4004 Cheyenne (series I)

ricnvolved · Post by **ricnvolved** » Fri Jan 11, 2002 6:28 pm

I've got one of these basses coming in next week and was wondering if anyone else out there had one. Post your impressions, pro and con, here. I'm planning to convert mine to a fretless.

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Sat Jan 12, 2002 3:43 pm

Jeffrey, I have one of these basses and I absolutely love it. I heard it described as a Rickenbacker bass on steroids. It has a fast, low action neck. Because of the slope at the heal it makes it easy to get to the higher frets. One word of caution. It doesn't have the same tone as your 4001 or 4003, however, it has a very warm and full tone. I think you will be very happy with it. As for converting to fretless... I kept the frets. Good Luck

ricnvolved · Post by **ricnvolved** » Sat Jan 12, 2002 9:43 pm

Brian-- Thanks for the input. I had read the same comment somewhere about this model described as a Ric on steroids. It's okay that the tone is different from a 4003/4001; that's actually what I wanted-- a different "flavor" 4000 series Ric.

Strange thing is, I didn't know until a couple of years ago that this model even existed. When I first saw it pictured at the Ric website, I didn't much like the looks of it. The irony is that I didn't want one until well after it was discontinued, and now I prefer it WAY more than the series II finishes. The natural gloss finish is okay, but I still like the bare walnut/maple style of the original better.

Anyway, I'll post my impressions later when I've had a chance to try it out.

ricnvolved · Post by **ricnvolved** » Wed Jan 16, 2002 7:34 pm

Okay folks, I've had this bass for a few days now, and Brian is absolutely right-- I LOVE THIS BASS!!! Lighter weight than my 4003, feels great in every respect, and great tone, even with the original roundwounds still on it. And I'm not a roundwound kinda guy. This bass is 9 years old this month and has barely been played; got it at a pretty decent price, too.

Still considering yanking the fretwires out and making it a fretless. Will definitely replace the roundwounds at some point with a set of Thomastik-Infeld Jazz flats.

For anyone looking to try something a little different from the standard 4003, this 4004C is the way to go.

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Thu Jan 17, 2002 9:48 am

CONGRATULATIONS! I knew you'd enjoy it. The tone is much different, but I like it. It also has an incredibly fast neck. That is what impressed me the most. It is lighter and sleeker. Overall, a very impressive bass. Too bad more people don't know about it. I heard that the prototype was a left handed bass that John Hall gave to Paul McCartney as a Christmas gift. John liked it so much that they put it into production. Have fun and enjoy.

ricnvolved · Post by **ricnvolved** » Thu Jan 17, 2002 5:33 pm

You'd think Rickenbacker would make the original body style still available as an option. If anyone preferred the series II appointments, that's fine. But how 'bout giving potential buyers a choice between the two? It's extremely doubtful that I would buy a 4004C II if I hadn't been able to find an original series I.

Surely it wouldn't be that difficult to leave off the maple body cap and gloss finish, would it? Anyway, I'm very happy with what I've got; you were right on the money, Brian. Apparently, this is an overlooked, underappreciated Ric model. It is definitely different from the 4003, but in a good way. I wouldn't give up my 4003, but I also wouldn't give up my 4004C-I. It's great having both. Whichever series model appeals to you visually, you can't go wrong with the tone.

turlu · Post by **turlu** » Tue Apr 09, 2002 8:20 am

Anyone out there tried the 4004C11 in five strings ???

I can not wait to try one with the Red Translucent colour. Looks awesome !!!

nyanmage · Post by **nyanmage** » Wed Apr 10, 2002 12:00 am

Hello everyone. It is nice to meet you, Jeffery. Most people, even most of RIC fans, do not know the charm of the 4004C. It is very regrettable.

By the way, I usually use my 4001V63 and 4004C. I do not have 4004CII.

In fact, recently I have had the same impression about the 4004CII as you. I think that 4004CII is a very marvelous RIC bass guitar similar to 4004C.

I explored the 4004 series recently and realized that there is very little information about it. Don't you think so? I want to exchange information about the 4004 series with everybody. For instance, I don't know when the 4004 CheyenneII's body construction changed from 2ply to 3ply? Do you know anything about these changes? Please share your knowledge. Let us talk about the 4004 series, in general, not only about 4004C.

robj · Post by **robj** » Tue May 07, 2002 1:43 pm

I have both model 4004C's and they're great basses and I do plan on buying the new 5 string in transparent red. I am very happy with the 4004 series basses and like the fact that they have a different sound than classic RIC basses. I'm glad RIC decided to evolve their basses a bit and try for a more modern sound. I love the old basses too but I use my 4004's all the time.

ricnvolved · Post by **ricnvolved** » Tue May 07, 2002 6:25 pm

[This is an edit made necessary by an unfortunate case of brain-lock and lack of paying attention. Just go to my next post.]

ricnvolved · Post by **ricnvolved** » Tue May 07, 2002 6:27 pm

Robert-- As far as the finish on each series model, do you prefer the original, or the series II?

robj · Post by **robj** » Wed May 08, 2002 7:09 am

Hi Jeffery,
Tough question..... I like them both. I know that's a non answer but its the best I can do. They are really very different basses in finish, construction and sound. What I like about the oil finish on the 4004C-I is that I can maintain it myself and make the neck as slick as I want or as dull as I want and there is something about spending time working with wood that appeals to me. This bass has a darker sound than the C-II in my opinion and that's likely due to the neck pickup placement, mostly walnut construction and of course the oil finish.

The C-II is brighter sounding overall, a little more "Rickish" sounding. On both basses I can dig in and get the RIC growl if I want. I'm quite happy to have both basses.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Nov 24, 2002 8:38 am

I've never played a 4004 ... I suspect if I had one then I'd put in toasters or high gain pickups ...

I just don't like humbuckers .... too smooth .. not enough bite ....

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sun Nov 24, 2002 12:00 pm

I feel the same way you do, Jeff. I see no point in using humbuckers on a bass guitar, even though I happen to own two G****n basses fitted with just such pickups. I certainly would never use humbuckers on a Rickenbacker bass. If I had a 4004 I surely would replace the original pickups on it with high-gain type pickups.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Nov 24, 2002 2:00 pm

The closest thing to a humbucker that I ever get is a jazz bass where the 2 pickups are reverse wound ... actually I have tried a humbucker in the neck position ... as long as you got a nasty single coil in the bridge it still sounds good ... it would be cool to put a toaster in the neck and a high gain in the bridge ... that would be a cool 4004 ... they should come that way from the factory ... now if the new 4004 5 string had that option I would stand in line to buy it ...