4003 with HB1's ?

[lowendbob]

Does anyone know if you can custom order from RIC a new 4003 with HB1's instead of high gains?

If so, I can the have the best of the 4003 with triangle fretmarkers, and the pickguard, and have the HB1's from the 4004's?

[rickenbrother]

I don't think so, but if you ever decide to swap out the hi gains for HB1's. I'll buy the hi gains from you if you have no further use for them.

[squid]

As far as I know, the HB option is available across the line with a small surcharge per pick-up. I can't remember if it's $75 or $50, but it's pretty reasonable. I haven't seen anything that would exclude the 4003. Hey, you can get one with a "toaster" so I don't see why you couldn't get one with an HB. That said, some say that it isn't the best sounding configuration. I think the consensus here is that you should stick with the hi-gains in order to get the most from the instrument. For what it's worth, I love Ric humbuckers, and I really don't see how you could go wrong, especially with a bass. (They're very full and dark sounding pick-ups.)

[jwr2]

you can buy them and install them yourself ... if you do then also swap out the 250k ohm volume pots for 500k ohm volume pots ...

[lowendbob]

I asked Chris from POTR and he said I couldn't order a 4003 with the HB-1's, so I put a deposit on a 4004L BBR.
If those humbuckers sound like the 4002 I had
hopefully that will ease my craving for another.

[jwr2]

A 4003 will sound a little thicker with the hb1 pickup than a 4004 because of the 250k ohm volume pots and the more massive body ... but if you put in a 500k ohm volume pot for each hb1 pickup then it may have enough treble bite ... someday I may do a 4003 4-2-5 with a hb1 in the bridge and a toaster in the neck and maybe a jazz pickup in the mute cavity ...

[green_us90]

Jeff- put a Fender SCPB pickup in the mute cavity- I think it should fit

[jwr2]

I put Seymour Duncan 1/4 pound neck pickups in without the cover ... I have to trim the bobin a little ...