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Rickenbacker neck question

#21
poorbassist15 said:
I'm just looking for a good player. I would like to probably do some trading or spend less than $1500. If layaway was an option, I'd look for a tad higher but not 4001c64 kinda money. It doesn't have to be perfect, just needs to work. I do have a thing for Shadow Rics, and Tuxedo Rics, but they are pretty hard to find. I'm still leaning towards "classic" Rics. I don't want to rule a 4004 out but it'll likely be out of what I have to spend and I haven't played one to form an opinion.
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I hear ya. I have a 4004. Very nice bass. I had the pots changed to 500's with new vintage caps and a VVT set up. i like a much more now. Rickenbacker growl and whisper quiet humbuckers that really perform.

My Shadow is me "go to bass" and my 65 4001 just kills everything I throw at her! She does everything I need, well.
 
#22
I have never played a 4004 but I hear wonderful things. What I can say about my 4003 is once you get used to the neck man oh man the hi gains on the newer 4003 are worth the investment of time to adjust to the neck profile.
 
#25
I am sure there are quite a few folks with various Ricks within a reasonable driving distance from you, spend some time researching and put the money aside for one, maybe even add to that fund while learning. :cool:
 
#26
Yeah, the Shadow is terrific. I know where you can get one (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

Technically, Turquoise was not a COY (Color of the Year) but was a stock color from 1994 to 2003. It is a metallic "teal" (blue green) color. On the other hand, the color that looks like traditional turquoise to me (or at least aquamarine) is Sea Green which WAS a COY for 2000.
 
#30
The newest 4004s are supposed to have slimmer necks. I had two of them maybe 4-5 years old each that had a neck like a 2x4...I couldn't get along with them and I play 1-3/4" P Bass necks all the time. They were just too deep and square for me. I also had a warbly kind of E string output from both 4004s that was odd. It was slight but still kind of bugged me.

Most 4001s are pretty slim and 4003s can vary. I have an '86 4003 that is pretty slim like my '79 4001, but some 2000-up models I've had in hand were thicker.
 
#31
Yeah I love my Rickenbackers. My 98 4004C has an almost PBass feeling neck while the early model 4004Cii has a thinner neck. My 72 4001 has a very thin neck and my 86 4003's neck is not quite as thin but is the best Rick I've had the pleasure of playing.

Good luck on your quest!
 
#32
I have a late 70s 4001 that I've owned since it was built and I've enjoyed every minute with it. About 4 years ago, I put the 4003 modification into it and it made a fantastic bass even better. With a 4003 you can have the original Ric sound or the much smoother, ballsier sound of the 4003. No one has mentioned that the Ric basses were designed for flatwounds - which is an interesting choice for a Ric. Try TI Jazz Flats
 
#34
I prefer Rotosounds because I need a bass to do a lot of things, from progressive rock, to fusion, to classic R&B, to everything in between. Flats never got me the crispness I wanted for a lot of what I do. I always felt D'Addario's and Slinkys(what we have here) just lack something. Rotos have left me consistently satisfied with the tone I get and the longevity of the brightness. I know that I'm taking a risk with stainless rounds on Rick frets but It's just another preference thing. I tried some halfrounds on my 60s Jazz and while it sounded good I missed the crack and attack of rounds. I may try some of the steve harris rounds or some more chromes on my 72 P though. I think that would fill the low end up nicely.
 
#38
As a jazz bass neck fan from the bass playing get-go, i found the P-bass neck and the Ric neck to be a formidable hurdle to get over. The tone is what won me over though.

It really didnt take long to get used to the '09 that i picked up. I liked it much better than most P-bass necks ive played, and the consistency was the factor that sold me. It feels like the strings are the same spacing and neck shape from top to bottom.

I found that i dont really look at my fretting hand as much when playing the Ric, everything just falls in place easier.

Definitely not for everyone, but im a huge fan if you find the right one.
 
#39
I have a mid 2000's 4003. The neck is thicker than my Spector or Fender jazz, but it's no Pbass neck! I love it.
I have seen some "project Ric's" on ebay....parted out, you'll still pay about 1500-2000, but well worth it to me. Sexy bass!
 
#40
PaulBoyer said:
Technically, Turquoise was not a COY (Color of the Year) but was a stock color from 1994 to 2003. It is a metallic "teal" (blue green) color. On the other hand, the color that looks like traditional turquoise to me (or at least aquamarine) is Sea Green which WAS a COY for 2000.
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Thanks for the clarification Paul. I had no idea they produced this finish for so long, because I so rarely see it.

Do you find that the "metallic" finishes have a thicker neck profile? Because I have heard this about the metallic red finishes as well. Just wondering if there is any pattern or predictability here.
 

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