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Rickenbacker Help?
- Thread starter organworthyplayer337
- Start date
Hoo boy, new around here myself, but got an "ear full" about Chickenbackers and the like just lurking the other day on the Pitbull Guitars thread. Have a 4003 Jetglo (made in 'Murica) so I guess I'm somewhat safe from scorn. For the time being anyway. 
A used Ric is lots more money than a used Fender bass (unless it is some rare type or whatever). You're going to pay $1100 and up. That being said, the smart money is getting a new one for your first venture into Ric-dom, probably $1300~$1500. I suggest a new 4003 or 4003S from Wildwood, Pick-of-the-Ricks, North Coast Music or other reputable dealer that will negotiate. The posted prices are only that. If you buy a new one from a dealer, make sure it is absolutely perfect, or return/exchange it.
One you have Rics figured out, and you have put in the time by researching vintage models, then you could look for used ones to add to your arsenal.
If you have to buy used for whatever reason, I suggest looking at 4003 models made from April 2009 and newer. That is when Ric went to the two piece neck meaning they are more robust and less apt to give a newcomer headaches.
One you have Rics figured out, and you have put in the time by researching vintage models, then you could look for used ones to add to your arsenal.
If you have to buy used for whatever reason, I suggest looking at 4003 models made from April 2009 and newer. That is when Ric went to the two piece neck meaning they are more robust and less apt to give a newcomer headaches.
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Perch on your closest metro craigslist for a month or so, a deal will come up. Paid $1100 for my 4003 last year.
No, it is not a 4002. I have a 4002. It was a short lived model made from the late '70's through early '80's. This is a Rickenbacker 4002:
Over rated IMO. I have owned two Rics a 1977 4001 and a 2004 4003. I now have in my collection a Bass Collection California Rickenfaker
and it's the dog's doo dahs. Cost me £300. To pay over a grand for a used Ric is senseless.(IMO) The build quality is no better than my Faker.
The last one I had (4003) used to get a sticky neck whilst gigging. Very annoying. I swapped it for a Jaydee Supernatural MK series III 28 years old.
Now that is a bass that quite frankly pisses all over any Ric bass. The build quality is faultless. I've heard some horror stories from Ric owners about
build quality and customer service leaves a lot to be desired. Nasty people to deal with from what I've read on other forums. (photo of Rickenfaker shown)
and it's the dog's doo dahs. Cost me £300. To pay over a grand for a used Ric is senseless.(IMO) The build quality is no better than my Faker.
The last one I had (4003) used to get a sticky neck whilst gigging. Very annoying. I swapped it for a Jaydee Supernatural MK series III 28 years old.
Now that is a bass that quite frankly pisses all over any Ric bass. The build quality is faultless. I've heard some horror stories from Ric owners about
build quality and customer service leaves a lot to be desired. Nasty people to deal with from what I've read on other forums. (photo of Rickenfaker shown)
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There's so much right in this post.
Ric (the company) doesn't mess around. Register your new basses warranty as soon as possible or you risk it not being honored, return the bass if there is an issue or YOU will be stuck paying the $100 to ship it back to Ric for warranty repairs, and finally stick with a modern 4003 (they're all good, but post '09 has the two piece neck).
A 4001 has the early ric truss rod system. Worked fine, but a lot of guys didn't understand how it worked and would crank on them like normal truss rods. This lead to broken truss rods and spaghetti necks.
4001's are great, but the safe bet is with the 4003.
Also if you find a 4000, walk away.
you definitely don't want to get that. In that case pm me immediately with the sellers info and I'll personally take care of that unscrupulous person for you.
Also, Most of us who love Rics don't necessarily love the company. It's a lot like owning a Harley. American made, love the bike, can't stand the moco.
Ha, now that I think about it, HD's are love or hate too.
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Got my jetglo 4003 listed on here for $1300. Seems kind of spammy to direct link, but there's at least one in "like new condition" for less than $1500 that I know of. Last time I looked there were a few other people in the general range.
