identical to the others has its challenges. When I did a personal A-B test of two Toasters vs. two Hi-Gains I used GarageBand and played the second track with the first to sync them up. I think that helped.

[dcr]

Considering how easy it is to swap out pickups on a Ric (because of the switch), I don't know why we couldn't just use a standard 4003 to model all 3 pickups (in each position). Oh, and throw in the Horsey for fun I guess.

But I'm not sure that the pickup spacings are the same between the 4003 & 4004--in fact, the placement of the neck pickup is pretty different between them--& that has a lot to do with the tone.

This is a cool project idea. I wish such a thing had existed when I was shopping.

[cassius987]

D'oh. DCR is exactly right. Are the bridge pickups in the same spot? That may be a good point of focus if they are.

[johnallg]

That is a really great idea Joey. We need some well made A/B samples for those who want to know the tone differences. Maybe even a repository for forumites to submit their own A/B samples per certain ground rules like same riff, same amp, same type of strings, same settings, same recording technique.

We have the RRF repository donated by Jeff Scott's friend.

http://rrf.mcx.net/

[cheyenne]

John Hall mentioned a long time ago that a Horseshoe pickup requires a deeper route than the 4004 can accomdate.

[cheyenne]

Sorry, I just saw that you were refering to the 4003.

[cassius987]

John Hall mentioned a long time ago that a Horseshoe pickup requires a deeper route than the 4004 can accomdate.

I'm not all that committed to the Horseshoe anyways--I was just being PC for those of us here who are.

It's more complicated, but we COULD do a larger survey comparing:

--4003 Neck HiGain
--4003 Neck Toaster
--4003 Neck HB1
--4003 Bridge ^ ^ ^
--4004 Neck ^ ^ ^
--4004 Bridge ^ ^ ^
--Blends?

We probably need to start voting on a small handful of riffs to model if we're really going to chase this rabbit.