Just bought my first Rickenbacker. What now?

[birminghambass]

Hey TB. Been playing for 30+ years, owned probably over 100 basses throughout that time. Currently have 12. Never owned a Rick. In fact I'm not sure if I've ever played one. I had a friend about 30 years ago who played one but I can't recall if I ever tried it. I always wanted one, but have never seen one in a shop. Just pulled the trigger on a 2005, should arrive this week. I've done some research today, seems that Ricks are sooooo divisive. Play terrible, QC issues, intonation, funky bridge, dual trussrod, no shielding, etc.

So TB, where does one start? Any tricks or helpful advice? Specifically from RICK PLAYERS WHO MODDED THEIR BASS. Not really helpful to tell me how much you hated yours and sold it. Or to tell me to keep it stock. I'm a DIY guy, I'm going to "upgrade".

 

[birminghambass]

Here it is:

 

[CletusMarley]

Nice score! Just play the crap out of it!

 

[Killing Floor]

Upgrade your wardrobe. Can’t play a Ric in sweats.

 

[bmusic]

I took the bridge pickup cover off and put on a black bezel. It’s an improvement. I can pluck where I want to, but it’ll never be the most comfortable thing to play. I’ve made my peace with that.

I also swapped out the neck pickup for a scatterwound toaster. I wanted that more vintagey thing.

 

[birminghambass]

Upgrade your wardrobe. Can’t play a Ric in sweats.

Crap, I sold all my nice clothes to buy the Rick! Sweats are all I have left!

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

No need for a suit or sweats…… it’s thigh high red pirate boots and black skin tight leather that you need. Rick knew how to rock a Ric.

 

[Wasnex]

Here it is:

View attachment 5192630

Black is a nice color for a Ric .

Now that you have it in-hand, what do you think? What would you tell all of the haters?

My first bass was a 4001. Yes it has some quirks, but few things are perfect. I played a wide variety of music on that bass and got a lot of compliments. Still own the bass, but it's heavily modded and no longer really sounds like a Ric ...sort of wish I had left it stock .

Happy NBD!

 

[Spidey2112]

I have an '80 4001... all original, except for the Hipshot bridge, I installed. Love it.

 

[Spidey2112]

Rick knew how to rock a Ric.

With that many R's, I'm thinking your bloodline extends clear back to Bluebeard... Aaaarrrrrgggghhhh!

 

[birminghambass]

Black is a nice color for a Ric .

Now that you have it in-hand, what do you think? What would you tell all of the haters?

My first bass was a 4001. Yes it has some quirks, but few things are perfect. I played a wide variety of music on that bass and got a lot of compliments. Still own the bass, but it's heavily modded and no longer really sounds like a Ric ...sort of wish I had left it stock .

Happy NBD!

It's OTW, I won't have it until Thursday.

 

[Spidey2112]

It's OTW, I won't have it until Thursday.

Finally! Thursday gets it due respect, over TGIF!

 

[Indiana Mike]

My current one is a 2016.
The only mod I’ve done was remove the pickup cover and install a bezel. I cannot comment on any other mods.
But I will say…
I’ve never had an issue with any part of it.

I bought a nut driver for the truss adjustment from Amazon. I’ve used it once or twice , the neck on mine is very stable. If you’re gonna tweak it you’re gonna want a right tool for the job.
Excelite L8 1/4”
Some say the tool can be hard to get on the truss nuts. I didn’t experience that issue.

Be careful with the finish, I had a jetglo from around 2007 and used a microfiber on it and it swirled the hell out of the finish. Took me awhile to polish it back to normal. Ric says to only use the Ric cleaning cloth.

Some of the differences you may or will encounter ,,,
The neck and body shape differ from common designs. It will feel different than you are used to. You tighten (clockwise) the pickup screws to raise and CCW to lower. It’s a mechanical system , not just screws into the wood.
If you restring it the factory bridge saddles can fall out, but easily put back, etc…

They (4003) are different in design than most popular brands of Bass’s out there. Not drastic , but still different.

Play it and you will adjust.
Hope your mods go well.
Ignore all the negatives and form your own opinion.

 

[farace]

Rics can be divisive. The ergonomics don’t work for everyone. They’re perfect for me, though; I like the slightly tighter string spacing compared with my Fenders. The bridge is a gripe for some. I set it and forget it, but I tend to stick to the same brand and gauge of strings, so there’s no need to constantly reset the intonation. Some people are scared of the double truss rods; they don’t frighten me.

I have three, a ‘84, a ‘92 fretless, and a ‘15. Mods have been minor. I put the Ric strap locks on the ‘84 (they’re made by Schaller, same system as S-locks except with an integral machine bolt rather than a wood screw). Previous owner already did that to the ‘92. I retrofitted the push-pull cap switch into the ‘84. I put a toaster neck pickup into the fretless. And that’s about it. I like them mostly stock, and the mods I made are just Ric parts from different years.

My recommendation is just to play it for awhile as-is, get to know it, see if anything bugs you, and then consider your mods. You might find you like it just fine the way it is. Or, like some, you might find you can’t come to terms with the ergonomics and can’t wait to sell it, in which case, why mod it?

 

[MrAB4003]

Congrats on your new Ric OP! Here's what you should do:

1. Come join The Rickenbacker Club
2. Figure out which strings work best with it. I use Rotosound 55s and La Bella White Nylon Tapes on my 2 4003s.
3. Have fun and play it in good health.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Here it is:

View attachment 5192630

I had a 74 4001 and it was as advertised. I had it for 34 years. The only thing I didn’t care for was the fake horseshoe pickup that found its way into my parts drawer within the 1st ten minutes if ownership.

Using if it with a ROS setup was a wonderful experience.

Have fun.

 

[mikeswals]

My 93 Ric is bone stock. I see no reason to mod. Just set it up and play it!

 

[facetsquared]

After buying a new 4003 via eBay and having it shipped sight unseen from the US to Wales, I wish I knew about the dreaded tail-lift before repeatedly stringing it with DR Lo-Riders for 20 years (amazing sound, but the tension at the bridge... eek). I now see a little bit of evidence of tail-lift and I am considering whether to swap out the bridge for a Hipshot, or let sleeping dogs lie.

Don't be like me - check for tail-lift!

 

[john_g]

Get a "trebel bezel". If you dont like the neck pickup (mine is weak but I havent replaced it...yet) look into a Nordenbacker neck pup. And possible a new bridge, either a Ric V2 or a Hipshot. Those are the upgrades I can think of.

 

[facetsquared]

Get a "trebel bezel". If you dont like the neck pickup (mine is weak but I havent replaced it...yet) look into a Nordenbacker neck pup. And possible a new bridge, either a Ric V2 or a Hipshot. Those are the upgrades I can think of.

Seconded on the neck pickup. The pickup on my '02 4003 pretty much died entirely for some reason - my tech eventually installed a replacement ordered from Rickenbacker.

Yeah, not great.