Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am tempted to buy the new Cheyenne CII 4 string Bass ( since it looks like the CII 5 String will not be produced before the year 2025... ).

I love the Ric Tone, 4001`s, 4003`s, etc. I know it`s been discussed but I would like to have some output on the Tone of the new Cheyenne compared to a new 4003, for instance. Also, playability, controls, pickup response, etc.

I also realise the new Cheyenne CII Basses do not look like their predecessors ( still talkking about the CII model, not the first Cheyenne version ), like the headstock look, etc.

Let me know your thoughts. My birthday is coming !

The 4004 is easy to convert to a 5 string ... add 1 tuner swap out the nut and bridge ... and you have 4004 5 string ...

Stephane, you might want to call RIC about ordering the Cii5. Unless you are buying a 4004Cii 4 string from a music store stock, I don't think your wait would be any shorter for the 4 string at this time. If you have to order the bass, it's probably best that you do it this week. Once the NAMM show gets going in a few weeks, RIC will be gearing up to produce guitars orderd by RIC dealers at the show, which will lengthen your wait more.
I ordered a 4004Cii5 in October, I hope to get it by the end of this year.

I like my cheyenne II , the neck is wider than a 4003, although not uncomfortable, I think this is why Jeff's made such a good 5-string conversion. It balances nicely, tone is punchy and bright, but it doesnt have the real glassy highs that you can get out of a 4003, its got the Rick tone but just a little darker sounding. I have one with a unfinished fingerboard, this could contribute to the darker tone. I like it, I play it, and will probably never get rid of it. As far as contruction and worksmanship, they are second to none.

The feel of the CII is very different than my 400x basses, the neck is beefier, the string spacing wider, and the body a lot slimmer. While I like the bass, for me, it is better suited to less busy playing. The tone is also unlike the 400x series basses, although I don't have enough hours on it to really detail the differences. It is a nice bass to be sure, but it isn't really that similar to a 400x IMO.

I too found the neck chunkier than my other Ricks but it is a very strong, stable neck because of this, but then my '73 4001's neck is chunkier than my '67 4005WB's neck. The sound was fuller and darker than my other Ricks but I have replaced the HB-1s with toasters and it sounds great with them, brighter and with more growl, and this is with TI flats on it. I am going to try TI Jazz Rounds soon and this will certainly get me all the classic Rick tone I need.

This week I will be in the process of replacing the controls with a VVT setup using vintage knobs, which look great on it, complimenting the black TRC, and I am changing out the gold hardware with chrome to match the toasters. I also replaced the Schaller tuners with Hipshot Ultralites which have a more accurate feel for tuning, especially as they have much less backlash than the Schallers do and a much higher tuning ratio. The only problem I ran into with the Hipshots are that the bushings barely grab the threads on the body of the tuners as the 4004 headstock is thicker than usual; this was not a problem on my '73 4001. I am going to talk to Hipshot tomorrow about making longer bushings for me.

Overall, the 4004Cii is very nicely balanced and much ligher than my 4001.

Overall I prefer my 4003s5 basses to everything ... but the 4004 has a nice feel and a distinctive sound all its own ... it gigs well and records well and it looks cool ... and I wired mine vvt ... this mod looks cool and sounds better ...

I still want to get a 4004CII5 someday ...

Genou, I have an early 4004L just like the one Jeff has, but it is all original except for Schaller straplocks. I have it listed in the Rickenbackers For Sale section. These early models should be darker sounding than the new ones because of the pickups being further from the bridge. The maple fretboard looks a lot nicer with Jetglo than the new fretboards do. I would advise wiring it VVT just like Jeff has done, and if it doesn't sell that's what I will do. The 4004L makes a superior gig bass because of the durable chrome hardware, light weight, Big Bottom sound, and the tough Jetglo finish. It is all maple and the body is very thin, so it weighs only 8 pounds. It's lighter than many solid body guitars. The sticky frets that maple fretboards develop have been taken care of permanently, as the bass came to me well dried from many years sitting in the case in the Denver area, and I dressed the fret ends down. The finish is excellent with no hairline cracking anywhere.

No word yet on the Cheyenne C11 5 String Bass.

Here I am more than two years later after their announcement, and still waiting for an expected date of production... But, the thing is, I am still hoping that someday !!!

How can one order a Cii5 anyway?

might as well get on the list.

Call Mike Parks or Chris Clayton.

And stand in line with the rest of us!

Bring a sleeping bag, its gonna be a LONG wait.

Both Mike and Chris are super Ric Dealers !!!

The Cii 5 String Bass will maybe be in production by October 2004... unless someone knows better !

I though the fives were already shipping in very limited quantites?

As far as I know, they are not even produced yet... and not for a certain period of time still...
Rickenbacker is one of the three or four highly respectable musical instruments manufacturer, and it is a shame that they can not even produce a 5 String Bass as the other respectable manufacturers do. This is IMHO.

Stephane, I hope you are wrong. In a week, I'll be 5 months into my wait for my 4004Cii5. I was under the assumption that they had started production of the 4004Cii5 in small quantities when I placed my order this past October.
I have a very important gig coming up in May, right in Rickenbackers' home town of Santa Ana, CA. I wish I could have the bass for that gig, but I know that is way too soon to expect to have it. I hope to have it by the end of this year.