I cut/modified the original bridge to fit around a Hipshot kickass bridge. that way I could retain (somewhat) the original look and feel, and not have to plug the cavity or make a plastic cover like you see on other badass ii equipped Rickenbackers.
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Rickenbacker Users: Honest thoughts on the 4001/4003?
- Thread starter May Cassidy
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- rickenbacker
I cut/modified the original bridge to fit around a Hipshot kickass bridge. that way I could retain (somewhat) the original look and feel, and not have to plug the cavity or make a plastic cover like you see on other badass ii equipped Rickenbackers.
That's cool, I was thinking of hiding a custom stop tailpiece under the original.
I have owned 4 Ricks. The first one was a V63 that I bought in 1990. In my country at that time, there were only two choices when buying a Rick: if I found it in a store, I either bought it or I didn't. Because it was rare to find a Rick in a store, and I never knew when they would come in stock even if I ordered one. So when I came across a V63 at a music store in Kyoto, I thought about it one night and bought it the next day. As for some of the problems that come with Rick, I had experienced them with a Fernandez faker I had used (and still own) up to that point, so I was like, "Oh, so this is how it is with the real thing." I responded calmly (a little disappointed). I bought the next three instruments without seeing them in person. 4001CS and 4003S/8 I took the catalog to the music store, pointed to the instruments in question, and ordered them as if I were ordering at a restaurant. 4003FL I got at an auction. I have been playing Rick for more than 30 years now and I hardly feel any problems. I have no plans to buy another Rick at this time, but if 4002 comes back or 4004 incorporates my tastes, I may buy one. Of course, this is before I see the real thing!
I know this is a long sentence, but my point was that I didn't try before I bought and I bought 4 Rics.
I know this is a long sentence, but my point was that I didn't try before I bought and I bought 4 Rics.
I LOVE your collection! Congrats on acquiring those beautiful Rics and have fun playing them all!
Yes, there is a 4004 there!
Exactly! So many people think they're "one trick ponies" when they're probably some of the most versatile basses out there.
I'm a fortunate man because I've owned 3 Rickenbackers over the years. I still own 2 of them and they're 2 of my favorite basses. Their tone, look, and feel has become the standard for which I compare basses.
I always say that you can make a Ric sound like another bass, but you can't make another bass sound like a Ric. That's a testament to their incredible versatility. They're not just clanky "one trick ponies" like so many people say. There are several other comments that mention how twisting the knobs is necessary to change the tone. And these comments are spot on. That's not to mention the Rick-O-Sound and the opportunity to bi-amp. That's one of the most underrated features of Ric basses.
The design of the 4000 series is stunning! Roger Rossmeisl hit it out of the park when he designed the original 4000 bass in 1956! It's no wonder Fender hired him to design the Coronado guitars and basses in the 1960s. Plus, Rics finishes are incredible. My 2012 4003 is Ruby Red and my 2022 4003 is Satin Autumnglo - they're so beautiful to look at and I'm privileged to be able to do so every day!
And the feel really depends on the era and the model. I agree with the aforementioned "try before you buy" advice because the feel of any bass is important. I love the 33.25" scale of the Ric basses. It's a little bit shorter than the standard 34" scale, but it's great when you're playing in the lower frets. The reach from the 1st fret to the 4th fret isn't as bad as it is on a 34" scale bass. For example, playing in F Minor and hitting that low F note in a pentatonic scale is easier on a Ric thanks to the slightly shorter scale.
Overall, I LOVE Rickenbacker basses and it's hard to play other brands because I'm so spoiled by my 4003s!
I always say that you can make a Ric sound like another bass, but you can't make another bass sound like a Ric. That's a testament to their incredible versatility. They're not just clanky "one trick ponies" like so many people say. There are several other comments that mention how twisting the knobs is necessary to change the tone. And these comments are spot on. That's not to mention the Rick-O-Sound and the opportunity to bi-amp. That's one of the most underrated features of Ric basses.
