OK, Please tell me about the 4004CII

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 3:37 am

I've never played one of these. They look great, and I'm getting an itch! What do they sound like? I've seen the PU spacing is different, why?
Pick of the Ricks has "wider neck" listed on theirs. Just how wide is it?
Is there a range of years that is more desirable for specific features? (walnut wings / pu spacing / wood)
How would it compare to the V63's?

Thanks!
Kevin

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:04 am

The 4004 series has HB1 pickups. The sound is thicker and IMHO less punchy than the 4003 / V63. I like my 4004C very much. It is lightweight and easy to play. Someday I will do the stack-knob mod to get 4 separate controls for better pickup blending - a weakness of the circuit design (IMHO). The pickup spacing started close to the neck but was moved back presumably to facilitate slap-n-pop players. The close-to-the-neck spacing allowed for easy removal of the truss rods as the ends were hidden under the pickup. When the pickups were moved away from the neck, access to the truss rods was made more difficult. Jeff Scott's 4004CII had to be modded by the factory in order to service a rod problem. The pickups have since moved back to their original placement. I don't know if there are significant tonal differences between the two. The first 4004C appeared in the early 90's ('93?). It featured a maple neck, walnut body wings and maple fingerboard. The finish was simple tung oil. Around 2000 the 4004Cii was introduced. It has a sandwich body construction of maple back and top with walnut in the middle but some have a maple top and walnut back. The fingerboard was changed from maple to bubinga at that time. The finish is the RIC standard conversion varnish with three special transparent colors, red, blue, and green. Early ones, particularly from 2000 often have spectacular maple. Highly quilted examples popup once in a while.

The neck is slightly wider at the nut. The RIC site has the neck specs. I don't know them off the top of my head though.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:24 am

I have a Ci, Cii and Laredo. I can't compare directly with a V63 since I never had one but I will say that out of my 4004's the Laredo is closest in tone to a regular 4003. IMO they all sound like Rics but the low end response is a little stronger and more defined. If you are looking to get as close to the tone of your V63 I'd go with the Laredo. The Cii is a little less treble biased ("darker", some would say). That being said, I think my Cii has the best all around tone.....it sits very well in the mix and never sounds harsh.

As far as the "wider neck" mentioned on POTR's website.....I notice no difference among my different year 4004's. I'm not that sensitive to neck dimensions and I find all of my 4004's feel like my ex-4003's. Some refer to the necks as "too chunky" though.

For good years that would depend on if you like the "interim" p/u spacing. Other than that one difference I would say any 4004 is likely as good as the next. I too have no idea how much the different p/u spacing changes the tone....if at all.

There are a few Forumites that have tried 4004's and have hated the tone so I'd suggest you try one, if possible, before purchasing. Are you still going to the Midwest Confluence Kevin? If so there should be quite a few nice examples to check out....that alone should make it worth your trip!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 4:55 am

If you get a 4004 rewire it like a jazz bass vol, vol, tone ... if you want to make a 4004 sound really bright then use 1000k ohm pots ...

the 4004 with the unfinished bubinga fretboard sounds nice and warm ... the Laredo with the maple fretboard sounds colder ... the ci with the oil finish has a great mid growl ... they are all good basses all a little different ...

I really like my 4003s5, 4004, and 2030 basses but my best gigging bass is my 2001 4003 4-2-5 jetglo ... but the rest are really good as well ...

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:31 am

An addendum to Ted's remarks on the available finishes. The trans red, trans blue, and trans green colors are exclusive to the Cheyenne II, but you can also get any "standard" color on the Cheyenne II, including Fireglo, Jetglo, Mapleglo and the "color of the year." I've seen Cheyenne IIs in Blue Boy, Montezuma Brown, Blueburst, and can assume there are some out there in Burgundy, Sea Green (!!!), Desert Gold, and eventually Amber Fireglo.

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:34 am

Great info guys! That's what I'm looking for.
Darker and or different than a V63 isn't bad. I like variety! I am a little concerned about the feel of the neck though. I'll have to check out the websight for the specs.
Do you think there is any chance the 4004CII's neck will get a little smaller along with the trend for the 4003's?
I'd definitely do the Jazz bass wiring.
What prices are they going for new and used?
If I found the right one, I'd consider a trade or sell a V63.
Unfortunately the dates for the Midwest Confluence isn't going to work out for me. It is the only weekend my band has off for a couple months, but because of that I need to spend the time with the family!

Thanks again!
Kevin

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:48 am

The fingerboard of the CIii is not unfinished. Instead of the standard glossy CV it has a matte finish. Every one I have seen up close had been done that way.

vito · Post by **vito** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:30 am

Kevin,

I have a 4004Cii in trans green. The neck specs on the RIC site are identical to what is listed for the 4003's and to me, that just can't be right. The neck on my Cii is definitely wider than on my 2005 4003FL.

However, the Cii neck is fairly thin from front to back and my relatively small hands have had no problem with the width.

I echo Brian's comments on the sound. If RIC had the capacity to put more of these in the marketplace, I believe they would be a huge hit.

Ted, I coulda sworn the fingerboard on mine was unfinished, but I don't know nuttin' about this stuff. How could I tell if it has a matte finish?

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:21 am

some 4004s have a gloss finished neck, some have oil finish and some have no finish ... some have maple and some have bubinga ...

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:15 am

While installing my new p/u today I took a closer look at the fretboard on my '05 TG Cii. There is certainly not a matte finish. If there is anything it is a light tung oil.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:24 am

Brian: Do you see any evidence of a finish on the sides of the frets? That is what I have noticed on every 4004Cii I have seen. There was a thin film of finish stuck to the frets near the fingerboard. I had not thought of it before but perhaps it is tung oil.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:31 am

No evidence of a finish on the frets. What it looks like to me is that the fretboard surface is masked and the clearcoat is sprayed. Then after the masking is removed the edges of the fretboard are sanded to blend the finish to nothing. There is gloss finish on the sides of the fretboard but not the surface. It does appear to be a light tung oil treatment.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:49 am

I am currently working on this on for Paul Alverez ... doing a 4-2-5 mod ... it has nice flaming and it has an unfinished bubinga fretboard ... I like the tone of the unfinished fretboard ...

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:57 am

That's hot!!!!!!!

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:58 am

If only it was a 4 string !