Rickenbacker basses

[One_Dude]

I'm curious about Rickenbacker basses, and want to ask a simple, or perhaps complex, question. I have been playing bass for 40 plus years, and have basses from most of the main stream makers; Fender, Gibson, Peavey, Ibanez, Epiphone, and some from lesser known companies. I think I can get just about any bass sound that I want.

My question is this: What is the appeal and mystic of Rickenbacker? I have never played one so I have no first hand knowledge of their sound, feel, versatility, or construction. Their look strikes me as being quirky and instantly recognizable, but beyond that I am puzzled. Please educate me about the interest in and lure of Rickenbackers basses.

Thump on,

One_Dude

 

[MrAB4003]

Please educate me about the interest in and lure of Rickenbackers basses.

Thump on,

One_Dude

It would be my pleasure! To quote myself from a similar thread from 2023, here's a dozen reasons why Rickenbacker basses are my favorites:

1. They're some of the most aesthetically beautiful basses in the world
2. They're incredibly versatile in terms of sound
3. They can get more aggressive than a Jazz Bass, particularly when you solo the bridge pickup
4. You can get more dubby, bassy, or McCartney-esque sounds when you solo the neck pickup
5. Both pickups together are incredible, especially with distortion
6. The build quality is top notch
7. There are built in foam mutes in the bridge, which are great for playing Motown (sorry Precision Bass purists!)
8. Stereo outputs / Rick-O-Sound (in the regular 4001 and 4003 models)
9. The 33.25" scale is nice, especially in the lower frets
10. Excellent access to the highest frets
11. They retain their value much better than a Fender does
12. Versatile control layout (V-T-V-T-pickup selector)

I have one with rounds and another with flats. I can get almost any sound I want from either one of them with a few turns of the tone knobs and some ingenuity. They're my main basses for my original music.

I suggest you play one that's a 2022 or newer. Rickenbacker switched to having a single truss rod and the new V2 bridge that's a lot nicer to deal with for setups. They also got rid of the horseshoe pickup cover earlier this year. The current basses are some of the best they have ever made!

 

[Gunga Din]

 

[sonic boogaloo]

beautiful looking basses and iconic. i've always wanted one.

played by some of my favourite bass players: macca, foxton, entwhistle, youth...

i find the pricing prohibitive, tho'.

you're entering the realms of hand made boutique basses, which i feel offer better value. the lack of finishes is also an issue for me. as much as i like fireglo and jetglo, i sort of want something different. i loved the blue burst finish, but those basses go for silly money now.

don't hate on me!

 

[woodyng2]

The main reason, besides the excellent list from mrab4003, is that they have a unique timbre that no other make quite captures.
And, it’s a very good one.

 

[Krakmann]

Salud!

They are the most beautiful basses (THINGS!) in the world. They sound different. They are iconic.

How I miss my 4003 Fireglo...

 

[BASSDROID]

I love them as well and have played them for decades, though I don't use them exclusively.

They have changed a lot over the years and yes, the current offerings are some of the best. Yes they hold their value, and yes they are distinctive in most every way.

What makes them "divisive" IMO is their quirkiness and individuality. There is no easy comparison in most cases...a Ric is a different animal.

To me it's one of those instruments that you either "get" or "don't get". There doesn't seem to be much middle ground with most people.

As many will I'm sure mention, the best course of action is to try several before committing.

 

[ardgedee]

What is the appeal and mystic of Rickenbacker?

Not sure what you mean by "mystic" but I think a big part of why they get so much attention is that people love to argue at length about them. Those who love 'em really love 'em, those who hate 'em really hate 'em. I won't say there's nobody in between (like me, I'm pretty neutral about Ric basses; they're nice but my interests are elsewhere), but the arguments are pretty nearly non-stop and that helps keep everybody -- fans and detractors alike -- thinking about them.

i find the pricing prohibitive, tho'.

you're entering the realms of hand made boutique basses, which i feel offer better value.

Sweetwater is listing new Ric basses for between $2500-5000. You're not getting a hand-made boutique bass for that price from anybody who makes a living at it. That's simply the current price range for upper end mass produced bass guitars now -- whether Ric, Fender, MusicMan, etc.

 

[Picton]

I had a 4001 that I didn't play very much, so I let it go.

I started pining for it the next day and didn't really stop until I'd saved up enough to get an old 4003.

The tone is amazing, the look is appealing, and it just feels right when I do play it.

 

[Hawk256]

Sweetwater is listing new Ric basses for between $2500-5000. You're not getting a hand-made boutique bass for that price from anybody who makes a living at it. That's simply the current price range for upper end mass produced bass guitars now -- whether Ric, Fender, MusicMan, etc.

True for the most part but if you are willing to look overseas, all bets are off. Some great hand made stuff coming out of Indonesia (for example) for much less.

