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rickenbacker 4003 vs 4004 Laredo

I posted a bunch of recordings of the 4004L SPC in the Rickenbacker Club thread but here is one of the bass with both pickups using a pick. This was recorded using my Flint through a Radial Pro D2 into a Marantz PMD661. Stock RIC strings that are almost three month old with daily playing on them.
Beautiful,clear sound- Love those pickups! And very nice,melodic playing,as we've come to expect!
So is the reverb-ish effect from one of the 2 pieces of equipment you mentioned? ( not familiar with either of them)
 
I posted a bunch of recordings of the 4004L SPC in the Rickenbacker Club thread but here is one of the bass with both pickups using a pick. This was recorded using my Flint through a Radial Pro D2 into a Marantz PMD661. Stock RIC strings that are almost three month old with daily playing on them.
A very relaxing listen. I could listen to that all night. Thanks.
 
Those are definitely not aggressive compared to some stuff I have created in the past, such as these songs from years ago.





Skip to 2:04 on this next one to get to the main song.








This next one was a group effort (as all of them are really, in the end).

I just came across this old video from 1999 with my first Zon! :hyper:

Cool-!
Do you recall what bass you used on illegal aliens? Nice grind,but didn't strike me as a Rick necessarily.
(Unless it was a 4004?)
 
Those are definitely not aggressive compared to some stuff I have created in the past, such as these songs from years ago.





Skip to 2:04 on this next one to get to the main song.








This next one was a group effort (as all of them are really, in the end).

I just came across this old video from 1999 with my first Zon! :hyper:

Excellent! Lot's to listen to, today. Okay, the first track - Blue Samba - Is that 13/4 on the intro? I love the walking you do @ 2:45. Your drummer is tight. Great surf-style ending, too. These are great! I don't know why, but it makes me think of a hard edged Spyrogyra.
 
Jeff, I'll get back to you by Tuesday I hope:-O


Don't know how I didn't post my NBD or even a followup, but here's the Ruby 2012 4004Cii I picked up. She's amazing:)


4004s.jpg
 
Nice pair, they complement each other perfectly. :cool: That's a fairly old 4004L you got there.

You being blackandwhite they should look like mine, above. So you don't have to go hunting for that photo here it is again. :smug:

View attachment 888434
Copyright © Jeffrey P. Scott 2015 All rights reserved.


Yes that's an excellent pic, I was JUST looking at it again and see something on yours that I only just noticed on both my 4004s: my '93 Jetglo 4004L and your Snowglo 4004L (what year is that?) have one more dot fret marker at the 19th fret, and my Ruby '12 4004Cii and your Jetglo 4004L (what year is that?) have no 19th fret dot marker. Both my 4004s have same sized dots, but it seems your Jetglo's dots are larger. Maybe it seems a bit picky but it is interesting, especially if it is a known "change" as far as the different production batches go.

"Blackandwhite" was derived from an old VW Van I had, then It worked nicely when I got my Fender Geddy Lee Jazz in Black/Maple. Now it suits the "Black/Maple" Rick 4004L:) That said, I'd probably have a Snowglo 4004 if I ever found one for sale nearby:)

Edit: I see also your toasters and vintage 4003-style tuners.
 
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Hmm... I personally prefer my 4003 to my former 4004l, but that's just me, I'm a pretty old school cat who mainly plays psychedelic rock and folk. The 4003 isn't brighter than the laredo, but rather smoother and more "bubbly" if that makes sense, I found while the laredo did have less note definition it sounds more "mechanical" you dig? That's probably because of the single coils vs. humbuckers. I also found the laredo to be less comfortble for my playing style (which is pretty weird... Take a look at Nick St. Nicholas of Steppenwolf or Ryan Gullen of The Sheepdogs - like that). By the way, my 4003 is a 2009 and my laredo was an '07 if that matters. I'd humbly recommend you keep the 4003 if you play old school rock and roll sounds and can dig the old school look and feel but swap to the 4004 if you do more modern things. This is just my humble and honest personal opinion based on my experience.

Thanks for making it this far!
 
What pickups did you use for this one,Jeff?


The neck is the stock hb-1 ... the bridge is a 3001 hb-2 type single coil 8.6k ohms with a generic plastic cover that is the same foot print as the Rick pickups.

The 3001 pickup sounds great soloed ... it has that classic Rick single coil mid growl ...

That bass is currently on ebay and listed here in the classified ads ... I am looking for a way to keep that bass because it is a looked and a player
 
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The neck is the stock hb-1 ... the bridge is a 3001 hb-2 type single coil 8.6k ohms with a generic plastic cover that is the same foot print as the Rick pickups.

The 3001 pickup sounds great soloed ... it has that classic Rick single coil mid growl ...

That bass is currently on ebay and listed here in the classified ads ... I am looking for a way to keep that bass because it is a looked and a player

I put a cover on the 3001 pickup and it became microphonic. So I replaced both pickups with single coil high gain pickups and the neck is reverse wound so when the volumes are equal they act as a humbucker. I may just keep this one for a while.
 
I briefly had a 4004 but it developed a warp in the neck, so I moved on from it. However I found my 4003s was lacking in sound, too thin. So, I borrowed from the 4004 and put HB1’s into my 4003s. This thing rocks now, is just what the Dr ordered!
0Ry75BC.jpg
 
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To me, the real difference between the 4003 and the 4004 is - I have empirical evidence that 4003's exist; I have one (a COY '01 4003) of my very own. And, over the years, I've held several others in my sweaty little hands. And played them. The 4004, OTOH, is - in my reality - purely conjectural. Nobody I know - including the people who worked at the Rickenbacker dealers I've patronized - have not only never had one for sale; they've never actually seen one, either. Yes, there are pictures of them; but, that old saw that "pictures don't lie"? Well, they certainly can - and do - nowadays... So, until I actually have my hands on one - especially a left handed one? A 4004 is right there with that alien spacecraft and it's crew, deep underground at Area 51...:whistle:

I hope you know I'm just joking... Although, it's true that neither I, nor nobody I know, or have ever talked to personally, has ever seen a 4004; much less played one. Yes, I do know that they exist - and that several people here have them. And, if I ever find a left handed one? I'll have one, too. Unless those aliens have all the left handed ones...:cool:
 
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