4001v63 = IMPRESSIVE!!

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 7:25 am

I got to play out with my '63 last night for the first time....my bandmates don't usually notice when I bring something "different", but they did last night! I usually use my "beater" red/black 4003 or the Shadow, but last night I was getting the "whoa!!" comments. I've had this for a little over a week, just playing it at home and I thought I could hear some subtle differences. My wife could'nt tell any difference but my musician friends picked up on it right away and they all wanted to know what the "different sound" was!
And they all loved the beautiful fireglo finish...

I don't know if it was because I was pumped up about finally playing this thing with the band or if it really IS that much of a different sound...

What about the rest of you V63 owners? Is there REALLY that much of a difference in sound to you guys?? It really hit my bandmates...I was surprised to get that much of a reaction!!

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 7:31 am

My V63 is the only bass I have ever owned, and I think it is the only bass I will ever want or need.... It is GREAT sounding. I've been letting our bass player on the worship team use it, and he loves it too.... he has told me many times that it is the nicest bass he has ever played, and he has played many.... I think he is starting to show signs of falling in love with it....

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 7:46 am

Melissa-

Do you use flats on the V63?
I've found that since I have converted over to flats, my fingers don't bleed as much....

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 7:52 am

It currently has roundwounds on it, but I have thought about putting flats on it when it needs a string change.... my calluses are pretty tough, although lately our bass player has been using the V63 a whole lot more than me!

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 8:04 am

I don't think I'll ever use anything else....

I bet you'd play it more if you put flats on it!!

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 8:36 am

....If I can get my bass back, LOL!

dead_in_okc · Post by **dead_in_okc** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 9:14 am

I have Pyramid gold flats on my V63....Sounds awesome.......

tbass66 · Post by **tbass66** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 1:03 pm

I have Pyramids on my 4003 and love the tone

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 4:09 pm

There's just nothing like that horseshoe pickup. I would like to hear the original to compare however.

jps · Post by **jps** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 4:12 pm

I agree! The V63 horseshoe I put in my '73 4001 is incredible.

wints · Post by **wints** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 4:26 pm

We,ve discussed the originals V reissues before. The V series are wound much higher and hotter, just basically louder. Nothing like the 60,s horseshoes who,s sound and tone is more subtle and softer. It,s very much a matter of what your ears like. The C series however, wound very close to the originals @ approx 7.4K are meant to sound very close to the 60,s versions (I have not heard one yet personally..)...which, of course, is what is intended...

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 4:54 pm

I thought the reissue horseshoe shortage was due to all available pieces being installed on the C series basses?

If so shouldn't they sound similar?

I've heard 2 and I'm not good enought to say they sound any different than my V63s.

Go figure.

dead_in_okc · Post by **dead_in_okc** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 5:44 pm

I've recently played a C64,and if anything, to me it sounded a little thinner???..than my V63...Great neck though....

wints · Post by **wints** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 1:52 am

Jared, it,s the windings that make the difference here when comparing the V and C. Like Wayne says the C should sound thinner because the pick up comes in @7.4K. Some of the V pick ups have been 10 or 11K I believe...Big difference. The original horseshoes are the magnets, which lose their charge over the years making a weak pick up even weaker, which was why Ric stopped using them in the late 60,s and why the reissues don,t work in exactly the same way as the originals.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 5:32 am

my reissue comes in at 7.2K, the other at 7.8K.

I believe the magnet material is also different from the original.

Somewhere in these threads John Hall stated that the replacement reisssues were diverted to C series production, so how can they be different?

Or am I smelling too much TIG fumes from Jeff's horseshoe project?