I found something out this weekend. I decided to do a recording of 'in the end', by linkin park, which i song that my band do but we have only done it twice live before the lockdown, so most people haven't heard it.
When I came to do the bass I used the 5005, as it was the bass that was there, but it didn't sound right on the recording, so I went for my normal two, the 1605 and then the Maruszczyk but it still wasnt quite right. So I used the 2605. I don't gig the 2605 too much as it is a bit harsh and middle missing, but I tried it on the recording and it was just perfect.
the 2605 and 1605 are the same shape and have the same pickups (and probably very similar preamp). And the same strings, they are even only one number different too, thats how close they are. I have always gone on the basis that it is really just the pickups that make the difference on a bass, but not in this case. I have no idea why they are so different.