Well, now this is interesting . . .

[nukebass]

FWIW, I like the look of John's AFG headstock, but I have a 4001 so that is what I am used to seeing. It does look funny without the black rings around the tuners, though

[cassius987]

I have a 2007 4003 AFG as well and it looks the same. I was a little sad initially but nowadays I'm kind of glad it came that way, it's rather unique. Not to mention it's my original Ric bass and a real beast as well. The fact that it's not exactly like other basses of its vintage just makes it that much more sentimental now.

[johnallg]

If there were Jetglo Cheyenne (I) made due to problems with the wood, I'll bet they were fitted with chrome parts and sold as Laredos.

Paul, with the extra contours on the original model Cheyenne, I don't think making it a Laredo would have been done; painting over seems a more likely solution, especially in light of what Ben says the practice is. And Ben, thanks for the added on the 4004C.

[ram]

I don't see anything said here by Ben as a problem... If anyone is really bothered, sell the bass and make another person happy!!! Now everyone go to their music room, plug in and turn up the knob and play!

[bassduke49]

I should get the gold-plated parts from Dane this weekend and hope to install them on the Turq Laredo. Pictures next week. I think the combination is gonna be really nice!

For those who may have forgotten what it looks like stock, here she is:

[ajish4]

Man, don't come around for a few days and WOW!

All this talk about SOFT WOOD & HARD WOOD.....

Sigh....just TOO EASY to get myself in trouble, again!

[cjj]

Yeah, that's gonna look great with gold hardware!

[superdick2112]

I have a 2007 4003 AFG as well and it looks the same. I was a little sad initially but nowadays I'm kind of glad it came that way, it's rather unique. The fact that it's not exactly like other basses of its vintage just makes it that much more sentimental now.

My thoughts as well. My recent 4003 JG has the walnut headstock wings, and there is a bit of grain telegraphing through, but this is something I view as character rather than a flaw - after all, these are hand-crafted, playable works of art, as opposed to mass-produced lesser instruments made on automated assembly lines, and my 4003 is the best sounding, best playing Ric I have ever owned. My 4003 also has the old-style non full-width inlay (which I prefer), made from the new inlay material.
Likewise, my new 4004Cii MG has a 2-piece flame maple neck, and I don't think anyone would complain that this feature was "not as advertised". It is my humble opinion that the subtle differences which occur from bass to bass are things to be celebrated and cherished, and are "desirable quirks" that lend a bit of uniqueness and individuality to those individuals lucky enough to have them on their instruments.

[johnallg]

Once gold hardware is on it won't it be a Cii than?

It will look great with the gold.

[ram]

Paul that is going to look hot! can hardly wait!!!

[bassduke49]

Once gold hardware is on it won't it be a Cii than?

It will look great with the gold.

Yes, pretty much as mentioned above. It won't only look like one, but will be built like one.

With the production similarities, it might be best to consider them all just 4004. When the 4004 family was started in late 1992-early '93, the Laredo was available in Jetglo only with chrome hardware, equivalent to the 650C Colorado guitar. The original Cheyenne was unpainted walnut with gold hardware, equivalent to the 650S Sierra guitar. The Cheyenne remained the same until around 1999 when it morphed into the Cii. The Laredo started appearing in "other" colors a year or two later (earliest in Register is 1995). Laredo's also morphed around the same time as the Cheyenne with bubinga fretboards and repositioned pickups. Dane Wilder has a transitional one with the maple fretboard but repositioned pickups. He's put a nifty pickguard on it:

[blueflamerick]

Paul, with the extra contours on the original model Cheyenne, I don't think making it a Laredo would have been done; painting over seems a more likely solution, especially in light of what Ben says the practice is. And Ben, thanks for the added on the 4004C.

I don't know about that. I have a Fireglo Laredo with a maple neck that has the same extra contours the original Cheyenne did. The body is all maple, by the way.

[cassius987]

DWilder4004LMIDweb.jpg

Still probably my favorite 4004 to date and I don't even like blue basses.

[aceonbass]

That bass has morphed still further Paul. It's now a 5-string with 4003 appointments and living with a furum member in Turkey.

[ig55]

That bass has morphed still further Paul. It's now a 5-string with 4003 appointments and living with a furum member in Turkey.

So this is what "she" looked like originally, ha? It belongs to a friend of mine, who I purchased my JG V63 from. I had a chance to meet her last week. Great workmanship, Dane. Really flawless conversion...

However, it had some issues with the sound of the B string. I discovered that it was resulting from the bridge HB failing to pick up from the B string. The string spacing over the bridge pickup was too wide for the pickup to capture the B string. I changed the bridge HB1 with a Bartolini replacement I had in my spare parts drawer. Luckily that solved the issue. Honestly, I had suspicions about the tightness of a B string on a 33 1/2 scale bass, but this one is quite good. Overall, it's a great sounding bass...