R.I.P. 4004 Series basses

[woodyng2]

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.

It’s Well documented how to get the sparkle and treble out of those hb1 pickups.
Me,i prefer the sleek modernised look,and definitely the comfort of the 4004 basses.

 

[woodyng2]

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

Hideous! Burn them! Or better yet,send them to Oregon,and i will burn them.

 

[comatosedragon]

Figures.

I don't generally like the aesthetics of Rickenbacker too much, but I always told myself if I found a reasonably priced used 4004, I would buy it. The coolest looking Ric there is, IMHO. I imagine the used market will start to artificially inflate the prices on these now.

 

[JeffJ2112]

Damn, I've been wanting one for years now. Hope this doesn't make the prices of the used ones out there shoot through the roof.

 

[hypercarrots]

Ben Hall reports over on the RRF that the 4004s are just on hiatus for a while. They want to make modifications to them. He didn't say, but I wonder if it may have something to do with pickups. Maybe this new pickup they have for the 4003S/5 has potential for application to the entire line? We'll have to wait and see!

 

[Korladis]

I never saw anyone play a 4004 in the clubs.

I've seen both Lemmy and Al Cisneros playing them.

Well, I'm sorry 4004's have been dropped, but, honestly? I have never, ever seen one (other than a picture); nobody I've ever talked to has ever seen one; the Rick dealer here has never seen or ordered one, either. As for leftys? Somebody posted a picture of a blue one on the RRF, years ago, just to torment me. AFAIC, there's no empirical evidence that they ever existed in the first place...

They definitely existed. Seen Al Cisneros playing them a few times. Including a customized one with three pickups.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I wish now that I'd bought one of these:

 

[PWRL]

Well, now. I suppose I'll be keeping mine.

 

[woodyng2]

Well,this has been a swell wake,but maybe a tad premature.
Ben Hall reportedly’s said the 4004 is on hiatus,maybe pending design changes.

 

[Trouztrouz]

Well,this has been a swell wake,but maybe a tad premature.

At least now we've got a reason to look forward to NAMM 2019!

 

[gwangi]

where was this information posted about the 4004, I looked on Rickenbacker's site and Facebook page and saw nothing,
really suck's there not going to make these anymore, I honestly don't think there new 5 string is going to sell well either, just my opinion.

 

[Jeff Scott]

False alarm! It did make for some good conversation, however. And hopefully, more awareness and desire for the model.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Only Rickenbacker that really appealed to me.

*Wait, WHAT?! Jeff... dude, you trolled me?!

 

[ab2112]

False alarm! It did make for some good conversation, however. And hopefully, more awareness and desire for the model.

If it takes a false discontinuation to get awareness and desire going, I think that pretty well speaks for the model's overall popularity, haha.

 

[Chrisk-K]

To me the 4004 is sexier than the 4001/4003.

 

[gwangi]

False alarm! It did make for some good conversation, however. And hopefully, more awareness and desire for the model.

You mean you where fibbing, GOD!!!! What a relief, but seriously your joking RIGHT!!!!

 

[CapnSev]

I wish now that I'd bought one of these:

View attachment 2904136

Good Lord! Those two natural wood ones... Where was this at?

 

[Killed_by_Death]

That was the previous location of the Classix Axe Gallery. They had the most RICs I've ever seen in one place. They've since moved & now have only one RIC guitar.

Just noticing now the RIC necks are 3/16" wider than my Ibanez's necks, so a 4004 probably wouldn't have lasted with me. I'm over the Precision-thick necks.

 

[gwangi]

Man I just got off the phone with Wildwood Guitars and they told me the 4004cii is discontinued but they where not sure about the 4004L Laredo so I have to check back tomorrow to talk to the guy that does the Rickenbacker ordering.
Bummer on the Cheyenne, Crap it figures.

 

[Josh Kneisel]

Too bad because those had much more reasonable bridges and overall design IMO.