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rickenbacker 4003 vs 4004 Laredo

#41
nopalfunk said:
Yes I know, actually that was my first idea, but in some way I like the borderless shape of the Laredo's body and the low action...what do you think?
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Adjustability for playing action is probably greater on the 4004 bridges. I have medium-low action on my 2 fretted 4004's,and very low action on my defretted Cii.
Also,rather than replacing the pickups with SC's, you can get 500k push-pull pots,which allow you to coil-tap each pickup,to get a sound similar to the older higain single SC pickups. I am in the camp that thinks the newer higains don't actually sound as good as the older "weaker" pickups.
 
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#42
woodyng said:
Oh yes,i recognize that one,at Apple Music in Portland. I played it,and also fell in love with the color.
The main thing that keeps the 4004 models from sounding more like a clanky classic Rick is the stock electronics.
I have 3 4004 variants,(Cheyenne I,Cheyenne II,and Laredo). All 3 have had the pot/cap upgrades,and all of them sound great. Dane Wilder did the harnesses,and i thoroughly recommend him,it's is a pretty inexpensive mod that makes a good sounding bass much more versatile.(and better sounding!)
Plus,$1200 for a good condition 4004 is a steal,IMO.
I don't much care for the 4001/3 models myself,unless it's an S model,but even then,I still prefer the overall ergonomics and feel of the 4004 models.
Here's my current brood. (Plus an import 8 string)View attachment 591665
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Nice collection, what's your opinion about the bridge replacement for the 4003's? Is this a hipshot bridge, right? It's really an upgrade?
 
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#43
woodyng said:
Ok,i just now looked at the pic of the 4004--BUY IT!
The ones with maple fretboards were only made for a few years,so this is a semi rare model.
Of course,i recommend you play it first,and make sure you like the neck,etc. if possible.
But if not,and you don't like it,re-sale should not be much of an issue.
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Yes I really want it, but I'm having some issues selling my 4003, it's taking so long, and I don't know if the seller can wait...I have 2 potential buyers for my 4003 but they offer me less than I expected ($1300) I paid for almost 1600, 4 years ago...
 
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#44
nopalfunk said:
Yes I really want it, but I'm having some issues selling my 4003, it's taking so long, and I don't know if the seller can wait...I have 2 potential buyers for my 4003 but they offer me less than I expected ($1300) I paid for almost 1600, 4 years ago...
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What they offered is a fair price as the bass is used and a recent model, therefore not a collectable instrument. JMHO. :cool: I'd accept their offers.
 
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#45
nopalfunk said:
Nice collection, what's your opinion about the bridge replacement for the 4003's? Is this a hipshot bridge, right? It's really an upgrade?
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Yes,i have the aluminum hipshot on my 4000 for 5-6 years now,i absolutely love it and consider it an improvement. I initially got it because my guitar tech guy could not get the intonation set with the old bridge,but i really like a lot of the features the Hipshot brought. (Better string-to-string sound uniformity,great sustain,and no mute assembly to bash my knuckles on).
I would recommend the aluminum bridge,as it weighs in about the same as the Rick unit. (although i have read from others the brass unit may convey a bassier tone.)
 
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#46
nopalfunk said:
Yes I really want it, but I'm having some issues selling my 4003, it's taking so long, and I don't know if the seller can wait...I have 2 potential buyers for my 4003 but they offer me less than I expected ($1300) I paid for almost 1600, 4 years ago...
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I have to agree with Jeff here,and at least you would still have some money left over with the 4004 purchase.
 
#49
nopalfunk said:
So, in terms of price the 4004's are more expensive or cheaper than the 4003's?
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What Paul said! Although a casual viewing of Ebay shows a lot of "hopefuls" listing used 4004's at over $2k,which is just crazy. (More than a new one). My experience over the last 8 years with these is that if you can pick one up in good condition for $1300,that's a really good price.
 
#51
I'm re-quoting myself from the first page of this thread:

"And, even though the current used-market value seems to put the 4004 just under that of a similar 4003, I predict that the 4004s will gather a bit more value over time compared to run-of-the-mill (i.e., '07, '08, '09 etc) 4003s, if nothing but for the fact that fewer seem to be on the market, new or used. Just my opinion, so don't bet the farm. (I recently passed on a 2007 Jetglo 4003 with a Toaster and case for $1,200 because, well, it was just another black 2007, and I wanted something different.... so I picked up the Cheyenne)
But Hell, even the 2015 Ric pricing shows the Laredo 4004 to have an MSRP some $300 *MORE* than a 4003!:
4003 -- $2,159
***4004L Laredo -- $2,459***
4004 Cii Cheyenne II-- $2,729"

So as far as 4004's "not holding their value as much as 4003" as someone said in this thread, I feel this trend might pass, sooner than later, if we're talking about "regular" nondescript or unremarkable run-of-the-mill 4003s versus a 4004. And I say that with all due respect to the 4003, which I love. But the 4004s are different, somewhat rarer animals. I strongly believe that if Chris Squire or Geddy Lee had played 4004s, the market would be much stronger, just by exposure...
 
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#55
Baird6869 said:
Strange that you don't see 4004's in the wild. Nobody seems to gig them.

Is it because they are very rare compared to a 4003 and not many are made?
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Hi Baird, I have only seen one 4004 *ever*. It is mine. I walked into a local guitar store and there she was straight across from me at the far side of the store just hanging there. I thought "Great, I'll just ignore that sweet bass, I know how much they cost, there's no way I can afford it". The price was unbelievably low, I spent five days thinking about it and when I returned after five days she was still there and I took her home with me.
IMAG5413.jpg
 
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#60
PaulBoyer said:
Naaaild it! Don't know if you know this, but at first the 4004L Laredo was available in Jetglo ONLY to match Rickenbacker's 650C Colorado guitar. Don't know exactly when they opened the Laredo to other colors, but I had a Fireglo from '97 for a while.
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I did not know that. If only there was some kind of readily available reference in which I could find such excellent and useful information...
 
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