Rickenbacker......older vs. todays???

[Ric5]

As far as a new tail design from RIC, I've given up waiting for that to ever come out.

I have also given up waiting For Rickenbacker to produce a 5 string bass.

Maybe that will happen when John Hall retires and his son takes over.

 

[chaoscube]

I prefer the 2006+ 4003 model. The trust rods are strongers and they sound better on low bass chords

 

[Jeff Scott]

The other oddity is that the neck binding isn't full depth of the fretboard. Why? I don't know but there it is. The finish is sprayed over the fretboard, too. That seems a little different from anything else, but so it goes.

The neck binding is correct, there should be a thin strip along the edge of the fingerboard exposed; I think it is a cool feature. I even had a similar treatment done around the perimeter of the body on the Elfin 5 that Martin Keith made for me in 2011. (Thanks again, Martin, fabulous! )

As mentioned, the finished fingerboard is also a standard feature of most Ricks; as to it being a little different from anything else, have you ever seen or played a maple fingerboard Fender?

Here is a photo of the edge of my Elfin 5.

 

[Gaolee]

That's great looking.

 

[Jeff Scott]

The headstock has a similar detail, also.

 

[bassline52]

I have a 1973 Jetglo Rickenbacker and a 2005 Blueburst 4003. I think my newer Rick smokes the vintage one by far. The newer Ricks play better and sound better in my opinion. Now if they can only bring back checker board binding!

 

[sloppy_phil]

Now if they can only bring back checker board binding!

keep dreaming, friend. that's the only way to cope with the blinding pit of despair

 

[gwangi]

I have a 1973 Jetglo Rickenbacker and a 2005 Blueburst 4003. I think my newer Rick smokes the vintage one by far. The newer Ricks play better and sound better in my opinion. Now if they can only bring back checker board binding!

Have you taken the capacitor out on your bridge pickup, Ric5 took out the capacitor on my 1983 4001 and the bass sounds AWESOME now, the bridge pickup doesn't sound thin, it's really loud and growly sounding now, I love it.

 

[MEKer]

Newer and older Rickenbackers are two different animals. For a more "idiot proof" instrument, if there is such a thing, I'd stick with a newer 4003. If you are not very handy and don't like to screw with your basses the newer 4003 is a safer purchase. If you can't put your hands on an older 4001 and actually inspect it or play it, the newer 4003 is a safer purchase. If you don't know a whole lot about older Rickenbackers and how they operate and what their idiosyncrasies are, a newer 4003 is a safer purchase.

Here's my disclaimer. I like certain 4001 basses better. I like the hairpin truss rod system, the long pole toaster sound, the checker board binding, and the real magnetic horseshoe pick ups. I do own a few 4003's that are simply awesome. My 1986 Shadow is one but even that one can't touch my 1965 4001 in sound or feel.

The foto is proof that I have a bit invested in the brand and my words are backed up by action and not just air. Missing fromt he foto is my 2011 Jetglo drop D 4003.

Sepp

On your experience, what do say is the best model among the new ones? I owned both a 1969 (eggplant glo) and a 1971 (black) back in the 1970's and wish to gawd I still had them. Plus, I am a sucker for that handmade checkering. Dang it, now I am going to be cussing myself all night like I do when I remind myself about them. Grrr.

 

[gwangi]

Honestly a 70's Jetglo w/ checkered binding is pure bliss, well maybe an Azureglo also w/ checkered binding.