New Bass Day - Ric Content.

[cassius987]

I played this bass at Wildwood Guitars last year before they were willing to admit the color had shifted to purple. It was a fun player along with other 4004s they had.

For those wanting sound clips, I'll just say that to me, most 4004s sound like a 4003 with overwound pickups and a little more "boom" in the neck position. I prefer 4003s but if I run across a good deal some day I might go ahead and pick up a 4004 as well.

 

[Ric5]

by dropping in Ric single coil pickups you can make a 4004 sound like a 4001/4003. It is a reversable mod.

 

[Ric5]

Actually I don't know why Rickenbacker continues to wire the 4004 toggle-volume-tone. Why don't they use stacked knobs? I have a 4004 with stacked knobs and I worked on another that had stacked knobs. Both were huge improvements over the stock wiring. Even wiring it Vol-vol-tone is an improvement. But Rickenbacker is not really into innovation these days.

 

[RickenBoogie]

I think I read on the Ric forums that the circuit was designed to be super simple, and with very low capacitence. Or, was that very high. Or, maybe it was just me.

 

[cassius987]

Actually I don't know why Rickenbacker continues to wire the 4004 toggle-volume-tone. Why don't they use stacked knobs?

They say explicitly why on the model description by calling it a low-loss circuit. I know you use active preamps but since this is a passive design with two high impedance pickups, keeping the resistance high in the circuit by not having pots in parallel allows the pickups to sound brighter and clearer.

Now that 4004s have the same necks as 4003s I'd have less reason not to get one. The controls are actually one part I didn't have any trouble with, the simplicity is kind of nice. For me the aesthetics are a big part and I'm not ashamed of that--I like how a 4003 looks a lot better.

 

[superdick2112]

Because this my 2nd 4004Cii, its likely that I will end up doing the vol/vol/tone conversion on it. Simple is nice, but I would prefer the ability to blend the pickups.

 

[Ric5]

Why do people feel the need to defend Rickenbacker when they make poor choices. The 4004 is an excellent bass ... but it really shines when it is re-wired. The toggle - volume - tone wiring is not optimal for that bass. It looks cool but it is a tone sucking mechanism.

 

[incubus2432]

Some people defend them cause they like them as they are. Why is that difficult to believe? Why does any thread with a Rickenbacker in it lead to some subtle (or not so subtle) Ric bashing on your part? I'm certainly not a blind defender of Ric but the constant "attacks" just get tiresome.

BTW......on the original topic, congrats on a beautiful bass!

 

[dedpool1052]

sweet bass. i played a used one for the first time a GC a while back. it was, without a doubt, the chunkiest 4-string neck i've ever played. while not my ideal neck profile, i'd still buy one if the price wasn't so high and the wait wasnt so long.

 

[Ric5]

Some people defend them cause they like them as they are. Why is that difficult to believe? Why does any thread with a Rickenbacker in it lead to some subtle (or not so subtle) Ric bashing on your part? I'm certainly not a blind defender of Ric but the constant "attacks" just get tiresome.

BTW......on the original topic, congrats on a beautiful bass!

Some people seem to think that when someone says bass brand X has an imperfection that they need to defend that manufacturer because they own one and it is their favorite brand.

ALL BASSES HAVE DEFECTS. Even the really good ones. To deny this is simply not facing reality.

Pointing out a small defect in a bass is not an attack. Even though some see it that way.

I applaud the OP for looking into a VVT wiring.

 

[cassius987]

Why do people feel the need to defend Rickenbacker when they make poor choices. The 4004 is an excellent bass ... but it really shines when it is re-wired. The toggle - volume - tone wiring is not optimal for that bass. It looks cool but it is a tone sucking mechanism.

Hey, I totally respect if you disagree with them. But I'm serious when I say I got along with the 4004 controls whenever I have play-tested a stock 4004... about six or seven times now if memory serves. And the fact of the matter is that 2 pots of value X sound better than 2 pairs pots of value X wired in parallel, if you like brightness in your sound. Now you can go to value 2X pots and this fixes the problem but kind of messes up the smoothness of the pot taper. It's all trade-offs, especially with passive electronics. But I still like to use passive most of the time, Ric or Fender or what have you. I used to have a Ric I made active so I know what I like.

