THE RETURN OF THE RICKENBACKER 4005

[nixdad]

^^^^^
You got the Green one, Greenglo? That thing is awesome. Congratulations on snagging it.

Thank you, sir. It's British Racing Green.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Another thing that I truly love about the 4005V is how LOUD it is acoustically.
View attachment 7071108


No, it's not as loud as other "true" acoustic basses and you wouldn't use in an acoustic jam without an amp, but what a joy it is to occasionally strap this up and sit in front of the TV and play with a pick without having to plug it in. The shallow neck is sooooo easy to play.

I did that all the time with the 4005WB. Plenty loud enough for quiet noodling, I mean, practicing. The WB is even louder than the "bog standard" 4005 as the top edge of the body is considerably thicker than that of the WB. It's also heavier than the WB. That's why I'm holding out for the 4005WBV to be released into the wild; of course, by then, all my financial resources with be depleted.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Another thing that I truly love about the 4005V is how LOUD it is acoustically.

Arrrrgggghhhhh! British Racing Green! Maybe my favorite color of all time. I am agonizing over BRG vs. Jetglo for my 4005-ish build. Given how long my builds take, maybe I'll take a vote when I get a whole lot closer to paint..... two years from now.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Who am I kidding….BRG for the win!

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Who am I kidding….BRG for the win!

Def not jg for your personal build! BRG!

 

[nixdad]

I did that all the time with the 4005WB. Plenty loud enough for quiet noodling, I mean, practicing. The WB is even louder than the "bog standard" 4005 as the top edge of the body is considerably thicker than that of the WB. It's also heavier than the WB. That's why I'm holding out for the 4005WBV to be released into the wild; of course, by then, all my financial resources with be depleted.

I agree, Jeff - a 4005WBV would be awesome! I only hope it has the bound cat's eye if they choose to reissue.

Arrrrgggghhhhh! British Racing Green! Maybe my favorite color of all time. I am agonizing over BRG vs. Jetglo for my 4005-ish build. Given how long my builds take, maybe I'll take a vote when I get a whole lot closer to paint..... two years from now.

It will be killer no matter which you choose, Alex.

 

[Jeff Scott]

 

[nixdad]

View attachment 7071404

IF it happens, hopefully more like this (but with toasters):

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I'm gonna use these toasters from Retrovibe UK for my build. They have 4-wire coil splitting or series/parallel option. I'll let y'all know how they sound!

Retrovibe Replacement Hot ’69 Rickenbacker® Style Toaster® Humbucker Pickup 4-wire for coil tap – Retrovibe

 

[Wood and Wire]

I'm gonna use these toasters from Retrovibe UK for my build. They have 4-wire coil splitting or series/parallel option. I'll let y'all know how they sound!

Retrovibe Replacement Hot ’69 Rickenbacker® Style Toaster® Humbucker Pickup 4-wire for coil tap – Retrovibe

Yeah, keep us posted - I'm toying with the idea of getting one of those (torn between that, their high gain, or getting my original Maxxon repaired).

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

I put the Optima Rickenbacker flats on my 4005v. FINALLY no more fret buzz, very big huge sound. The TI's are great sounding but I guess due to my specific technique or something they didn't pan out for me. The Optimas are great though, nice medium tension flat with plenty of that "old school" tone. I sound just like Stu Cook from CCR now, lol. Especially on the neck pickup. It can do a Phil lesh thing with a pick as well.

 

[nixdad]

I put the Optima Rickenbacker flats on my 4005v. FINALLY no more fret buzz, very big huge sound. The TI's are great sounding but I guess due to my specific technique or something they didn't pan out for me. The Optimas are great though, nice medium tension flat with plenty of that "old school" tone. I sound just like Stu Cook from CCR now, lol. Especially on the neck pickup. It can do a Phil lesh thing with a pick as well.

Stu Cook? Good guy!

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I have a question: It looks like the pickups for 4005 series basses are just screwed to the top with some rubber "donuts" spacing them up a little. Is the pickup height on a 4005 bass adjustable up/down short of adding or subtracting the "donuts". Inquiring Minds!

 

[Jeff Scott]

I have a question: It looks like the pickups for 4005 series basses are just screwed to the top with some rubber "donuts" spacing them up a little. Is the pickup height on a 4005 bass adjustable up/down short of adding or subtracting the "donuts". Inquiring Minds!

The rubber "donuts" (Gromits, actually, see below for an example of one)...

...have some squish (technical term) to them; the center screw on each side of the pickups are wood screws that allow for some up and down adjustment of the pickups.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Ok, so the adjustment range must be something like 1/16" at most then.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Perhaps, but I never had a need to adjust the ones on the WB so I do't really know (maybe 1/8"?).

 

[Gilmourisgod]

The pickup height must be effectively setting the height of fingerboard above body, that's pretty much what I figured. I might try something to get more range of adjustment on my 4005-ish clone build.

 

[Jeff Scott]

The pickup height must be effectively setting the height of fingerboard above body, that's pretty much what I figured. I might try something to get more range of adjustment on my 4005-ish clone build.

I have the pickups on my 4004s set so that when the strings are pressed down at the 20th fret they are about 1/16" above the pickups.

 

[Jeff Scott]

This is the best I have showing the height of the neck toaster relative to the fingerboard.

 

[nartsak]

Is it necessary to remove the tailpiece of a 4005V to change the strings? I saw that demoed in a video that way and thought it to be ridiculous.