Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

bassduke49 wrote:

woodyng wrote:To get an idea of the gold pickguard on the walnut bodies,there's the RCA specials,although they had a much smaller,teardrop-shaped pickguard. Like i said,i think it'd look really great.

Yeah, I like the teardrop on the RCAs (try finding one ) and a few that Dane has done, but the big old-style 4000 type guard would look awful on the walnut in my opinion. I'd rather do that much modding on a plain-jane 4004L like the "V57" that Dane worked up.

Agree - same reason I can't stand the look of the 4003W (although I think with gold guards, the 4003SW would look pretty sweet!)

bassduke49 wrote:

woodyng wrote:To get an idea of the gold pickguard on the walnut bodies,there's the RCA specials,although they had a much smaller,teardrop-shaped pickguard. Like i said,i think it'd look really great.

Yeah, I like the teardrop on the RCAs (try finding one ) and a few that Dane has done, but the big old-style 4000 type guard would look awful on the walnut in my opinion. I'd rather do that much modding on a plain-jane 4004L like the "V57" that Dane worked up.

For reference:

http://www.rickresource.com/register/us ... llsize.jpg

I really like the contrast betwen the dark walnut and gold.

jdogric12 wrote:

bassduke49 wrote:

woodyng wrote:To get an idea of the gold pickguard on the walnut bodies,there's the RCA specials,although they had a much smaller,teardrop-shaped pickguard. Like i said,i think it'd look really great.

Yeah, I like the teardrop on the RCAs (try finding one ) and a few that Dane has done, but the big old-style 4000 type guard would look awful on the walnut in my opinion. I'd rather do that much modding on a plain-jane 4004L like the "V57" that Dane worked up.

Agree - same reason I can't stand the look of the 4003W (although I think with gold guards, the 4003SW would look pretty sweet!)

I've seen one with a replaced black pickguard,which did look somewhat better than the white one,but yeah,i think a back- painted gold pickguard would look fabulous against that dark walnut.

In the middle of this photo there's a walnutty-looking 4000 with a gold pickguard:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEUQvJflNun ... tollow.com

LenMinNJ wrote:

bassduke49 wrote:

woodyng wrote:To get an idea of the gold pickguard on the walnut bodies,there's the RCA specials,although they had a much smaller,teardrop-shaped pickguard. Like i said,i think it'd look really great.

Yeah, I like the teardrop on the RCAs (try finding one ) and a few that Dane has done, but the big old-style 4000 type guard would look awful on the walnut in my opinion. I'd rather do that much modding on a plain-jane 4004L like the "V57" that Dane worked up.

For reference:

http://www.rickresource.com/register/us ... llsize.jpg

The gold pickguard on this looks fabbbbb. The chrome hardware and silver top knobs,not so much.
I should've tried looking at my gold pickguard over my Ci,when i removed it a few months ago to trace it for Dane.(not doing that again anytime soon!)

LenMinNJ wrote:In the middle of this photo there's a walnutty-looking 4000 with a gold pickguard:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEUQvJflNun ... tollow.com

Not sure whose collection that is, but the middle one with the flamed Autumnglo finish looks like a reproduction to me. The dark (ebony?) fingerboard especially.

Too me, the old-style 4000 pickguard covers too much wood. I'm not so put off by the "standard" 4001/4003 pickguard, perhaps because I'm just used to it. I do like the teardrop one, even though it was standard on only the 4005, 4004RCA, and the 2020 and 2060 basses – yes, and the 2030GF, Jeff!

bassduke49 wrote:

LenMinNJ wrote:In the middle of this photo there's a walnutty-looking 4000 with a gold pickguard:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEUQvJflNun ... tollow.com

Not sure whose collection that is, but the middle one with the flamed Autumnglo finish looks like a reproduction to me. The dark (ebony?) fingerboard especially.
Too me, the old-style 4000 pickguard covers too much wood.

Guess it depends on what wood the pickguard is covering. In my case,it does a great job of minimizing the clownglo finish,so i like that.... .
I also would've put one of the 50's style guards on that Turquoise 4004 if i'd gotten it.
All 3 of the 50's style 4000's in the pic are reproductions,iirc.

bassduke49 wrote:

LenMinNJ wrote:In the middle of this photo there's a walnutty-looking 4000 with a gold pickguard:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEUQvJflNun ... tollow.com[/
Not sure whose collection that is, but the middle one with the flamed Autumnglo finish looks like a reproduction to me. The dark (ebony?) fingerboard especially.

Too me, the old-style 4000 pickguard covers too much wood. I'm not so put off by the "standard" 4001/4003 pickguard, perhaps because I'm just used to it. I do like the teardrop one, even though it was standard on only the 4005, 4004RCA, and the 2020 and 2060 basses – yes, and the 2030GF, Jeff!