You have to realize that not everyone has the same tastes and it's not all just about people being fan boys. Suggesting that anyone who disagrees with you about Rics is a fanboy actually gives you your own elitist vibe. But I know you're a nice guy so I don't really think that. When I post in threads like this I'm just offering an honest player's opinion and I wish you could see that instead of thinking it's all just fanboy Kool-Aid any time I say something positive. I don't even own a 4004 and ultimately don't have any plans to buy one unless it practically falls in my lap.

If the OP goes VVT wiring and wants to keep the stock sound (instead of it getting darker), double the value of the volume pot. The pot taper will change a bit but otherwise no real difference. If it were me I'd sooner install a DPDT switch for a 0.0047 cap than a new volume pot. I find that that is a more practical way to change the tone, especially when both pickups are on.

 

[I<34080]

remind me if i ever buy a blueburst 4004 to set it in a window.

 

[john_g]

Does Rick make a more affordable bass? I love ricks but don't have the $1200 to pay for one.

$1200 for a used one would be a good deal. I bought a used one several months ago, a 2009 4003 which was in mint condition, and it was $1600. I sold my old 1988 4003 for $1550. The 4004's are even more expensive. Keep your eyes open for a Rickenfaker...they pop up occasionally but you cant be sure they will sound like a real one though.

 

[cassius987]

New Rics can be had for not a lot more than $1600 from multiple dealers... I would consider any more than $1400 for a used one to be a bit high. I know there are many priced that way but I would not pay for one that cost that much.

 

[superdick2112]

If the OP goes VVT wiring and wants to keep the stock sound (instead of it getting darker), double the value of the volume pot. The pot taper will change a bit but otherwise no real difference. If it were me I'd sooner install a DPDT switch for a 0.0047 cap than a new volume pot. I find that that is a more practical way to change the tone, especially when both pickups are on.

Cassius - after we do the mods to my 4003, I'll be getting with you about modding the Purple Monster. Guess I should find out what your favorite beer is, & stock up on it.

 

[Ric5]

If the OP goes VVT wiring and wants to keep the stock sound (instead of it getting darker), double the value of the volume pot. The pot taper will change a bit but otherwise no real difference. If it were me I'd sooner install a DPDT switch for a 0.0047 cap than a new volume pot. I find that that is a more practical way to change the tone, especially when both pickups are on.

The stock pots on a 4004 are 330k ohms. I use 500k ohm pots and I find that to be really bright. If really want bright try 1000k ohm pots.

I own 2 4004 basses one has a 4 band Audere preamp with 2 single coil pickups and 5 strings. The other has single coil pickups and 2 stacked pots and 5 strings. I found the stock 4004 tone choices too limited.

 

[Ric5]

remind me if i ever buy a blueburst 4004 to set it in a window.

 

[electracoyote]

I've played this bass too (at Wildwood).

I had no idea it used to be blue.

Congrats to the OP, very nice specimen, and unique.

 

[Ric5]

You have to realize that not everyone has the same tastes and it's not all just about people being fan boys. Suggesting that anyone who disagrees with you about Rics is a fanboy actually gives you your own elitist vibe. But I know you're a nice guy so I don't really think that. When I post in threads like this I'm just offering an honest player's opinion and I wish you could see that instead of thinking it's all just fanboy Kool-Aid any time I say something positive. I don't even own a 4004 and ultimately don't have any plans to buy one unless it practically falls in my lap.

I do not mean to be elitist. But I am really sick of the outright hatred I get from the Rickenbacker fans because I sometimes say Rics have flaws. It is like I commited a felony just because I disagree with John Hall or something. The result is I really tend to distrust and dislike Rickenbacker owners because so many seem to be mean. I also have sold off most of my Rics and mainly play the basses I build these days beacuse I don't want to be associated with those people. I know a lot of Ric owners are wonderful people. But so many seem to be the hateful fanboys.

 

[cassius987]

I understand it's easy to get jaded about the legitimate Kool-Aid. To me a lot of it has to do with communication skills, when communication is poor it brings out the worst in everyone.

The nice thing about TalkBass is this is an open environment and the whole spectrum is here--fanboys, haters, and everything in between.