4003 Pickups & Impedance

[ben_brown]

What's preferable on a 4003? A neck pup that's 14.7k or one that's 8.86k? A treble pup from a 4003 that's 12k or one that's 9k?
The reason I'm asking is that I have my 93 4003S apart changing black to chrome. The pups that were in it are the higher values but I have some older ones that came from an '89 that are the lower values.
Does a lower impedance reading mean a louder pickup?

[cassius987]

Lower impedance for the same overall pickup design (i.e. comparing a Hi-Gain to a Hi-Gain and not to a Toaster) is going to definitely mean quieter, but also a brighter and generally "nicer" sounding pickup. This is not a hard and fast rule but it's pretty reliable, again, sticking within the same kind of pickup.

I would definitely want the lower impedance value if the pickup was equally magnetic to the first one. In the neck position, low impedance really brings out some great qualities. Still wooly and warm, but it's an articulate oomph, not a dull roar. I have a 6.8K Toaster in the 1/2'' position on one bass and it is really great there.

[ben_brown]

Thanks for the info. It's hard to believe that there is so much difference in 4 years of the same pickup design. I guess I'll be putting the '89 pickups in the' 93 bass!

[johnallg]

Steve, I prefer the 70s 8.4K sound to the current 11-12k sound. I like the better clarity of the sound. That is why i had the '73 higain and the 8.6k magnetic horsey on that bass when I had it.

[ben_brown]

Well I have the 8.6k & 9K pickups, new strings and a bunch of shiny chrome on it now. Should be an interesting show tomorrow night!

[ben_brown]

It's break time and I'll tell you what. This bass with those lower impedance pickups are kicking butt!

[jps]

You've learned something many of us have always known. More is not always better.

[weemac]

Yep, the older pickups are a fast track to classic Rickenbacker tone.
The newer ones are a modern pickup for modern amps that have really flexible eq and can be made to sound like whatever the knob twiddler desires. The new pickups give you plenty of all frequencies and you then filter out what you don't want to hear.
I do prefer the old pickups for plug and play classic goodness.

Eden.

[johnallg]

It's break time and I'll tell you what. This bass with those lower impedance pickups are kicking butt!

I told you so I told you so!!

[ben_brown]

Yessa!