4004 Appreciation

kernkamp · Post by **kernkamp** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 5:22 pm

I know we've discussed these before but I gotta say, I am really impressed with the Rick 4004 basses.

My first one was a 4004L with those Dark Star Pickups that I sold to our own Tim Sarter here on the Forum.

This week I acquired a 4004cii from Gary Wilkinson and I gotta say I'm really into this bass. I didn't expect that with the Humbuckers it would sound very Rick-ish but it does. A LOT! I just am so impressed that with different pickups and a slightly more refined shape it is still so essentially a Rickenbacker. But the other thing that impresses me is the neck is so comfortable to play. I am admittedly a thin neck Jazz Bass type of player. I don't even really like the feel of a Precision. But these necks are arguably much wider than those but for some reason they are really easy to get around on and I'm not sure why.

Anyway, I know there are players here who really love their 4004 basses and I wanted to add my name to the list.

Now I need another 4003 ; )

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 5:34 pm

I'm one of those that loves the 4004 basses. I wish I thought to get one much sooner than I did.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 6:55 pm

the 4004 is a cool bass ... I have 2 of them ... they are good basses stock and with a couple of mods they are even better ... they make a good 5 string, you can install stacked knobs, you can wire it VVT, you can install single coil pickups, you can install 1000k ohm pots ... it is good bass that can be modified in several ways to change its character ...

kernkamp · Post by **kernkamp** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 7:01 pm

I'd sort of like to do the VVT mod. Is there room in there for another pot? That's really my only knock on the bass. I'd like a little more flexibility in the controls.

sabbath_of_bass · Post by **sabbath_of_bass** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 7:02 pm

Hmm, Iv been curious to see what they sound like actually. Does anyone have any tracks of one?

sabbath_of_bass · Post by **sabbath_of_bass** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 7:05 pm

As well as difference between the 4004L and 4004cii

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 7:56 pm

Greg ... yes there is room for 3 pots ... especially if you use mini pots ... you have to slightly enlarge the hole for the toggle switch so the volume shaft will fit in the hole ...

Jacob here are some sound bytes of Rics and non Rics here ... http://www.3dentourage.com/425/hear.htm

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:13 pm

love 'em!

~

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 3:06 am

bottom4 · Post by **bottom4** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 3:16 am

Hey Greg - I think I was the original owner of that 4004!

Does it look like this?

The 4004 is my fav Rick these days!

bugman · Post by **bugman** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:23 am

I've been looking at the pics on Pick of the Ricks site of the 4004C II and have been wondering about these. What is with the neck pickup being close to the neck on some and others it is a little ways away? I've had a lefty Hofner Cavern reissue on ebay a couple of times (no luck selling) and am thinking about getting a RIC again (its been too long). My ambitions of switching to lefty as I'm a lefty that has always played righty have subsided and I'm looking at righty RICs again. I do like the looks of the one Chris has on the Pic of the Ricks webpage.

edski · Post by **edski** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:07 am

They moved the neck PU right up to the neck to allow access to change out the truss rods...

Love my 4004 L.

I looked into getting a new wiring harness to put in concentric pots. But I'm pretty happy with my sound.

A place called Bayou Cables can put together custom harnesses. Seems like a good way to go if you were going to take that plunge. There was a detailed thread "Easy VVT Mod" that talked about it a ot...

Here's my FG Laredo:

markbass99 · Post by **markbass99** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:36 am

I think most people here know how I feel about the 4004. After hearing Brian Crisman rave about them it opened my mind and I decided to try one, since then I've sold off all my 4003's to build a 4004 collection. The first thing that gets you is the weight, it really is noticeably light compared to a 4003. And the neck on the Laredo is very flat on the back, it feels like a widened version of a vintage flat profile 4001. IMO all the 4004's should come VVT but it's really easy to modify the 4004 to how you like it, it's a great platform for experimentation. And my new Markbass head is really bringing out the great tones in the hb's.

s4001 · Post by **s4001** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:39 am

When we get together to show off DCM's, I think a certain somebody should bring some 4004's as well...

Does anyone have a pic of a 4004AFG?

j_gary · Post by **j_gary** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 8:04 am

Glad you like her Greg.

Andy, that is your baby.

I'm going to go have a good cry now.

(Love the fretless Greg)