Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

That Midnight Blue looks great! The contouring on the 4004 really brings out the metallic quality in the paint. My experience with a 4004 was quite different than yours. I played one at last year's Bay Area Rickenbacker Confluence and I loved it. I'm not a bass player, I'm a guitar player--but they had an abundance of guitar players and no bass player in the room, so I picked up the 4004 and joined in. It felt great--very low action and a bigger neck than I'd associate with Ric basses, but then I haven't played that many Ric basses. Since I'm a guitar player, I'm more comfortable with a pick on bass, but I usually don't like the way I sound on bass with a pick--but this 4004 made me sound like a bass player. When I play bass, I'm always trying not to sound like a guitar player playing bass, even though that's what I am--and this bass let me do that. Of course, I was using the Carol Kaye technique of rolling some treble off with the tone control so the clack of the pick was minimized, but even with the tone up it was a fat-sounding bass. While I love to hear Chris Squire with his grindy Ric-with-a-pick tone, it doesn't suit my bass technique (or lack of it!). If I ever wind up playing bass for real, I could do a lot worse than to get a 4004, although I've played a 4003 or two that were real nice too.

Sepp, it appears that you were playing both basses with both pickups selected. Is this correct? My first impression is that the 4004 is a warmer sounding bass than the 4003. I like what I am hearing in the video. I have only heard and played a few 4004s one being Gary Wilkinson's LK. That is one of the nicest sounding Ricks I have heard. Maybe it is due to the added pickup.

Thanks all for the positive comments. I think I'm better suited for silent/captioned videos. Either way, don't worry, I'm not quitting my "day job"!

Al, yup OtJ here in NJ. I'd be lousy "under cover" since I just wreak of "bacon"!

Like Jeff and Joey said, the 4004 is a totally different instrument from the 4001/3. Different pups, different pup location, different tail piece/bridge, and so on. They just don't sound alike but then all my RIC basses sound different. My 73 is a monstrously growly beast that my other RIC's just can't match. I don't expect them to. I just use them where they sound best or where my ear tells me they belong.

Like Pete said, my 4004 has an ebony fretboard, and that most likely changes the sound from other 4004's. I know my Blackstar with it's maple board sounds much more punchy than my Shadow, which is 3 years older. But it's the only 4004 I had so it is what it is. I've been thinking of doing another but this time soloing the treble pups.

What do you think??

Sepp

Kopfjaeger wrote: I've been thinking of doing another but this time soloing the treble pups.

What do you think??

Sepp

DO IT!!

rickenbrother wrote:

Kopfjaeger wrote: I've been thinking of doing another but this time soloing the treble pups.

What do you think??

Sepp

DO IT!!

+1

ram wrote:

rickenbrother wrote:

Kopfjaeger wrote: I've been thinking of doing another but this time soloing the treble pups.

What do you think??

Sepp

DO IT!!

+1

+2!

OK, I'll work on it this evening.

Sepp

Pete-apologies for my senior moment- now,GET OFF MY LAWN!

Kopfjaeger wrote:OK, I'll work on it this evening.

Sepp

Is it done, yet?

Done. I'm going to critique it upload it and post it if it looks good. Minimal speaking roll this time out. Yea!!!

Kopfjaeger wrote:Done. I'm going to critique it upload it and post it if it looks good. Minimal speaking roll this time out. Yea!!!

You could use one of these, perhaps?

OK, here is part two. Treble pup soloed.

Sepp

rickenbrother wrote:

ricnbacker wrote:

rickenbrother wrote:Christopher, does you 4004 sound more "alive" when the pickups are soloed? Give it a try if you haven't.

oh yeah...trust me I played it every way I could. quite a wide range of tunes too from country to metal and every thing in between.

I asked because I thought maybe a simple switch of the wires on one of the pickups would help. But now I guess you're not happy about the thicker sound? I that's the case, don't eq or tone controls for your 4004 like you would your 4003. Give a bit more of a chance, don't give up on it just yet and try to be more positive about it. That might help.

"a simple switch of the wires on one of the pickups" what do you mean, rewire it ?

I just wasnt wow'ed thats all.

jps wrote:Don't expect a 4004 to sound like a 4001/3, they are different, but as Joey mentions above, treat it as a different bass with no preconceived ideas on how it is "supposed" to sound. EQ to taste, try different strings, etc. but most certainly give it a chance.

Jeffery,

I did not go into this thinking it was going to be the same. I wanted something different and what finer choice would than another Ric Product. I just didnt find it to my liking thats all.

I found myself in a store today and there happened to be 2 brand new 4003's. I grabbed one and just played it for a few minutes without it plugged in and it just felt right.

Kopfjaeger wrote:OK, here is part two. Treble pup soloed.

Sepp

Your G string on the 4003 is out of tune!

Great song.