Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I think it all depends on what style you are playing. I have a 4003, a 4004 Cii and a 4004L. I use them all and it really depends on what kind of bass sound I am trying to emulate.

For our Cream tribute set the 4004 Cii is amazing -- it sounds so much like Jack Bruce's humbucker Gibson sound if I want it too. Generally for blues-rock the 4004 rules.

I find the 4003 indispensable when we do more 90's-ish sounding stuff like early Radiohead. That Ric crunch thing works nicely there for example.

Ultimately, though, I use a Bassbone to try and accommodate my switching back and forth. Also contrary to conventional wisdom I actually find my 4004L to be darker than my 4004 Cii. Not sure why however. What is nice about the Bassbone is that you can very quickly make the 4004 sound like a 4003 if you have too and vice versa.

guitfiddle wrote:I think it all depends on what style you are playing. I have a 4003, a 4004 Cii and a 4004L. I use them all and it really depends on what kind of bass sound I am trying to emulate.

For our Cream tribute set the 4004 Cii is amazing -- it sounds so much like Jack Bruce's humbucker Gibson sound if I want it too. Generally for blues-rock the 4004 rules.

I find the 4003 indispensable when we do more 90's-ish sounding stuff like early Radiohead. That Ric crunch thing works nicely there for example.

Ultimately, though, I use a Bassbone to try and accommodate my switching back and forth. Also contrary to conventional wisdom I actually find my 4004L to be darker than my 4004 Cii. Not sure why however. What is nice about the Bassbone is that you can very quickly make the 4004 sound like a 4003 if you have too and vice versa.

What exactly is a bassbone? I assume some sound modifier? It throws me for even more of a loop because I play Bass Trombone.

guitfiddle wrote:Generally for blues-rock the 4004 rules.

+1 Better than a F*nd*r!
The bridge pickup had alot of growl, not exactly like a J-bass, but close. The neck pickup has that thick, buttery tone. I find myself soloing the pickups on the 4004Cii more often than any other 2 pickup fretted bass guitar I've ever had.

Wickedbacker wrote:
What exactly is a bassbone? I assume some sound modifier? It throws me for even more of a loop because I play Bass Trombone.

The Tonebone Bassone:

http://www.tonebone.com/tb-bassbone.htm

rickenbrother wrote:

guitfiddle wrote:Generally for blues-rock the 4004 rules.

+1 Better than a F*nd*r!

....and it just plain looks better than a F*nd*r too!

guitfiddle wrote:

rickenbrother wrote:

guitfiddle wrote:Generally for blues-rock the 4004 rules.

+1 Better than a F*nd*r!

....and it just plain looks better than a F*nd*r too!

Yeah, that too!

guitfiddle wrote:

Wickedbacker wrote:
What exactly is a bassbone? I assume some sound modifier? It throws me for even more of a loop because I play Bass Trombone.

The Tonebone Bassone:

http://www.tonebone.com/tb-bassbone.htm

First let me, just say as a owner of both the 4004 Larado and Cii, I absolutely love these basses so much more than the 4003's, for me they have a much more traditional bass sound esspecially the Cii which has a thicker and warmer sound and IMO is what a bass is suppose to sound like, with that said, I just wanted to chime in about the Bassbone, have used one and loved it for the past 4 yrs, however, just recieved my new Tech 21 Sansamp VT Deluxe pedal the other day and if youlove the Bassbone your gonna love it more, price wise, its only a $10.00 difference, Bassbone $259.99, VT Deluxe $269.99, both have 2 channels where you can use 2 basses or one, , with the Bassbone you can use both channels for on bass giveing you two different tones to choose from, however you can only use the factory presets (choice of three) on the A channel and cant tweak it at all, But you can tweak the b channel, but limiting you to just two tones live with with one bass, if you are useing two basses plugged in, your limited to what two tones you have set, with the new VT Deluxe, you have the A and B just like the Bassbone however, not only do you have the ability to use three channels per bank if useing two basses with the unit, but with both banks you can program up to 6 tones with one bass, and tweak each one to your taste and not have to settle for a preset as your forced to do with the Bassbone, just wanted to pass it along, this is a great pedal, very versatile, gives you alot more options..

Yeah -- after reading your description I did some research and it looks really versatile.

Not to derail the thread anymore, but I had my mind set on buying a SansAmp VT pedal. After reading Ange's post I might have to give the Bassbone some some careful consideration.
Okay, carry on with the 4004 thread!

The only problem with having 4004's and 4001/4003's is deciding which one to use for which tunes. Sometimes it's clear cut and other times it's a toss-up. But then again these are the kinds of problems I like to have.

guitfiddle wrote:The only problem with having 4004's and 4001/4003's is deciding which one to use for which tunes. Sometimes it's clear cut and other times it's a toss-up. But then again these are the kinds of problems I like to have.

Not for me, hands either my Cii or Larado, are my go to bass of my Rics for any tune..

rickenbrother wrote:Not to derail the thread anymore, but I had my mind set on buying a SansAmp VT pedal. After reading Ange's post I might have to give the Bassbone some some careful consideration.
Okay, carry on with the 4004 thread!

Hmmmm....

One mystery I have never cracked is why people say these basses sound so much darker than 4003s. Maybe a little but not much, and the fundamental is pretty much the same. Saying a 4004 sounds like a darker 4003 is (to me) like saying "I found a way of making black even blacker!" 4003s are so deep-sounding already. I've played five Ciis now, so that has to count for something.

This is the main reason why I don't have a 4004. I can't find that many tonal differences between my already beloved 4003s. When I showed my wife what they sounded like, she said, "Yeah, it's exactly like your Mapleglo... don't you dare buy it!" (My MG has HB-1s versus Hi-Gains in my other 4003.) The biggest difference to me is the openness of the neck pickup tone, which has more snarl on it than a 4003 neck pickup.

I have a 4001FL also, and I CAN detect a difference between it and the qualities of 4004 tone. The 4001 is a lot more open and less-focused sounding, although it doesn't lack any of the fundamental character.

cassius987 wrote:My MG has HB-1s versus Hi-Gains in my other 4003

Could you please post a pic of this mentioned 4003 fitted with HB1? A close-up of treble pickup, if possible. Thank you!

How do the bridges compare on the 4004s? Any noticeable affect on sustain, etc?