 

[Pier_]

I've had three different Ricks in the last months: here are two:






their look is awesome, but if you are used to Fender, they are really strange to play. the body fits in a different way, and it's slab with hard edges, so the right arm won't be comfortable.
they can have neck dive (two of mine had, one not)

the VTVT control is a pain if you are not used to it, but it's not a big deal of a problem, I never use the tone, so no problem at all

however, for me it was a pain to play standing up, in particular with a pick, because the right couldn't get a comfortable position except picking near the neck and so positioning the arm on the central part of the bass.
picking near the bridge is also difficult because there are >2cm of bridge with the foam mutes, and you can't palm mute.

so for me it was an overall "no", because comfort is the first thing to play better, and this kind of instruments limited a lot of my techniques and made me feel uncomfortable for long sessions, if standing up.
playing sitting was better, but I don't do much "sitting gigs", so I had an hard time using the Rickenbacker live for more than 20 minutes.

however, wonderful aesthetic and sound, but zero comfort for me. a Gibson Thunderbird is easier to play

 

[sonic boogaloo]

Sweetwater is listing new Ric basses for between $2500-5000. You're not getting a hand-made boutique bass for that price from anybody who makes a living at it. That's simply the current price range for upper end mass produced bass guitars now -- whether Ric, Fender, MusicMan, etc.

maybe my idea of a boutique bass is different to yours, but i was thinking along the lines of nash, fano and serek. all these companies offer customisation options within the price range of a ric.

i'm able to dial in a macca'esque ric thump to my mustang, but fully appreciate that it'll never sound as good as the real deal.

 

[One Way]

I agree 100% with @MrAB4003 post above. I bought mine new in 2023. There are so many tones available in a 4003 and it is the easiest playing bass I own. Build quality is impeccable.

I always stayed away because the prices were “so high” plus people said they are a challenge ergonomically to play. I’m fortunate to have a local store in the Atlanta area that keeps Rics in stock. I looked at the price tag and discovered this new bass was competitively priced and lower than the used prices I regularly see. I played it and it fit me like a glove.

When I took it to a band recording session and distributed the rough mixes our vocalist commented how deep my bass tone was compared to my other basses. I’m very glad I took the plunge and own a Rickenbacker 4003.

 

[ardgedee]

True for the most part but if you are willing to look overseas, all bets are off. Some great hand made stuff coming out of Indonesia (for example) for much less.

Apples and oranges. You're better comparing those to products from Ibanez or Sire rather than to US companies.

 

[NL_Bsss65]

I'm curious about Rickenbacker basses, and want to ask a simple, or perhaps complex, question. I have been playing bass for 40 plus years, and have basses from most of the main stream makers; Fender, Gibson, Peavey, Ibanez, Epiphone, and some from lesser known companies. I think I can get just about any bass sound that I want.

My question is this: What is the appeal and mystic of Rickenbacker? I have never played one so I have no first hand knowledge of their sound, feel, versatility, or construction. Their look strikes me as being quirky and instantly recognizable, but beyond that I am puzzled. Please educate me about the interest in and lure of Rickenbackers basses.

Thump on,

One_Dude

Had a 4003
1. It was a dream bass
2.sound was amazing no mater what

The bad
It has to be the most uncomfortable bass to play I've ever owned
Could not get used to the baseball bat neck at least thats how it felt to me and it just never felt eight

I sold it but I do still miss it

 

[dune]

When I was 20, there were two reasons I wanted a Rick: Chris Squire and Geddy Lee.
Whenever I've played a one though, it's always been a "don't meet your heroes" moment" - nothing about playing one has ever made me want to own one or even continue playing it for very long if I'm honest.

 

[H K]

Theres lots of stuff. For me tho; The history, the sense of tradition bordering on stubbornness, the quirks, and yes, the 100% unique sound, build and feel.

 

[One Way]

Had a 4003
1. It was a dream bass
2.sound was amazing no mater what

The bad
It has to be the most uncomfortable bass to play I've ever owned
Could not get used to the baseball bat neck at least thats how it felt to me and it just never felt eight

I sold it but I do still miss it

I appreciate your experience.
The neck profiles found on Rickenbacker basses vary through the years.
I find the neck on my 2023 to be a svelte D shape and very easy to play. It also has a single truss rod and the neck is very stable.
For reference I have smaller hands, find traditional P bass necks uncomfortable, and prefer thinner J bass style necks.

 

[NL_Bsss65]

I appreciate your experience.
The neck profiles found on Rickenbacker basses vary through the years.
I find the neck on my 2023 to be a svelte D shape and very easy to play. It also has a single truss rod and the neck is very stable.
For reference I have smaller hands, find traditional P bass necks uncomfortable, and prefer thinner J bass style necks.

Much the same as my self mine was a 2019 fireglow

 

[el murdoque]

My question is this: What is the appeal and mystic of Rickenbacker?

I don't want to be rude, but I want to be frank with you. If you have to come here and ask, you obviously don't get it. And if you don't get it, a Ric probably is not for you.

They are quirky instruments with a few issues some people do complain about.
Off the top of my head:
-A Fretjob costs a fortune because the fretboard is laquered.
-Dual trussrods on the 4003 until recently, and weird truss rod mechanic on the 4001.
-Edges. Edges everywhere.
-Bridge setup is a bit of a pain.

For the money a Ric sets you back, you can buy a variety of quality instruments with no such issues.

The appeal of a Ric? I'd wager that upward of 90% of the Ric players in this forum shared one single thought the moment they saw a Ric for the first time after they started playing bass, and that thought was "I gotta have one of these".