Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Man, I have been wanting a 4004L MG so bad but I wasn't hearing positive things about the new run. Now to hear that you're so pleased with yours makes me really happy but it also makes me want one even more.

Geez, Rickenbacker with all of their unique, interesting models. Quit calling my name!

...oh welcome to the forum.

cassius987 wrote:
Geez, Rickenbacker with all of their unique, interesting models. Quit calling my name!

Careful, Joshua or you just might end up like me-- Hopelessly addicted to Ricks and more concerned with acquiring more of them than improving my musicianship.

On the other hand collecting Ricks is kinda fun too, and I'd rather be addicted to Ricks than heroin.

Good morning or afternoon, Folks.
I'd like to add:
Rickaddict, I don't know WHAT took me so long-I always sort of "overlooked" the 4003; and wasn't even aware of the Laredo albeit a brief look-see on the Ric site a while back.
When considering a 4003, I looked at Ric's site again- and something about the time and the VIbe-
Now please let me say this-
This morning, is the first time ater "decompression' I've layed into the instrument- I am astounded. The build and the tone; the tone and the build....
As fine a build as any luthier; probably a lot better - The tone-
I'm fortunate enough to be enjoying through one of my "new" rigs- a dedicated one for some local clubwork I do- (R&B-based, in-the-pocket Ihope!!) A Mesa PH212 with a LMII- But this is about the bass, and I haven't EVEN tried it through my Ampegs...
Un-real. I've heard mentioned the similarity to a P-Bass-- I happen to have a wonderful 1969 Precision that sounds like...well, a 1969 P-Bass- THUMP! Superb!
But the Laredo- I'm guessing you guys know-
Simple, precise, dynamic, resonant. Amazing- Just the right mix at your hands, enough bass to boom a room; the ability to dial in as much bite/attack as you could ever hope for, all this from two pups, two knobs and a switch! Batteries not included or needed.
WHO designed this Bass, and then who said, "Good, build it, neck-thru please, in the best manner"!
Rickenbacker I imagine.

The wood(s) I'm running out of words-
The Finish- Like a mirror
The neck- "Wide"; but RIGHT. I am even prone to using the stock Ric strings, and forgive me, but I do well with 30-50-70-90 most of the time or TI JR-344, if you follow.
I'm gonna keep the OEM strings on, and maybe even re-order. The design is THAT good.

The tone- I give up. I can only say "Perfect", and it's yet to be really dug into, but oh, it will.
I would say put a halt ot hearing negatives about the Laredo run- I can't even find any.
As I mentioned, I did not exactly just fall of the "Bass Guitar Turnip truck"- I have some wonderful instruments; nothing is for sale-
But this Rickenbacker 4004L-
WHY it isn't more beloved and revered, I dunno.
I guess that's a good thing, in keeping Ric's kinda under the radar so to speak, an anachronism (BIG word).

What an amazing bass-
Sorry to have gone off, I needed to do so- Now I'm going to try and ignore the rest of my daily regimen and responsibilites, and play until... well, a long time.
Great Forum, btw, Thanks for having me.

Hey Larry, don't stop there, keep going!

Unfortunately the 4004 basses have not gotten the attention they deserve. Someday when a bassist in a popular band decides to use a 4004 Laredo or Cheyenne II, many bassists will desire to have one. I don't count Lemmy, as hthe 4004LK was a special, limited production model.

rickenbrother wrote:Hey Larry, don't stop there, keep going!

Unfortunately the 4004 basses have not gotten the attention they deserve. Someday when a bassist in a popular band decides to use a 4004 Laredo or Cheyenne II, many bassists will desire to have one. I don't count Lemmy, as hthe 4004LK was a special, limited production model.

The 4004LK with the all-walnut carved wings and the 3 pickup array does not truly represent the 4004 line. It is specialized enough to be a sound of it's own. I agree with Joey, all it will take is for a major artist to use a 4004 and look out... Why oh why didn't Paulie play his 4004C???

johnallg wrote: Why oh why didn't Paulie play his 4004C???

Because his Hofner weighs three and a half pounds?

Interesting...Paul McCartney had a 4004, and didn't use it?

There are a lot of good basses on the market, we all know. But I don't say this simply because I'm in a "safe place", the Rickenbacker does a pretty good beat-down on a LOT of them. Yes, yes, we all need to get along-(-:
I have Brands "W", Brands" G&X," brands "MM", Brands "F", even a brand "T"!!! They are fine instruments- end of story.

