Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

No, not that kind!

Hey, we're down to only about a dozen horses these days!

I like them both, bottom line I would just be glad I have one because once this supply of them go it could a long time before they are in stock again at all the dealers.

Well, it's HERE!

Actually, it arrives about 90 minutes ago. I was busy loading a semi with hay, so I missed the whole delivery!
Ah well, now I've just gotta wait for it to warm up...

It's not like you could have made a bad choice between those two...CONGRATS!!

cjj wrote:

johnallg wrote:Maybe when this one shows up the whining will be over!

As for whining, well, I don't think I've been too whiny, but wining and dining, well I'm always up for that! In fact, we just got our new wine sampler shipment today! And then, around here there's often a fair amount of whinnying!!!

Neigh, you have not been too whiny. Enjoy the wine and the Cii - of course we want pics and more importantly your impressions of feel and sound. Congrats!

Well, is it warmed up yet?

I'm anxious to hear your impression of the neck.
Anyone know why they're wider that a standard 4003?

The styling and reduced weight have me very interested.

teeder wrote:Well, is it warmed up yet?

I'm anxious to hear your impression of the neck.
Anyone know why they're wider that a standard 4003?

The styling and reduced weight have me very interested.

I'll be getting pictures and adding lots of info on my impressions or the neck & sound. I'll even add measurements to the neck girth thread/spreadsheet (yeah, I'm a nerdy engineer type, I can't resist collecting data!). I've even been toying with the idea of posting some mp3's of the sound in comparison to my '76 4001 & '84 4003.

I have a lot of concern about the neck myself. I'm just so used to the thin necks on the older 4001's (I haven't gotten used to the '84 4003 yet, it feels too fat). I actually sent back a 4003MG I got a couple of weeks ago in a large part because I didn't like the neck, too fat! It also just wasn't aesthetically pleasing enough to me (yeah, I'm spoiled in that regard ).

Anyway, I've heard the 4004Cii necks are wider. I've pretty much made up my mind that I'll make myself get used to this one (I hope I can ). It'll be fun to have something completely new and different in the way of a Rick bass. Although, I am fairly seriously considering doing the V/T V/T stacked knob mod, and maybe even change the output jack to stereo a la Rick-O-Sound. I've pretty much used a stereo sort of setup for years and have a weird feeling I just won't like being without it. But' I'll give it a thorough workout and trial period in stock configuration, who knows, I just might like it! Plus, If I do that, it'll save me having to buy 2 Sansamp RPM's, I'd only need one...

While the necks may be a bit wider, but not appreciably wider, they are thinner front to back and are very comfortable necks. At least for me. Man, it IS nicer to have big hands....

johnallg wrote:While the necks may be a bit wider, but not appreciably wider, they are thinner front to back and are very comfortable necks. At least for me. Man, it IS nicer to have big hands....

Yeah, big hands isn't really a problem for me either, I'm a mere 6'5"

Anyway....................

I cheated

I opened 'er up! OK, I'm a nerdy engineer type, my music room is kinda unheated, I measured the temp in and out (see the 23 months thread for a more in depth discussion on measuring temp )...........

OK........



WOW!!!!!!

I originally thought that the flame might be a bit too much... NO WAY!!!!

It's not near as ostentatious as the photographs show it. It's there, it's got a LOT, it's vivid and yet subtle at the same time. I can't even begin to describe it. It's just about perfect! WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW!!!!

OK, enough of that. Yeah, I plugged 'er in too. The neck? Weird, I can tell it's a bit wider, but it's GREAT! Once again, words fail me, it's definitely not the baseball bat that the 4003 was. I know it's not my '76, but still, it's good! I think it feels better than my '84 4003, really!

As for sound, pretty good too! I'll have to do some playing since my amp setup is totally geared towards running Ric-O-Sound so this bass is just using one amp channel (the treble channel as it turns out), but some quick adjustments and I can tell this bass will scream! It sounds different, but it still sounds like a Rick.

Now, the big thing I noticed is when switching pickups. Either one alone sound kinda the same, not the huge difference that you get on a 4003 or 4001. I don't know if this is normal or not. The weird thing is when both are on, it's noticeably lower in volume! That was unexpected, is that normal too?

Sounds like you're off to a good start!

While the necks may be a bit wider, but not appreciably wider, they are thinner front to back and are very comfortable necks

I was wondering if that was the case.

Kevin, tis truth.

CJ, you have just about nailed it with your impressions, at least they jibe with mine. As for the not to big difference when soloing either pickup, I believe that is the result of the one volume/one tone controls. Both pickups on and lower output, also normal. Roll either pickup back about 10% and you will hear an increase and also more growl. As you said, different tone but still says Rick. Pictures when you can, please. I love maple!

Congrats CJ