4004 Appreciation

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:16 pm

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 8:11 pm

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 8:14 pm

Thanks, John, I hope to be gigging with that Cii very soon.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 8:25 pm

The bridge on that blue 4004cii5 looks atrocious! And the 3/8" of fretboard on either side of the B and G strings looks bad too. I know why this was done but I'd either wait for the pickup fix from RIC or get wider pickups.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:03 pm

The guy that owns it wanted to make it so all 5 strings would be in the functional range of the pickups ...

markbass99 · Post by **markbass99** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 4:21 am

It would have probably been better to just get a regular 4004 and convert it, I've been real happy with both of my conversions and with a 2 7/16" bridge there's been no pickup problems.

Has anyone noticed that the 4004's have been pretty scarce on ebay lately? I wanted a jetglo Laredo about five months ago and after some hard looking I decided to order one in Oct. with a waiting period that could take up to 18 months. I guess that's not as bad as some people had to wait for a Lemmy.

edski · Post by **edski** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 4:32 am

4004's have never seemed to be common on evil bay.

There's a chance that "18 months" won't be that long. I was told 6 to 8 months when I ordered a 650 Dakota in 2001. Showed up in 2 weeks!

I was lucky I could write the check!

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 4:48 am

The maple fretboards were featured on the Cheyenne I (with the walnut body wings) and the Laredo's made concurrent with the Cheyenne I. When the Cheyenne II came along (1999? 2000?), they were made with bubinga fretboards, and the Laredos along with them. Another change at that time was the positioning of the pickups, down the body (away from the fretboard). This was changed back to the original position in the last couple of years to make it easier to change truss rods (long story).

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 5:02 am

Quote: "Has anyone noticed that the 4004's have been pretty scarce on ebay lately? I wanted a jetglo Laredo about five months ago and after some hard looking I decided to order one in Oct. with a waiting period that could take up to 18 months."

I think I remember a post John Hall or somebody from Ric said that the 4004 was one of the last instruments that is made the old way and they are in the process converting to have the computer cut the wood and then they will be able to build them faster ... also Ben or John had a post where they said there were some 4004 basses currently being made ...

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 5:22 am

I really need to quit looking at these pictures! It's bad for my budget!
The thing that scares me off is the "bigger neck" comments. I've never seen one in person. Probably a good thing!

highway_star · Post by **highway_star** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 5:22 am

I'm still hoping for a return of the 4004Cii/5.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:05 am

Me too!
Man that trans blue looks nice, I guess that'll be the color I have to get next.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:50 am

Teeder - the 4004 may have a wider neck front, but it is thinner front to back and a flat back, so it feels thinner than the 4003 (bigger) necks and very comfortable and playable.

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 8:03 am

John,

You're not helping the RAS feeling I'm having!

I need to try one out sometime.

I wonder if, when Rick re-tools, they might start making the necks smaller.

Kevin

kernkamp · Post by **kernkamp** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 8:19 am

Not sure why this thread is repeated. I don't believe I posted it twice.

Sorry if I goofed it up. Great thread though.