Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hey all...
So I have 3 vintage Rics. I have a1968 4001, a 1979 4001, and a 1981 4000. I'd eventually like to get a couple more Rics, but was wondering about the 4004 series. You don't see all that many around here, IME. I was wondering what the differences were between the different 4004s. How is a Cheyenne different from a Laredo? What are the differences to look for between these and the basses I already have? Thanks for your info. You guys have always been a treasure trove of information!

Javier,

For comparisons between the Laredo and the Cii body wood and hardware, I'd go to the RIC site. I could cut and pate the info from there to this post but I'm feeling a bit lethargic this morning.

As far as sound, the 4004 is an different animal from it's 4003 and 4001 cousins. I did two comparison video's on You Tube so I'll post those here. One disclaimer, the Cii in the video has an ebony fretboard so sound will differ slightly but you'll get the picture as to how different these basses are. I'd say the biggest difference is the humbucking pups in the 4004 and pup placement.

Sepp

The Laredo has a finished fingerboard and chrome hardware, no walnut in the body wings. The Cheyenne II had an unfinished fingerboard, gold hardware and the body wings are sort of a maple/walnut/maple sandwich. The Cheyenne II can also be ordered in trans blue, trans green and trans red, besides all the other standard RIC finishes.
Sorry for the occasional crackling distortion in this video, due to the camera being too close to the stage. However you can get the idea of a 4004Cii in a band mix. I had just gotten my Ruby 4004Cii three days before this gig, which I filled in for the bassist of Paulie's band, The Blackouts.
The sound of my Ruby 4004Cii that you hear is from my amp, no PA support was needed. My 4004Cii with the original RIC strings and both pickups where on IIRC ---> Sansamp BDDI -----> Markbass Little Mark Tube head (eq set flat, VLE at 0 and VPF about 9 o'clock) -----> Genz Benz Neo-X 212T cabinet (tweeter off).

The big difference is the overall " simplifying" (if you will) of the Ric bass design. You get 2 humbucking pickups,1 vol,1 tone,and a mini toggle switch to select either or both pickups,a greatly simplified bridge,no front-routings,so no pickguard,no binding on either the body or the neck,and a very nicely contoured body shape. I think they're the bee's knees,myself. Depending on whether you buy a new one or an older model,you will experience different neck profiles and/or construction (same as the 4003),and a different pickup placement for a few years (2004 for sure had the "lowered" positions)
I will be glad to talk you ears off about them if you wanna know even more....
Ps ....nice collection you got already!
I have a '74 4000,'04 cii,and '04 laredo,and love 'em all.

What Joey said, only I would add the word "usually." Once in a while, you'll run across a 4004L that has the maple/walnut/maple sandwich construction, "usually" with an opaque finish. I have a 2004 4004L Laredo that is finished in Turquoise and I discovered the "Cheyenne II" body wings when I looked inside the control cavity cut into the back. I have since refitted the bass with gold hardware (thanks, Dane!) and it looks even prettier. Except for the chromed jackplate, the bass is now almost completely a Cii in Turquoise. Yumm!

The pickups were "lowered" from sometime in 1999 to sometime in 2004, then "raised" back to the original positions since 2004.

Sepp's videos are really great at showing the immediate tonal differences between the 4003 and the 4004 when played through the same amp/tone settings. The comparison when done this way is always going to leave the 4004 sounding "darker",bassier,etc. But you can of course get grindier more traditional Rickentones out of the 4004 by cranking the amp's gain and treble too.....
Ahh, i love that turk,Paul!!

Thanks for the responses, guys. I'm nowhere near the position to buy one now, but I've always thought these were beautiful instruments, even though I've never had one in my hands to play on. One day I'll bag me one...probably one of each...That turquoise one is gorgeous! Times like this remind me how much it sucks to be broke...lol...

BTW, I love my current three Rics...

pflash4001 wrote:Thanks for the responses, guys. I'm nowhere near the position to buy one now

Given where you are you need to buy a Laredo!

I know...but I wasn't going to go there...speaking of which...Why in the world WAS it designated "Laredo?" Anyone have any idea why it was named that?

Why was a chair called a chair?

jps wrote:Why was a chair called a chair?

To see who the first idiot would be to ask that question...but a 4004 Laredo is not a chair!

jps wrote:

pflash4001 wrote:Thanks for the responses, guys. I'm nowhere near the position to buy one now

Given where you are you need to buy a Laredo!

Oh no, that would be redundant! He needs a Cheyenne II!

woodyng wrote:Sepp's videos are really great at showing the immediate tonal differences between the 4003 and the 4004 when played through the same amp/tone settings. The comparison when done this way is always going to leave the 4004 sounding "darker",bassier,etc. But you can of course get grindier more traditional Rickentones out of the 4004 by cranking the amp's gain and treble too.....
Ahh, i love that turk,Paul!!

Thanks but I wish I was better looking and had the speaking voice of James Earl Jones. How awesome would that be! My New Jersey accent is running rampant in those videos. I don't know why, I normally can curb that pretty well. In all seriousness, the videos have been mildly successful and I've gotten a lot of good feedback, well except for the guy that said the C11 made his dog run from the room. Like I said, you can't please everyone!

I was thinking of doing a tone comparison between either the 4001/3 or 4004 vs the 4002.

Thoughts??

Sepp

I just told my wife the verdict came in...I need BOTH a Laredo AND a Cheyenne! She just rolled her eyes...lol

I've had/have both so I have some insight into the differences.