Do I want a Rickenbacker bass?

[BassicJazzy]

I specifically stated Rotosound RS66LD. Back in the 70s there wasn't much else. Rickenbacker specifically addressed this issue with the 4003. Now there are dozens of choices. If I remember right using anything other than Rickenbacker strings back in the 70s voided the warranty, I may mistaken it was a long time ago. Also if you Google the subject it pretty much agrees with my comments.

I never used those so apologize if they are particularly high tension. Yeah, I've heard about the Rick warranty issue. My bass came new with no Owner's Manual or Warranty info, even though I bought it at the largest store (at the time) in downtown Chicago. Since there was no internet and no instructions I never knew about voiding the warranty, so happily put all kinds of strings on the bass. As I said, it never changed the neck, or the way the bass played. I just found the bass sounded a lot better with rounds.

Pretty sure from the Rig Rundown series video that Squire said he rigged his with rounds too.

All I was saying in my post was that most rounds are lower tension than most flats. For the manufacturers that list tensions, you can see that pretty clearly.

 

[mikecd1]

An early '73 4001 will have full width inlays, checker board binding, a toaster neck pickup, an aluminium "gap-tooth" tailpiece, and wavy Grover tuners. Over the course of the year, the tailpiece changed to the cast Zinc (with no gap), the inlays shrank, and the binding became plain. I have seen some late '73s with Kluson "reverse" tuners - Grovers and Klusons were both used in '74, and Grovers may have lasted into '75.

The neck pickup will be 1/2 inch from the end of the fretboard. It was moved to the current 1 inch spacing in '75. The truss rod cover will be flat plexi. The moulded plastic TRC was introduced in '75.

With Rickenbackers, there is often some overlap as features transition.

Basses with all the early '73 features are considered more desirable from a collector's point of view, and usually attract a price premium as a result.

The usual caveats for 4001s concerning potential truss rod abuse apply.

Pretty much the same as my experience with my 72 Fireglo (checkerboard binding) and will add that the truss rod snapped with round wounds in the 70's and I had factory repaired. I played until mid 90's, but succumbed to the lack of ergonomics, neck dive and the weight. Half round strings a nice compromise and used to love the Rickenbacker "electro" strings that came in a red box. A great experience overall with no regrets except sentimental memories on our parting. I do miss the 4001V63 that I had after the 4001 and would get another if I was going to get another Ric.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Also, I think '73 was the last for the lettering on the control knobs.

They still have the lettering on the knobs, except for the vintage type with the indicator line.

 

[JoeyFab]

I thought I did...Chris Squire was my mentor. Then I played one, and NEVER wanted one again. No TYVM.

 

[Salicete]

I have a 4003, so not ~exactly~ the same bass, but... Rickenbackers, can vary wildly in build quality and feel.

I've bought and sold many over the years, and some felt like a strung 2 x 4 board, and not a nice one, while others felt great.

Since you asked for opinions, if you play it and it feels good, sounds good and calls out to you, buy it if you have the bucks. You get the added bonus of helping out an older friend.

 

[Iridescentone]

I specifically stated Rotosound RS66LD. Back in the 70s there wasn't much else. Rickenbacker specifically addressed this issue with the 4003. Now there are dozens of choices. If I remember right using anything other than Rickenbacker strings back in the 70s voided the warranty, I may mistaken it was a long time ago. Also if you Google the subject it pretty much agrees with my comments.

That's right. Those Roto66 swing bass strings not only caused 4001 neck/truss issues, but they tore up frets like crazy. I had them on my '69 when everyone wanted to sound like Chris Squire. lol Constant little truss adjustments and grooved-up frets. Besides, in '72 Rotos were hard to find in my locale and cost $30 per set, best price. Looking back, we were paying extra money for strings and the privilege of beating the snot outta our basses. How nuts was that?

 

[51PRI]

...I also second the comments saying to ask us in the Rickenbacker Club.

Where IS that dang Rickenbacker Club?

You need to play one. Not just a 10 minute pass, but like for real. Play it sitting, play it standing. Play it while leaning into your vocal mic....

He may bring the bass to our gig this weekend. If he does I guess I'll play it for a set, or a part of a set. That would be a true test.

 

[MrAB4003]

For $1k less, I’d rather have this modded ‘15 Laredo. (It used to be mine, I had the mods done by Aceonbass)
Very comfortable contoured body, (with an actual forearm contour-Gasp!), a solid Schaller bridge, great sounding pickups.

Rickenbacker 4004L Laredo 2012 - 2021 | Reverb

The 4004L Laredo was introduced in the early '90s as a "Cresting Wave" style solidbody bass with a distinct visual flair along with the 4004C Cheyenne. Unlike earlier 4000-series basses, these basses lacked a pickguard, body binding and other detailing that characterized earlier Rickenbacker bass...

reverb.com

Used 4004s are surprisingly hard to find nowadays. And those that are found are expensive (due to supply vs. demand).

