Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The 4000 is louder than the 4001 because its single pickup, though being exactly the same as on the 4001 model, has no treble-pass capacitor in line therewith, but it lacks the depth of any 4001/4003 because its has no neck pickup. Simple.

Sergio, my 4000 is louder than my 4001 even with the cap removed...in fact it appears similar in output to my CS, and is far more aggressive sounding. I've not played a single 4001/3/CS/V63 whose treble pickup does for me what my 4000s does. But yes, obviously it has less bottom, having no neck pickup. That's why I'd love to find a bass with a treble pickup like my 4000 and a neck pickup too....

Could it be the set-neck construction? In my experience, two very important but often overlooked factors in a bass's tone are the type of neck joint (neck-thru, glued-in, bolt-on) and fretboard material.

That's what I've thought Ilan. I tend to feel woods and joints etc are the real factors in a guitar's tone...the pickups are just the icing, so to speak.