In my 4003, I have a current (2011) hi-gain in the bridge, and an HB1 in the neck. I had to actually flip the red and blue wire on the HB1, because there was a major loss of oomph with both pickups on - seems that HB1s and High Gains are naturally out of phase.

I REALLY like the combined HB1/High-Gain. Pure ric, but big power!

Anyhow, I know that the HB1 has an impedance of approx 14K (not sure what the High-gain is, but they match pretty well)

I have a '78 4001, that I have as a stage spare bass, which isn't quite as ballsy as the HB1/High-gain fitted 4003. So I'm going to fit an HB1 to the neck of the 4001 too, and I have a spare 4001 bridge pickup, that needs rewinding. Is there any reason why I cannot get the spare 4001 bridge pickup rewound to a higher impedance, whilst it is being repaired, so that it is a good match for an HB1 - there seems to be plenty of bobbin space for more coils? I'd like to get the 4001 matching the HB-1 modded 4003.

VC

I think the biggest mismatch issue is possibly due to HB1s and single coils, being naturally "out-of-phase".

The schematics for the HB1 indicate that black and clear wires are joined, red is hot and blue is grounded. On my 4003, I followed this, and the bass went limp (for want of a better word) in the middle switch position. It was only until I flipped the red and blue (ie blue to hot and red to ground) that the 4003 really came back to life!

Onwards, my 4001:

Anyhow - I've been exceedingly lucky! The pickup that I bought on ebay (arrived yestaerday) that was sold as "low output" is perfectly fine, after a thorough testing! I suspect the vendor who seems to know nothing about ric pickups, was comparing it to a more recent hi-gain. It reads 7.9K and works a treat as it is. It is from a 1983 4003 bridge unit.

In conversation with Wizzard pickups (in the UK), if I do get it rewound, they can probably get to about 10.5 or 11k.

It is almost a shame to have a perfectly good vintage pickup adjusted, (to hi-gain spec), so if anybody wants to swap a vintage 83 bridge pickup, for a later Hi-gain, let me know!

The reason I want to get a higher impedance, is to get my 4001 matching my 4003, so I can use either on stage.

Keep on growling!

VC