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Best strings for Rickenbacker 4003?
- Thread starter sugerbass
- Start date
I've never seen them for sale, and the Rickenbacker manual doesn't seem to even mention them.
Have you tried contacting Rickenbacker?
Please report back what they say!
My 4003 is a 4-string, but I would be curious what the answer is.
Just curious... What's so special about Rickenbacker bass strings specifically?
Nothing in particular. It's just that I've tried Swing66 and low tension flats and have not been satisfied. But I do like a YouTube demo with factory strings. So I'd like to try them.
My impression is that they sound superb -- or at least superb on a Rickenbacker -- at first. Their "new string" tone is a really great match for the bass.
But, for me anyway, that didn't last very long. Perhaps a few weeks. Then they settled in to sounding more or less like any other nickel-plated-steel roundwound. If I was going to put fresh strings on every month, maybe using the Rickenbacker strings would be a good idea, but since I'm not going to do that, I'm more interested in optimizing for the broken-in tone.
Other than that, they do come in an unusual set of gauges, though there are I think at least a couple of other companies that sell sets in that gauge now. Curt Mangan for sure, maybe someone else too.
I thought I had settled with finality on using GHS Pressurewounds on my 4003, but after a few months, I noticed that they had gradually settled into sounding a bit more "flatwound" than I wanted, and I wasn't getting enough higher harmonics. Not a bad sound at all -- I like flatwound strings -- but I was wanting more edge on this particular bass. So i think I'll go back to roundwounds next time I change strings.
[Edit: Of course, maybe part of the problem is me wanting to get 6-12 months out of a set of strings. Maybe I need to be more open to changing them at least quarterly.
]
I see what you mean... My two Yamahas (BB435 & TRBX505) are both wearing Ken Smith Compressors (GHS Pressurewound equivalent) right now. While they sound very good on the 505, they don't have the same bite and definition on the 435. I'm thinking of going back to SIT Power Wound Nickels for the 435.
I didn't make very much in the way of recordings with the stock strings, but listening again, perhaps this wasn't an entirely correct judgement. Even as they break in, they might retain some more clarity than other NPS strings I've tried.
Could be worth a revisit!
Might try this then:
www.curtmangan.com
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www.curtmangan.com
Custom 45-105 Nickel Wound Light 4-String Bass Guitar String Set
Elevate your bass guitar performance with Custom 45-105 Nickel Wound Light 4-String Bass Guitar String Set. Crafted for superior tone and playability.
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120 Nickel Plated Steel Bass Single String
Curt Mangan makes high end USA made guitar strings with the best quality nickelwound, pure nickel, stainless steel, phosphor bronze, and 80/20 bronze wire…
Or the B string here with the standard 4-string set from Rickenbacker?Might try this then:
Custom 45-105 Nickel Wound Light 4-String Bass Guitar String Set
Elevate your bass guitar performance with Custom 45-105 Nickel Wound Light 4-String Bass Guitar String Set. Crafted for superior tone and playability.
+
120 Nickel Plated Steel Bass Single String
Curt Mangan makes high end USA made guitar strings with the best quality nickelwound, pure nickel, stainless steel, phosphor bronze, and 80/20 bronze wire…
Well... IME, there's really only one situation when there's "best strings" for a Rickenbacker bass. That's when you have to send it back to the factory for some kind of repair. RIC used to get very crabby, if you sent them your bass with "non-factory" strings; that would get you a " too bad; so sad. Your warranty is void" message. However... about a decade or so ago, Rick owners (me included) backed the then-CEO, John Hall, into a corner; and he conceded that strings which were "the equivalent" of the RIC factory round wounds, would not void your warranty. Which meant "normal gauge" rounds were OK. But, putting the factory strings back on, before you sent it back, would be even better...
Other than that? Put whatever strings you like on your Rick. But, if you think you want it to sound sort of like your upright? Yeah, a set of tape wounds will get you pretty close. Both of my basses that I sometimes do that with, wear Rotosound TruBass88 Tapewounds. One pretty much has to, but that's a different story... Like the ones Sir Paul had (and may still have) on his Rick 4001... My '73 4001 wears very low tension Dogal JC106A "Jaco" Carbonsteel Flats; again, pretty much because it has to. My '01 4003 wears the "factory Maxima 4440 Flats" clones; Optima's 4440 RB Flats. Surprisingly, the Dogal's sound very much like them. But, there are Rick owners here, that use pretty much every kind of bass string there is - and think that those strings are the "best"...
Other than that? Put whatever strings you like on your Rick. But, if you think you want it to sound sort of like your upright? Yeah, a set of tape wounds will get you pretty close. Both of my basses that I sometimes do that with, wear Rotosound TruBass88 Tapewounds. One pretty much has to, but that's a different story... Like the ones Sir Paul had (and may still have) on his Rick 4001... My '73 4001 wears very low tension Dogal JC106A "Jaco" Carbonsteel Flats; again, pretty much because it has to. My '01 4003 wears the "factory Maxima 4440 Flats" clones; Optima's 4440 RB Flats. Surprisingly, the Dogal's sound very much like them. But, there are Rick owners here, that use pretty much every kind of bass string there is - and think that those strings are the "best"...
The best strings for me on a ric were Dunlop stainless steels (now known as standard series) they actually got me closer to the beefy Geddy tone than Roto swing bass. Brought out the punchy growl the best. I kinda miss playing Rush with a Ricky. When I noodle around with my Warwick or my others I like it but there's something to be said about playing the bass that was used to make that tone...
For a good all-round electric bass tone, it's hard to go wrong with Rotosound RS66LF. The tone knob is there if you find it too bright.
For a more upright-ish thump, a set of good flatwounds will help. Optima RB Flats are replica of vintage Rickenbacker strings, and La Bella 760FL is good for that tone, too.
To split the difference, check out Rotosound 77 or Thomastik Jazz Flats. They are bright flats, with some thump of normal flats and some sustain of rounds.
For a more upright-ish thump, a set of good flatwounds will help. Optima RB Flats are replica of vintage Rickenbacker strings, and La Bella 760FL is good for that tone, too.
To split the difference, check out Rotosound 77 or Thomastik Jazz Flats. They are bright flats, with some thump of normal flats and some sustain of rounds.
