4000/1/3 vs. 4004 Poll

[cassius987]

Could it be old habits are hard to break?...

A lot of the "fantasy basses" in my head are somewhere between a 4003 and 4004 in aesthetic. The 4004 as it stands now is a big departure from the 4003 in many ways. When I saw Dane's 4004 MID with a teardrop pickguard I thought, "Now THAT is how it should look!" Body binding would really top it off (but you keep the "proper" bridge, humbuckers, what have you).. The coffee table/boutique bass look really only belongs on the super-figured Trans Ciis, not the plainer Ls or solid finish models IMO. But as for feel and tone, I think they are basically fine out of the box (but pick a neck profile and stick with it--something just a tiny bit slimmer and narrower than my 2008 would probably please just about anyone and still get real close to 19 mm spacing). But I agree with John that the pickup spacing is not the best in regards to the neck. A neck pickup like my custom 4004 has and the standard bridge spacing would be neat!

[rickenbrother]

Just a fantasy 4004Cii: A 4004 with pickups in the 4002 configuration would be awesome. What to do about the truss rods? Go back to the old style truss rods so they can be removed at the headstock like if need be. The old rods always worked fine for me.

[cjj]

Just a fantasy 4004Cii: A 4004 with pickups in the 4002 configuration would be awesome. What to do about the truss rods? Go back to the old style truss rods so they can be removed at the headstock like if need be. The old rods always worked fine for me.

Yes, I would love to have something like this. And, you could even use the current truss rods if channels were left that extended to the pickup position. You'd think that with the CNC manufacturing processes used now, it wouldn't be too difficult to leave channels where the rods could be inserted from a position further from the end of the fretboard (or you could just have longer rods, but that would mean stocking a totally different part). You'd need some sort of tool to push them into place, but that wouldn't be too hard to make...

[henry5]

My Hartke Kickback has a very useful "shape" control which really allows for precise tone tweaking. Using that my 4004 sounded like the biggest, growliest 4001/3 you've ever heard. It could have been the best sound I've ever had, which made it all the more frustrating that I had to sell it due to ergonomic issues.

[teeder]

a 4004 with the pickups in the 4002 positions with no pickguard,and with the schaller bridge. Birdseye maple of course

I'd be all over this!

A small cover at the body for the truss rods would be fine with me. Don't Alembics have these?

[woodyng]

a 4004 with the pickups in the 4002 positions with no pickguard,and with the schaller bridge. Birdseye maple of course

I'd be all over this!

A small cover at the body for the truss rods would be fine with me. Don't Alembics have these?

The cover could even have "4004","laredo",or "Cheyenne II" emblazoned across it...could be kinda classy!

[teeder]

Absolutely!

[jps]

...A small cover at the body for the truss rods would be fine with me. Don't Alembics have these?

The cover could even have "4004","laredo",or "Cheyenne II" emblazoned across it...could be kinda classy!

I too, think would be pretty classy. Yes, Alembics do have a brass plate to cover the truss rods access cavity; depending on the finish it may be lacquered or plated I'd rather see RIC do it with stainless steel if it were to actually happen.

[Malchik]

I like the 4004L because it is radically different. The cosmetic gimmicks work great on classic Ricks, but I want a Rick like a Precision; simple, to the point, no nonsense. The old eccentricities that make the classics a turn off for me are absent.

I feel bad for Gibson, Fender and Rickenbacker. They have over half a century of mojo that cements them to do the same damn thing over and over and over again. I mark my calender every fall to witness the Gibson community explode with rage and anxiety when Gibson inevitably makes modifications to beloved Les Paul. This year it was fret nibs.

Long live the 650 and 4004 line.

[rikk]

I have a 2008 4004cii. The neck on it seems much chunkier than on any of my 4001 or 4003 basses. Is this typical? Is this to say that the 4004 neck is different to a modern 4003 neck or are they the same now? If I were to buy a 2014 4003 would the neck be the same as the 2008 4004?

[rickenbottom]

I have a 2008 4004cii. The neck on it seems much chunkier than on any of my 4001 or 4003 basses. Is this typical? Is this to say that the 4004 neck is different to a modern 4003 neck or are they the same now? If I were to buy a 2014 4003 would the neck be the same as the 2008 4004?

The necks are now the same on both the 4003 and 4004. So your 2008 4004 would not be like a 2014 4003 or 4004.

[jps]

The 4004 necks have slimmed down considerably, and are using the same dimensions/profile as current 4003 models.

[bassduke49]

When I did girth measurements of all my Ricks (at the time), my 2008 Blueburst 4004Cii had the largest; my '86 Shadow had the smallest, even smaller than my '72 4001.

[rikk]

Thank you. This is great news. I can't get used to the neck on my 4004. I really want the 4003W. Looks like I'll be putting it up for sale at some point.

[Lefty4003S8]

HATE to play the "Left-Handed" card but, I have not had ANY chance to try out a 4004 in any of its forms. Have never even seen a righty in any shop-never mind a Lefty version.

I am not crying though as the 4001 is my favorite bass.....PERIOD!!!!! I have one and would have a boatload of them if I had the money.
And besides......my second favorite bass of ALL time is the Jazz Bass. Given a choice I'd go with the Jazz.