Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

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!

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!

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!

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.

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.

spongebob wrote: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?