Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am thinking about getting a 4004. I have a 4003. What differences will I notice with regard to tone and playability between these two models?

Joey, you're up!

I think the playability can vary a lot from example to example. It could be very like a 4003, or very different. I don't think I've ever played two 4004s that felt exactly alike. Tone wise, I hear fewer highs but more than adequate upper mids to work in a mix (with the stock harness). The bridge pickup seems like fairly familiar sonic territory but the neck pickup has a more open yet wooly sound to my ears than the 4003 neck pickup. That's my quick-capsule review.

Just going by my own personal experiences with formerly owning a 2004 model year 4004Cii and currently a late 2011 model year 4004L, the Laredo sounds similar to a 4003 but is dead quiet regarding hum and noise, the Cii was darker sounding and required some readjustments to my amp's EQ to brighten it up. Do you roll off the volume a bit on either pickup of your 4003 to get a different balance rather than using both full on? And, are you seeking a similar tone or something a bit different?

As far as the physical feeling of a 4004 vs. a 4003, 4004s are quite a bit lighter and sleeker feeling with all the nice contouring of the body, plus with the current models the necks feel the same as current 4003s since they have the same neck.

The 4004 is lighter and sleeker,with a more contoured body than the 4003. The pickups are deeper sounding,and you would have to boost your amp's treble settings a bit to get closer to the single coil sound of the 4003. The neck's feel varies much like 4003's of any given year,but the newest ones seem to match up pretty well in that regard. My 2 '04 's (1Cii,and 1 Laredo) have pretty wide necks,but i love the feel of them,and i have a fairly skinny '74 4000 for comparison.
Looks like Jeffrey and i posted at the same time,almost identical descriptions...Great minds....

Peter, why don't you come to BARC and try a few of each?

I can't really say much more at this point than what has already been said. Any group that I play with, which I've used a 4004 is always disappointed when I show up with anything else, Rick or non Rick. I also like the look on people's face that have never seen one before. I get alot of, "Ooooooh, what's that?!" at gigs. I also get alot of, "That Rick sounds great" when I'm done. Tony C knows what I'm talking about when I say that that I've never played another bass guitar that gave me the range of tones a 4004 can, with different ways of attacking the strings. A different eq setting that a 4003 on an amp and the right attack and the 4004 will deliver the same clanky treble crunch as a 4003, maybe with a little more heft in it.

kiramdear wrote:Peter, why don't you come to BARC and try a few of each?

Or maybe SCARF later this year. Yes there will be one! Planning starts soon!

rickenbrother wrote:I can't really say much more at this point than what has already been said. Any group that I play with, which I've used a 4004 is always disappointed when I show up with anything else, Rick or non Rick. I also like the look on people's face that have never seen one before. I get alot of, "Ooooooh, what's that?!" at gigs. I also get alot that Rick sounds great when I'm done. Tony C knows what I'm talking about when I say that that I've never played another bass guitar that gave me the range of tones a 4004 can, with different ways of attacking the strings. A different eq setting that a 4003 on an amp and the right attack and the 4004 will deliver the same clanky treble crunch as a 4003, maybe with a little more heft in it.

And a BIG +1 Joey....AND, don't forget, no single coil noise (If that is an issue for some).

The 4004cii gets the MOST requests. It's the ONLY bass they ask for time and time again. Great range, very versatile, powerful too. It's the answer for "something new" from RIC, no doubt.

rickenbrother wrote:

kiramdear wrote:Peter, why don't you come to BARC and try a few of each?

Or maybe SCARF later this year. Yes there will be one! Planning starts soon!

Paul's book release party is this coming July and is a lot closer to Peter than either of those.
There should be plenty of basses to check out.

Hi peter , i was so used to playing my 4003, i just could not take to the 4004 at all!!!, it is a lovely bass feels good to play, the sound was just to heavy and thick for me, i prefer the twang from my 4003,if you are buying to add to your collection great bass!!!

I put together two You Tube videos detailing the tone differences a few years back. Take a look here.




And this one.




Sepp

Kopfjaeger wrote:I put together two You Tube videos detailing the tone differences a few years back.


Sepp

I keep meaning to make a simple demo showing how the coil tap harness (Thanks Dane!) works. . .

But I don't have a recording setup that can really capture it.

Guys I am thrilled with your comments. Thanks for all the detailed information. Much thinking for me to do over the next while.

I originally owned a 4004cii briefly, around 2008/9 - loved the tone, but it was the era of the 'chunkier' neck profile. I like a wide neck, but TBH, found it quite hard to get my hands around!

I've always been a 4003 player before and after - but always swore if I ever found a 4004cii in JG - at a good price - I'd snap it up in an instant.

Finally found one in March this year - and what a bass. I'm over the moon with it. It shares the modern 4003 neck, and it's one of the best Ric necks I've owned. Almost plays itself!

Tone-wise, I've always referred to 4004's as 4003's on steroids - and I do stick by that with the 'new' one. When it's cranked up through my Markbass rig, I still sound totally Ric - difference for me is more bottom end and, I suppose, general presence.

Would I sell my 4003 for it? Never. Would I sell my 4004 for a 4003? Never!

They're my two basses, and I love them equally. Following a number of gigs with the '04, this weekend I played two with the 4003, just to break it out and enjoy the change. To me, as a Ric player and fan, it's just a modern continuation of the bass we all love. I'd recommend a 4004 to anyone - look great, sound the business!