Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I want a 4004L... I know.. I say I want alot of stuff and never act on it.. but I think I can get one.. hopefully. But before I order one I want to find out what the standard pickup placement on them is. Are the pickups closer to the neck? Or are the farther back? I just got used to the 1" space on my 4001. I play over the neck pickup alot and if it's too close to the neck I get all messed up. I just find a comfortable spot and I want it to be on the next bass. I do sometimes move up a little but I prefer to stay back. plus if the pickups were closer the bridge pickup would be off.. that would mess me up too.

So what is the standard now? Is it right next to the neck? Or moved back a bit?

I've read alot about the 4004 on here and I know I can get it to sound like a 4003 if I mess with the amp or put toasters or high gains in it. That would be perfect for me. No pickguard, all black, and the signature RIC sound.

Nate,there is a 4004L in the for sale section of this forum for $1000.its right handed.Better move fast.....

.....easy Ken....I'm waiting for an email back ......

Sorry Bri. didn't know you were on it.

Ed is a great guy he will get back to you soon.

Ah see I don't have the money right now.. hehe.
I was thinking of some online place.. you know.. pay per month kinda thing. But I'm picky.. hence the question.

If you order thru Mike Parks, he takes 20% up front with the balance on delivery. I'm sure he'd take your checks every month till the balance is paid.

I believe they went back to jamming the neck pickup up against the neck ... like this bass ... except they have bubinga fretboards ...

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/93-4004L-5.htm

Sure, that'd work with Mr. Parks.. but I really don't want to wait 10 years to get my bass.. I'm sure I could give him a little at a time.. but knowing the bass is there and not being able to play it.. that'd bother me.

Does the placement make a big deal with the sound? I think it's a cosmetic thing I can't get around.

I'll ask RIC about it.

Jeff gave the link for Music123... they said they'd have some in March. I can wait that long.

Oh that's mean.. RIC is taunting me.. I open up their site and a jetglo 4004L with the pickups back a bit is staring at me...

I like the p/u against the neck. Mostly because it means the bridge p/u in about the same place as on a 4003 which gives my right hand a good reference point and part time thumb rest/anchor.

Anyone care to measure the placement of the pups on a 4003 and a 4004? I wanna see if the bridge pup is pretty much in the same place. If so that wouldn't bother me that much. I only play above the neck pup on my 4001 because of the surround on the bridge pup.

When I measured the placement as a percentage of the scale length (starting from the nut), both my 75 4001 and my 2004 4004L has about the same placement...75% for the neck PU and 90% for the bridge. My 4001 has the 1/2" spacing.

I did those measurements off of pictures IIRC...I remember looking at my son's Ibanez and my J bass, and both of those were about 83/93%.

I would guess that the early 4004's (with the neck PU jammed against the neck) were about 72/87%

Thanks, Ed. If the placement is pretty much the same as a 4001/4003 then I'm set.I hope they still have the space.

I e mailed RIC about it. Hopefully they get back to me in a day or so.

Current production has the 4004 bass position pickup back against the neck and it will be staying there. Walnut wings on the headstock too, while we're talking about this model.

So was the 2004 model the last to have the neck pu off of the neck?

And while neck pickups are being moved about... how about returning the 4003 neck pickup to the ½" spacing?