I stopped using Rotos twenty years back for those same reasons. I moved to Warwick Reds and that was the end of it.
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Do I want a Rickenbacker bass?
- Thread starter 51PRI
- Start date
A couple used "S" models on the Guitar Center website right now, they seem to average around $1800.
www.guitarcenter.com
Used Rickenbacker 4003S JEGLO Electric Bass Guitar JEGLO | Guitar Center
For greater savings check out our Used Rickenbacker 4003S JEGLO Electric Bass Guitar and get a great deal today!
There's no doubt that Ergonomics was not the primary consideration in that iconic "cresting wave" body shape, but that was true of a lot of the 50's and 60's era designs. It's one of the cooler designs of that era IMO, maybe the coolest. If you rest your forearm on the upper bout (like I do) the hard binding edge may wear on you a little. I wear a tennis forearm sleeve sometimes, but it' no worse than a Tele, or any acoustic guitar. They are otherwise fairly light and well balanced basses, and thinner than most at only 1-1/4" thick. The S model has no binding, so it's easier on the forearm, but I'm a sucker for the bling on the standard 4003 models.
Owning my '78 4001 since new, I'll just chime in to say, not every "original feature" is a desirable feature. If you're going to spend a couple grand on a Rick, just find a new one.
Opinions differ, of course, but the mild-steel double trussrods, both the hairpins and the later double-ended nut ones on the 4001 and the later 4003 were a source of endless problems, often due to lack of knowledge about how to adjust them, but I think it's important to "idiot-proof" things a little on a mass produced consumer product. Some people rave about the old hairpins as being set and forget, but I never found that to be true on my 78' 4001, it needed constant adjustment. Ric finally saw the light on this and switched to a modern DA rod. It requires only a 1/4" wide x 3/8" deep trussrod channel, not the big hole under the TRC, so the neck/headstock joint is lot stronger on the new 4003. That shallow slot for a DA rod also allows a thinner neck front to back, which they seem to have switched back to, more like the skinny necks of the 70's 4001. The big (only?) advantage of the hairpins: they were easily removable, a feature that should be standard on all basses IMO. In theory that's true of most DA rods too, just by extending the TRC slot out towards the end of the headstock until it "daylights" as the headstock tilts backwards. That big Ric headstock and long TRC is ideally suited for that kind of repair.
FWIW I did some research, after some comments here, and I think maybe the 4004 might be the Rick for me. OTOH another thread here is showing Rebecca Johnson playing a Sterling Stingray and, I love the Stingray sound, and it is way more in my budget right now, so we'll see. They seem to be heavy though, nearly 10 pounds.
Totally agree. I am back to my usual DR fat beams. I couldn't believe how fast they dulled up.
Oh, you want bling? There’s 4003 bling, and then there’s Cheyenne ii bling…….
I’m not sure if the 4004 series bodies are any thinner than the 4003’s, but the addition of a generous forearm contour
is a game changer on the classic design.
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I stand corrected @woodyng2 ! Those are gorgeous, though I'll have to repeat my sad mantra: Never, Ever saw a 4004 for sale in a guitar store, anywhere, or being played live on stage, anywhere, ever. Why they never became the pre-eminent version mystifies me, same tone, better ergonomics, better bridge, etc. It has been well established, however, that I Need To Get Out More, so I may have missed them in their heyday, or maybe it's regional to the Boston area. If the OP can find one at even a marginally reasonable price, BUY IT. Ric should re-issue these, and given Ben Hall's "look forward AND back" attitude, maybe they will, but I'm guessing just for limited runs that will be snapped up by collectors, like the re-issued 4005 and 4005XC.
If I were buying *any* vintage bass, I would get it thoroughly checked over by a tech/luthier before dropping the cash.
There were a lot of more plain jane versions out there, and I really feel like for all the pissing and moaning about the 4001/3 shortcomings,
people seem to want the look provided by the big chrome mute tailpiece, binding,chrome pickup cover,etc.
I also think one of the biggest sales hurdles they had was the fact that the stock 4004 electronics didn’t sound great.
I tried out 4-5 new ones in Apple Music in Portland through an amp, and they were all muddy sounding. I played a new 4003 through the same amp, and it had the kind of bright tone one associates with Rick basses. The used Cheyenne I bought there was the worst sounding one, but it felt and played fantastic.
At that point I already had a Laredo and a Cii that had replaced harnesses, so I knew it was a relatively inexpensive fix to get the Cheyenne sounding great.
Well, the gig got cancelled because of bad weather so I didn't get a chance to play the bass after all.
I know I'm a bit late, but honestly it depends on personal preference. I for one am not a fan of Ricks, as I don't frequently play with a pick and thats the only comfy way for me. I tend to rest my thumb on top of my pickups, which is why i love my Fender J. I say test it out.
When I was a kid I assumed a 4001 was a relatively tiny bass, because the only pics I’d seen were them being played by Chris Squire or CF Turner, both of whom were tall enough to play point guard in the NBA!
Imagine my surprise when I finally saw one in the flesh
When I was a kid I assumed a 4001 was a relatively tiny bass, because the only pics I’d seen were them being played by Chris Squire or CF Turner, both of whom were tall enough to play point guard in the NBA!
Imagine my surprise when I finally saw one in the flesh
Funny.....
My older brother's band's bassist in highschool had a Rick, and was a 6ft 5 pole vaulter, so it looked small when I saw him play it.
Big surprise for me when I got to play one 8 years later.
Try one first, before you buy. If it fits, more power to you. I loved my '72 4001 back in the day, but wouldn't want one now. Too big, too heavy.
Unfortunately, the best advice "try before you buy" can be hard to do. It’s rare to find any store (at least in my area) that has any in stock, they are most often pre-sold before they ever reach the seller. There is (1) store in Boston I know of that might actually stock (1) floor model Ric, on a random basis. I have only ever seen a couple at GC, but that also may be regional.
Very true. I have only seen one in a store, and that was the one I bought in '72.
If you can’t try before you buy(stores in my area especially rarely have ric basses..guitars are more common..even local GC) buy one with a return option, or if you get one that’s a really good deal and you can’t return it…if the price is right and there’s no issues with it, pull the trigger and try it out, if you don’t like it you can resell it, rics hold their value pretty well and can resell for same or more than what you paid ..assuming you keep as stock as possible and as pristine as possible my 2 cents
