Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I really need to by one of these instruments but I have a couple small questions regarding this model, specifically the 4004L. This is the junior model to the 4000Cii right? The Rickenbacker website suggests the only difference is the wood the wings are constructed from. They only list the wood as 'Hardwood'. What kind? Basswood? Maple?

The second question is simple. Are the humbuckers standard six pole? I never came across a Rickenbacker bass humbucker.

Thanks!

First question: Laredo is constructed with a maple neck-thru and solid maple body wings. Headstock wings are walnut.

Cheyenne II is constructed the same except body wings are a core of walnut sandwiched in between maple, front and back, often flamed.

I forget what wood the fretboards are made of -- Bubinga?

2nd question: I believe the HB-1 pickups are standard on both models and are the same as those issued on 6-string models, but I don't know the construction as to poles.

Based on my experience with both models, the 4004L has more "pop" and sounds brighter, and the 4004CII sounds deeper / darker.

this is probably due to the CII's walnut core. The neck on both are wider/flatter than a standard 4003 and at first seems a little "large".

Nice basses though.

Malchik wrote:I really need to by one of these instruments but I have a couple small questions regarding this model, specifically the 4004L. This is the junior model to the 4000Cii right? The Rickenbacker website suggests the only difference is the wood the wings are constructed from.

Thanks!

The price difference reflects the more involved body wood construction of the Cheyenne as Ron explained and also the hardware.
The other difference between the two models is that the hardware on the Cheyenne is gold hardware, on the Laredo it's chrome.

libratune wrote:I forget what wood the fretboards are made of -- Bubinga?

That's right!

The hardwood designation gives Rickenbacker the option of using hardwoods other than maple for the wings on the L. I don't know if they ever have since all the ones you see are maple, but they could and still be accurate to the specifications.

The Laredo fingerboard is finished, while the Cii fingerboard is unfinished. The corporate website currently spells this out for the Cii.

Maybe the difference can be heard.

bluewhale wrote:The Laredo fingerboard is finished, while the Cii fingerboard is unfinished. The corporate website currently spells this out for the Cii.

Here's what is on the corporate website for the 4004Cii under "Models." Nothing about the fretboard that I could see there, though I've seen comments elsewhere as to the fretboard. Maybe I was looking in the wrong place:

Using only American farm-grown sustainable woods, this exquisite bass is sculpted from solid Maple and Walnut, complemented by an Eastern Maple neck running the full length of the bass. Two humbucking pickups are carefully placed for maximum tonal capability. Available in all standard colors, plus translucent Green, Red, or Blue, all with a rich gloss clear coat.

I think there might not be a mention about the finish on the fingerboard because though usually the Laredo fingerboard is finished, while the Cii fingerboard is unfinished, I'm sure there are a few exceptions.
Hard to see in this pic, but my Mapleglo Cii/5 has a finished fingerboard.

libratune wrote:

bluewhale wrote:The Laredo fingerboard is finished, while the Cii fingerboard is unfinished. The corporate website currently spells this out for the Cii.

Here's what is on the corporate website for the 4004Cii under "Models." Nothing about the fretboard that I could see there, though I've seen comments elsewhere as to the fretboard. Maybe I was looking in the wrong place:

Using only American farm-grown sustainable woods, this exquisite bass is sculpted from solid Maple and Walnut, complemented by an Eastern Maple neck running the full length of the bass. Two humbucking pickups are carefully placed for maximum tonal capability. Available in all standard colors, plus translucent Green, Red, or Blue, all with a rich gloss clear coat.

"Fingerboard Wood: Bubinga, unfinished" appears under "Specifications."