Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

love the 4004,i have an 04 cii that is my favorite of my 3 rick basses. it's a featherweight,superergonomically designed,very ballsy sounding,and great-playing bass. and note where my playing hand falls....not so easy to do on the older design.....

After playing my new 4004L for quite some time now (in the last two days of ownership... )

I really can't understand why this instrument isn't enshrined in the "Passive Bass Hall of Fame" as , well, maybe "Greatest Ever".

There are some wonderful instruments out- Graphite necks, neo pickups, exotic woods-
There are some high-end luthiers with a wait-list of well over a year or more for one of their creations.
There are some instruments that cost about double the Laredo.

I absolutely cannot understand how a Bass this fine is not ...well never mind, I'm part of the answer to that, as I was almost not even aware of it, and I'm a gear-head.

I associated Ric of course with th 4003- McCartney, Chris Squire, et al. Not particularly what I feel- I'll skip the stuff about what I look for in a bass- but I will say-

I play a lot of R&B based pocket feel, Jamerson, Chuck Rainey, -covers like Etta James, Al Green, Aretha- and if you want to- Listen to Tyrone Davis' rhythm section- I only heard "TD" when I toured Down South- Louisiana, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabam, Mississippi- The music that comes from there is SO in-the-pocket I found myself almost in tears once in Alabama, listening to some singer I never heard of on AM radio---

To the Ric, Laredo in particular-
This bass rules for this vibe and style. Ladies and Gents, I will get overcome with emotion if I tell you what it sounds like through my Ampeg rig....
Wait- I need a moment-


Ok, better!

It NAILS the tone(s) I seek and want for laying down a groove that is so smooth, so precise, so focused, and so perfect for the bottom end of the rhythm section-
I assume Rickenbacker employs physicists in theri lab who o sonic studies of the perfect tonalities required for Groove playing and then inserts them into the Humbuckers, toggle, and knobs on the Laredo.
Gotta be.
Or else, maybe the bridge?

I LOVE this bass- Forum is way cool to- lotsa nice links and stuff. Glad I found BOTH.
Thank You.

Larry, you'd probably also love the 4004 Cheyenne II.

Since you are in LA, feel free to join us at the next SoCal mini-con jam. Bring you Laredo with you.

Here's the link with the info:
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=385629

Joey, yeah, for sure, Thanks- Hope to see when the GTG is posted & taking place.

EDIT** I need to read more carefully- Has a date been decided?? I personally will be at NAMM all four days, in Anaheim wednesday night- I gotta work- BTW, if any Ric-en Fans are going please let me know- I'll be happy to meet any/all, Tell me if you're gonna be there, & swing by my Booth, I'll talk endlessly about how cool my 4004L is!!

If I'm learning my Ric stuff, the Cheyenne is the same configuration, same spec as the Laredo- except for gold-plated hardware (gorgeous!) and the flamed combination maple/I-forget-what -other-wood! body.

There's a pic of a translucent red Cii on the cover of the "Owner's Manual" and IF the Laredo is the "standard" bare-bones version finish-wise (so to speak) then I'm not real sure if I personally could HANDLE an instrument that looks that good.

When I fall from exhaustion from PLAYING the Laredo, I sometimes gaze at it, in it's case...Come to think of it, I gaze at the case- "Ric Newbie Fever"-
It's like a mirror, and the MapleGlo grain, and the neck, and the Bubinga board------
Mind you, this is BESIDES the way this monster plays-
I was working the E and A strings, playing to some Stevie Winwood tunes- (Check "Junction 7" CD for some cool stuff IMO)
aw golly- gosh-
The Laredo SINGS the low-end note runs and phrases, I wanna cry--

OK, I know...I'll stop.

Larry, tell us how you really feel....

Glad to have you with us. Enjoy your Laredo.

Elnjaybass wrote:Joey, yeah, for sure, Thanks- Hope to see when the GTG is posted & taking place.

EDIT** I need to read more carefully- Has a date been decided?? I personally will be at NAMM all four days, in Anaheim wednesday night- I gotta work- BTW, if any Ric-en Fans are going please let me know- I'll be happy to meet any/all, Tell me if you're gonna be there, & swing by my Booth, I'll talk endlessly about how cool my 4004L is!!

