2008 Mapleglo Rickenbacker 4004 Laredo

lowendblues · #1 05-16-2010, 01:06 PM

Like new condition, with a vintage silver case. (not pictured).

I bought this new in '08 and only played it around the house. It has been modded to volume, volume, tone, and the stock ABM bridge has been replaced with a Hipshot Style "A" for better adjustment.

These are common mods for this particular Rickenbacker model, and it plays and sounds great.

Here's a link to some pics and a soundbyte.

http://s234.photobucket.com/albums/e...4004%20Laredo/

$1300.00 shipped within the continental USA.

Ric5 · #2 05-16-2010, 01:59 PM

nice bass, tasteful mods and a nice price.

lowendblues · #3 05-16-2010, 02:18 PM

Thanks for the support Jeff.

Ric5 · #4 05-16-2010, 03:45 PM

You have upgraded the bridge and the wiring in a nice way. The stock 4004 bridge is good but the one you have on there is better, and wiring it volume, volume, tone also improves the bass.

I wish I had some extra bucks to buy that bass. But I don't so I will be content with my 15 basses.

livinglow · #5 05-16-2010, 05:03 PM

Any trade interest?

lowendblues · #6 05-16-2010, 05:12 PM

Not really into trades unless its reeeaaally interesting.

Thunder Pulse · #7 05-16-2010, 06:02 PM

Loved the tone in the sound clip. Coming from humbuckers even... nice.

I'm not very knowledgeable about non-4003 Ric basses. In the pics I've seen of 4004L's, some have the neck pickup RIGHT up against the neck like yours, and others are a maybe an inch or so away. If yours is a 2008 I would guess it must be the newer models that have it right up against the neck, although the one used for the model pic on Ric's website has a space between the neck and the pickup: http://www.rickenbacker.com/model.asp?model=4004L
Do you (or anyone.... Ric5?) know why they made the change?

Also, what were you playing through in the sound clip? Seriously, I loved the tone.

lowendblues · #8 05-16-2010, 06:35 PM

The pickup was relocated right at the heel of the neck to facilitate removal of the truss rods if necessary. (they come out at the end of the neck). The earlier ones had the pickup placed toward the bridge a bit more. If you snapped the truss rod, you were in trouble.

The sound clip is a real hoot for me. I had just had surgery on my right shoulder, was home recovering, and shot that byte in one take with my Canon digital camera. Its sloppy, but I've gotten more compliments on it. I was playing the Rick 4004 with DR Highbeams 40-60-80-100, through a little Fender BXR 25 combo amp, the neck pickup volume rolled off just slightly. The sound you hear is the tone of the bass as it sounds in my garage. Nothing fancy at all.

The stock 4004's come with a 3 position switch, master volume and tone, too limited for me. The Volume / Volume/ Tone mod really opens up the basses tone.

Ric5 · #9 05-16-2010, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowendblues

The stock 4004's come with a 3 position switch, master volume and tone, too limited for me. The Volume / Volume/ Tone mod really opens up the basses tone.

+1

incubus2432 · #10 05-16-2010, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowendblues

The pickup was relocated right at the heel of the neck to facilitate removal of the truss rods if necessary. (they come out at the end of the neck). The earlier ones had the pickup placed toward the bridge a bit more. If you snapped the truss rod, you were in trouble.

Not to be too much of a tool but just for the sake of accuracy.......

.......early 4004 models had the pickups shifted towards the neck as well. I'm not sure of the year but I believe the switch to where they moved towards the bridge coincided with the introduction of the 4004Cii. I'm not sure either exactly how long the "intermediate" configuration lasted.

If the timing was a little better Scott I'd be all over this Laredo. Alas, my "new to me mini farm" is constantly draining my toy account so I'll have to survive with just my LK.......good luck with the sale.

lowendblues · #11 05-16-2010, 08:43 PM

You would be correct Brian.

When I said "earlier ones" I was thinking of my Tranny red '02 CII. It had the neck pup closer to the bridge.

I've always wondered why they waffled on the location in the first place?