4004 Owners - A Laredo And A Cheyenne?

[spongebob]

One for the 4004 owners here.

Does anyone own both a Laredo and a Cheyenne? I know a lot of Ric fans have 4001's and 4003's together.

I only ask because I was thinking of changing my FG 4003 ( a 2003), and looking out for a Cii. My Laredo has totally blown me away, and I don't really play the FG.

I'd never sell my thin-necked '08 4003, but I've been looking at the FG for a while....and can't help fancying a cii. Am I the only one?

[cassius987]

Wow, so you favor your 4004 so much that you'd sell your 4003 for another? What a complete upset! I'm glad someone actually feels this way about it, just because it gives me some more faith in the 4004 line. Most of the time I think it goes the other way, which model is preferred.

If my 2009 bass is any indication of what Ric is up to, their stuff is better than ever right now. Boutique level and then some. I can tell you that much, if you're interested in buying new.

[sloop_john_b]

I owned both a Laredo and a Cheyenne simultaneously and they sound quite different; the Laredo being much brighter and the Cheyenne sounding darker and almost somewhat "deader". Since my tonal preferences lean towards dark and thumpy, the Cii was the winner for me; however, I think I'm in the minority there.

[incubus2432]

I've owned a few Laredos and Cii's and always prefer the Laredo. I dislike gold hardware but more importantly I found the Cii tone a tad muddy compared to the Laredo......very "dark" sounding as some would say. They are certainly different so having both will give you variation but I always found myself going back to the Laredo when picking between the two. I hate to steer anyone from a 4004 but I'd recommend you try a Cii before you commit or just get another Laredo or used Ci (awesome without the Cii tonal shorcomings IMO).......keeping the 4003 is an option but I won't entertain those thoughts here.

I love me 4004's (all that remains are the LK and Laredo)......

[aceonbass]

When I got my 4004Cii MG, it had Pyramids on it and sounded awful and dead. I changed them out for D'Addario Chromes and gave it a good setup and the bass became very bright sounding without the round wound overtones and a great bass for 60's music or anything that was recorded with flat wound strings. It's now fretless, but that's another story. When I got my 4004Cii TR, it had rounds on it, but sounded very dead and dark. I didn't know if there was anything that could be done to improve it. The cosmetics were changed to resemble an early 4001, but more importantly, I swapped out the HB1's for a pair of guitar high gains with the poles removed and toaster covers on them. I also added a new set of D'Addario Rounds and set it up. The sound nailed the classic 4001 tone, but with more bottom end. My 4004L sounded great when I got it though, so basically, if you aren't into modding your bass, a stock 4004Cii makes a great bass with flats, but I'm not sure if you'll like one any other way.

[sloop_john_b]

Dane, I really don't think those were Pyramids - I swore off them over a year prior to me owning that bass. Can't remember what they were, though. I would have guessed Chromes.

[aceonbass]

I'm 95% sure they were pyramids 'cause they had the same color nylon thread at the ball end AND I sold them to a fellow forumite who like Pyramids as Pyramids for $10.00. They felt tight as hell too, nothing like the Chromes I replaced them with.

[woodyng]

i would love to try a laredo out to check out the difference. i have to say with my cii,i would NOT put flatwounds on it,as i like the grind,and even with light gauge steel rw's on it,it can be kinda bassy. there is plenty of clarity though,which i think would be lost with flatwound strings. and the hb's. i like the idea ,that jeff scott did,of putting toasters on the laredo,as it's more like a typical 4003 in construction.

[rickenbrother]

I will agree that the Cheyenne has the thickest and darkest tone of the Rick basses, but maybe it's my playing style and gear that I've never found them to lack the brightness and grind I like, when I want it.

[spongebob]

I'm really quite keen.

I'd never get rid of my Midnight Blue 4003, as that has the look, feel and tone that I always - that classic sound.

I'll fully admit, when I first got my Laredo, like any complete change, it took some adjusting to. I must have looked at it from about 30 different angles!

However, I think gigging it, we finally clicked. It really comes into life - it's like a Ric tone times 10, and just feels great. It has certainly caught me by surprise, as I never thought I'd like it this much.

Trouble is, I can't justify - or afford - 4 Rics! If I look for a cii (a virtual impossible task over here anyway) the FG would have to go. Two 4004's and one 4003 would do me for life, especially given their scarcity in this country, and cover all bases (excuse the pun!)

[cassius987]

I will agree that the Cheyenne has the thickest and darkest tone of the Rick basses, but maybe it's my playing style and gear that I've never found them to lack the brightness and grind I like, when I want it.

I find this to be true of a lot of "dark" instruments, if you attack properly then they will be as bright as you need. For me it's more important to have a good low end than it is to have a super dominant high-range so I like this very much. I know it's against the stereotypes people subscribe to, but I think all of my 4003s have more thump than the average bass along with all of their rich harmonics and treble--so they act like this in a way too.