No, there is no 4002 made in China, no matter what you call it. No Ricks are made in China. There are companies in China making bass guitars that are similar to Ricks, and even some that have "Rickenbacker Made in U.S.A." on the counterfeit truss-rod cover. But they are not Ricks, don't have the same designations as Ricks, and certainly lack the quality of the always-American Rickenbackers.
Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
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It is amazing how the mention of a Chinese Rick copy gets people irritated.
Very cool! Love the look of that. Hadn't seen one before. How does it sound, in comparison to the 4001/4003?
No,even i would have to concede the 4003 deluxe and the S models should sound the same. Of course you don't get Ricosound with the S,but i never used that anyway.(plus if you have 2 amps,you can create a somewaht similar Effect.)
It's all about esthetics,well mostly,as i feel the S models just FEEL better.
The pickups are end-to-end, or split-coil humbuckers, but they are not wound too heavy. So it has a different grind, as the positions would indicate, half-way between a Jazz bass and a 4003. Compared to a 4001/3, a little more mid grind, a little less "scoop" compared to those who run flats, and a little less clank compared to those who run SS rounds. Another way to say it is twenty years ago Fender used to have a marketing slogan for basses, "Daddy's Home." Well, this bass is, "Daddy's Home - and He's Hungry!" This was my gig bass for over fifteen years when I got it in the early '90's. Then the collectors started clamoring for it, so it doesn't come out as much any more. It probably should. I have made one reversible mod to it: everyone knows the 4001/3 bass has the inline .0047 capacitor to the bridge pickup. The 4002 has a capacitor/resistor circuit with a .01 capacitor in line to each pickup. A few years ago, RIC had a push/pull pot on their website. I ordered several for my various instruments, including installing one on the volume control on the neck pickup to bypass and run the neck pickup straight. It gave me back the deep low end and has a great versatile tone. It sounds best with GHS Progressive strings in custom gauges: 45-60-80-105. I have been doing these "balanced" custom-order sets for twenty years before they became "the" thing with D'Addario and Kalium. Right now, I don't have a high-octane gig, so I have D'Addario nylon tapes on them. I carried the wiring over to my other basses. Since the bridge pickup is about where a Jazz bridge pickup is, I wired a .01 capacitor inline on my other basses with a Jazz bridge pickup. It cleaned up the low end and got rid of the impedance drop when both pickups are dimed on a Jazz or a P/J. Thanks for your interest.
Awesome. I'll be ordering mine on payday.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
I got a fifteen year old 4003 for $1200 a year or two ago. I don't remember the exact price. It isn't perfect, since the neck had been adjusted poorly, but the issues it had were due to the previous owner, not the bass itself. I has a slightly weird line of glue at the fretboard/neck joint, and the neck binding isn't as wide as the fretboard, all of which I think is a little odd, but it's just what they do. I don't find it distracting or objectionable, but there it is. The sound is great if you like that aggressive sound. You can dial it back, but it won't sound like a Fender, ever. The pickups are noisy, so be aware of that. The finish on mine seems like it will last forever if I don't abuse it, so that's good. I suppose it will wear through eventually, but it would take a whole lot to get there. The binding is what it is. You either hate it or it doesn't bother you. It doesn't bother me.
I don't remember the last time I saw one for less than $1200, but I'm sure they are out there. eBay is not as inflated as Craigslist out here. I don't know about anywhere else though. If people are willing to pay a certain amount for a Ric, then that's what it is worth. The company is doing its best to limit the supply, which keeps the price higher if the product is any good. It is good, too. Just quirky.
I don't remember the last time I saw one for less than $1200, but I'm sure they are out there. eBay is not as inflated as Craigslist out here. I don't know about anywhere else though. If people are willing to pay a certain amount for a Ric, then that's what it is worth. The company is doing its best to limit the supply, which keeps the price higher if the product is any good. It is good, too. Just quirky.
