woodyng wrote:that is unfortunate! i have found the hb1 pickups to be really great sounding,and plenty powerful,but i have also noticed that they don't really sound all that "alive" to me,until i kick in the tech 21 vt box. it just seems to bring out all the crispy huge warm goodness you could ask for. or if you're playing through a tube amp, i would think you would get a similar effect. some of the descriptions you were using as cons were what i would consider pros. "the body is very light in weight".....for example. i know what you mean about the tuners,too,they feel tiny,but they're on my ex-4002 and on my cii,and they work flawlessly. the mini-toggle SHOULD be replaced with a third knob,either a separate volume or a blend knob,just gives more options with the same amount of controls.
anyhow,everything's not for everybody. i basically sold my 4002 because i thought it was heavy,and i didn't care for the feel of the neck or body binding. (after playing it for 11 years,mind you....)
I played 68 P bass for 10 years that I didnt really like...lol
" i have also noticed that they don't really sound all that "alive" to me,until i kick in the tech 21 vt box" thats the thing, a Bass should sound good BEFORE you plug effect boxes into it to make it sound different...at least thats what I think....
odd how we ( people in general) differ
I like that the 4003 is weighty and absolutely love the neck and binding
Damn, that is too bad. She' a lovely looking bass but if the sound just does not do it for you then that could be a deal breaker. All of my RIC basses sound different. They all sound similar but with their own strengths and subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, nuances.
I only have one 4004, and I like it. It is a different animal from my 4003's and my lone 4001. To me it sounds fuller than my other RIC basses.
I put together a You Tube video as a bit of a tutorial on the different sounds from my 2011 manufactured 4003 and my 2012 4004. It's pretty un scientific but I've gotten a lot of positive comments on it.
Christopher, does you 4004 sound more "alive" when the pickups are soloed? Give it a try if you haven't.
My 4004's pound out out clear powerful, punchy sound like no other passive bass guitar, whether the pickups are soloed or both are on. I get several different tones just changing the way I attack the strings or change hand position when playing fingerstyle, then playing with a pick adds another range of tones.
Sepp, like I told ya on Facebook, great job on that vid!
Damn, that is too bad. She' a lovely looking bass but if the sound just does not do it for you then that could be a deal breaker. All of my RIC basses sound different. They all sound similar but with their own strengths and subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, nuances.
I only have one 4004, and I like it. It is a different animal from my 4003's and my lone 4001. To me it sounds fuller than my other RIC basses.
I put together a You Tube video as a bit of a tutorial on the different sounds from my 2011 manufactured 4003 and my 2012 4004. It's pretty un scientific but I've gotten a lot of positive comments on it.
Sepp
that was an excellent side by side...thank you for playing the exact same line on both and not changing anything, I do have to agree with Al though. the 4003 sounded better.
rickenbrother wrote:Christopher, does you 4004 sound more "alive" when the pickups are soloed? Give it a try if you haven't.
My 4004's pound out out clear powerful, punchy sound like no other passive bass guitar, whether the pickups are soloed or both are on. I get several different tones just changing the way I attack the strings or change hand position when playing fingerstyle, then playing with a pick adds another range of tones.
Sepp, like I told ya on Facebook, great job on that vid!
oh yeah...trust me I played it every way I could. quite a wide range of tunes too from country to metal and every thing in between.
rickenbrother wrote:Christopher, does you 4004 sound more "alive" when the pickups are soloed? Give it a try if you haven't.
oh yeah...trust me I played it every way I could. quite a wide range of tunes too from country to metal and every thing in between.
I asked because I thought maybe a simple switch of the wires on one of the pickups would help. But now I guess you're not happy about the thicker sound? I that's the case, don't eq or tone controls for your 4004 like you would your 4003. Give a bit more of a chance, don't give up on it just yet and try to be more positive about it. That might help.
Don't expect a 4004 to sound like a 4001/3, they are different, but as Joey mentions above, treat it as a different bass with no preconceived ideas on how it is "supposed" to sound. EQ to taste, try different strings, etc. but most certainly give it a chance.
ps-i use the VT pedal as a preamp ALL the time with all my basses,it just makes passive basses sound better. (including my 4000)
i don't consider it an effect at all,rather an integral key in tone shaping.
wow-2 of our members have new ruby 4004's!? that was quick! -looking forward to hearing what ya'll think of them!
errr...not the same bass being discussed here,Peter! (its the MID laredo in the pic,i believe) altho i am sure the TVY with the ebony probably does sound a bit different!
#1 to setting the amp controls differently for 4004/4003-i tend to have to boost the bass and cut the mids when i switch to the 4000 from the 4004's.
...does the 4004 TVY have a ebony fretboard? If so I would expect some more differences.