The design of the 4000 series is stunning! Roger Rossmeisl hit it out of the park when he designed the original 4000 bass in 1956! It's no wonder Fender hired him to design the Coronado guitars and basses in the 1960s. Plus, Rics finishes are incredible. My 2012 4003 is Ruby Red and my 2022 4003 is Satin Autumnglo - they're so beautiful to look at and I'm privileged to be able to do so every day!
And the feel really depends on the era and the model. I agree with the aforementioned "try before you buy" advice because the feel of any bass is important. I love the 33.25" scale of the Ric basses. It's a little bit shorter than the standard 34" scale, but it's great when you're playing in the lower frets. The reach from the 1st fret to the 4th fret isn't as bad as it is on a 34" scale bass. For example, playing in F Minor and hitting that low F note in a pentatonic scale is easier on a Ric thanks to the slightly shorter scale.
Overall, I LOVE Rickenbacker basses and it's hard to play other brands because I'm so spoiled by my 4003s!
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The first Rick I bought (V63) has a large knot on the fretboard. I have certainly never seen such a knot on a fretboard from any maker other than Rick. Nor do the three Rick's I have bought since then. To be honest, I didn't like this part, but after 30+ years I don't mind it anymore.
I once did that to a Ric bridge to fit a Badass...
...unfortunately it was a gap-tooth one which I butchered!
Most important - try it before you buy it to be sure the ergonomics work for you. Also, don't pay too much attention to negative talk about the bridge + the dual truss rods. I personally feel the newest ones are the best versions, benefiting from modern manufacturing and gradual improvements along the way.
I was joking
A little play on the constant Rickenbacker complaining you hear here. I love Fenders.
D
I do too. Maybe too many people handled those basses at GC. Used Fenders throughout the nineties. I remember them differently. I do think you have to find a good one.I was joking
I've bought two new Fender since 2013, A TF fretless and an AM Vintage Hot Rod P/J, very nice playing and sounding basses. I did take off the high mass bridge off the Hot Rod though and put on a bent plate and had another volume control added to the TF.
Beautiful bass, was that originally a Fireglo? There is or was a guy at the Rickenbacker Forum who was pretty sure he had Maurice Gibb's old 60's 4001 that had also been painted white.
I have confirmed that I like the 60's S model the best. It's a very beautiful instrument. By the way, the area where the right arm rests has a little bit of paint peeling off, and I can see a slight red color underneath. Was this done by painting white over the original FG?
Yes - I had it overpainted in 1977 when I bought it.
I think it may have been Gordon Smith who did it, via Carlsbro Sounds shop.
(I do need to put the jack plate on the right way 'round!)
Can I ask you what you paid for that in 1977 and if it were looked at as a special Rickenbacker because of its age? I do know that pre-CBS Fender prices were rising during the 70's already. 1977 is the year I bought my first Ric, a new mapleglo 4001, paid $429.00 in EU Wurlitzers in Boston which was one of the biggest and best guitar stores in New England at that time. They were flying out the door there at that time so it was probably a decent price, I've heard of others here paying more than that for new 70's 4001's, even earlier in the decade.
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Sure - it cost me £220.
It wasn't really considered vintage or anything then.
I paid for it working evenings and nights stocking shelves in a supermarket.
I have a post-2020 4003 and couldn't be happier (unless hipshot made a drop in bridge for this model). The bridge sucks to play around, it's the thickest neck I've ever played which is an impressive statement, and the binding digs into my arm and I couldn't care less really. it sounds and plays fantastic and I love the massive neck, it's one of the only basses I have where I let the neck do most of the work (i.e. I'm almost more pushing the neck into the strings instead of pushing the strings into the neck).
It's an oddball instrument that probably won't click for many or probably even most, but it's everything I ever wanted except for the binding issue, I just need to wear it down more.
It's an oddball instrument that probably won't click for many or probably even most, but it's everything I ever wanted except for the binding issue, I just need to wear it down more.
