Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I see there is one at Wildwood in Louisville... besides that I have no access. Hopefully it doesn't sell too fast!! Are there any other 4004s out for play testing that Ric people in the Denver area are aware of?

I really want to hear one in person so I can make an objective review. I have heard too many opinions now to make an unbiased judgement on my own...

I notice it's a Cii. I think that's good because I've talked to more people who gave the Cii a thumbs up than the L.

cassius987 wrote:I think that's good because I've talked to more people who gave the Cii a thumbs up than the L.

I'm highly interested also. But from what I've read the L sounds most like a 400[13]. And I think that is what I like most.

I don't know if that's true for me. I'd like a 4003 to be a 4003 and a 4004 to be a 4004.. you know? Maybe the Cii's supreme low down identity is what entitles it to its glory.

That Cii at Wildwood is the "sibling" of the one I just got. It's been there a while - should be around when you get there. They may also have others that are not listed on their page. If you happen to check it out, do me a favor and have a look at the neck. I'm curious to know if it's set up right "dead flat".

Dead flat is proper, you think? IMO a tad bit of relief can't hurt much but I find this to be more true of my fretless than my fretted basses. My fretted basses REALLY WANT zero relief, it sometimes seems.

How do you like your sibling?

When I first got it I liked it alot. Very different than my 4001/4003's - LOTS more bottom which I suppose comes from a combination of the HBs and the walnut sandwich - although I think it has more to do with the pickups. I did the stack knob VT VT mod last weekend - now I like it a WHOLE lot!

One thing that's bothering me is the neck is not dead flat, and there's a bit of buzz if I dig in. See the thread "4004L Bow Issues" which I sorta hijacked with my tale.

Totally worth checking them out if you can.

My new cii sounds fab - different from the Laredo as everyone says - it's darker, but still has a Ric tone. It has the deepest 'growl' I've heard yet.

That's the thing with all of these basses - they all have 'the sound', but just variations of. For me, a Ric has got to sound like a Ric, that's why I love them so much!

I rehearsed with the Cheyenne yesterday, and the sound reminds me slightly of Lemmy's tone. I know his LK has 3 pickups, but I was also thinking of the 'classic' tone you hear on some of the other records (stuff like 'Back At The Funny Farm'). If I'm correct (please tell me if I'm not) that his old 4001/03's were modified? That's the kind of sound I heard - classic Ric, with bags more bass and power - and no mods required! The Laredo is not as deep, but no less of a bass.

I totally agree with Joshua's point about wanting a 4003 to be a 4003, etc. You want them to be different - and the 4004's are. They are their own Ric - I never thought I'd like them from the photos I saw, but in the flesh the are much better. I couldn't choose between my 4003 and 4004 - there's equal love!

I always think, if there good enough for Lemmy, that's good enough for me!

Go and try one out. You'll love it - and unlike us over here, you guys can actually go into a shop and buy one!

Denver, huh? Wildwood guitars? That's where I got my 4004Cii, they're my "local" dealer. You can stop by and play mine, I'm only 754 miles away...

Seriously, Wildwood often seem to have a good selection on hand, you should give them a call and let them know you are going to be in the area and are interested in a 4004. I bet they'll try to make sure one is in the store for you to try, they seem like a great bunch of people there.

I have to say I'm really liking my 4004, especially since I did the V/T V/T mod, lots more tonal possibilities. As others have said, it's got a lot more bottom, a really huge sound compared to my 4001 & 4003. My 4003 is an '84 so it has the cap so I can't compare the 4004 to the "modern" 4003 sound. More bottom end, but it still has that Rick characteristic tone. It's different but you still know it's a Rick...

I have a Cii and a Larado and love them both, if your looking for that 4001_4003 sound then buy one of them, these are different sounding animals, the Cii has a warmer more bottomy sound with the maple/walnut sandwich, I had mine modded VT/VT stacked knobed, and the toneal quailties and variations are pricelss, the Larado being all maple is alot brighter than the Cii, but more bottomy than the 4001 or 4003, bottom line is that they are both wicked, wicked, wicked, basses, and as I was told by Rickenbrother before I purchased them, they are the best keep secret in the bass playing community. and man was he ever right, so if you can get to play one, bring your checkbook , I think you will like it and will buy it, I think every bass player should own at least a Larado or Cii, but even better , both of them.

ricaddic wrote:I have a Cii and a Larado and love them both, if your looking for that 4001_4003 sound then buy one of them, these are different sounding animals, the Cii has a warmer more bottomy sound with the maple/walnut sandwich, I had mine modded VT/VT stacked knobed, and the toneal quailties and variations are pricelss, the Larado being all maple is alot brighter than the Cii, but more bottomy than the 4001 or 4003, bottom line is that they are both wicked, wicked, wicked, basses, and as I was told by Rickenbrother before I purchased them, they are the best keep secret in the bass playing community. and man was he ever right, so if you can get to play one, bring your checkbook , I think you will like it and will buy it, I think every bass player should own at least a Larado or Cii, but even better , both of them.

Well said!

I'm heading in tomorrow... wish me luck! I'm looking forward to (hopefully) hearing one at last.

Good luck Joshua! If you find one to play that is set up properly, it will make you smile and nod your head. Then you'll want a 4004, maybe even have one soon.

Hey, good luck, but most important, please be safe in your travels, all I can tell you like said in the previous post, if it is set up properly, be prepared to fall in love, she is going to feel strange at first if your used to playing a 4001-4003, but, she will win you over, trust me , the more I played mine, the more I fell in love with it. "HAPPY RICKEN"

I played it for about 15 minutes through a nice amp at Wildwood; I will post a review in a new thread.

The guys at Wildwood are great people by the way.