New Ric Owner looking for an amp

[pmarq655]

I just purchased a Rickenbacker 4003. I am a fairly new player, and am looking for an amp that will make my girl sound as good as she is supposed to. My uses will mostly be as a practice amp or small to medium (rare) gigs. I have been looking at Markbass and Ampeg Combos.

Any recommendations or suggestions?

 

[Lesfunk]

Go play a few at GC and see what you think sounds good with your bass

 

[Jeff Scott]

Lots of choices, here. What Rick tones are you looking to achieve?

 

[pmarq655]

A deep punch, with the understanding that a ric leans a little more treble.

 

[cerrem]

Whenever I plug my Rick into a GK amp...it always sounds killer... But not my Fender basses..

 

[Skybone]

What about a Fender Rumble 500 combo?

Ashdown MAG300 combo?

 

[willsellout]

I really like the Ric + GK combo, personally.

 

[Spectrum]

Hard to go wrong with Ampeg stuff, pairs nicely with Rics in my experience. The Portaflex line has served me well, though lately I've been gassing for a V4B because...well, just because.

 

[Kevorargh]

Although this may out of your range, I run my Ric through a Mesa Subway D800+ and a pair of 1x12's and I get major compliments on the tone - nice and thick with both pickups on, nice and ratty when I want to solo the bridge pick up. Before that, I used to run a Ric through a Hartke 3500 and before that a solid state Ampeg.

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

My Rick sure deed really good through a fender rumble 500. Get the lowest watt version that has that control layout I'd say!

 

[eriky4003]

Both Markbass and Ampeg will be good choices. If you believe you will be playing with a drummer, however, you'll want something with about 300 watts.

 

[Hounddog409]

I just purchased a Rickenbacker 4003. I am a fairly new player, and am looking for an amp that will make my girl sound as good as she is supposed to. My uses will mostly be as a practice amp or small to medium (rare) gigs. I have been looking at Markbass and Ampeg Combos.

Any recommendations or suggestions?

I have a 4003S and it sounds freakin awesome with the Mesa D-800 and a pair of 1x15's.

 

[sloppy_phil]

I used to have a Markbass amp, but turned away from it; does most things great, but I was never convinced by its 'rock' sounds. Their cabs are fine, though; I have a couple! Also have yet to really get on with any GK gear with my 4003. Been using an Orange amp for a while, but have/had great results with Ampeg as well.

I've yet to be able to play an amp loud enough in-store to *really* get a sense of what an amp will be like in a band scenario, so while I still highly recommend being able to play as many amps in your price range as you can, it may not be a completely accurate reflection of what you'll like. Case in point, I didn't care for the Orange amp too much first time I tried it in a store, probably 3yrs before I actually bought one. Went home with a MB that day instead, but after playing someone else's Orange at a gig we were on together (years after the initial purchase), I sold the Mark and found a used Orange.

 

[Jeff Scott]

A deep punch, with the understanding that a ric leans a little more treble.

I've been playing Rick basses since 1973. I have yet to own an amp where my basses didn't sound great through them.

I know that doesn't help you much but it is what it is.

List of Rick basses I've owned (that I remember, anyway), to start with:
1967 4005WB
1973 4001
1973 4001
1977 4001
1992 2030GF
1998 4001V63
2003 4004Cii
2004 4003FL
2008 4003
2011 4004L (NAMM Show 2012)
2013 4004L
2015 4004L SPC

Here is a list of the amps and cabs (that I remember, anyway) I recall using my Ricks through:
1974 Traynor YBA-3
1975 Traynor YSR-1
1966 Fender BandMaster
1977 Sunn Concert Bass
1978 Furman PQ-3/Crown D150A
1978 Acoustic 126 (combo amp)
Mid '80s Walter Woods MI100-8 (2 of these)
Gallien Krueger 200MB (combo amp)
Gallien-Krueger 700RB (2 of these)
SWR Workingman's 12 (combo amp)
SWR Bass 350
Eden WT400
2001 Walter Woods Electracouatic Super
Alembic F-1X (2 of these)
Stewart World 1.2 (2 of these)
Stewart World 600
Aguilar DB 659 (paired with above power amps)
Early '70s Fender Princeton Reverb Amp (combo amp)
Ampeg PB250
Markbass LM II
Markbass F1
Markbass Minimark (combo amp)
1962 Fender Concert Amp (combo amp)
Aguilar Tone Hammer 500
Custom 1-15 TL style cabinet (2 of these)
Mid '60s Traynor YS-15 cabinet (2 of these)
Mid '60s Traynor YT-15 cabinet
Sonic 1-15 cabinet
Bag End S-15D cabinet (2 of these)
EV B-210 cabinet (2 of these)
Sunn Sorado 2-15 cabinet
Lab Series 1-15 cabinet
Custom Altec 421A cabinet
Bullfrog 2-12 cabinet
Custom JBL 2225H front loaded horn cabinet
Dr bAss 3-way cabinet
Dr bAss 2-12 cabinet
Dr bAss custom 2-12 cabinet
Custom LDS 286 cabinet
Custom LDS 2126 cabinet
Custom LDS 1106 cabinet (2 of these)

As you can see, just about anything will make your bass sound great - it's really up to you to make it so.

 

[woodyng2]

Markbass 1-12 combo is what i use, but like others have said, it’s a bit clean sounding.
I use a tech 21 VT pedal to preamp,and the combination with my Ricks sounds fantastic.

 

[higain617]

Try an Ashdown ABM or old Trace Elliot.

 

[catcauphonic]

Sweet jeebus, at the last local TB GTG I got to play a Ruby Red 4003 (2014 I believe) thru one of these https://ampeg.com/products/portaflex/pf-50t/ and the damn thing practically played itself! Seriously, it was like there was no wrong notes to hit in quick succession with a pic it also had no problem cutting thru a caterwaul of basses going ompha omph in a large back room of a brewery

 

[Ironbar]

I think you should try a TC Electronic. Or maybe a Fender Rumble. Mesa is nice. Can't go wrong with an Ampeg. Trace Elliot kicks booty! Markbass gives great bottom end. GK - always a winner. I've had good success with Peavey. I've heard good things about Aguilar.

 

[diegom]

The micro SVT stack looks pretty awesome with a Ric.

Even better, a https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MicroCL--ampeg-micro-cl-2x10-inch-100-watt-bass-stack!!!

 

[klejst]

Go play a few at GC and see what you think sounds good with your bass

Pretty much along the lines of this...only you know what you want and need.