New to me 4004

[ram]

Well I just realized that I didn't brag here....(I did on Facebook) - so a little while ago here is what appeared on my door step! It is a '93 (not sure what the correct nomenclature is here 4004Cii??) and a sweet, sweet play. So light and the huge sounds from it is just unbelievable! The boys in the band love the sound as well. Getting all kinds of sounds and tones from it... just too cool!!!

a couple of questions... First, the little roller string 'slots' on the bridge - is there any secret to setting these up? Intuition says to set them to be as straight for the string line as possible. Do I have that right?

Second - care and feeding of the finish and cleaning the fretboard. I seem to recall a thread here about the fretboard on these "unfinished" basses and cleaning them, but I haven't been able to track it down. Anyone recall that or have any recommendations.

[cjj]

Nice! That would be a 4004Ci...

[jps]

Nice! That would be a 4004Ci...

Wouldn't it be a 4004C as an i would imply that a ii existed at the same time?

[cjj]

Nice! That would be a 4004Ci...

Wouldn't it be a 4004C as an i would imply that a ii existed at the same time?

Maybe so, but not any more...

[rickenbrother]

Nice! That would be a 4004Ci...

Wouldn't it be a 4004C as an i would imply that a ii existed at the same time?

4004C would seem to be correct unless at the time JH designed these, he already knew there would be future changes. If he didn't know, I've never seen a crystal ball in his office...unless he hides it somewhere.

[ram]

You guys crack me up.... OK 'C' it is.... now anyone remember the care and feeding part? specifically the fretboard. Can't see it real good in this picture but just above the bridge pickup there is a bit of wear (thinking thumb parking zone for finger picking the strings. And the fretboard is a little dirty... None of this really bothers me, but if there is an easy way to correct it and/or I don't want to make it worse. Like permanently imbedding dirt when I don't have to.

[jps]

Any good proper wood feeding oil will be good for the instrument. As to the unfinished maple fingerboard, I can't help you there since usually a maple fingerboard has a finish on it to minimize dirt getting into it. Same would go for any other parts that are maple.

[rickenbrother]

IIRC, the fingerboard of the 4004C was satin finished. If it is, Tom, this might help you:
Ernie Ball/Musicman how-to of cleaning/maintaining their maple necks/fingerboards

[nukebass]

I'm fairly certain the 4004C was identical in make to the 650S. The users' manual says to use tung oil and doesn't differentiate anything for the neck. I think I used Dr. Stringfellow's Lemoil on the neck my 650S when I had it. I don't remember if I put tung oil on the neck or not.

[aceonbass]

When I do a natural finish on a Rick bass or guitar, I use Watco's Danish oil in natural. A few hours after I've wiped it down, I wipe of any excess, let sit overnight, then wax with Johnson's Paste wax. No shiny finish beats the feel of real wood, and real wood requires less maintenance and just plain feels better and plays faster.

[rickenbottom]

Very nice acquisition Tom.

[johnallg]

Nice! That would be a 4004Ci...

Wouldn't it be a 4004C as an i would imply that a ii existed at the same time?

Correct.

[ram]

cool gang - thanks a bunch! I really appreciate it.

[johnallg]

Tom, how is it wired? Mine is with concentric pots so it is VTVT with the pup switch, which I really really like over the original wiring. But I am THIS close to doing the 3 pot V/S V/S T/T with switch/pots to tap the coils and a dual pot for both tones.