Rickenbacker 4004

[woodyng2]

Checking in…. reviving the zombie thread….

I sold my JG laredo in 2022, after I found my ‘06 FG Cheyenne ii used online. It came with the modded stacked knob harness.
Although it isn’t what I would’ve (and have) done, (2 tone controls seems superfluous), I always liked the stacked knob arrangement
on early 60s Jazz basses. (Without a toggle, which I never use on the Cii). I have DR Pure blues set on it, and it’s almost TOO clanky!
The sound of the HBs with the correct value pots/cap certainly puts the “dark” myth to rest. I recently used it to record a short video for Miguelbass’ annual Play for Chris memorial. It’s just an iphone room recording of my little home rig, so definitely not a polished studio sound.
And I kept the walnut Cheyenne of course.

Anybody else with 4004 models in 2026?

 

[Jeff Scott]

Checking in…. reviving the zombie thread….

Anybody else with 4004 models in 2026?

Just these two out of the four that I've owned.

 

[DionClassic]

I had a 4004 but kept my 4003 longer. Main reason was the traditional look and sound. The 4003 is the ric that everyone expects to see and hear. The 4004 is definitely refined but if you’re buying a refined/modernized bass, there is a ton of options and I wouldn’t think or Rickenbacker at that point.

 

[woodyng2]

Lots of other options out there for sure.
But they won’t sound as much like a Rickenbacker, so the 4004 is the perfect bass for me.

 

[thisheregiraffe]

I'd love to own a 4004 someday. Not sure when or how it will happen... but someday!

 

[sunbeast]

I’m still rocking my Laredo with the Classic Amplification single coils. It’s the best feeling and sounding Ric I’ve owned for sure, and no other bass fits into a rock mix like it!

 

[mapleglo]

Still have mine. It's the only 4 string Ric I still own, and one of four I still own. Oddly, I don't play them much anymore. They're too heavy. Though the 4004 is probably pretty light if memory serves. Though I've been playing my '69 Tele bass when I get the urge to play a 4 string lately.

 

[woodyng2]

I’m still rocking my Laredo with the Classic Amplification single coils. It’s the best feeling and sounding Ric I’ve owned for sure, and no other bass fits into a rock mix like it! View attachment 7489814

First of all, GREAT photo!
At first, I thought this might be a Wizzard Tribute band. (huge Roy Wood fan here).
And your right hand playing position, very similar to mine, perfectly illustrates why the 4004 is the supreme playability Monarch
of Rickenbacker basses. Chris Esquire spent quite a lot of time playing the strings from this area in between the bridge and pickup.

 

[woodyng2]

View attachment 7489819

Still have mine. It's the only 4 string Ric I still own, and one of four I still own. Oddly, I don't play them much anymore. They're too heavy. Though the 4004 is probably pretty light if memory serves. Though I've been playing my '69 Tele bass when I get the urge to play a 4 string lately.

Your Cheyenne is *probably* 1-1.5 pounds lighter than the Tele. My Ci is the lightest Rickbass I’ve ever picked up.
But nothing beats that “latest bass” infatuation period sensation!
And Teles with the mid body pickup sound great.

 

[sunbeast]

First of all, GREAT photo!
At first, I thought this might be a Wizzard Tribute band. (huge Roy Wood fan here).
And your right hand playing position, very similar to mine, perfectly illustrates why the 4004 is the supreme playability Monarch
of Rickenbacker basses. Chris Esquire spent quite a lot of time playing the strings from this area in between the bridge and pickup.

Our singer is a literal clown (she has a stage persona called "Crying") and we can all get pretty fun/goofy on stage. This pic is actually from the funeral home the singer manages, which is a fun aside.

Yes that sweet-spot on a Ric is really nice one for punch- one of the beauties of the 4004 is that I can hit that spot while palm-muting as in the picture (I've never been able to pull that off comfortably on a stock 4001/3 because of the bridge mute teeth). It looks like I'm playing with a pick, but I'm actually palm-muted plucking here using a bit of fingernail and rarely play with a pick anymore. When I play more standard fingerstyle I can anchor over the bridge pickup and naturally hit that sweetspot too (less natural for me on Fenders due to pickup position).

 

[Jeff Scott]

First of all, GREAT photo!
At first, I thought this might be a Wizzard Tribute band. (huge Roy Wood fan here).
And your right hand playing position, very similar to mine, perfectly illustrates why the 4004 is the supreme playability Monarch
of Rickenbacker basses. Chris Esquire spent quite a lot of time playing the strings from this area in between the bridge and pickup.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Our singer is a literal clown (she has a stage persona called "Crying") and we can all get pretty fun/goofy on stage. This pic is actually from the funeral home the singer manages, which is a fun aside.

Yes that sweet-spot on a Ric is really nice one for punch- one of the beauties of the 4004 is that I can hit that spot while palm-muting as in the picture (I've never been able to pull that off comfortably on a stock 4001/3 because of the bridge mute teeth). It looks like I'm playing with a pick, but I'm actually palm-muted plucking here using a bit of fingernail and rarely play with a pick anymore. When I play more standard fingerstyle I can anchor over the bridge pickup and naturally hit that sweetspot too (less natural for me on Fenders due to pickup position).

I play like this a lot.

 

[Aceonbass]

As with all …er..most of my basses, this 4004 has been extensively modded. I made the clear acrylic guard and truss rod cover, then back painted them pearl white. It has the standard 4003 control layout with push pull controls for coil shorting, mono/stereo out, and vintage tone cap. I routed the cavity for a standard 4000 style bridge pickup at the same time I routed out the new control cavity. I also routed it to accept a heavily modded 4003 tailpiece. The bridge is flipped around so intonation can be easily set from the front. I also cut slots in the top for drop in string loading, then smoothed out the whole thing and had it triple plated.