Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'd love a deluxe Cheyenne in either fireglo, walnut or mapleglo. Fireglo looked great on the 2060 with binding and gold, but with check binding it would be even more stunning.

mmmmmmm.....custom shop.......drool !

tell me about it! although I'm sure I read on the forum that JH said there wasn't going to be one, but Im not sure about that.

"maybe Ric could do a 4004 model like the Lemmy model without the carving ... just the walnut body wings and binding ..."

I'd buy one of those in a minute!

"Whew!"

Practicing for your book, Paul?

... there are considerable differences in the sound and playability of the different 4004 versions compared with a '98 4003, I experienced. The early 4004L, all maple, is very heavy and the neck is more chunky even than every other Rick neck (but that makes it perfect for Jeff's 4-2-5 conversion). The sound has a little bit more treble than the 4004Cii and definitely much more treble than the old 4004Ci. In my opinion the early 4004L of the 4004 series is the closest model to the 4001/4003 sound, however it has still much more bass but less treble than the 4001/4003. One critical point is the neck PU position: For slapping you will collide with the PU surround cover rather than with the last fret as intended. So it needs quite some time to get used to. The strong body shaping (P-bass style)of the early 4004L is the most comfortable one I ever had on a Rick, the 4004Cii is shaped much less. The finished maple fingerboard of the early 4004L is as fast to play and nice to clean as the finished Bubinga one on the 4004Cii. However the now recently unfinished Bubinga fingerboards on both might need more care (oiling and cleaning) like an unfinished rosewood fingerboard on the P-bass.

So my personally compromise is my 4004Cii TR:
1) The weight is the lowest of all the Ricks I owed, (I never owed the old 4004Ci but played it in comparison to other Ricks in a store, which seemed to be even lighter).
2) With my modified VVT controls and together with a good set stainless steel strings (usually I prefer nickel for the stronger mids growl) there is enough treble bite to mimic the 4001 sound.
3) The neck PU position is better than on the early 4004L, thus allowing my usual thumb slapping playing style.
4) The neck is not as thick as the early 4004L one, so my hand does not get stressed even after a 2hrs-set of playing.
But generally I just love the unique 4000/1,2,3,4-series design and the special 4001 sound.