Bass Gear Review

Reviewer	Richard Slater
Experience	17 years
Email	richardsl@blueyonder.co.uk
Review date	October 18 2001
Manufacturer	Rickenbacker
Model	4004 CII (Cheyenne)
Price	Ł1349
Item owned for	1-6 months

Bass type	4 string fretted
Neck join	Neck Through
Neck construction	maple
Fignerboard	can't remember but it's some very hard rare wood
Body	maple
Finish	dark green
Pickups	humbuckers
Hardware	gold finish
Electronics	passive p/ups, either/both p/up selection

Always wanted one. Not sure about the original 'gravel in a bath' sound though. Bit out of date now. No stereo option and humbuckers meant it was always going to be different. Very nicely built. I've had 6 band practices since I last touched the tuning. Great bottom and top end. Good with my Peavey TNT130 and all the middle taken out. Recorded with it once and it came out really well - good individual sound that can be picked out easily if you want to. Still hints of the original 4001S sound if you want them - they're obviously keen on getting the bottom end as good as possible. US offical price $1749 so the price wasn't a rip-off for this country. Found harmonics in places I didn't know there were any - sign of really decent pick-ups. Ended up giving away my Aria Pro II to some kids charity - there's just no point in playing it when you've got one of these.

Construction	95%
(very solid)
Appearance	98%
(niiice!)
Playability	90%
(good neck feel. Nice weight - not too light.)
Sound	90%
(great bottom/top end)
Value	75%
(It ain't cheap!)
Overall	90%