Paul S

Captures that retro vibe perfectly. Edit - you could maybe hinge the scratchplate so when you lift it there is a pop-up cocktail bar!

Hmm. I asked one of the Artec dealers for dimensions. If I had 2mm routed out from the width, took the Maxon cover off and used it with the Artec pickup then it might just squeeze in. But I need to think about whether it it worth it or not.

Right, had a better look and taken some pics. Bridge pickup. Measured it properly A straight drop in for the Artec minbucker. But neck pickup is a completely different size to either the Dimarzio or the Artec mudbucker. Bugger. There is but a single coil inside that box, you can just about see it.

A giant of a bass player. He figured so prominently in so many bands I love.

Will do. I had made a note of the serial number on the back of the neck pickup when I looked first time and it worked out to be a '72 but what was going on with the coil/s I just don't remember

Indeed. We're not a bad grouper blokes, on the whole.

I'll find out tomorrow I did actually take it all to bits when I first got it but, of course, can't remember. Thanks Andy. Can't seem to go wrong at that price - £37 for both, incl. delivery! - just need to double check measurements. Or, indeed, treble check them. Can I say what a beautiful bass that is, btw?

Actually a clean boost might indeed work and something that can be simply turned off and on depending upon whether I use that bass or not. Dimensions are fine - the Artec site has neat diagrams dimensioned out. My particular old EB-3 copy has VVTT rather than the choke switch so any changes should be relatively straightforward. He says, positively I'll have a think overnight and double check the measurements tomorrow.

1-3, fair enough. I'll take it to bits tomorrow and have a proper look around. Turning up the gain would make sense but I use a pedal with FRFR, it is a TC Spectradrive and there is an interplay between the gain and drive that, for the sound I want, needs to be set. I can change the output level for volume but what I am finding lacking isn't as straightforward as that. I had a look at those as I put one of these into an Epiphone EB-0 a few years ago. As I recall although it seemed better it didn't seem £100 better. But something to consider. I didn't know about these. Checking them out - Wow, they are cheap! very appealing to cheapskate like me. The EBC4-CR mudbucker would be a drop in, as would the EBC4-CR mini-humbucker - exactly the same size as those already there. Looks like both would be £37! Could be my first step as it is the cheapest, can move them on if I don't like them. with very little outlay. Thank you - very interesting.

I have recently bought an early 70s Antoria EB-3 copy that I am enjoying very much. It is a joy to play and the neck pickup has a tone that is different to any bass I have played. But the output is rather low - I like the tone but it seems 'thin', it doesn't seem to 'push' the amp along at all but just kind of sits there. Plus the balance between the neck pickup and bridge pickup is quite a lot out unless I wind up the bridge pickup to just under the strings. And to my ears it doesnt add the extra bite I would have expected. The pickups are, I believe, Maxon with a single set of pole pieces under the 'mudbucker' cover at the neck and a double set of pole pieces (humbucker?) at the bridge. I just measured the output from the jack plug and that gave a reading of 9.47K for the neck pickup, 2.63K for the bridge and 3.64K when both selected. Now I don't know the first thing about pickup resistance but this somehow doesn't seem right to me? I was under the impression that these EB-0/3 basses had a massive output which is what gave them their characteristic tone. There's plenty of thud and a nice hollow resonance to it but I feel I could do with more drive. It raises a few questions in my mind. Is it worth getting the pickups rewound? If I did would this affect the core tone? Would they end up better balanced? Or is it just the way it is and suck it up?

I don't think it is anymore, as I said in a post a couple above. Last week I booked DPD via Eurosender to send a bass from Essex to Scotland. Should have been picked up yesterday but it wasn't. I emailed and got this reply; 'We have been informed just today by our partner DPD, that the pick-ups within the UK cannot be performed for us as we have a seat of the company in Luxembourg and unfortunately not in the UK at the moment. This means that unfortunately as a foreign company we cannot operate at the moment in the UK due to Brexit regulations'.

That looks like it was made from a boxing glove. Punchy tone, I expect.