4004cii

[aceonbass]

I talked to Richard at RIC a few weeks ago and he told me that the 4004's would share necks with the 4003's from now on. I find it interesting and think it odd that the 4004 has had one less dot marker on the fretboard for a while now. I find this curious since that's a feature of 60's 4000&4001S models, although they are much smaller dots. While I think it's a good thing that the necks are slimming down for comforts sake, I don't know why anyone would be pleased that they would no longer make a suitable 5-string conversion...unless if course it's a sentiment shared by those who believe that 4004's are sacred cows that should not be modified...except of course to add Hipshot bridges, stack knob and VVT conversions as well as toaster pickups.

[cjj]

I also find it a bit odd that the 4003 & 4004 necks were different. I can't really think of any reason why they should be, and the difference would tend to make production a bit slower.

As for turning them into 5 strings, hey, if you want to, go for it. If you don't, leave 'em be. I'd personally love it if RIC started making a 5 string again. But until then...

[rickenbrother]

As for turning them into 5 strings, hey, if you want to, go for it. If you don't, leave 'em be. I'd personally love it if RIC started making a 5 string again. But until then...

I love 5 string bass guitars, I don't care if anyone wants to turn their Rick into a 5 string. It just seems that so many of them, especially the Cii's that were 4-2-5'ed are not kept by the owners that had them modified.
Hmmm, I wonder why?
What irks me most is if when I see someone call their 4-2-5 modified Cii by the model 4004Cii/5 when it's not! Especially when they try to sell it on ebay.

[jps]

As for turning them into 5 strings, hey, if you want to, go for it. If you don't, leave 'em be. I'd personally love it if RIC started making a 5 string again. But until then...

I love 5 string bass guitars, I don't care if anyone wants to turn their Rick into a 5 string. It just seems that so many of them, especially the Cii's that were 4-2-5'ed are not kept by the owners that had them modified.
Hmmm, I wonder why?
What irks me most is if when I see someone call their 4-2-5 modified Cii by the model 4004Cii/5 when it's not! Especially when they try to sell it on ebay.

Especially when said person takes cheap shots at members of the RRF.

[aceonbass]

Hmmm...Well I've sold one of my 4-2-5 Cii's on Ebay and I refered to it as a modified 4004Cii. The only other 4-2-5 conversions I've seen on Ebay were Jeff Rath's, and he didn't use the C5 moniker either, so I wonder just who did as I follow Ebay pretty closely. As for refering to them as such here, well it just seems like a convienient way to refer to them. I refer to my 8 string that started out as a '97 4003 as a 4008CS because that's what it might be called if it were a factory piece, which everyone knows it's not.

[rickenbrother]

The ones that I'm referring to are ones that the work was not done by the owners themselves.

[bottom4]

For all you guys who always wanted to give a 4004Cii or 4004L a try but didn't want wider the neck, the ones at NAMM are like the latest 4003 necks.

Joey, I've been really thinking about getting back into a Cii lately, this may just put me over the top! Now, don't get me wrong, I liked the original neck but a thinner neck is more comfy for me.

enjoy NAMM!

cheers

[aceonbass]

I think the standardization of necks between the two basses points to a 4003S in the near future.

[aceonbass]

I'm late to the game here but what the heck is that white double-neck monster?

This was made from two basket case 3000 basses and a 3001 neck. It's lighter, plays better, balances better, and is wired more practically than a stock Rick 4080.

[cassius987]

Same necks for 4004s and 4003s? Intriguing. I really like my 4003's neck profile a lot. I found the 4004s quite comfy as well, when I played several different ones over a span of time at Wildwood Guitars. This move probably does makes sense though because between the two models I have heard way more complaints--from dealers and players--about the necks of 4004s not being stable, compared to 4003s. Now that they're all two-piece though, I'm not sure there were any more problems. Ironically I played a two-piece neck 4004 and didn't like it as much as the one-piece necked ones I also played. Whereas I have embraced my two-piece neck 4003 wholeheartedly.

A 4003S would be cool, Dane. I'd probably snag one if the price didn't go higher than a typical 4003. That combined with Horseshoe pickups appearing in the boutique someday would sort of be a secondhand way of reviving the whole 60s reissues... players could just replace the pickups, and rout the neck pickup cavity if they really wanted to go authentic.

I have played lots of Jeff Rath's 5-string conversions (Rics and others) and they were all good basses. Not sure I want to own one necessarily--although I went over to his house thinking about buying one, I seem to recall--but I have nothing against them and respect the work that was put in. Ultimately the fact that so many 4-2-5s were made tells me there is certainly a market for a Ric 5er to come back.

[ricaddic]

A 4003S would be cool, Dane. I'd probably snag one if the price didn't go higher than a typical 4003. .

A 4003s would be cool, and the possibility of it materialiseing ? it could happen, but the price, you can bet your bippy it will be much more than a typical 4003, cause just like a 4001C64 etc, it will be considered a specialty model, and the price will be way up there, unless the facotry or dealer is in fantasy land, be prepared to dig deep and stretch big..

[cheyenne]

The whole neck debate has never been an issue with me, but then again I'm a big guy. I could however see how the older 4004's with the flatter, wider neck could be a real problem with someone with smaller hands.

Standardizing the necks on the entire 4000 series fleet kind of takes away from that "hand made" feeling I've aways enjoyed about a Rickenbacker bass though, I enjoy each one being a little different from the next.

4003S ??? Sign me up.

[coolhandjjl]

The original 4004 necks have that cool angled heel cut. Is that gone by the wayside now?

[coolhandjjl]

A 4003S would be cool, Dane. I'd probably snag one if the price didn't go higher than a typical 4003. That combined with Horseshoe pickups appearing in the boutique someday would sort of be a secondhand way of reviving the whole 60s reissues... players could just replace the pickups, and rout the neck pickup cavity if they really wanted to go authentic.

Precisely why I picked up my '93 4003s in FG. My first real modded bass. I put humbuckers in it for now. I plan to put in a toaster when I find a horseshoe. (or should I say 'if'). I really like the body sans-binding.

[aceonbass]

A 4003s would be cool, and the possibility of it materialiseing ? it could happen, but the price, you can bet your bippy it will be much more than a typical 4003, cause just like a 4001C64 etc, it will be considered a specialty model, and the price will be way up there, unless the factory or dealer is in fantasy land, be prepared to dig deep and stretch big..

I don't buy that idea at all. The standardization between the two models makes a 4003S easier and therefor less expensive to produce. The neck blanks will now be the same. Therefor a completed neck for a 4004 would be the same as for a 4003S. While a true 4003S set of body wings would be different than for a 4004, it's easier to have them contoured via CNC machine than to bind them. Although I don't have a bippy, I'll still bet that a 4003S would be no more than a 4003, and probably less. Untill the new 4003S makes it's debut, I have all the templtates to route 4004's for 4003 style pickups, tailpieces, and control cavities if anyone's interested in having me convert them. As far as the hand made aspect of 4004's gos, these basses have been made with CNC machines for a couple years now. Some previous 4004's had issues with the hand routed pickup cavities which a few forum members have discussed here and on Talk Bass extensively. There were minor QC isues with two of the three pre-'09 4004's that I had too. The present 4004's, as well as newer 4003's I've worked on, are the best Ricks I've ever seen.