Today I have 4004L callouses, and I think I MAY have mentioned, that the Laredo is a supeb bass; It might well be my "Desert Island" bass guitar. Worked it through my Ampeg rig; it did not disappoint- It sounded like it was BUILT for the Ampeg vibe- Next stop- My MESA Buster all-tube rig, then on to the V4BH- Seriously-
I paid a fair price but it is a bargain- I had a couple quotes on some high-end customs, and I know it's not a competition, but I'm prone to thinking that no-one can build a Rickenbacker but Rickenbacker. Enough said.
WHY is this bass almost undercover??? OTOH, that's good for me, there aren't all that many of them and thankfully I got one!

Another intersting point- I was forwarded an E-Mail from the photographer's site- the guy who apparently snapped the pic I posted- It's in his collection. Interesting- I imagine him being there at that news conference/presentation certainly ranks with his highlights- I mean- the Beatles and all. Amazing how all things historical so to speak are documented and archived-

MINE has been with me since the original date---1965, I am now reminded!- (I was 14)- sent to me by my lovely Aunt Mille in Minneapolis (RIP, Millie) Cousin Randy's mom, at his behest. Incidentally-she made the BEST Cinammon-Chocloate coffee cake EVER.
When visiting their home shortly after the "Event" I also saw and read, a letter, on NEMS Stationary no less, from GH, to Randy, thanking him pesonally for the Rickenbacker- It was a 12-string. Pretty nice of him, given all that they were receiving, to take the time and have typed, then hand-sign, a thank-you note. No doubt wherever they went in those frenzied times, they got loads of stuff- So besides the Guitar being particularly touching to George, I think it shows what he was about too.
That plus he dug Rickenbackers.

Well, so do all of you, and I know I sure do- What a great Bass I acquired!

kiramdear wrote:

johnallg wrote: Why oh why didn't Paulie play his 4004C???

Because his Hofner weighs three and a half pounds?

Have you picked up a 4004C? When mine arrived, I opened the box, opened the case, got past the awed wow factor, then just about threw it to the ceiling picking it up out of the case because it is so much lighter than a 4001/3.

Is it chambered specially?

Elnjaybass wrote:Interesting...Paul McCartney had a 4004, and didn't use it?

Paul got the very first 4004C - IIRC JH posted the 4004C was designed to address the weight problem for Paul. The C varies from the Cii in that the body wings are all walnut and sculpted more, whereas the Cii wings are a sandwich of walnut surrounded by maple layers.

http://www.rickenbacker.com/gallery_ima ... _year=1990

http://www.rickenbacker.com/gallery_ima ... _year=1990

kiramdear wrote:Is it chambered specially?

Kira, the body edges are rounded more and there is a chamfered edge where the arm hits the body like a Jazz has.

That does look comfy. Mebbe he should've given it a workout. Is it the walnut as well that makes it lighter?

johnallg wrote:The 4004LK with the all-walnut carved wings and the 3 pickup array does not truly represent the 4004 line.

Right, the 4004LK body wings are more like those of a 4003. The 4004LK was sort of like a hybrid model with detailed hand carving in walnut.

Everything about the 4004 feels right to me- It's very ergonomic, even without an intrinsic body contour- It seems that the entire body shape is contoured to feel playable.

Maybe the neck-through construction adds to the total; it's such a smooth transition up the neck, which itself is like glass.

And the simplicity- Those humbuckers must be really special under the hood- ALl I need to do is roll off or gradually roll-on the treble/bass respectively, and the tone I need is there- Modified by pup switching. It is hard to believe this isn't an active instrument. Some of my basses have powerful pre-amps and cut/boost including mids, series/paralell, etc. But the Laredo-
Keeps it clean and dialed in. Great work; got to had it to the designer/builders.

SO this series itself was designed to make life easier for Macca; offfering an alternative to his 4001/3 (pardon my newbienss with the Numbers!)? And it was done at his behest, so he could continue to play a RIc, rather than simply use his Hofner?
That's cool-
The specs for the Laredo simply list the body as being "hardwood"- Curious as to what that might be; but whatever it is---
Such a sweet bass!

The "hardwood" is maple.