steve wrote:One important thing about the wiring diagram is that when the tone pot for the bridge pickup is in single coil mode, the phase switch acts as a coil selector, essentially a pickup selector between the two coils of the bridge pickup. So you actually have an insane number of pickup combinations available.Unfortunately only two of those sound good, the neck position and the bridge position with the phase switch selecting the front coil of the two.Anybody know if this the same with both production runs - i.e. pre/post '84? The older models with the toaster pickups had two magnets whereas the newer blade ones used only one due to a redesign - I got this from the T-40 forumChip Todd wrote:The original pickups had two magnets; one through each of the coil's bobbins. These magnets were ferrite material and were rectangular in cross-section and were stood on edge. There was a magnetic return strip of iron laid flat across the bottom of the pickup and magnetically attached to the bottom edges of the pickups. This iron kept the magnetic field from forming on the bottom of the pickup identical to the top field, so the field on the topside was greater than of that of the pickups like Gibson, (without magnetic returns). We used iron, as opposed to steel, as iron is more compatible with magnetism than steel. Steel won't remain magnetized as long as iron.The blade type pickup had two thin strips of plated iron arranged on edge through the bobbins, (which had to be redesigned with a thinner slot through the centers). The magnet was quite like the magnets of the early pickups and was held between the two blades. The magnet was laid flat, (not on edge), and took the position of the earlier magnetic return. We found the position of the magnet was more efficient, so only one magnet was used, with the overall result a stronger and better-shaped magnetic field around the strings.I use the bridge pickup in single coil mode with the phase switch up - switching it down cuts the output drastically (suggesting the rear coil is goosed?). Some of the settings are wildly different - I'd imagine this would equal back-breaking versatility for the contemporary wedding band who need to jump from Super Bass to Wonderful Tonight at a moment's notice...

The phase switch seems more useful for guitar. You never really have a reason to turn the bass to a weaker mode, but wit ha single channel amp it can be a lot more useful I guess.

elisha wiesner wrote:subprime wrote:The phase switch seems more useful for guitar. You never really have a reason to turn the bass to a weaker mode, but wit ha single channel amp it can be a lot more useful I guess. Huh?In terms of the volume loss I mean. I never really have a need for my bass to be particularly quieter, but for guitar I find a quieter less distorted sound is more useful.

subprime wrote:The standards have the single coils while the artists have the humbuckers right? No, the Standard has humbuckers and the Artist has some insane, active pickups with built in compression and effects. It was Gibsons attempt to compete with Alembics electronics. The Standard sounds fine I guess. The one time I recorded a guy with an Artist, I though it sounded weird. Both are heavy and ugly as hell. I bet if you wait a couple months, That Damn Fly's EGC RD will probably show back up. It seemed like that thing was for sale by someone new every few months.

A friend of mine has a RD Standard. It is super huge and a bit heavy, but sounds fantastic.

subprime wrote:How do gibson rippers and RD artists sound in relation to these? They're two of the other non egc basses that I've been looking at.Listen to Nirvana I would've thought. Probably more expensive in North America given the very low T-40 prices.

How do gibson rippers and RD artists sound in relation to these? They're two of the other non egc basses that I've been looking at.

Is the nirvana sound the standard for those two though? I never really found that his bass stood out in the mix. Whenever I've heard and liked them its been with young widows / cave in which are both very sort of mid rangey distorted sounds.

The standards have the single coils while the artists have the humbuckers right?

I actually like the sound of the artists electronics, from what I understand they help the young widows guy get the sort of sound he gets, along with an eq and a rat. What do you guys think of the rippers pickup / coil switch? If I get one I think I would get someone to rewire it so that it has individual coil select switchs for each pickup and a three way selector.