I can't directly comment on the standard 4001 Greco clone, the RB-700s, but have used the 4001S clones, the PMB-800. Simply put, they're excellent instruments. The construction is impeccable, continuing to use the stinger that Rick introduced in the early 70s, though thicker, more akin to the 4005 model (which I actually very much like the look of, especially on the headstock). Fat slab fingerboards, very comfortable neck shapes, back painted Plexi trussrod covers like early Ricks. As with many Japanese instruments in that period, the pots and wiring could be higher quality, but are perfectly functional as is. Pickups I think are ceramic, could be wrong there, but are very good sounding and strong, and definitely get you in the Rickenbacker spectrum. On the mapleglo, I've had a Lollar T-bird neck pickup in there, though I'm looking at going to a Toaster soon. The wiring has been upgraded to have push/pulls for the treble cap and for stereo output. The white 4000 started as another PMB, which I have put a Classic Amplification pickup in. Overall, it sounds darned close to the original Greco pickup. Now, the PMBs started out as part of the same series as the Thunderbird clones, pretty much Greco's top production aiming to be as close as possible to original models. The RBs were part of their more standard line. I think on those the body might be pancake construction, but it's hard to decipher the catalogues. The PMB came in the 800 and 1000 originally, with the 800 having the same pancake body as the RB series I believe, which I think my white one is. It's a bit lighter and not quite as resonant as the '89 mapleglo.
Personally, I think they are equal to Rickenbackers, and better than some. I far prefer them in fit and finish to my 4001v63, which had a 2x4 for a neck.
Yeah. We have a different response to "how's it hangin'?"
