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NBD: Mapleglo Ric 4003

The newer UV catalyzed finishes and ABS binding don't seem to yellow with age, which is a good thing in my book. Your MG should stay nicely clear for many years. I love the contrast between the maple body and Caribbean Rose wood ( or whatever they are calling that species now) finger board. If you are like most people, the pup cover will get in your way eventually, but the open edges on the surround can be a little sharp. If you go for a treble bezel, buy the Tubeampology version, not the ripoff version Rickenbacker sells.
Chechen I believe is the correct name of the Caribbean Rosewood variety. I love it too..has a nice feel to it as a fretboard wood and looks great too with it's swirly wavy style grain. I think before 2011 BUBINGA was used..correct me if I'm wrong..usually am lol
 
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For me, it’s the bass I wanted since I started playing back in the 1980s. I’ve had it 24 hours, and I can’t put it down.

I was worried that the neck might be too wide for me, but, I adapted easily and find it comfortable to play after only a few hours.

It looks and sounds fantastic.

Some questions for Ric owners:

I see some folks have the bridge pick up off. I’m not sure I want to do that, but if I decide to: Do I have to replace the bezel

The bridge pick up is slighter hotter than the neck. Is this the charm of the Ric, or should I adjust (sounds good now!)

How do the mutes work? Thumb screws I suppose.

Best “Rick-O-Sound” like box on the market? I have a stereo cable with a splitter... but maybe I’d like a some sort of box.

Thanks for the advice in advance.

The best rig for Ric-o-sound?? An SVT with a fridge for the neck pickup and a Hiwatt into a 4-12 cab for the bridge pickup, then turn it it up. I know from personal experience.

Or for a lot less money: The usual faves for the neck, but get something middy with drive and punch capabilities for the bridge. It’s a huge sound that will work really well with power trios where you have a lot of sonic room to cover. With a 15 piece orchestra not so much.

Anyway, congrats on your new bass. Please don’t wear it out in the first week. Before you go out and spend a lot of money on your amp rig, I would suggest you spend a good bit of time exploring the tonal qualities of each pick up soloed with as many EQ settings, amps and cabs as you can. Best wishes.
 
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For me, it’s the bass I wanted since I started playing back in the 1980s. I’ve had it 24 hours, and I can’t put it down.

I was worried that the neck might be too wide for me, but, I adapted easily and find it comfortable to play after only a few hours.

It looks and sounds fantastic.

Some questions for Ric owners:

I see some folks have the bridge pick up off. I’m not sure I want to do that, but if I decide to: Do I have to replace the bezel

The bridge pick up is slighter hotter than the neck. Is this the charm of the Ric, or should I adjust (sounds good now!)

How do the mutes work? Thumb screws I suppose.

Best “Rick-O-Sound” like box on the market? I have a stereo cable with a splitter... but maybe I’d like a some sort of box.

Thanks for the advice in advance.
Off topic and please excuse me for my ignorance....
Is there a truss rod and how do you access it on a Rickenbocker?
I’ve never picked one up and obviously know nothing about them but, that specimen got my attention!
Congrats :thumbsup:
 
Off topic and please excuse me for my ignorance....
Is there a truss rod and how do you access it on a Rickenbocker?
I’ve never picked one up and obviously know nothing about them but, that specimen got my attention!
Congrats :thumbsup:

Not only does the Ric have a truss rod, it’s my understanding that they have two of them. I’m not sure how to access them.
 
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Off topic and please excuse me for my ignorance....
Is there a truss rod and how do you access it on a Rickenbocker?
I’ve never picked one up and obviously know nothing about them but, that specimen got my attention!
Congrats :thumbsup:


They have two and are accessed under the truss rod cover on the headstock with the Rickenbacker name on it.


rickenbacker+truss+rods+modern+post-1984.png
 
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Rickenbacker is supposedly going to a single truss rod, so the new basses may already have that instead of the two rod setup. I may be wrong tho.

As for the rick-o-sound, back when I was gigging with my 4001, on a couple of occasions I used my regular bass rig (Sunn head with a 2x15" cab) on the neck pickup and a borrowed Marshall stack guitar amp on the bridge. It worked pretty good and gave a good Lemmy tone but with good bottom end.

But you get the nice phasey/chorusy type effect with a "stereo" setup rather than a "bi-amp" setup like what I used (where you route the top and low end to different amps). Two small bass amps on each side of the stage would really reveal that stereo effect, but that's a lot of gear. And it'd annoy the guitar player and just make him drink more beer during the gig so probably not recommended.

As for the PU cover, just bite the bullet and take it off. Unless you play with a pick and use it as a palm rest, it serves no purpose and just gets in the way...

L
 
Rickenbacker is supposedly going to a single truss rod, so the new basses may already have that instead of the two rod setup. I may be wrong tho.

As for the rick-o-sound, back when I was gigging with my 4001, on a couple of occasions I used my regular bass rig (Sunn head with a 2x15" cab) on the neck pickup and a borrowed Marshall stack guitar amp on the bridge. It worked pretty good and gave a good Lemmy tone but with good bottom end.

You get the nice phasey/chorusy type effect with a "stereo" setup rather than a "bi-amp" setup (where you route the top and low end to different amps). Two small bass amps on each side of the stage would really reveal that stereo effect, but that's a lot of gear. And it'd just annoy the guitar player, so probably not recommended.

As for the PU cover, just bite the bullet and take it off. Unless you play with a pick and use it as a palm rest, it serves no purpose and just gets in the way...

L

MY GOD!!!! I hope not, I honestly dig the two truss rods in there necks, seriously I think the two truss rod system makes there necks very stable especially on the older Rickenbackers, MAN what is this world coming too!!!!
 
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