4003s or 4004 and why.

[lumgimfong]

Torn between the two. Tough to decide.
What is your experience, if you have had both?

[teeder]

I love the "S's", but I'm voting 4004, though I've never had one. It will be my next Rick. I love the simplicity and lack of pickguard.

[thisismusicinc]

That's a tough one, both are great!
I haven't tried a regular S, but I have a 4001v63 and 4004. They are my most versatile basses, although very different.
My 4004 is from 2008, so the neck is twice as wide (it feels like it) as the v63. So I need to adjust my playing quite a lot when I use that one. The newer ones have the same neck as the 4003.
If I had to choose only one bass I'd personally go for a 4001/3 style. Unless I was back to mainly playing metal again, then I'd go for the 4004.

[lumgimfong]

Anyone know which year the necks became the same?

[bassduke49]

Late 2010, according to the book.

[lumgimfong]

I always ask questions here that are always in the book! I gotta pull it out and reread!!!

[rickenbrother]

I really can't pick a favorite. I do have 4001S models, but not a 4 string 4003S. I do have 4003's and both versions of the 4003S/5. The 4003S looks classic, and the 4004 looks modern, clean. The 4004 is lighter, which makes it great for long sets and gigs, especially for people with back and/or shoulder issues. If there was an influential player who regularly used a 4004, there would be many more people liking them and wanting one. I don't count Lemmy, becuase the 4004LK is different from the regular production 4004's.

When most people play a Rick bass, they expect to get the well known clank with roundwounds. The 4004 has a darker, more traditional tone. You can still get the clank from a 4004 with roundwounds, you just have to e.q. differently from the 4001/4003 models and dig a little harder. Most people who've tried a 4004 would likely say that it has the most comfortable body shape of all the Rick basses.

[clasbas]

4004, because it offers a different - look and sound - aestethics perspective to the Rickenbacker bass

[Isaac]

4004, because it offers a different - look and sound - aestethics perspective to the Rickenbacker bass

Different is not better. Why choose a 4004 over a 4003S?

[clasbas]

Different is not better. Why choose a 4004 over a 4003S?

Ah, sorry - I omitted part of the explanation. I already have a 4001s, therefore I suspect the 4003s to be too close to that one soundwise. A 4004 would - presumably - have something new to add to my "bass sound bank".

At least that was the thought behind it.

[ram]

I have four Ric's. None of them are stock. My '74 4001 is my favorite bass hands down, but we aren't talking about the 4001 here. So that leaves my 4003s5ov (Original Version 5string) and my two 4004's. The 4003s5 (2000) was made stereo and plays, looks, sounds and records wonderfully. Weight wise it is probably the heaviest of my basses. Then come the 4004's. Both were made in '93. The 4004L8 (4004L converted to and 8string). It has stock electronics, maple fretboard and neck very reminiscent of my 4001 neck. Almost wasn't converted as I liked the sound and feel some much. Finally we have the 4004C. I replaced the harness (yes, Dane did it) with 500k circuitry getting rid of the switch and replacing it with a blend knob. So it has Blend/Volume/Tone knobs and the V/T knobs are push/pull to tap the cores of the pickups. The whole set up has a wide range of sounds and tones.
This is probably the lightest of my basses. I don't know if the mods throw this comparison out of whack but I voted for the 4004 because they are tonal monsters, contoured to be comfortable and are easier on my 65 year old back. Gigging wise they just seem to do it - a whole lot of bang there! Not that the others don't do it, the 4004 just seem to be out there a little in my book.

the 4004 is probably the best kept secret in all of Ric-dom.

[Isaac]

Different is not better. Why choose a 4004 over a 4003S?

Ah, sorry - I omitted part of the explanation. I already have a 4001s, therefore I suspect the 4003s to be too close to that one soundwise. A 4004 would - presumably - have something new to add to my "bass sound bank".

At least that was the thought behind it.

Thought it might be something like that. Makes sense.

[lumgimfong]

Here's a question:

Will the current reissue neck toaster fit in the 4004? Or is the cavity too shallow for the alnico magnets that stick outta the back?
Will the bridge reissue neck toaster fit?

Only reason I ask is that if I find the HB1's too dark and would want to throw toasters in it. I think the stock 300k pots harness would do fine for the toasters I think.
I am more into the 4004 for the looks and countoured comfort body. I'm sure it sounds enough like a Ric.

[jps]

Here's a question:

Will the current reissue neck toaster fit in the 4004? Or is the cavity too shallow for the alnico magnets that stick outta the back?
Will the bridge reissue neck toaster fit?

Only reason I ask is that if I find the HB1's too dark and would want to throw toasters in it. I think the stock 300k pots harness would do fine for the toasters I think.
I am more into the 4004 for the looks and countoured comfort body. I'm sure it sounds enough like a Ric.

Toasters fit just fine in a 4004, no issues whatsoever. I have done so several times.

[Isaac]

Here's a question:

Will the current reissue neck toaster fit in the 4004? Or is the cavity too shallow for the alnico magnets that stick outta the back?
Will the bridge reissue neck toaster fit?

Only reason I ask is that if I find the HB1's too dark and would want to throw toasters in it. I think the stock 300k pots harness would do fine for the toasters I think.
I am more into the 4004 for the looks and countoured comfort body. I'm sure it sounds enough like a Ric.

Have you tried a 500K volume potentiometer? I found that it made a big difference, and it's a much cheaper mod than a new pickup.

Another thing you might try is either a coil split or series/parallel switch. Either would raise the resonance frequency and give you a brighter sound. And it's easy to do that at the same time as switching to the 500K pot.