4003AC. OK.

[theevilplankton]

I think the AC is great. Nice to see Ric doing something a little different.

New Bridge? Meh. The old bridge is a proved design, especially if you want to stick a pickup in the cavity! It's nowhere near like people say, no problems here.

I've got the Bartolini set in my Ric (3 pups), which you couldn't do with the new AC bridge!

Anyhow, good call AC, and good call Ric.

 

[br1qbat]

The dusty tears of aged classic rockers are just Satan's bonus....

 

[farace]

I think the AC is great. Nice to see Ric doing something a little different.

New Bridge? Meh. The old bridge is a proved design, especially if you want to stick a pickup in the cavity! It's nowhere near like people say, no problems here.

I've got the Bartolini set in my Ric (3 pups), which you couldn't do with the new AC bridge!

Anyhow, good call AC, and good call Ric.

The mute is still there; I don't see any reason why you couldn't still evacuate the cavity and fill it with the Bartolini. The only thing that appears to be changed is area south of that, with the individual saddles. I've never had a problem with the existing bridge/tailpiece, but I'd still admit this is an improvement, without really changing much of the looks.

 

[zon6c-f]

Supposedly, Ric has a new model. TA-DA!!! Never heard about guy. I had to go to google it. And I know - if I have to google the name, there is no real music there... Anyhow.
It's ugly with those green sharks. Plus, how many gazzilion of $$$ it's going to cost?
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/4003AC--rickenbacker-al-cisneros-signature-4003-natural

And 2 “ashtrays” to remove!

Give me my 72 4001!

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Which the neck pickup is now right in the P position, and yes it does sound like a P when soloed (more than my Jazz bass does with the neck pickup soloed).

Right at the P's EA pickup's relative position.

 

[pbass2]

Wow, very interesting Ric. I dig the idea of the pickup placement a lot. Would love to see how one looks w/o the pickup covers on.

 

[InhumanResource]

What a sales pitch! I've been looking for a bass that can do that BRRRRRRRRRROOOOOWWWWRRRRR MMMMMMNNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGH CLYNK CLUNK CLUNK ZZZZZZZZZZRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOWWWW MMMMMMRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHGGGGGG VVVVVVVVVVVVVUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRLLLLLLLLLMMMMMMMMMMMM GGGGGGGGGGPPPPPPPPPOOBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBLLLLLLTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT tone for years!

 

[Fun With Dirt]

I like the pickup placement. ...but that's about it. I don't like the knobs, pickguard and the green inlays.

I'd end up removing the pickup cover(s) and replacing the bridge.

 

[micguy]

One more covered pickup and you could avoid wrong notes, as....you wouldn't be able to actually touch the strings with your plucking hand. They're almost there.

 

[johnson79]

This thread actually got me to start listening to Om and I really like it. Al's playing is very percussive. He plays on the neck and does things differently from most bass players. I really dig the AC bass, but would probably change those massive knobs.

 

[GoesThump]

Well, I can't say I love the green inlays...

But otherwise I think it is very good. That bridge design looks like a good choice for the 4003 series going forward. The PU placement is somewhat 4002-ish. Would love to hear some clips of it.

GT

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Took me about 3-4 seconds to shut it down. Thank you very much.

My first thoughts were "Woah! Fieldy from Korn is playing Rickenbacker now?...oh, it says 'Al Cisneros'. Must be his real name."

 

[Fun With Dirt]

This thread actually got me to start listening to Om and I really like it. Al's playing is very percussive. He plays on the neck and does things differently from most bass players. I really dig the AC bass, but would probably change those massive knobs.

I'll play on the next when I am wanting that 70's "bounce" on the attack of the note. It's almost got an autowah character to it and that sharp sound of the string hitting the frets. Sounds pretty cool.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...the 4004 line (make a 4004/5 and a 4004 FL) and make enough of them so players can get their hands on one. I've read a lot of comments from people saying they'd love to try one, but have never seen one in a shop.

I think the biggest problem was that dealer and most bassists played it so safe and/or just wanted more of the same classic look, thus, dooming a great instrument to extinction.

 

[higain617]

I’ve never once heard Al Cisneros on WROK, The Classic Rock of Sheboygan. Therefore, there is no music there.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I’m 58 and try to keep my ears open, it’s hard to veer my taste much from what I heard as a teenager. Today’s Doom fans may find themselves bemoaning whatever crap the kids are listening to in 2030, the inevitable Old Fart Effect. Still, why a Ric? I’m not hearing anything particularly Ric-like in that tone. With that amount of dirt, it could be virtually anything, I highly doubt a blind listening would be able to discern what bass was being played under that blanket of distortion. Or maybe I’m just an Old Fart chasing these crazy kids off my lawn.

 

[br1qbat]

This thread actually got me to start listening to Om and I really like it. Al's playing is very percussive. He plays on the neck and does things differently from most bass players. I really dig the AC bass, but would probably change those massive knobs.

Success!

 

[ctmullins]

It might just be something as simple as ergonomics. I know when I completed my 4004 build I was stunned at how comfortable it turned out to be. The narrow body, generous cutaways, the way the upper “swoop” gets out of the way of my abdomen, the relatively light weight, the balance and proportions, etc. Rossmeisl’s basic design is a winner in my book, having achieved top marks in both form and function.

Combine that with the (generally) good build quality, and why not? Al is famous enough to get to design his sig model, which is quite clearly different but still instantly recognizable as a Rick, so good for him.

I actually wonder if the new bridge was part of Al’s design spec, or whether Ben coattailed that himself...?

 

[farace]

I think the biggest problem was that dealer and most bassists played it so safe and/or just wanted more of the same classic look, thus, dooming a great instrument to extinction.

And allowing them to continue complaining that Ric never fixes the design flaws of the 4003.

 

[SirMjac28]

I do like the strings so there's that.