Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Can someone share the differences in these two guitars? I've seen pics of these on 2 different websites for stores (at about the same price). I'm starting to get the I wants for one of these but I've got to sell a lefty Hofner Cavern reissue before I even think about it. Thanks

The basic differences are the gold-plated hardware on the Cheyenne II and chrome-plated hardware on the Laredo. The body wings of the Cheyenne are built with a maple/walnut/maple sandwich, while the neck is maple with walnut head wings. The Laredo is all maple. Both have bubinga fretboards. The electronics and pickups are the same between them. The Cheyenne also offers special colors not available on other models: transparent blue, red, and green. Other "standard" Rick colors can be ordered on either the Cheyenne or Laredo, including the series of "color of the year."

(2x sigh...)

The Laredo also has Walnut headstock wings, does it not?

the Cheyenne has gold hardware ... the Laredo has chrome hardware ... the Laredo is slightly brighter sounding ...

I have an 03 Cheyenne and an 05 Laredo and the biggest difference I can find is the neck thickness front to back. While preparing to drill the headstocks for the five string conversions, I noticed a thickness of .74" for the Cii and .62" for the Laredo and this difference also translated down the neck resulting in a slimmer feeling neck on the Laredo. Not sure if this was just a result of the different time frames of production, it would be interesting if other owners of both models noticed the same differences.

that difference could be because they have not yet converted the 4004 to the cnc production yet ...

When they first started making the 4004 back in 1993 the Cheyenne had walnut body wings and walnut head wings and the Laredo was all maple ...

The modern Cheyenne has the maple/walnut/maple sandwich body wings which make it more similar to the Laredo ... also both now have bubinga fret boards and walnut head wings ...

Walnut Headstock Wings, 2004 4004 Laredo:

Anyone out there thinking about selling a Cheyenne or Laredo give me a call.

Jared,

Is this the same bass?
http://www.fenderforum.com/userphotos/index.html?recid=39392

On second glance, I see the pu spacing and wood grain is different.

The one in the shot linked above was the prototype (or a prototype) of the Cheyenne II. Note the maple fretboard, not standard on any Cheyenne II. This bass usually hangs out at the RIC factory museum.