I flew with my 76 4001 numerous times in the late 70's, and gigged with it for years and had no problem. YMMV.
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I know Rics are junk and all...
- Thread starter Lesfunk
- Start date
I love and hate RICs. They are like old British cars, such as Jaguar E-Types. They look cool, but you can see the problems with them with close scrutiny, and they are worse 'under the hood'.
The other issue I have with RICs is just how bloody expensive everything to do with them is. The cases alone cost a small fortune, and any aftermarket part of trinket is going to cost you a lot more than generic Fender-family stuff. The other issue is the limited number of replacement pickups, bridges (etc), and even a set of replacement Rickenbacker screws (with the fat cylindrical head) will cost you a fair penny.
I'm spitting tacks because I just spent £48 on a black plastic bezel to stick in the bridge pickup assembly on my bass. Yikes!
The other issue I have with RICs is just how bloody expensive everything to do with them is. The cases alone cost a small fortune, and any aftermarket part of trinket is going to cost you a lot more than generic Fender-family stuff. The other issue is the limited number of replacement pickups, bridges (etc), and even a set of replacement Rickenbacker screws (with the fat cylindrical head) will cost you a fair penny.
I'm spitting tacks because I just spent £48 on a black plastic bezel to stick in the bridge pickup assembly on my bass. Yikes!
I was just joking. I've never been into the "I want to sound like [pick a name]." We've got (or had) a Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, John Entwistle, etc., etc., etc. I want to sound like me, and I do, for better or worse (better than some, worse than others).
If anyone thinks buying the same bass as their hero will make them sound like their hero ... well, eventually they'll hit puberty and smarten up.
I've owned 4001, 4003, and 4004 basses. Played them pretty much exclusively until last year.
Now been close to 2 years without one. I'm now torn - been playing a Geddy USA which sounds, feels, and plays better than any Ricky I ever owned.
Trouble is, it's not a Ric. Given how much band stuff I do now, it's a one-bass house for me. So one in, one out.
Spotted a nice Midnight Blue 4003S in the sales.....and so the dilemma continues! The last S bass I had wasn't the best....so why the hell am i still GAS'ing at this one??!!
Now been close to 2 years without one. I'm now torn - been playing a Geddy USA which sounds, feels, and plays better than any Ricky I ever owned.
Trouble is, it's not a Ric. Given how much band stuff I do now, it's a one-bass house for me. So one in, one out.
Spotted a nice Midnight Blue 4003S in the sales.....and so the dilemma continues! The last S bass I had wasn't the best....so why the hell am i still GAS'ing at this one??!!
I had a ric as my only player for about a year in the 70s, I loved the way it looked and the way it sounded through my acoustic 360. With that said, with my limited resources and knowing I could only afford one bass, I changed back to a PBass. It was a 4001 and a very nice, easy to play bass. I did a few recording sessions with it as well and it sounded fine. NOT the most comfortable bass I ever played.
The one in the OP is a tasty looking morsel.
The one in the OP is a tasty looking morsel.
Most of it....Red barchetta and camera eye are Ric. And they sound so close. I had a nice 60th anniversary jazz that sounded pretty close to my Ric (Ric sounded better and I dont mind the ergonomics) and Im not one to have several basses that sound similar.
I don't care what other people like or don't. I love my 4001 and 4003. That is all! 
Don't forget Permanent Waves as well. Read an interview with Geddy once, posted on TB - think it was from 'Guitar Player' from June 1980 from memory (it's available online) - and he says that he used the Jazz on about half of that as well. From the horses mouth, at the time!
Jazz is on part of 'Signals', too. Not sure which tracks, but I've read on here that 'Digital Man' is one them.
I would imagine the issue that people have with Rickenbackers, is that they’re not an “immediately comfy” bass to play. I had this issue coming from a P Bass to my Hofner Beatle Bass. It felt really uncomfortable and awkward, and took me a while to get used to the feel of how and where my right hand sat to pick or pluck the strings. But once I got used to it... most comfortable and easiest bass to play ever. I’ve never played a Ric, but I imagine it’d be the same thing.
In my opinion they’re probably the coolest looking basses out there. They just ooze that Rock ‘n Roll vibe.
In my opinion they’re probably the coolest looking basses out there. They just ooze that Rock ‘n Roll vibe.
My first bass was a 4001. I bought it because.. Chris Squire, etc. Played it (it was my only bass) for a couple years. When I got out of college, and could afford more than one bass, I eventually figured out Rics just weren’t my thing.
So, long term, I can’t really hate Rics - a Ric got me into bass, which is now a decades long passion. But, I can’t really love Rics either - just not my preferred instrument.
So, long term, I can’t really hate Rics - a Ric got me into bass, which is now a decades long passion. But, I can’t really love Rics either - just not my preferred instrument.
Here's a list of almost all of "what and when" it was used by Geddy Lee during the lifetime of RUSH.
That's a lot of friggin' bass guitars.
Pre-1975
Fender Precision Bass was used to record Rush's first album.
