Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

How does the 4004 with toasters compare to an old toaster'd 4001? Do you retain the Cheyenne sound but get the top end clarity or does it move the Cheyenne to the 4001 sound?

I love my CII,,,I just wish it sounded closer to a 4003. The concentric control layout is the way to go.





Gonna have to try the toasters I believe.

If you solo the neck it's very similar, but when you blend the pickups it becomes different than the 4001. I think it's because you're blending with another toaster and not a high gain(or horse shoe).I've been comparing the 4004 with my two 4001's, and I can hear the influence of the walnut on the sound, there's definitely something different that I can't put my finger on. Perhaps Jeff could shed some light on dual toastered applications since his 4001(3?) has dual toasters.

I have played Jeff's now Mark's 4004 with toasters and I can tell you that it sounds great that way. The first time I saw it I was a bit skeptical but became a convert after giving it a try. Of course I was playing it with one of Jeff's superb setups. In case you guys don't know, Jeff Scott does amazingly bass good setups. I am jealous. Also I was playing through Jeff's Walter Woods amp which simply put, doesn't suck.

I thought about trying a high gain in the bridge position to see if it would sound more 4001-like, but decided not to mess with it, it sounds too good the way it is. Besides, it's a Jeff Scott Limited Edition 4004Cii and I didn't want to tamper with it's future collectibility(they only made one)

That one also has the rare factory truss channel extension mod. It could be the only one that has it.

Hey Bob . The attraction to toasters for me was I have always been a single coil fan . I've tried bartolinis , emg , etc . Always come back to single coils . I like the sound of my 77 4001 with the high gains and flatwounds but that 4004 / toaster is IT ! I bought the 4004 to have a more comfortable RIC to play . No &#$%* binding .

Yea-I hope I don't ever have to utilize the routes, but it's nice to know they are there.
I'm a single coil fan too.

The toasters give much greater clarity to the sound without having to do extensive EQing. I found the HB-1s to be too dark sounding. Besides, two toaster Ricks are my standard as pictured below was the first Rickenbacker I ever owned and has become my standard.

Thanks to all for the input. One thing I like about my 4004C is that it is darker and bassier than the modded 4003 I have. I agree the HB1s could be more clearer in tone, like the toasters, but I like the tonal contrast (concentric pot modded) to my toaster neck / 7.8k-alnico magnet bridge 4003. Chrome flats on the 4004 too, RIC rounds on the 4003.