A Bass with a Rickenbacker sound

[No_Germs]

I'm a big fan of paul mccartney, and i really like his rickenbacker bass sound. Unfortunatly rickenbackers aren't imported to my country, so can you recommend some other basses with a sound similiar to that of rickenbacker bass?
thanks

 

[dunamis]

I had a 4003 when they first came out in the late 70's. I'm afraid there is no other bass that sounds like a Ric. JMHO.

 

[hartke20g]

^^^ i agree. even though i've yet to play a ric, if there was a bass out there that sounds like a ric for a cheaper price it would've been mine. even though a fender '51 P (once modded with a neck pickup) should give a pretty close sound.

 

[No_Germs]

i didn't think that there's a bass that sounds EXACTLY like a rick, but that's the type of sound i'm looking for, what are the basses with most similiar sound (that don't cost a fortune)?

 

[thebassist1234]

Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass $699 (less with hasseling the salesperson)

I love mine its extremely growly, vintage looks (everyone complements me on how good of condition my "70's" jazz bass), and its a fender, so its great.

It is about as close to a Rickenbacker you can get except for maybe a Warwick, but it doesnt have the same vintage credibility.

 

[No_Germs]

really? IMO jazz bass is far away from a rickenbacker... it has a much more trebelish sounds... or am i completley wrong?

 

[FaithNoMan]

A Gibson Ripper will get you close...

Don't believe me?

Get Faith No More's "We Care A Lot", and "Introduce Yourslef" albums....

It's a grindy, Squire-like tone on those albums...but add flatwounds, and a cleaner amp...

Both basses are made from Hard Maple(neck and body), and have passive pups...I really feel the hard maple adds to the initial "thump" because of it's attack characteristics...

Besides that, I'd say get a 51 P bass(or reissue ) with the single coil P-pup and slab body...

 

[thebassist1234]

Depends, I've found that some Jazzes have heavier tones than others, maybe its the body material or neck but my Geddy sounds deeper than any bass I've played.

 

[FaithNoMan]

really? IMO jazz bass is far away from a rickenbacker... it has a much more trebelish sounds... or am i completley wrong?

The clank of a Ric gets more aggressive as you turn them up through amps.... J basses seem to have this "clicky" treble to me, that is louder at low volumes, but gives way to warmth once you turn them up..Rics just get more touch-sensitive the louder they are...

 

[No_Germs]

hey, by the way you put it, maybe i'm wrong from the beginning- i'm looking for the bass sound similiar to that of "with a little help from my friends" or "Getting Better", i know it's played on a rick, and that's the typical rick sound for me, but maybe i'm wrong as mccartney plays mostely on the higher registers on those songs...

 

[19870929]

I own a 1978 Rickenbacker 4003. I also own 8 Warwick Basses. The only reason I have the rickenbacker is to be able to play the old Rush stuff, my Warwicks are BY FAR the best sounding instruments I have found for my taste, but the Rick is for different purposes, is an instrument with a Nasty sound, but that is what Im looking for.

 

[FaithNoMan]

I own a 1978 Rickenbacker 4003. I also own 8 Warwick Basses. The only reason I have the rickenbacker is to be able to play the old Rush stuff, my Warwicks are BY FAR the best sounding instruments I have found for my taste, but the Rick is for different purposes, is an instrument with a Nasty sound, but that is what Im looking for.

They didn't make a 4003 in '78...not that I know of!?!?

 

[Tbirdbassist]

The 4003 didn't appear until the 80's. I beleive the 4001 was discontinued as the "standard"in 1982 or 83. But it feeps reappearing in special editions and what not so I guess it technically hasn't been completly pulled from the line.

I've been questioning 19870929's creds lately. Every post I've seen of his has been praising towards Warwick. Just seems a little fishy to me...

 

[19870929]

They didn't make a 4003 in '78...not that I know of!?!?

i stand corrected

 

[19870929]

The 4003 didn't appear until the 80's. I beleive the 4001 was discontinued as the "standard"in 1982 or 83. But it feeps reappearing in special editions and what not so I guess it technically hasn't been completly pulled from the line.

I've been questioning 19870929's creds lately. Every post I've seen of his has been praising towards Warwick. Just seems a little fishy to me...

i must admit im a huge fan. Really like the rick sound too, but for different purposes. . Im a big fan of MM too.

 

[zazz]

"lately"!! hes only made 10 posts

 

[lug]

Ric:
Link Removed

Peavey T-40 (in single coil mode on both pups)
Link Removed

 

[FaithNoMan]

Ric:
Link Removed

Peavey T-40 (in single coil mode on both pups)
Link Removed

The 2nd one sounds good, but is more of a J bass tone...it's missing the upper end "chime" of the Ric..

You can't hear the difference? Or is that just an approximation of a Ric sound?

It still sounds good, and makes me gas for a T-40 ....they are a nice dark contrast to my Ric...now that I have heard one...thanks!

 

[No_Germs]

ok, so let me rephrase my question:
what bass sound similiar to a rick?

 

[BartmanPDX]

The 2nd one sounds good, but is more of a J bass tone...it's missing the upper end "chime" of the Ric..

You can't hear the difference? Or is that just an approximation of a Ric sound?

It still sounds good, and makes me gas for a T-40 ....they are a nice dark contrast to my Ric...now that I have heard one...thanks!

Just so you know, in order to hold onto my Lakland and my Ric, I'm going to be putting my T-40 (with both fretted and fretless necks) up for sale, as soon as I get some better pics. It's in excellent condition and has got gobs of old-school mojo.