History of the 4004

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 5:52 pm

I have recently gotten really into the 4004's. Stripped down, no-nonsense, yet they have that certain Rickenbacker elegance we all know and love.

I can't say that I know much about the origins of these basses, though.

In the Smith book, there's something of a prototype from the late 60's - it is vaguely 4004 like, with dual toasters, pickguard, and 4001 tailpiece. It appears to me that the seed was planted there for the eventual 4004.

Did the Cheyenne and the Laredo debut at the same time? My guess is about '93 or so. When did the Cheyenne become the Cheyenne II? And when did the 5 string models debut?

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:27 pm

The April '94 issue of Bass Player Magazine has a review of the 4004 basses. They have a Jetglo Larado and a Ci pictured, both with maple fingerboards.

I think the Cii/5 debuted at Winter NAMM 2002.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:33 pm

Interesting - do you have that issue, Joey? What did the reviewers think about them?

I really like the maple fretboards. Wonder why RIC made the switch to bubinga?

Just for kicks, here are my 4004's:

'03 4004Cii, Mapleglo

'05 Blue Boy (More of a Green Boy now!)

The biggest differences between the two are the pickup placement, and the neck size - the Mapleglo is very chunky, while the Blue Boy is very thin! It's like night and day.

Obviously the BB has had some mods done - VVT setup and non-original pickups. It's strung with TI Jazz Flats and gets a REALLY killer McCartney tone. I was going to Darkstar it but now I just don't know!

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:40 pm

Yes, I do have that issue, it's one of my favorites. The review for the 4004 basses was a very good one overall.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:44 pm

Is the Blue Boy a Cii or Laredo (I'd assume Laredo but I know some people insist on changing hardware)? And how do you like it with the different p/u configuration?

I briefly owned one of each 4004 model made.....Ci, Laredo, Cii, Cii/5 and LK......

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:48 pm

It is a Laredo, Brian. Difficult to compare to my MG because of the different pickups, but obviously it has more of a mellow, vintagey sound. The MG sounds huge in comparison - much more ballsy and bordering on active-sounding.

markbass99 · Post by **markbass99** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 1:20 am

Copycat (just kidding John). Well since we both have the same year 4004 basses I have to agree on everything you've said. These things are so good I no longer own any 4003's. If I need the 4001/3 thing my 1973 4001's do it very well. I'm really starting to appreciate the hb's in my Laredo since I got my Markbass rig, they're so beefy and growly with the DR Hi Beams I just put on. Because of that I'm tempted to change the toasters out in my Cii, but I'm going to experiment with an hb in the bridge and a toaster in the neck before I do that. The B strings on mine just seem to sound better going through an hb pickup, much more intensity.

wmthor · Post by **wmthor** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:42 am

John, email sent.

blueflamerick · Post by **blueflamerick** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 5:58 am

Have any of you found the necks on your 4004cii's to be more sensitive to climate changes than a 4001/3?

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 6:10 am

All of my 4004 necks have been rock solid.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 7:35 am

I have owned 3 4004s and worked on 6 or 7 ... only one had a neck problem ... and remember I convert the 4004 basses to 5 string basses ...

The newer 4004 basses have a stronger neck and resonate better ...

Hey Brian ... nice rug ...

I think the first 4004 was a left handed ci model that was a gift to Paul McCartney ... at least that is the legend that I heard ...

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:39 am

Erik, when I first got my CII I had a problem with keeping the neck adjusted (constant tweaking). But since its gotten a couple of years older it has really settled in nicely, I hardly have to mess with it at all now.

But back to the subject of early Cheyennes, I seem to remember seeing a country music video who's bass player had one with a gold guard (kind of a 4005 type of guard), and oven knobs maybe? I actually think it wound up on Ebay a few years back.

jaymi · Post by **jaymi** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 3:06 am

I had a nice one that was reworked by Dr Ted and it was cool...even had the Jeff Rath VVT mod which made it even better. I would have kept it but the walnut was going to be devastated with my playing style...

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed May 02, 2007 8:03 am

The 4004s are being converted over to cnc production ... for me the neck on the stock 4004 is perfect for 5 strings ...

I also had some problems with the necks on my 4004s needing tweaking ... but that was when I was in Michigan where the humidity would go from 25% to 95% and back ... also I found the 4004 seems happier with lighter strings ... well that is after I convert them to have 5 strings ...

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Wed May 02, 2007 2:46 pm

I was wondering today if any Cheyenne II's with the full walnut back ever shipped, or was that just a prototype thing?

All the ones i've seen have had the maple/walnut/maple sandwich, but I did see a pic of one that had a walnut back and a maple front.