Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
I know Rics are junk and all...
- Thread starter Lesfunk
- Start date
- option 4 - toggle and two volume controls, no need for a tone control when one is going for that roundwound string sound.
That was the reverse universe Who.
...predate MP. To me, anyway.
Is that a RIC factory produced item?
Yeah, right.
You should never trust a Chilean taxi driver!
Andrew Winter.
View attachment 3263540
I am pretty sure Paul Boyer has some better photos of the bass.
This was either sunbathing on the beaches of Monaco, or it was Crown Royal's Special Edition Ric...
My first bass was an EB-3 copy bought via an electronics store catalogue in the 70s. It was terrible, but ... it got me playing.
My next bass was a Guild B-301 - very P-Bassish, but ... with a different feel and tone due to the set in neck and mahogany used ...
I traded it in for a new Rickenbacker 4001, in Jetglo ... Modded it with a Badass II and Schaller tuners as was the practice back then ... loved it, bought another Rick in Mapleglo, Badass ...
Later sold both ... went to a '73 Fender Jazz Bass (this was before Geddy went to one) ....
Fast forward to today ...
I own two Rickenbackers ... a '76 in Autumnglo, and a '77 in Jetglo (I bought it literally in pieces, and restored it). I also have another '73 Fender Jazz Bass .... modded with Seymour Duncan pickups, and a J-Retro pre ...
I love them all for different things ...
The Rickenbacker 4001/4003, in my opinion has a sound that can't be duplicated. Sure, Geddy came close with his Jazz Bass, but it's still not a Rickenbacker - I can tell the difference between the two having owned both, but that's just me.
I own Alembics that can't duplicate a Rickenbacker's tone.
In my view and experience, nothing comes close to the tone/sound of a Rickenbacker if that is your thing. We can talk about ergonomics, design (I like the cresting wave), bridge (they should have fired the person who designed it, IMHO), skinny tuning peg posts (easily fixed), etc. But there is no denying its influence on popular music.
I love both of my Ricks. I love the skinny necks (I'm not a P-Bass kind of guy), and for all their quirks, they're still great basses, albeit not for everyone.
I will say I am not a fan of the 4003 (they changed the neck and the headstock, not to mention the electronics). I've never played a 4004, so I can't comment.
The best tones I got out of a 4001 was when I went stereo. You want to hear tone? Try playing a 4001 through two Ampeg tube amps/cabs that way. It was like Thor himself was speaking, with high end for days.
Anyway ... I love my Ricks ... will never sell them.
My next bass was a Guild B-301 - very P-Bassish, but ... with a different feel and tone due to the set in neck and mahogany used ...
I traded it in for a new Rickenbacker 4001, in Jetglo ... Modded it with a Badass II and Schaller tuners as was the practice back then ... loved it, bought another Rick in Mapleglo, Badass ...
Later sold both ... went to a '73 Fender Jazz Bass (this was before Geddy went to one) ....
Fast forward to today ...
I own two Rickenbackers ... a '76 in Autumnglo, and a '77 in Jetglo (I bought it literally in pieces, and restored it). I also have another '73 Fender Jazz Bass .... modded with Seymour Duncan pickups, and a J-Retro pre ...
I love them all for different things ...
The Rickenbacker 4001/4003, in my opinion has a sound that can't be duplicated. Sure, Geddy came close with his Jazz Bass, but it's still not a Rickenbacker - I can tell the difference between the two having owned both, but that's just me.
I own Alembics that can't duplicate a Rickenbacker's tone.
In my view and experience, nothing comes close to the tone/sound of a Rickenbacker if that is your thing. We can talk about ergonomics, design (I like the cresting wave), bridge (they should have fired the person who designed it, IMHO), skinny tuning peg posts (easily fixed), etc. But there is no denying its influence on popular music.
I love both of my Ricks. I love the skinny necks (I'm not a P-Bass kind of guy), and for all their quirks, they're still great basses, albeit not for everyone.
I will say I am not a fan of the 4003 (they changed the neck and the headstock, not to mention the electronics). I've never played a 4004, so I can't comment.
The best tones I got out of a 4001 was when I went stereo. You want to hear tone? Try playing a 4001 through two Ampeg tube amps/cabs that way. It was like Thor himself was speaking, with high end for days.
Anyway ... I love my Ricks ... will never sell them.
A Rick for disco??? If I'm not mistaken, Maurice Gibb used his Rickenbacker bass on a good deal of the disco hits by the Bee Gees. Who says a Rick only fits in one box? Sounded pretty good there. How about Rick James? Rickenbacker bass there IIRC... Superfreak?
I used my old mid '70s 4001 while in two different Top 40/Disco bands. Worked a treat.
How about this guy?
What its suited for? I play my 4003s in my current cover band. We play everything from country to heavy classic rock.
Have not run into anything it is no suited for yet.
Have had it for 3 years. Have yet to touch the bridge or trust rod yet. Cant say that for my other basses.
You betcha. Hard to find an Aussie (Pronounced Ozzie by the way - doesn’t sound like bossy.) who doesn’t love Vegemite. We were weaned on it. The trick to it is, don’t use too much. Sparingly on buttered toast is the secret. Love blue cheese too.
EDIT: My wife just reminded me, avocado mashed and spread over the vegemite is a great way to go. Creamy and tangy at the same time.
Last edited:
Sometimes I just plain forget to eat, lol. Then after a day or two I get a headache and it's "oh yeah, I need to eat."
There was a young girl from Cape Cod
Who thought that all babies came from God
But it wasn’t the Almighty who lifted her nightie
But Roger the lodger, the sod!
Last edited:
I don't know who told you that but it's not even remotely true.
I hate to break this to ya, but Rick James' actual bassist used Fender both live and on the recordings. When Rick played the Rick live(LOL) he ran it through a lot of distortion for an almost guitar like tone.
With all that, there's no reason you *cant* use one for funk or any other style. Though the front pickup placement can make slap a challenge for some(unless you do the Stanley Clarke economy of motion approach). I loved the 76' I had for a few years, it was amazing!!
