The new Horseshoe is in!

[ram]

Well I finally got it in and working!! The Horseshoe came and looked good! I put it in and nothing. It was working for Cole and not for me – zero ohms on the meter. So after a flurry of Emails I got it working. The little black wire coming out of bobbing had either rubbed or compressed/pinched and shorted to one of the shoes – I think during shipping. Cole had it packed like a pro but that little wire is sorta free hanging in there. A little electrical tape on the shoe edges in the cavity and around the little black wire and blam – horseshoe a workin all +8K ohms of it!! So many, many thanks to Cole, Joey and Jason Lollar for helping me through the debug and fix. BTW Jason did some fine workmanship on the pickup.

So to answer John – I saturated myself with the HG and then loaded the HS. My first thoughts were the sound difference between the HG and HS was like the difference between solid-state and tube amps. The HS has a warmer, fuller sound but still quite bright and seems much more responsive to how you play a string. I am still getting it zeroed in to my playing (as in pole adjustment and pickup height) but it seems very sensitive to how hard and what angle the pick hits the string type action.

I had an HB1 in the neck position but swapped the original HG back in as there were issues with the volume blending between the two pickups. So I think a Toaster may be in my future.

Road tested it last night at practice and man does it sound good!

So here are some pictures -

The Toaster

Before

inserting the HS

Done

[s4001]

Nice. Glad you were able to try it with the HG.

[loverickbass]

Its a shame RIC doesn't make a true horseShoe anymore. They have a beautiful tone.

[ram]

Yeah and if not make it out right, license it for out others to make.... produce a spec and have folks agree to follow it. Then a small bit of cash from the sale.

[johnallg]

Tom, interesting way to put it - SS bs tube. I've heard it as a sort of 3D fullness to the sound, but then that IS tubbiness. Welcome, convert!

I still have one set of magnetized shoes sitting on the shelf and one possible bass without shoes, but it is my '75 4001 and it already sounds so doggone good...... What to do, what to do.

I guess I could sell them to Jeff T!

[ram]

Yeah John, my guitarist called it a more 'rounded' sound... but all of the descriptions seem to be pointing to the same thing. Don’t get me wrong I do like the HGs as well. It's just that the HS has a slightly more unique sound. Also there is no way I'd change the HB1's on my 4004L8 (even if I could) - I am truly loving that sound. But I can see why the HS are so sought after thou. Ric should really figure out a way to reproduce the HS and or license it out to qualified pickup makers. It's just a sound that needs to be available to the players out there. My next thing is to get used to playing with the shoes there... +25 years of not having the cover and well I just gotta get re-educated. Now to play with effects while doing ROS... this should be fun!

[marc61]

Tom, Glad you got it working.


Have to admit though, for my style of play, I prefer the hot sound of the reissue over the warmth over the original .Although, I have tried combining the two (reissue pickup and magnetized shoes). V63 and the CS are just awesome sounding basses to me because of the reissue. Not sure if i ever played a c64.

[ram]

I'm not sure what family mine belongs too. It was created in 2005 by Jason Lollar. I think Cole said it was wound to 1930's specs but I'm not totally sure about that. It's about 8K to 8.5K ohms (analog meter). It drops right into the '74 4001 cavity no mods needed. But whatever it is fashioned after I'm liking it very much.

[marc61]

I had a Lollar pickup. Nice tone but, not enough output for me. Keep in mind I play some trashy, loud, and bad music.

My understanding is they're pretty darn close to the real deal vintage.

[johnallg]

Yeah, more rounder. That's how I hear it. Adds another pastel of color to the arsenal. Having heard Dane's 4008CS with an HB1 in the bridge, I can imagine how great your Laredo 8 sounds. If MARF is a reality this fall and you can make it, I'd like to get a play on it.

8 to 8.4k is a bit hotter than the old HS were wound to, but right where the 70s high gains are wound. My Sergio wound coil on my magnetic shoe one is at 8k and sounds great. Marc, I'm just the opposite; I like the more clearer tones from the lower wound coils. My V63 and the RIHS on my '04 sound a bit indistinct for me. Ah, variety!

As to getting used to playing with the shoes on (or plastic cover), it is easier than you think. You'll quickly feel where you can and can't access the strings. Then it will be habit.

[jps]

My V63 and the RIHS on my '04 sound a bit indistinct for me.

I have a scatterwound toaster along with a magnetic HS pickup in my V63, sounds great. BTW John, that recording I sent you was with the V63 straight into GarageBand.

[johnallg]

My V63 and the RIHS on my '04 sound a bit indistinct for me.

I have a scatterwound toaster along with a magnetic HS pickup in my V63, sounds great. BTW John, that recording I sent you was with the V63 straight into GarageBand.

It does sound great.

It's just I am hesitant to mess with the V63. I am also chicken to unwind the coil on the RIHS on my '04 - I'm sure it would ruin the value of the RIHS.

[ram]

Jeff, funny you shoukd mention the scatter wound. I just pulled the trigger on one a little while ago. heading for the neck position on the 4001. John - if I can make it to MARF by all means play 8 away!!! So I guess I might have an HB1 for sale soon.

[Joe-n-backer]

Where did you get your horseshoe? I've been calling RIC about one, but they say I can't get one on its own. When I ordered it from the factory as a custom order in '84, I ordered it with a horseshoe and toaster, but got neither.

The toaster I can get now, but still no 'shoe. Not even SD offers one, I think.

Thanks

[ram]

Got it from fellow forumite Cole (see: 'Bass horseshoe for sale. ***SOLD***' in the For Sale part of the forum). It was made in 2005 by Jason Lollar - a replica. Fine workmanship I might add! Anyhow Ric hasn't made them for a while and it seems has the HS as a trademark now, so no one else is allowed to make them. So about all you can do these days is keep on lookout for one. Or have someone (our own Sergio for instance) make a bobbin/winding for a HS and keep on the look out for some shoes. If I understand correctly the later versions of the HS pickup didn't need the shoes. So maybe talk to Sergio, or some other pickup god of your choosing who might know how to wind one up for ya.