Interesting responses so far. What I see so far (these responses added to past comments in other threads), is that a lot of folks want to see "modern" Rickenbackers for today, for RIC to grow beyond the classic models that have been made for decades, to offer something new and different. RIC has indeed listened and created new and different models in both bass and guitar models, however, it seems they have not generally been embraced by those asking for these modern Ricks; they want something new and different yet they fall back on the old tried and true.
Why is this?
Could it be old habits are hard to break? These instruments are not what people are really looking for in a modern Rick (they want modern but be just like the classics)? They are not really looking for something new and modern, just say they are?
@JB: yes, the early 4004 basses had pretty chunky necks, I agree, that is why I sold my first 4004, the Cii that had been turned into a 5 string bass by Mark Gilbert. Rick does listen though, as the current crop of 4004 basses use the same neck blank as the 4003 so now we have the same familiar feeling (a good thing IMHO).
Yes, the HB-1 pickups have a somewhat different tonality to those used on the 4003, but that is a good thing, again IMHO, this provides options for us and provides a more modern sound to go with this simpler, more modern looking line of basses.
I agree that a VVT harness makes these basses a bit more versatile having done so on my first 4004; my only criticism of the 4004 is that this is not standard on them, I do like slightly rolling back the neck pickup to open to tone a bit, perhaps the volume control could have a pull switch on it to do this but that makes things more complex?
Great comments, so far, let it continue!
about the complaints that RIC does not create new models.
