I will be joining the 4004 clan!

jps · Post by **jps** » Tue May 27, 2003 2:40 pm

I just ordered a 4004Cii in Natural this afternoon. I was told it will be 8-10 months, at least before I get it, not that I was expecting otherwise. Interestingly the dealer told me that RIC doesn't keep any inventory, that they do not make an instrument until one is ordered. I assume that once an order is placed it then gets in line behind other instruments currently being built. Is this correct? I was hoping that I could exchange the gold hardware for the chrome hardware but was told this is not possible. If the instrument had to be built anyway I don't see why the chrome hardware couldn't be substituted since it is the same components. As beautiful as the bass looks in gold I know the chrome wears much better over time and of my Zon basses that I had made for me, Joe Zon said I could have whatever hardware I wanted as he had to make the instrument and it wasn't of the rack, so to speak. I am not complaining really, just curious as it seems it shouldn't make a difference in the construction of the instrument.

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Tue May 27, 2003 4:35 pm

I don't mean for this to sound harsh, but you are ordering a stock instrument. RIC does not have a custom shop. It looks the way they want it to look, and in this case that means gold hardware.

FWIW, the gold hardware on my '93 4004 Cheyenne is in excellent condition.

jps · Post by **jps** » Tue May 27, 2003 4:55 pm

Do you think it will hold up over the years; I have seen lots of worn gold hardware but chrome stays looking good over the long haul. If it is a "stock" instrument, then why are they not in stock?

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Tue May 27, 2003 5:23 pm

I agree with Jeffrey, I've had gold hardware on basses, and it has never lasted very long, and I take exceptional care of my basses. I would like to order a 4004Cii5, but I don't want gold hardware.

robj · Post by **robj** » Tue May 27, 2003 6:12 pm

While both my 4004 models are too new ('99 and '01) to offer up as examples, I do have a '91 Modulus Q5 with gold hardware that is in excellent shape. Maybe it has something to do with the chemical composition of the sweat in one's hands? I once worked with a guitar player who would turn a new set of strings black by the end of the second set. Needless to say I never let him near any of my basses.

Congratulations Jeffery, I hope you get to enjoy your 4004 sooner than anticipated.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue May 27, 2003 6:46 pm

I like Chrome so I got a 4004L ... that darn gold hardware seems to wear off quickly ... maybe it's different with a Ric ...

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Tue May 27, 2003 6:53 pm

Our whole system is set up to build goods for inventory but because demand completely outstrips supply, it just seems like it's a build to order situation. Naturally in this circumstance, our planning for inventory very closely resembles what's ordered. But we don't look at individual orders when scheduling production, just the aggregate in related model families.

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Tue May 27, 2003 7:50 pm

I know what you mean about gold hardware wearing faster in general. All I can say is that mine is in remarkably good shape after 10 years. Even the tuner shafts. Maybe it's all in the thickness of the plating.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Wed May 28, 2003 11:36 am

Would 4004L hardware retrofit in a 4004CII ?

robj · Post by **robj** » Wed May 28, 2003 11:42 am

Yes it should. The 4004L hardware looks to be identical to the 4004C and 4004C-ii hardware with the exception that it is chrome.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Thu May 29, 2003 10:09 am

So, why not just order the 4004L in Maple to begin with and get the chrome parts?

jeff_ulmer · Post by **jeff_ulmer** » Thu May 29, 2003 12:01 pm

"So, why not just order the 4004L in Maple to begin with and get the chrome parts?"

Probably so he can get figured wood.

Speaking of figured wood, (and I know it won't happen), but it would be cool if Ric had a gallery of guitars in production with their serial numbers, so customers could order a specific instrument. I'm pretty fussy (putting it mildly) about what I like in figure (and seem to be in the minority if what certain other manufacturers keep supplying in terms of bookmatching is the norm), so blindly ordering guitars is a no no if I'm looking at expensive, natural finish instruments.

I agree about not being a fan of gold hardware. I like the look, but it doesn't seem to last like other finishes, especially chrome.

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu May 29, 2003 12:26 pm

I like the natural Figured Maple, Walnut, Figured Maple look to the 4004Cii and from photos I have seen of the instrument the figuring looks fantastic. That is why I am ordering the C vs. the L version. It would be nice if there was an optin for gold or chrome just as there are color options for the finish, but I will be just as happy with the gold if there is no choice; either way John, you make the nicest looking, playing and sounding basses on the planet.

On a different note, I have tried a couple of times to order a catalog online without success. Are these not available at the present time?

spamegg · Post by **spamegg** » Thu May 29, 2003 3:29 pm

I've been playing my 4004CII steady for two years now (about 6 to 8 gigs per month) and I can tell you the gold is wearing off the top edge of the neck pickup where I rest my thumb. I think the gold hardware looks great, but, as most of the people on this thread have been saying, it doesn't seem to last like chrome.