4003 Pickup History

[spongebob]

Anyone know if there's been any changes to the 4003 pickup design over the last 10+ years?

I only ask as I swear my 2013 has a far 'darker' tone than others I've had before.

Lots of power, but less treble bite than I'm sure I had around 2008/9. Might just the mind playing tricks!

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Not sure about the answer to your question.

But I think the wood itself - which differs from bass to bass obviously - can give off very different tones..

Darker wood equals darker tone perhaps!

[spongebob]

Could be. The 2013 is a real chunky bass, in a good way. It's a wonderfully solid instrument.

Makes my Jazz bass feel like a toy guitar!

[cassius987]

My guess is it's not the wood or the pickups, it's the control harness. 9 times out of 10 in my experience, that is the biggest reason for a "dark" tone. And potentiometers are known to vary wildly in resistance.

[johnallg]

The pole button top nails were changed out for the allen screw type used now and the control harness pot values were changed. Both would affect the tone.

[Baker69]

Could be. The 2013 is a real chunky bass, in a good way. It's a wonderfully solid instrument

Does the 2013 4003 differ in any way to the 2012 4003?