The mini-con-jam should be Saturday, January 24th. Which is your NAMM show booth?

Elnjaybass wrote:If I'm learning my Ric stuff, the Cheyenne is the same configuration, same spec as the Laredo- except for gold-plated hardware (gorgeous!) and the flamed combination maple/I-forget-what -other-wood! body.

That's walnut sandwiched in between maple of the 4004 Cii Cheyenne.

by marc61 on Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:00 pm
Larry, tell us how you really feel....

Yes, I know- I need to express my inner feelings rather than hold them inside where they can fester!

by rickenbrother
Which is your NAMM show booth?

NAMM:

I'd be delighted to meet other Ric afficianados and talk some more about my Laredo!
Nah, kidding; c'mon by if you can and say hello!
If I'm in the middle of a billion-dollar sale; hang loose for a sec- I'll be able to get a couple 4003's and Cii's then!

Guitar straps, eh?! I like soft, black leather guitar straps that are at least 3 1/2" wide. Even a heavy bass guitar doesn't feel so bad with one of those.

http://www.pccord.com/deluxe_guitar_straps.htm

Don't say a word!! I'll be in BIG trouble!
But this is my "girlfriend" in Australia; here's one she made for me below, I use it for "another" bass...
You should see what she's making me for the LAREDO!!
Oh Man, will it Rawk!

Elnjaybass wrote:When I fall from exhaustion from PLAYING the Laredo, I sometimes gaze at it, in it's case...Come to think of it, I gaze at the case- "Ric Newbie Fever"-

Larry, that is the Rick-O-Smell from inside the case.... it is addictive!

johnallg wrote:

Elnjaybass wrote:When I fall from exhaustion from PLAYING the Laredo, I sometimes gaze at it, in it's case...Come to think of it, I gaze at the case- "Ric Newbie Fever"-

Larry, that is the Rick-O-Smell from inside the case.... it is addictive!

LOL...
Yes; Yes----

MUST..Buy....Another....Rickenbacker Bass!

4003...JetGlo....Must...have ....one...

Ahhhhhh, its' GOT me-

Your girlfriend makes some great looking straps, Larry! I just might have to get me a couple.

Elnjaybass wrote:http://www.pccord.com/deluxe_guitar_straps.htm

Don't say a word!! I'll be in BIG trouble!
But this is my "girlfriend" in Australia; here's one she made for me below, I use it for "another" bass...
You should see what she's making me for the LAREDO!!
Oh Man, will it Rawk!

Hey, she's alright - love the "model" for this strap! http://www.pccord.com/12_leather_guitar_straps.htm

Out of your line I like the L7C in burgandy, L8 in brown, and the S5 in honey. But like Joey they have to be 3.5" or 4" wide. Very nice selection.

Chantal has been a good friend since I purchased her #39 as shown; its' for my W****** bass-
As you view her site, you can see that she does amazing work; the pics don't even do her justice-
She hand-carved a strap for a customer who wanted scenes depicting Muddy water's life!
ANd there's a fairly well-known Rock-Star, whose name I can't divulge who she tells me is a real prima-donna-He's ordered about 6 custom straps, and is like a fussy hen- "Let's move the Conchos up an inch, and add some rhinestones at the tail-end..." Ad-infinitum! Funny stuff!

I'll post the strap she's making for my awesome new LAREDO when it's done- It will be somethin' to behold, I'll tell ya.

I also use straps from Marty at Ovation Leathers, in El Paso TX- A real gent- He did the "Shamrock" strap posted which was inspired by the great fun I had while in Ireland- What a country!

And Terry at Action does beautiful work; here's my very basic Bone leather strap- Super comfortable.

My line- ONORI- is very nice production stuff- You can check out the catalogue at http://www.onorimusic.com, and see the range-
I'm working to represent the Bass Players of course! And BTW, I hope I'm not violating Forum rules; if so please advise-

We all need something to hang our Ric basses on, huh?