R.I.P. 4004 Series basses

[Coolhandjjl]

..but the bass had a weird "corusey" sound to it that turned me off. I asked the shop owner about the sound, he said he couldn't hear it...

Some basses can be slightly microphonic or resonant at certain frequencies. I had a bass that was 'chorusey' but not everyone could hear the offending frequencies either. I notched it out with a TC Electronic Dual Para EQ pedal. That pedal can notch out a frequency at a Q of 14, which is roughly 1/10 of an octave!

Maybe its only certain peoples heads that create the issue!

 

[mapleglo]

New Strap

• mapleglo
• Jan 27, 2018
• 4004ci rickenbacker

New Italia strap

4004ci Chrome

• mapleglo
• Jan 15, 2018
• 2
• 4004ci chrome hardware rickenbacker

Rickenbacker 4004i with chrome hardware

 

[Killed_by_Death]

KBD - Don't take the pipe!

I can't be the only one who doesn't like the 4003, but does like the 4004.
4004 was the only thing that had me interested. If they stop making them,,,

bass-wise

However, I'd still like to be able to pull off that jangly Rebel Rebel timbre that David Jones used to:

 

[TheIndieKid]

Some basses can be slightly microphonic or resonant at certain frequencies. I had a bass that was 'chorusey' but not everyone could hear the offending frequencies either. I notched it out with a TC Electronic Dual Para EQ pedal. That pedal can notch out a frequency at a Q of 14, which is roughly 1/10 of an octave!

Maybe its only certain peoples heads that create the issue!

Bass player of 3 or so years in the long journey here. Seen a seemingly metallic blue one in the store. Could only stare at it in awe, as the accompanying £2500 price tag was about £2000 too much. They looked amazing basses, and if they indeed had a thick neck, I would have enjoyed it. Shame they’re binning them, but supply and demand matter, and I’m guessing both were zilch.

 

[groovaholic]

The only times I've heard a bass with a "chorusy" sound were:
1) when the pickup was too close to the string and pulled the string sharp when it was directly over the polepiece
2) the wrap of the string was loose on the core

I found a 4004 in a consignment shop here in town about 10 years ago. It was, if I recall correctly, some god awful green/turquoise colour. I probably could have gotten past the colour, but the bass had a weird "corusey" sound to it that turned me off. I asked the shop owner about the sound, he said he couldn't hear it. That and the asking price for what was obviously a worked hard and put away wet bass was imho far too much.
I would certainly entertain trying one in good standing!
Fishheadjoe

 

[A-Step-Towards]

I’ve prob had 20 ricks, 2 were 4004 models and my favorites. Shame they are ditching it

 

[Jeff Scott]

...the Rick dealer here has never seen or ordered one, either...

That was the problem, the dealers just played it safe. It's down to them to get a product into the marketplace, really.

...never crossed my mind to compare it to 4001/4003, felt like a completely different instrument altogether...

As it should have been seen.

 

[Fishheadjoe]

The only times I've heard a bass with a "chorusy" sound were:
1) when the pickup was too close to the string and pulled the string sharp when it was directly over the polepiece
2) the wrap of the string was loose on the core

It could well have been a set up issue or a twisted string. It was some time ago. After thinking about it for a bit, I seem to recall that it had a few things wrong with it outside of it's sound and price.
Fishheadjoe

 

[mapleglo]

I can't be the only one who doesn't like the 4003, but does like the 4004.
4004 was the only thing that had me interested. If they stop making them,,,

bass-wise

However, I'd still like to be able to pull off that jangly Rebel Rebel timbre that David Jones used to:

View attachment 2904031

480

• mapleglo
• Feb 5, 2018
• rickenbacker

my version of the 480

Yeah, these seem to be as rare as hen's teeth. I had to build my own.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Wow, that's incredible looking!
bet it sounds superb as well

 

[woodyng2]

Is that pick guard upper left gold anodized?

Wow, beautiful bunch o basses!

Both gold pickguards are clear acrylic,back painted gold. Thanks!

 

[woodyng2]

Some basses can be slightly microphonic or resonant at certain frequencies. I had a bass that was 'chorusey' but not everyone could hear the offending frequencies either. I notched it out with a TC Electronic Dual Para EQ pedal. That pedal can notch out a frequency at a Q of 14, which is roughly 1/10 of an octave!

Maybe its only certain peoples heads that create the issue!

That issue can usually be fixed by pickup height adjustment,or maybe component upgrade.
I had a ‘13 Gibson EB that did that,but i was able to minimize the effect with adjustment.

 

[woodyng2]

I can't be the only one who doesn't like the 4003, but does like the 4004.
4004 was the only thing that had me interested. If they stop making themView attachment 2904031

I don’t really have any interest in a modern 4003,there would be a lot of pricey mods i’d have to do right off the bat to get one where i’d want it to be.

 

[CapnSev]

Well, that's me done with Rickenbacker, can't stand the 4003.

I’m with you there. The 4004 is a bass I’ve always wanted from Ric. Guess I’ll find a used one someday. Or not.

 

[Peer75RI]

Glad they discontinued the 4004. Horrible basses ofcourse.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

View attachment 2904083 Glad they discontinued the 4004. Horrible basses ofcourse.

There’s where that yellow one with the ebony fretboard went! My fav!

 

[hypercarrots]

i bid on the blue one that was on ebay but i lost it

 

[Axstar]

I never saw anyone play a 4004 in the clubs.

Same here.

In my mind, they designed all the character out of the 4003 bass when they devised the 4004. The one I tried was in some bland metallic blue colour that Ford Fiestas came in in the early noughties. The pickups were dull and the pickup switch felt cheap. It left me totally cold.

I get where Rickenbacker were coming from, but they took too much charm away in the 4004 I tried. There are smarter ways of making humbucker pickups for bass that still retain some of the snap and sparkle of single coils. They could have shrunk the pickguard down to a 4005-style design, rather than erase it entirely.

 

[mellowinman]

Same here.

In my mind, they designed all the character out of the 4003 bass when they devised the 4004. The one I tried was in some bland metallic blue colour that Ford Fiestas came in in the early noughties. The pickups were dull and the pickup switch felt cheap. It left me totally cold.

I get where Rickenbacker were coming from, but they took too much charm away in the 4004 I tried. There are smarter ways of making humbucker pickups for bass that still retain some of the snap and sparkle of single coils. They could have shrunk the pickguard down to a 4005-style design, rather than erase it entirely.

I disagree on the 4004. It's a beautiful bass. I'm more a fan of the 4003, and always will be, but I like that they diversified, and wonder if they're making a mistake in the discontinue.

 

[12BitSlab]

View attachment 2904083 Glad they discontinued the 4004. Horrible basses of course.

Wow! If you ever want to part with the 2nd one from the left.....