Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
R.I.P. 4004 Series basses
- Thread starter Jeff Scott
- Start date
Some facts (whaaaat? We have to deal with FACTS now?).
Ben Hall at RIC reports on the Rickenbacker Resource Forum that: "The 4004 is just on hiatus for a short time. We have some adjustments to make to it. Yes, the HB's will stay." (HB's = humbuckers).
ALL the 4004 series are neck through, meaning that the central plank of the instrument's construction runs from the butt end behind the bridge through to top of the headstock. To it are glued the fingerboard, body "wings" and headstock "wings."
A "set neck" instrument (and yes, Rick has made some in the past) have a separate neck that is glued into a pocket in the top end of the body assembly. The neck can be removed, but not easily, so leave it to the professionals.
A "bolt-on" neck (and yes, Rick has made some of them in the past, too) has a separate neck that is fastened to the body usually with wood screws and can be removed and replaced easily.
The original design of the 4004 series, the 4004C Cheyenne and 4004L Laredo, both started in 1992 and had the neck (bass) pickup up against the fingerboard. The cavity cut for the neck pickup provided access to the acorn nuts of the truss rods in case one should fail. In 1999, RIC modified the design of both models by moving the pickups "south" a bit to take advantage of tonal nodes. However they did not provide access to the rods at the body end. When (at least) one failed, the only way they could access the rods was by pulling off the fingerboard. So they rethought the design and returned the position of the pickups to the original positions sometime in 2004.
Class dismissed.
So there not discontinuing the 4004 series, I remember when they said the fretless was on hold now it's discontinued, I guess I'll cross my fingers, I'd really like to get a 4004L in jetglo.
There's a JetGlo one on GC right now for $1,730
oops, there was earlier today, gone already!
oops, there was earlier today, gone already!
Thanks for the info.Some facts (whaaaat? We have to deal with FACTS now?).
Ben Hall at RIC reports on the Rickenbacker Resource Forum that: "The 4004 is just on hiatus for a short time. We have some adjustments to make to it. Yes, the HB's will stay." (HB's = humbuckers).
ALL the 4004 series are neck through, meaning that the central plank of the instrument's construction runs from the butt end behind the bridge through to top of the headstock. To it are glued the fingerboard, body "wings" and headstock "wings."
A "set neck" instrument (and yes, Rick has made some in the past) have a separate neck that is glued into a pocket in the top end of the body assembly. The neck can be removed, but not easily, so leave it to the professionals.
A "bolt-on" neck (and yes, Rick has made some of them in the past, too) has a separate neck that is fastened to the body usually with wood screws and can be removed and replaced easily.
The original design of the 4004 series, the 4004C Cheyenne and 4004L Laredo, both started in 1992 and had the neck (bass) pickup up against the fingerboard. The cavity cut for the neck pickup provided access to the acorn nuts of the truss rods in case one should fail. In 1999, RIC modified the design of both models by moving the pickups "south" a bit to take advantage of tonal nodes. However they did not provide access to the rods at the body end. When (at least) one failed, the only way they could access the rods was by pulling off the fingerboard. So they rethought the design and returned the position of the pickups to the original positions sometime in 2004.
Class dismissed.
Not to distract from the point of the thread, but what is the keyboard looking thing your bandmate is playing on the far left side? It might be one of the coolest looking instruments I've ever seen.
It's an old MSA pedal steel. This was not a country band, it was a psycho-delic acid jazz prog fusion kind of band.
Last edited:
The 4004 was their best model.
That isn’t saying much but if I were to get a Ric I’d get a 4004
That isn’t saying much but if I were to get a Ric I’d get a 4004
They have had a nice 25 (thereabouts) year run, too bad most folks were not interested in these. I have owned four of them (I still have two) and played a great many others over the years.
R.I.P. 4004
What happened? Did they stop producing this model?
There was mention of nobody was ordering 4004s and then Paul noticed the 4004s were gone from the current price list. So added together this created the impression they were discontinued.
Understandable error. But you will also understand that we must strip the "GURU" epaulettes from your shoulders!
Over my dead cold body you will!
Besides I don't wear epaulettes; you will have to look elsewhere. 
It's been verified that the 4004s are just on hiatus for the time being.
Waitaminit. I just found out about this bass... by the news it’s discontinued? What’s wrong with that picture? How is such a ridiculous company still in business?
Because they sell every bass they make as soon as it's made and they have no debt.
Also the 4004 has been around for 25 years. It's not like it was only recently introduced.
Bad news. Sometimes I dream of having enough money to order Rickenbacker's serial production of some discontinued models.
