Played a 2015 Laredo (Briefly)
Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 12:34 pm
I saw this at the Clearwater Sam Ash a few months back, but I had recently cut a finger so could not play it. That was the first sighting I've had of a 4004 model in a store, and I finally got a chance to pick it up for a few minutes the other day. It was a bit different from my 2004 model, and I played it through a decent sized new Fender Rumble amp (100 W model maybe?)
Major differences:
1) I've modded my Laredo to have 250K volume/ 500K tone pots (dual concentric); this 2015 was stock
2) The bridges are different - mine has the older ABM (?) model.
3) the 2015 model neck has been "same-sized" with the 4003 model; my Laredo has the original 4004 neck width (2 1/2" at the 19th fret)
4) my 2004 has the "dropped" PUP positions, about 1 1/4" closer to the bridge for the bridge and neck PUPs
Thoughts:
1) The original stock pots in my 4004 measured at 180K, and I definitely found it brighter when I put the concentrics in. My feeling is that the 2015 I played at the local Sam Ash has pots that are much better than what I got - it seemed pretty bight in the bridge PU with the tone dimed.
2) Not sure what difference this would make - but I like the older bridge my Laredo has, but I don't think there was a benefit/demerit either way.
3) this was the most noticeable difference when picking up the instrument. Personally it made little difference to me (although it was very noticeable)
4) Again, I was a bit unmoved with this...the tone on this 2015 Laredo seemed plenty bright enough - if one understands that a 4004 is not a 4003...
Major differences:
1) I've modded my Laredo to have 250K volume/ 500K tone pots (dual concentric); this 2015 was stock
2) The bridges are different - mine has the older ABM (?) model.
3) the 2015 model neck has been "same-sized" with the 4003 model; my Laredo has the original 4004 neck width (2 1/2" at the 19th fret)
4) my 2004 has the "dropped" PUP positions, about 1 1/4" closer to the bridge for the bridge and neck PUPs
Thoughts:
1) The original stock pots in my 4004 measured at 180K, and I definitely found it brighter when I put the concentrics in. My feeling is that the 2015 I played at the local Sam Ash has pots that are much better than what I got - it seemed pretty bight in the bridge PU with the tone dimed.
2) Not sure what difference this would make - but I like the older bridge my Laredo has, but I don't think there was a benefit/demerit either way.
3) this was the most noticeable difference when picking up the instrument. Personally it made little difference to me (although it was very noticeable)
4) Again, I was a bit unmoved with this...the tone on this 2015 Laredo seemed plenty bright enough - if one understands that a 4004 is not a 4003...
Nice that SA had one in the shop, actually for you (to buy 
). As much as I loved my old '03 4004Cii I did find the neck a bit on the thick side to be comfortable with; the width of the neck was fine as it was just like a Fender Precision in that regard but I do prefer thinner necks front-to-back. The current necks on Ricks are perfect.
