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4004LK Shenanigans
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:41 pm
by incubus2432
I got my modded LK back from JPS a few weeks ago and am very pleased with the V/V/V/T (stacked pots) and kill toggle layout. I've been able to put it through it's paces quite a bit as I relearn songs at home for my upcoming gig and in "live" situations at band practice.
I always found the stock options rather limiting with tone/volume pots and a toggle selecting bridge/all/mid-neck p/u's. In stock configuration the bridge could be soloed so that hasn't changed but hearing the center p/u by itself was interesting.....as JPS put it, there is a p-bass vibe from it and when it is used with the bridge it thickens things up and takes the edge off of the boarderline harshness of the bridge.
The neck p/u soloed is a little too "thick" perhaps even a little "muddy" for use on it's own (IMO) but is great for adding some grunt and filling in tone gaps to either/both of the others. It's not that it sounds bad by itself it just lacks definition relative to the mid/bridge p/u's.
It's certainly interesting hearing the different characteristics of the p/u's related to positioning and how they blend with each other. I always just left the controls cranked previously and now I find my self tinkering more. Dialing the neck p/u down or off leaves a full tone with more detail evident......for the type of music I play and considering the band I play in a "delicate/polite" tone isn't usually suitable but it does come in handy for some intros and melodic bridges. Most of the time I still have the controls cranked but I do enjoy exploring other options a bit.
I also swapped out the bridge for the Hipshot "A". Not completely necessary but I prefer the aesthetics over the ABM and like the top-loading feature for string changes as well.
All of the mods are completely reversible with the exception of some light routing done to open up the control cavity a tad......more room to squeeze in the stacked pots and extra wiring. For a collectors piece the value may have taken a slight hit but, since I'm a player, the function is more important and I can't see ever wanting to take the tonal options away.
(gratuitous pic of LK with recently completed Mesa 400+/Powerhouse 1200 rig......so much for downsizing)
Re: 4004LK Shennanigans
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:44 pm
by kiramdear
Nice pics, Brian. Glad it all worked out and you're sounding better than ever
Re: 4004LK Shennanigans
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:49 pm
by doctorwho
kiramdear wrote:Nice pics, Brian. Glad it all worked out and you're sounding better than ever
+1!
Re: 4004LK Shennanigans
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:06 pm
by fretless
incubus2432 wrote:I got my modded LK back from JPS a few weeks ago and am very pleased with the V/V/V/T (stacked pots) and kill toggle layout. I've been able to put it through it's paces quite a bit as I relearn songs at home for my upcoming gig and in "live" situations at band practice.
I always found the stock options rather limiting with tone/volume pots and a toggle selecting bridge/all/mid-neck p/u's. In stock configuration the bridge could be soloed so that hasn't changed but hearing the center p/u by itself was interesting.....as JPS put it, there is a p-bass vibe from it and when it is used with the bridge it thickens things up and takes the edge off of the boarderline harshness of the bridge.
The neck p/u soloed is a little too "thick" perhaps even a little "muddy" for use on it's own (IMO) but is great for adding some grunt and filling in tone gaps to either/both of the others. It's not that it sounds bad by itself it just lacks definition relative to the mid/bridge p/u's.
It's certainly interesting hearing the different characteristics of the p/u's related to positioning and how they blend with each other. I always just left the controls cranked previously and now I find my self tinkering more. Dialing the neck p/u down or off leaves a full tone with more detail evident......for the type of music I play and considering the band I play in a "delicate/polite" tone isn't usually suitable but it does come in handy for some intros and melodic bridges. Most of the time I still have the controls cranked but I do enjoy exploring other options a bit.
I also swapped out the bridge for the Hipshot "A". Not completely necessary but I prefer the aesthetics over the ABM and like the top-loading feature for string changes as well.
All of the mods are completely reversible with the exception of some light routing done to open up the control cavity a tad......more room to squeeze in the stacked pots and extra wiring. For a collectors piece the value may have taken a slight hit but, since I'm a player, the function is more important and I can't see ever wanting to take the tonal options away.
(gratuitous pic of LK with recently completed Mesa 400+/Powerhouse 1200 cabinet......so much for downsizing)
Stunning ! Nice pedals too
Can you tell me what Hipshot you went with , I see they offer many string spacings .
Re: 4004LK Shennanigans
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:19 pm
by incubus2432
fretless wrote:Can you tell me what Hipshot you went with , I see they offer many string spacings .
0.75" spacing.
