Playing a Rickenbacker made me hate Rickenbacker

[bobba66]

I had a couple 4001 Rics back in the early 80s. Black one was a beat up pawn shop special. Red one beautifully maintained by a loving first owner. The black one played wonderfully, really sweet bass. The red was a bit of a struggle and I never bonded with it. Both of them are long gone but I'd love to try another if I had the dinero.

 

[Bassmaticmatt]

You prefer a Squier over Rickenbacker. You should buy a Squier and play it. The fact that Squier players feel the need to prove to everyone on TB that they prefer Squier over other brands makes me question that they really do.

P.S. my binding is perfect

Your reading comprehension is lacking

 

[Joe Nerve]

Thanks! One of these days I'll own one of those beauties.

I really was blown away by mine. Had the exact opposite experience of the OP. I remember reading some posts from people ragging on Rics, but knew I had to have one in my collection regardless. I loved it as soon as I laid hands on it, and completely lost it as soon as I threw it into a band mix. Wasn't expecting the depth, punch, and definition that came out. Had always before that thought Rickenbacker to be synonymous with a Geddy Lee/Chris Squire sound. It's sooooooo much more than that. Not even sure why anyone would want one for that sound, unless they were playing that music. Anyhow. I love these hate threads. They're fun.

 

[Chico Ruger]

It's not like I said something racist or bashed a religion or something.

No you did not. It is much more serious than that.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

Your reading comprehension is lacking

You are trolling. Squier does not make a flawless bass. This whole thread is flamebait.

 

[1stnamebassist]

You could get a 4003s. Couple hundred less and you don't have to worry about bleeding binding.

 

[jamro217]

I think Squier players are just happy to not have to spend over a thousand dollars on a well made, very playable bass for the first time in many years. I know I am. : )

That's true, especially with the world's fragile economic status. The fact remains that Rickenbacker is an iconic brand that has only one factory located in the USA to produce all of its instruments. Unlike Fender, where you need an atlas to decipher the serial number. All 4003s are basically the same line, no cheapies or custom shop boutique level basses with the same name on the headstock. To consistently build professional level instruments on that scale out of one shop must be tough on the QC department. Now factor in neck through construction. There's no "Oops! Just slap on another neck and they'll never know". Frankly, it's a wonder they are able to keep the prices down to 2 grand.

 

[Joe Nerve]

You are trolling. Squier does not make a flawless bass. This whole thread is flamebait.

Of course it is. But that's no reason not to play .

 

[Pyrat]

I've owned a few Rickenbacker basses...and yeah, they DO LOOK cool...

 

[SirMjac28]

I was getting worried haven't had a Ric thread in a couple of days.

 

[jamro217]

I really was blown away by mine. Had the exact opposite experience of the OP. I remember reading some posts from people ragging on Rics, but knew I had to have one in my collection regardless. I loved it as soon as I laid hands on it, and completely lost it as soon as I threw it into a band mix. Wasn't expecting the depth, punch, and definition that came out. Had always before that thought Rickenbacker to be synonymous with a Geddy Lee/Chris Squire sound. It's sooooooo much more than that. Not even sure why anyone would want one for that sound, unless they were playing that music. Anyhow. I love these hate threads. They're fun.

I finally gave in to my impulse to buy a Ric a couple of years ago when my tax return came in. (ALERT: tax day is less than two weeks away.) A 2004 Fireglo 4003. The original owner must not have played it much, because the polishing cloth was still fresh, the strings were new, there was only one small ding in the headstock about the size of a pinhead. The action was kind of high, the strings were too heavy, and the pickup cover had to go. Since setting it up, it's been one of the best playing and sounding basses I've ever touched. Rics are versatile basses with the ability to rattle the floors with the best of 'em.

 

[Achille]

I am so happy with my Rickenbacker 4003!! It looks and plays fantastic, it is so special! and I only had to pay 300$ for it by aliexpress!

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Well, playing one for six months made ME hate 'em, too. It was that sharp top binding thing that hurt me after a few weeks, I took to wearing a wristband on my forearm. I've NEVER had a bass physically HURT to play before, that was it for me.

Tough thing is, I like the iconic look, many of my bass heroes played em (Squire, Geddy, Jon Camp, etc) and I really like that sound.

Now, the 4003's.... hmmmm....

 

[jacolyte]

How does one shop to get a new one for that price?

wait for a sale at musician's friend, for example; i got one from them 3 weeks ago for USD1399. or go to wildwood guitars, or willcutt. make an offer on reverb and let them know you've seen 1399 at MF. i've bought 6 new ricks in the past year, all between 1400-1600 USD. (edit: no, wait, one was used, i got that one for 1350.)

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I am so happy with my Rickenbacker 4003!! It looks and plays fantastic, it is so special! and I only had to pay 300$ for it by aliexpress!

Not sure if you are joking or not, there are no Rickenbackers for sale on Aliexpress, just some Chinabackers, some with fake Ric TRC. Not the same animal by a longshot.

 

[lfmn16]

wait for a sale at musician's friend, for example; i got one from them 3 weeks ago for USD1399. or go to wildwood guitars, or willcutt. make an offer on reverb and let them know you've seen 1399 at MF. i've bought 6 new ricks in the past year, all between 1400-1600 USD. (edit: no, wait, one was used, i got that one for 1350.)

6 Rics?????? You're my hero!!!

 

[jacolyte]

6 Rics?????? You're my hero!!!

actually 7; the first one (the midnight blue one) was bought in 2009:

 

[Achille]

Not sure if you are joking or not, there are no Rickenbackers for sale on Aliexpress, just some Chinabackers, some with fake Ric TRC. Not the same animal by a longshot.

LOL no worries I know what I bought, it was a joke

 

[pdusen]

But there was one problem. The white binding around the body was uneven and the wood color was bleeding through. Right then and there I decided that if there quality control didn't catch such a obvious flaw there is no telling what else they missed.

Somehow, I seriously doubt it took you until you got to this point to come to that conclusion.

 

[Ric5]

I have a love hate relationship with Ricks

I hate the pickup cover and the tailpiece/bridge/mechanical mute assembly.
I hate that they don't make a 5 string bass, and when they did they got it wrong.

I love the look and the tone.

I have owned dozens of Ricks and worked on dozens more and I have found the overall quality to be very good, and some of the best playing basses were the ones with flaws.

If you don't like the binding then try an S model or try a 4004.