Where IS that dang Rickenbacker Club?

Right this way

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Rics are cool and I own one, but I like my StingRays better.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Used 4004s are surprisingly hard to find nowadays. And those that are found are expensive (due to supply vs. demand).

Good to know.

 

[Dark Horse]

I’ve tried to like them.., I’ve owned seven 4001 and 4003 basses in my personal collection, but always end up selling them. I dig the tone, don’t dig the feel.

So I am building a bass that will get me close to the Ricky sound, but with a feel that I prefer. I just started out, and the build is slow going, but I’m making progress….
Here’s the plan :

*Neck through body
*Neck - maple /Purple Heart with rosewood board
*Body wings - maple
*32” scale length
*Rick pickup positions , either toasters, other Ricky pickups, or perhaps Nordstrand J blades. Pickup position is a big part of the sound
*Hipshot hardware


All that said, Rickenbacker are really unique instruments that have a cool tone and look… and they’re good investments as well.

 

[Axtman]

 

[shadven]

I’m a Fender P player, but I love Rickenbackers. I have one in my herd and play it regularly and gig with it on occasion. Super cool bass, that is a work-horse like a Fender is a work-horse. They’re built to last and look/sound great. I like fat necks too.

 

[woodyng2]

Used 4004s are surprisingly hard to find nowadays. And those that are found are expensive (due to supply vs. demand).

$2k for the one I linked is more than reasonable. It’s not a perfect intact collector piece, but it is a great unique bass.
You have the classic Rick SC pickup sounds in a comfort/functional format that’s even sleeker than a 4003S.
Reverb sellers have high expectations.(this one started out at $3k). There’s a couple other listings in the $3k range,
but I bet they could be had for a lower offer. But yeah, 4004 models were never produced in the mass quantities of 4001/3.
And then there’s the blueburst Cii for the ludicrous asking price of $13k.

 

[rodak]

They still have the lettering on the knobs, except for the vintage type with the indicator line.

Hmmm. Not sure where I got that idea from. Must be confusing it with something else.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Having owned a 4001 as my first bass, I don't get why people pay a premium, just the "Vintage Mojo" factor, I guess. The brand new 4003 are better in almost every respect, better trussrod, better bridge, better electronics. if you really like that classic Squire/Geddy Ric clank and grind, there is no substitute. If you want to sound like Macca playing a Hofner, look elsewhere, plenty of cheaper options can do that tone. Skip the Rotosounds, I recently tried a set after a 30 year hiatus and... nope. Poor quality control, uneven tone, and go dead in three weeks. Rics aren't cheap, but neither are the high-end Fenders, and nobody seems to bat an eyelash at those prices.

 

[micguy]

A '77 4001 was the best bass in my heard at one point. OK, it was also the only bass in my herd at that point, and my first bass. There's nothing wrong with them; they are just different in a lot of small (and not so small) ways. Once i had the chance to try other basses, I moved it on - not my thing. But maybe a Ric IS your thing - you won't know until you try.

 

[SirJoe CowBass]

My 2 cents (of euros, because I'm from Italy!) is to buy it.

Not very easy to find, and if you don't like it you can always re-sell it later.


In the first day of July, this year, it will be 38 years since I have bought my 4001 (an used 1979 BurgundyGlo).

My best purchase ever and my favorite of all my basses.

Since I had started with bass, in Summer 86, the Rickenbacker 4001 has always been an iconic bass for me, for everything it has.

The look, the sound, the great bassists who used it:

Geddy Lee and Chris Squire on top, but also Butler, Lemmy, Glover, Hughes...and many others.
Pretty much almost all the bassists that I like most used a Rickenbacker in some part of the career (with the exception of Steve Harris, of course! ...but some parallel universe where he plays it would be interesting!).

When I bought mine, I immediately bonded with it.
I would never ever sell it.

Surely there are basses more modern (the luthier who refretted mine in 2013 did not like it), and also lighter (but, even if 56, I'm one of those who don't consider the weight of an instrument so important), but it feels perfect for me.




Greetings from Italy!

 

[Gilmourisgod]

The immediate re-sale value of a Ric for the same (or often more) than you paid for it may be one of it's strongest points, not many basses hold their value like a Ric, which makes buying one relatively risk-free in case you can't bond with it. Keep it pretty (and un-modified) though, people want as close to a pristine bass as possible. Used ones often go for more than new because people don't want to wait 6 months to get one, and Ric carefully meters output to keep them a bit scarce, and therefore expensive. You can save a little by going with an "S" model, and they are generally more comfortable to play. The walnut models are about 1lb lighter than solid maple too, if weight is an issue.

 

[Drog]

I have a love hate relationship with Rickenbacker but somehow I now own three. lol.
They are unique and not for everyone but everyone wants one.

I’m no help here…