Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

GIBrat51 wrote:I have to say that sometimes I'm not totally convinced that 4004s actually exist. Honestly; I have never seen one (pictures, yes, but ... ), and no one at the dealer here remembers ever selling, or seeing, one, either. So, where are they? I realize that my chances of getting my hands on a lefty 4004 are somewhere between slim and none (and Slim just left town), but honestly, I'd be happy just to actually see and touch a righty. Is the demand for them that small that nobody ever wanted one here? The 4003s seem to move out the door fairly briskly. Now I'm confused, and my headache is back...

Just call Chris Clayton and order one, you'll be glad you did.

Nah, I've never seen one either... Oh, wait...

I have four of 'em right now, three for sale!

cjj wrote:Nah, I've never seen one either...

CJsm.jpg

Oh, wait...

With those shades on and chinfluff are you sure you can see it?

I found local dealers around Tampa were clueless about the 4004 when I bought mine 9 years ago. I remember excitedly driving a bit north of me when the owner of one place said they had one, only to find out it was a 4003 hanging on the wall. Seems that mainly it's the aficionado's of Rickenbacker's who even know they exist.

I had to take the plunge sight unseen from PoTR's (Chris Clayton). Very happy that I did!

Well, I looked at PotR's website yesterday, and just got off the phone with Chris Clayton a minute or two ago. Yes, he has 2 Right-handed 4004's; he has no leftys, and RIC is not accepting orders for them. So, I was right (neener, neener); Slim left town. Actually, I don't think I want to buy anything I haven't put my hands on any more, really; if I could at least hold a 4004-even a righty- I might be tempted. As it is, no joy here. Oh, well... story of my life.

GIBrat51 wrote:I have to say that sometimes I'm not totally convinced that 4004s actually exist. Honestly; I have never seen one (pictures, yes, but ... ), and no one at the dealer here remembers ever selling, or seeing, one, either. So, where are they? I realize that my chances of getting my hands on a lefty 4004 are somewhere between slim and none (and Slim just left town), but honestly, I'd be happy just to actually see and touch a righty. Is the demand for them that small that nobody ever wanted one here? The 4003s seem to move out the door fairly briskly. Now I'm confused, and my headache is back...

When I lived in another state there were never any 4004s around and barely any 4003s for that matter--I would drive to the big cities and barely find anything.

I live near Wildwood Guitars now. I think I've played half a dozen 4004s there, and some C Series basses and 4003s also (but I mostly went for the 4004s).

I have a 4004Cii, a 4004L, and a 4003. For some reason the two 4004's have a lot more punch on the upper frets on the D and G strings than the 4003 where it sometimes sounds a bit thin. Also the nice quiet pickups work a lot better on stages with lighting -- i.e. no buzz. The other thing I really like about the 4004 is the simplicity of the of the tone knobs; it's a bit easier to fine adjust the volume on it than the 4003. I go through phases where I decide to bring different basses to gigs but I almost always bring at least one 4004 because I know I will always get a solid stage sound with one.

guitfiddle wrote:For some reason the two 4004's have a lot more punch on the upper frets on the D and G strings than the 4003 where it sometimes sounds a bit thin.

This could be a result of the pickups themselves, as the hot 'buckers favor the midrange. On the other hand I have noticed this same thing about my 4004L even when it is not plugged in; the neck is a total "P-Rick", if you will (:lol:) so there may be some tone coming from the different mass and/or dimensions of the wood.

cassius987 wrote:

guitfiddle wrote:For some reason the two 4004's have a lot more punch on the upper frets on the D and G strings than the 4003 where it sometimes sounds a bit thin.

This could be a result of the pickups themselves, as the hot 'buckers favor the midrange. On the other hand I have noticed this same thing about my 4004L even when it is not plugged in; the neck is a total "P-Rick", if you will (:lol:) so there may be some tone coming from the different mass and/or dimensions of the wood.

Yep; the 4004 reminds me of a P-Bass, but a whole lot prettier!

I don't think I ever even seen a 4004 in Sweden. Would love to try one out though.

/D