OK, looking at the Ric web site. There's the 4003. Fine, lets see more. The 4004L Laredo looks pretty interesting. I go to Harmony Central ---pretty much 9 out of 10 reviews were bad, I mean BAD, as in "Rubbery" neck (that sounds scary) that is not reinforced, kind of a one trick pony as to tone, terrible set-up from factory and about ZERO customer support. I don't see such reviews on the 4003. What gives? Who's got first-hand experience on the Laredo?
Very soon you will see posts claiming that ricks are horrible and made by blind monkeys in a factory in southern California. Then you will see a bunch of posts claiming Rickenbackers are made of gold by God Himself.
You are right, Ric5. Please--no pro/anti fanatics about this. Just the facts, ma'am, just the facts from actual owners.
I don't own a 4004 but I have a 4003 and as far as I know they use the same neck for both basses. My 4003 neck is solid and based on that I wouldn't be worried about a 4004 neck if I was going to buy one.
Back to the real world ... The 4003 is a classic improved version of the 4001 bass. The 4003 has loud aggressive and distinctive single coil pickups. The negatives are the archaic bridge design, and uncomfortable binding. The 4004L and 4004cii basses have 2 Rickenbacker Humbuckers. The wiring is 1 volumne and 1 tone and 1 toggle. The 4004 is a darker more somber sounding. The 4004 can be retrofitted with single coil pickups and stacked pots to make it sound like a 4003.
Hey Ric5: I was unaware of that option! Has anyone actually done that p/u swap-out and posted with their comments on the results?
They use the same neck now, for about 2 years +/-. Before then they had different necks. The early 4004 basses from the 90s had a slightly werker neck. The Rickenbacker strengthened the neck, and then they started using the same necks for both. I like the 4004 basses a lot. But I don't like them stock.
Here is a Cii I did such to, was a great bass, but during that period 2004 the necks were a bit on the chunky side so I sold it a few years later.
The Rickenbacker hb-1 and the high gain pickups have the same footprint. Here is a 4004 with toasters http://www.3dentourage.com/425/05-4004cii5.htm (the pickups don't look like toasters because of the gold covers) This 4004 here has a high gain in the neck and a custom made single coil bridge pickup http://www.3dentourage.com/425/4004cii-5-mb-2.htm Theis 4004 here has had about a dozen different pickup combinations http://www.3dentourage.com/425/93-4004L-5-2.htm
These days I have a Dec '11 (NAMM Show 2012 Laredo bass that is stock except for moving a washer for the selector switch from inside the cavity to the front side under the nut on the front face. Great tone with TI Jazz Flats!
looks like a 4001s without a pick-guard and different pups IMO, cool vibe. Always thought that Lemmys hand carved one was awesome.
