Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I thought if I was nice and didn't call shenanigans on Hall over the pickups that he'd at least send out the bass I ordered over two years ago. I would have made the necessary alterations and had a decent bass. He still doesn't have the balls to admit the error.

I won't be buying another new Ric.

We should not expect John Hall to publically admit a mistake ... he is in business ... he has to do what is good for the company and his employees ... he is fixing the design ... admitting a mistake does not help here ... he got the message ... they stopped making the current design and they will be re-issuing an improved model ... the time he can admit the mistake is when the redesigned product is available ...

Finally growing a pair? Hardly. I've always thought the 4004 pickups were too narrow and have said so here several times. Even the 4 string 4004Cii pushes the limits of the HB1. At some point, basses need bass pickups not warmed over guitar pickups.

in a low volume situation it is easy to be fooled and think something sounds good enough ... the real test is to play with a band ... playing in my basement at low volume by myself I really like my 4-2-5 p-basses and jazz basses ... but when I play with a band the Rics work better ... so at low volume the 4004CII5 may have worked fine at the Ric factory ... they got all of the really difficult things right but made a mistake on an easy part of the bass ...

The main part of all this that bums me out is that when Ric finally puts them back into production and I order one I'll likely be waiting two more years before I actually get it.

That is a good point Jeff. I agree also that the foundation of the 4004 is sound and well designed.

well Ted, I apologize. It just seemed at the time, when I originally asked the question, that I really didn't get any support from any formite, except for jeffR on the subject. In fact I asked repeatidly about it and got nothing. It wasn't until the Pictures of you playing your bass (now edited) thread that the subject really got forced. When JH claimed that putting a different gauge string other then the factory issue would fix the problem. Which was complete horse ****. The reality is though, that they obviously knew a problem exsisted because they withdrew the offering. Before I got one, and before I said anything.
On the brite side, these are going to be extremly rare basses. The first issue of the 4004/5 will become extremly unique as every one whos owners has them fixed will be a little differnt. I really dont think that RIC will ever actully retro fit any currently exsisting units. They will all fixed by the time "they get around tuit."
I have NEVER seen any of these in the usual used market locations. NOS is the only way anyone will get one, until RIC makes the NEW ones. Ed Roman probably has the LAST unit in exsistance that hasn't been sold yet. JH has already stated that is it now a back burner project. Really sad (

Ric could very easily make a 5 string 4004 like the ones that I modify ... they could use the same body, same pickups, all they would have to do is cut the nut differently and drill the headstock holes differently and use an off the shelf 5 string bridge that is used by Epiphone, Dillion, Johnson and others with the 2 3/8" spacing ... this is wide enough for most people to slap and finger comfortably and it is narrow enough to get full coverage from the hb1 pickups ... no redesign needed just a slight change in manufacturing ... and with the stronger neck the 4004s with the bubinga fretboard now sports it would be no problem for it to hold 5 strings ... a purist 5 string player would prefer a 2 3/4" bridge and a 2" nut ... but many would prefer the slimmer neck with 2 3/8" bridge and a 1 5/8" nut ...

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/98-4004ci5.htm

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/2002%204004cii5.htm

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/93-4004L-5.htm

and yes Ric made a mistake ... but we should avoid rubbing their nose in it ... that will just cause bad feelings ...

I wouldn't be rubbing their nose in it if they simply sent me the bass I ordered. I'm not even demanding that they make it right, just send me what I ordered. I'd make it right myself.

get a 4004 and convert it ... it is not rocket science ...

But Rickenbacker, Fender and Gibson seem to be focused on the 4 string market and dabble in the 5 string market ... but some of the newer companies with newer designs go after the 5 string market aggressively ... but then you got all of that active non-growlly sound coming out of your bass ...

The 4004/5Cii is a bit different animal then a converted 4 stringer. The neck is awesome. Plently of room on this one )) That was always my issue with the 4003S/5. Tough to play.
That is one beautiful conversion Jeff, the MG. WoWsers!! Nice work.

+1

You do some nice work, Jeff.

"that will just cause bad feelings ..."

Already has, methinks.

I am very forgiving. If John would just admit he did wrong and promise to make it right in a reasonable amount of time, I'd forget all about it and everything would be fine. I don't hold grudges.

That won't happen Brad. I love Ricks but am very puzzled by the mysticism that sometimes surrounds them. There is a certain inexplicable element of "The Emperor's New Clothes" that makes discussing short-comings difficult or awkward, no matter how responsible the critic. Those who speak plainly are often chastised for it. I believe that was the upshot of the now famous "dissapointed" thread.