I'm with Paul on the look of the modern pickguard, although I love the classic look of the v63.
I've decided I'm not going to replace the guard on my 4003S. Still I like that 1957 style guard on Woody's FG 4004. I guess I feel that the 4004 just looks too nekkid without anything to cover up with!

squirebass wrote:

bassduke49 wrote:

LenMinNJ wrote:In the middle of this photo there's a walnutty-looking 4000 with a gold pickguard:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEUQvJflNun ... tollow.com[/
Not sure whose collection that is, but the middle one with the flamed Autumnglo finish looks like a reproduction to me. The dark (ebony?) fingerboard especially.

Too me, the old-style 4000 pickguard covers too much wood. I'm not so put off by the "standard" 4001/4003 pickguard, perhaps because I'm just used to it. I do like the teardrop one, even though it was standard on only the 4005, 4004RCA, and the 2020 and 2060 basses – yes, and the 2030GF, Jeff!

I'm with Paul on the look of the modern pickguard, although I love the classic look of the v63.
I've decided I'm not going to replace the guard on my 4003S. Still I like that 1957 style guard on Woody's FG 4004. I guess I feel that the 4004 just looks too nekkid without anything to cover up with!

Sometimes,nekkid is just fine!

That one IS a beauty, Woody. But it doesn't count, because it appears to have a lot of birdseye maple covering her walnut bloomers!
A appropriate bass for someone with the nickname of Woody

The May '93 4004Ci arrived today.

It's in very good condition - just one chip on the corner of the headstock.

The neck is a much more manageable size and shape than the 2008 4004Cii I tried a few months ago. Plays nicely,

Weight is 7.8 pounds - light!

Neck pickup has some wear on the gold plating.

Wood grain is very plain-jane. No birdseye, quilting or anything unusual.

There are two 4004Cis in the Register that have serial numbers within 5 numbers of this one. Close siblings.

Now to decide what to string it with, and whether I want to modify it or keep it as it is. I'll bring it to band rehearsal tomorrow night and see how I like it.

It looks like it came strung with Rotosounds (RS66LD): .045, .065, 080, .105

At the moment I'd gladly trade it for a 4004v57 FG (or AFG) like Woody's or Cassius's, with a good neck. They're what got me interested in the 4004-series basses.

I'd keep it as is as there are not a whole lot of those around.

LenMinNJ wrote:The May '93 4004Ci arrived today.
At the moment I'd gladly trade it for a 4004v57 FG (or AFG) like Woody's or Cassius's, with a good neck. They're what got me interested in the 4004-series basses.

It looks to be in very nice condition!
From remarks Cassius has made,i think his bass(like mine) has a really chunky neck.
String-wise,my Ci has already had several set changes with me trying to get something i think works well with it.
So far that includes a set of swing bass Rotosounds that came on it when i bought it,and ditched almost as soon as i got it home. I tried my old standbyes,DR Sunbeams 45-105,much better.Then i thought i wanted one of my Ricks to wear flats,but i didn't like the Maximas on that bass all that well. (They sound fab on my Cii,though).
I've wound up with a set of Labella white copper tapewounds ,that i think are a great match for the Ci's tone.
When i first got my Ci,i had to really boost the treble on my amps to get it not to sound dull and woofy,something that went away with new pots and cap installed.
Good luck and have fun with it!

Thanks, Woody! I'll keep that in mind.

It is in very nice condition.

I'll play around with strings and swap the pots and cap before I make any decisions about more permanent modifications.

woodyng wrote:I've wound up with a set of Labella white copper tapewounds ,that i think are a great match for the Ci's tone.
When i first got my Ci,i had to really boost the treble on my amps to get it not to sound dull and woofy,something that went away with new pots and cap installed.

Woody: Are you using the light (.050 to .105) or standard (.060 to .115) set of La Bella copper white tape wounds?

I played the 4004Ci at rehearsal on Tuesday night. Pretty much stayed on the bridge pickup all night long and tuned the brightness with the tone control.

The band liked the fullness of the humbucker sound. The neck felt like my Precision Basses, but a bit flatter front-to-back, which I liked. Missed my Alembic's medium scale, but the 4004's long scale wasn't a problem.

Despite the humbuckers, it picked up a bit of noise from the old fluorescent lights - I'll have to open the 4004's rear cover up and see if the wiring from the jack to the controls and the control cavity itself are well shielded. (It's an electrically noisy room. Even a 60th Anniversary Precision with Lace pickups picks up hum & buzz.)

And at least one pot needs lubrication - it's noisy.