Not getting on with my new 4004

[jakeox]

I had to sell a few basses to buy my 4002, and a 2005 4004L MID was one of the ones that went ... I liked that bass a lot, but thought it was more replaceable than the ones I kept. So once I sold my 4002, one of the first basses I bought was a 4004L -- this one's BBR, and a 2008 model. What I liked about my 05 Laredo was that it sounded different from a 4001/3, but still similar, and I didn't have to change my EQ settings much to move between them (a little less master volume, a good amount less bass, and a touch more mids for the L). The new 2008 Laredo just sounds different to me from the 2005, although I can't compare them side-by-side, obviously. It sounds a lot boomier and muddier to me. It's possible that there's something I'm missing here that would make this work for me -- turn down the bass EQ even more than I thought, new strings, etc. -- any thoughts? Or has anyone noticed significant tonal differences over the past few years' runs of Laredos? Both have the neck pickup right up against the neck.

I'd like to make this one work because it feels good and looks incredible, but if I have to trade it for an older L, so be it. I really dug the looks of that MID, actually.

[cassius987]

Dan Russell had really, really bad luck with some 2008 4004Ls that were also BBR I'm really sorry to say. I have since played 3 Ciis and loved them, but I have no experience with the Ls other than what he told me and hardly any of it was positive. I know that RIC hung on to several 4004s for a spell to make sure they were well prepared to leave the factory and that 2008-released-in-2009 batch seemed to do really well IIRC. So I don't quite know... Good luck Jake.

[incubus2432]

Are the p/u's adjusted as high as possible just so they don't get hit by the strings during aggressive playing? Just a thought.

[guitfiddle]

I have an '06 4004L. It's definitely a lot muddier than my 4003 but I have enough EQ capabilities to even out the two basses onstage. In many ways the bass reminds me of that smooth sound that Jack Bruce got out of his Gibson EB-0 on the Cream reunion. All in all it's one of my favorite basses.

[cheyenne]

I have an '08 Laredo that sounds quite good. When I first got it I had some neck issues, but after a few forum proven remedies it plays quite well now.

My experience is the opposite, I really hated the tone of my tranny red '02 cheyenne, but the Laredo sounds very punchy and Rickish. I run the bridge pickup full on, and roll the neck pickup back slightly until the definition comes into focus.

I did alot of experimentation with strings. I was a diehard D'Addario XL-170 fan, (still love them on my other basses), but discovered that DR Highbeams .40 .60 .80 .100 really bring out the tone of the Laredo. I havent had a chance to try "Sunbeams" yet, but want to try them next. For right now the Highbeams are fine. Give them a try, it may help.

I also use a GK 700RB II into a GK 112-II NEO cab.

[jakeox]

Thanks for the thoughts on this, all. I did a little more playing around with the setup and switched from my practice rig to my main rig (Markbass R500 > Schroeder 1210L) and both seemed to help. I'm still preferring the tone of the bridge pickup to the neck, even though I've tweaked a lot of the "boom" out. Would lowering the neck pickup make it less boomy? The bridge pickup is already a bit closer to the strings, but it seems counterintuitive to me to raise the neck pickup to match.

[VRICKY63]

You can also re-wire the pickup leads at the pots for a singlecoil sound.

[rickenbrother]

Rick is correct. Here's the link for the HB1 schematic on the RIC website:

HB1 Schematic

[woodyng]

i'm wondering about the effect of string gauge on the 4004. i had some work done on mine,and subsequently went with a heavier gauge string than what i previously had on there,the playability has suffered,and the heavier e and a strings seem to be muddying things up a bit---i am probably going to go back to a lighter gauge. with that wider neck,it seems like the lighter strings keep it as fast-feeling as the 4001 style necks......i love my cii,so this was a setback....