Re: 4004LK Shennanigans
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:24 pm
by fretless
incubus2432 wrote:fretless wrote:Can you tell me what Hipshot you went with , I see they offer many string spacings .
0.75" spacing.
Thank you , out of curiosity how did you determine that ,
If I were to do that myself
Re: 4004LK Shennanigans
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:28 pm
by incubus2432
Not very technical......I used a ruler and found that the stock bridge string spacing is 3/4". So I ordered the same thing.
Re: 4004LK Shenanigans
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:08 pm
by fretless
Thanks Brian !
Re: 4004LK Shenanigans
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 6:24 pm
by rickfan60
Where was the wood removed Brian? Man, I would have had a very hard time taking a power tool to that bass!!!
BTW Brian, you asked me about this a while back. I think I came up with a clean way (3 tuners on top) of making a 4004C into a 5er.
Now to find another trashed 4004C......
Re: 4004LK Shenanigans
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:07 pm
by incubus2432
rickfan60 wrote:Where was the wood removed Brian? Man, I would have had a very hard time taking a power tool to that bass!!!
BTW Brian, you asked me about this a while back. I think I came up with a clean way (3 tuners on top) of making a 4004C into a 5er.
Now to find another trashed 4004C......
From the rear control cavity. Just to give Jeff a little more room to work. When I hacked up the wiring months ago trying to install the concentrics the lack of room made an already tedious job miserable. I lost patience and just slapped it together for a Confluence viewing but my work was vastly subpar. Having Jeff do it was well worth it. Back to the routing......I had to be careful to leave a ledge on the bottom so as to not risk routing through the carving area. I used my Dremel with a router attachment.....it works well for delicate jobs. I should have probably made a guide but freehand worked well enough.
I'd be interested in seeing your idea for a 5-er conversion. I opted for the easiest way......I'm having Paul make a new neck for my Laredo (24 frets/FWI tinged silver). All I have to do is pay for it so there is minimal work involved for me.
Re: 4004LK Shenanigans
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:22 pm
by cheyenne
Nice to see someone actually playing one of those. I dont think the "mods" hurt a thing. In my opinion, its now a much more versatile bass.
I am a big endorser of the Hipshot style "A" bridge. Your really going to like it. If anyone orders one of these, its the .750 string spacing, and make sure you get the "longer" intonation screws. Mine were the short ones, but hipshot sent the longer ones right out.
By the way, I never would have guessed you as a flatwound guy.
Re: 4004LK Shenanigans
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:41 pm
by YukonCor55
She sure is a beauty! I always enjoy seeing folks take power tools to their 4004s...it's scary but once you make the first cut, it gets easier from there!!
Re: 4004LK Shenanigans
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:44 pm
by jps
incubus2432 wrote:(gratuitous pic of LK with recently completed Mesa 400+/Powerhouse 1200 rig......so much for downsizing)
Well, you did go from three cabinets to one!
Re: 4004LK Shenanigans
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:45 pm
by incubus2432
cheyenne wrote:Nice to see someone actually playing one of those. I dont think the "mods" hurt a thing. In my opinion, its now a much more versatile bass.
I am a big endorser of the Hipshot style "A" bridge. Your really going to like it. If anyone orders one of these, its the .750 string spacing, and make sure you get the "longer" intonation screws. Mine were the short ones, but hipshot sent the longer ones right out.
By the way, I never would have guessed you as a flatwound guy.
I was actually debating selling it a while back but all I got was a few tire kickers and some insults. I always did play it at gigs but now it is my #1 (and only) and since I really didn't pay that much for it I'm not too concerned with any adverse value issues......I'm sure I could still get a little more than I have in it.
This is the only 4004 that I've owned for any length of time that hasn't had a Hipshot (until now).
I was always a diehard rounds user but got sick of them losing their tone after a few hours plus I play kinda hard and they were tearing up my fingers pretty bad so I figured I'd give flats a shot. It took me a little time to get my tone dialed in but now I can't see going back. Great fundamental (lack of overtones) tone that stays consistent all while saving my frets and fingers......excellent!
Re: 4004LK Shenanigans
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:53 pm
by incubus2432
jps wrote:
Well, you did go from three cabinets to one!
....but I went from 4 speakers to 5! It is actually pretty easy to move about.....a nice pair of handles on the back upper edge, tilt back wheels and some pretty hefty skid protection make stairs a breeze. It doesn't feel like 140 lbs. moving it around but I'll see if I feel the same after my gig next weekend.