Fly by Night, Caress of Steel, & 2112 Tours
Rickenbacker 4001
A Farewell To Kings
Rickenbacker 4001
Rickenbacker 4080/12 (Double-neck, 4001 bass & 12-string guitar with humbuckers)
Rickenbacker 3001
Fender Teardrop Bass (the Precision bass from the Pre-1975 era, but at this point given a makeover with the body cut into a teardrop shape, a blue "watery" paint job, and an extra pickup added.)
Hemispheres
Rickenbacker 4001 (2)
Rickenbacker 4002
Rickenbacker 4080/12 (Double-neck, 4001 bass & 12-string guitar with humbuckers)
Fender Teardrop Bass (see Farewell To Kings)
Permanent Waves
Rickenbacker 4001 (2)
Rickenbacker 4002
Rickenbacker 4080/12 (Double-neck, 4001 bass & 12-string guitar with humbuckers)
Fender Teardrop Bass (see Farewell To Kings)
Fender 1972 Jazz Bass
Moving Pictures
Rickenbacker 4001 (2)
Rickenbacker 4002
Rickenbacker 4080/12 (Double-neck, 4001 bass & 12-string guitar with humbuckers)
Rickenbacker 4080/6 (Double-neck, 4001 bass & 6-string guitar)
Fender 1972 Jazz Bass
Signals
Rickenbacker 4001
Fender 1972 Jazz Bass
Steinberger L2
Grace Under Pressure
Rickenbacker 4001 (Album only)
Fender 1972 Jazz Bass (Album only)
Steinberger L2
Power Windows
British Wal Bass
Steinberger L2
White Steinberger XL2
Hold Your Fire
Wal Bass
5-string Wal Bass
Presto, & Roll the Bones
Wal Bass
5-string Wal Bass
Counterparts
1972 Fender Jazz Bass
1974 Fender Jazz Bass (Tobacco Sunburst in D-A-D-G Tuning)
Test For Echo
Fender Jazz Bass
Fender Custom Shop Jazz Bass (Sunburst in D-A-D-G Tuning)
Fender Custom Shop Jazz Bass (Red in D-G-C-F Tuning)
Vapor Trails & R30: 30th Anniversary Tour
Fender Jazz Bass
Fender Custom Shop Jazz Bass (Sunburst in D-A-D-G Tuning)
Fender Custom Shop Jazz Bass (Red in D-G-C-F Tuning)
Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
Taylor Acoustic Guitar
Snakes & Arrows
1972 Fender Jazz Bass
1974 Fender Jazz Bass (Tobacco Sunburst in D-A-D-G Tuning)
Fender Custom Shop Jazz Bass (Red in D-G-C-F Tuning)
Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
Fender Jaco Pastorius Jazz Bass (Fretless)
Fender Jaco Pastorius Jazz Bass (Fretted)
Rickenbacker 4001
*Side note: What I find really interesting is that after "Grace Under Pressure" Geddy abandons the use of Rics and Fenders for Wals & Steinbergers for 3 albums, Power Windows, Hold Your Fire, and Roll The Bones. Then on the next album, Counterparts, until Snake & Arrows, he ditches the use of Wals & Steinbergers for Fenders, with the exception of a Taylor acoustic during that time period. And finally, with Snakes & Arrows, he keeps the Fenders but picks up a Ric again.
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I think Ric basses are that cool and inaccessible crush you have at high school that some people find exotic, and others find are nuthin' but trouble (in both cases, it gets the grapevine chattering about all sorts of lascivious scenarios).
You approach the bass. You look at it. The sweet notes are all there, waiting to be unlocked, to be played, to be heard, but it's so darned intimidating, you hope no one's staring at you as you gingerly take the bass off its display harness and lower down to your quivering, mortal rib cage. Sooooooo expensive, you try not to look at the price tag. Your breathing becomes shallow and judicious in its exhalations.
But when you play a money note, it's like the Ric gently presses against your chest, like a gentle lover and whispers "achievement unlocked"
And then you look down at your iMusic P-bass knock-off in one of the practice booths at school and realize it was all a dream. A gorgeous, wonderfully vivid dream framed cruelly by the prison of your reality.
You approach the bass. You look at it. The sweet notes are all there, waiting to be unlocked, to be played, to be heard, but it's so darned intimidating, you hope no one's staring at you as you gingerly take the bass off its display harness and lower down to your quivering, mortal rib cage. Sooooooo expensive, you try not to look at the price tag. Your breathing becomes shallow and judicious in its exhalations.
But when you play a money note, it's like the Ric gently presses against your chest, like a gentle lover and whispers "achievement unlocked"
And then you look down at your iMusic P-bass knock-off in one of the practice booths at school and realize it was all a dream. A gorgeous, wonderfully vivid dream framed cruelly by the prison of your reality.
I'm still looking for that info. But I have a 2nd shift to go work in a little while and may not find it before then. The info is out there, somewhere. I will say this about RUSH, they are probably one of the most well documented bands online when it comes to their gear.
As you become a more advanced Bass player you will change your mind. Not to worry though it will come in time........
Or until you start using a pick. That's when they really shine.
I thought the 4002 was used on 'Losing It' on Signals?
Also, I didn't think the 4001 was used on Grace Under Preesure at all?
Love it how all Ricky threads come down to Geddy Lee!!
