Horseshoes Available

[jps]

Yes, thanks John!

And, it sounds like there will be more of 'em. AND, it sounds like there are a bunch being used on the shop floor...

Hmmm, I wonder what that could mean???

+1

The 4001VTC?

[aceonbass]

Robert, the drop in volume is probably due to the poles not being there so close to the strings. The first time I tried this was in a 4004 a few years back where you can get the pickup as close to the strings as you want. In the neck position of a 4003 you're limited in pickup height by the guard, so without the poles sticking up closer to the strings, you would get a drop in output that may not be compensatable by raising the pickup. To balance it out, you might lower the bridge pickup. As a side note, I found that the pickup worked without the poles altogether, although it probably helps to focus the magnetic field to have some kind of pole pieces in there.

[nov_1981]

Thanks Dane, I thought I might have been missing something... I'll go with the balance

[songdog]

Well, I got a strange urge to check the boutique today during lunch break at work, and caught it while I could still place an order!

Okay, so it's actually sold out at the moment, but at least I'm in line for one now! Time to start restoring the original wiring in my old 4001

Can anyone tell me - does it mount in the same holes at the original pickup on a '72? Or will I have to (shudder) drill new ones?

[jps]

The HS surround can be mounted "upside down" without drilling new holes, or you can just put the pickup, itself, in the existing surround.

[songdog]

The HS surround can be mounted "upside down" without drilling new holes, or you can just put the pickup, itself, in the existing surround.

Oh, cool, thanks for the info! Putting it in the existing surround sounds great - I'm not going for a historically accurate appearance, I just want That Sound! Putting back the original electronics will help that too... then maybe I'll resurrect my 100W Marshall to run the HS through!

[aceonbass]

Although the surround can be mounted backwards, it looks pretty goofy that way. A solution I've found is to cut the front of the surround short and drill new mounting holes that match what's already on the bass. The rear will still need to have two more holes drilled, but it's better than four, or flipping it.

[jps]

I agree, flipping the surround is not an ideal solution, which is why I would just put it in a modern surround, which does have historical precedent.

[SMR 78]

I agree, flipping the surround is not an ideal solution, which is why I would just put it in a modern surround, which does have historical precedent.

+1 - I'm using the stock surround when mine goes in the 4003.

[songdog]

I agree, flipping the surround is not an ideal solution, which is why I would just put it in a modern surround, which does have historical precedent.

Oh, thanks for finding the picture of the '68 FG! Shorten the pickguard, take off the finger rest, and add a skunk stripe (and a few small gig scars) and that's almost exactly what my '72 will look like as soon as they make some more pickups! I can hardly wait!

[jps]

Shorten the pickguard, take off the finger rest, and add a skunk stripe (and a few small gig scars) and

Like this but with older style tailpiece/bridge and FWI?

[paologregorio]

It's probably been covered before, but what are the output differences between the bridge hi-gain and the horseshoe? the latter has lower output and is brighter, yes?

I'd probably buy a horseshoe just because I thought it looked cool. That's the reason I ordered my first Rick with vintage pickups; I thought the covers looked cooler than the hi gains did. I had no idea what a toaster p/up would even sound like at the time; these were the 12K "vintage chrome bar pickups" as the catalogues referred to them as at the time. I'm a fool for aesthetics.

[jps]

I'm a fool for aesthetics.

See photo above of JG 4003.

[s4001]

Hm... I may do one last mod to my old '68....

[songdog]

Like this but with older style tailpiece/bridge and FWI?

Yes, all that - and chrome top knobs. Unless I decide to change them... I like the look of the plain black ones in that picture!