Given Squire and Macca are two of my favorite bassists, I've been aware of that for a long time, but still doesn't change what I said. Squire's tone, in particular, is not exactly something you'd use in a lot of stuff.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Rickenbacker Users: Honest thoughts on the 4001/4003?
- Thread starter May Cassidy
- Start date
-
- Tags
- rickenbacker
Is that because the bass in inherently versatile, or does it have to do with the minds and musical sensibilities of the player?
I don't think McCartney would sound like Squire even if he duplicated his choice of strings, amp settings and signal chain.
Same thing to me. I think McCartney sounded the way he wanted to sound, same with Squire. Some basses you can change the sound a lot with the way you play, others not so much.
Nice bass, does that have the screw top bridge pickup? Thanks! Here's a close-up of the bridge pickup. The neck is a toaster pickup. I still have the bridge pickup cover but never use it.
What a beauty! I'll take a Thunderbird over a Ric 8 days a week.
I'll pile on with what a bunch of others have said - try them out - they vary greatly.
I had a 72 4001 that I wish I'd kept forever - super fast neck, great sound, etc. Just an awesome bass, on looks, sound, and playability.
I've had 3 other 4001's and a 4003 over the years and didn't hang on to any of them very long - for me the necks were chunkier or the sound not as good. Just never bonded with them.
I had a 72 4001 that I wish I'd kept forever - super fast neck, great sound, etc. Just an awesome bass, on looks, sound, and playability.
I've had 3 other 4001's and a 4003 over the years and didn't hang on to any of them very long - for me the necks were chunkier or the sound not as good. Just never bonded with them.
Yeah but ironically, Squire's is part of my holy grail of punk rockin bass tone. 70s/80s Oz and New York punk, not modern punk. Very proud useful rock tone, I reckon. If you know how to use it...
Based on the answers here i'm pretty surprised how much they vary especially the neck.
Oh, I'm hardly saying it's not useful. Apart from prog rock, I'm not really a rocker though, more of a funk/jazzer.
They do turn up in the most interesting places.
I've played only one, a 4003, and it was so heavily modded that it only looked like a Ric. I do like the looks of them, but I do not have the heart to shell out the kind of money it normally takes to land one only to discover that it's a bimbo: all looks, no substance. Go for yourself.
I've played only one, a 4003, and it was so heavily modded that it only looked like a Ric. I do like the looks of them, but I do not have the heart to shell out the kind of money it normally takes to land one only to discover that it's a bimbo: all looks, no substance. Go for yourself.
I've gone back and forth on them before. My 4001v63 was a nice instrument, but I could never get on with the neck, it was a decent width but too deep and with prominent U shape, could really feel the shoulders on it. I suppose it was what some would call a D-shape, but an extreme one, almost felt squared off. At the time I felt my Precision was in the same ball park as the bridge pickup but much more playable. The neck on the Rick also had a slight twist on the treble side, had issues with fret buzz on the G string in the first 4 frets I could never manage to shake.
Sold that on when I was tight on cash, but still loved the way they looked and sounded. I've since gone to Greco PMB-800s, which are clones of the 4001S, and for me, I think they are every bit as good as a Rick, and better than some I've played. Neck shape is great, D-shape, but far smoother than the 2x4 neck on the 4001v63. Same neck thru construction, but with a wider 4005 style skunk stripe. Ergonomics have never been an issue, but I've always used the S versions of Ricks. If you want to try out the feel of a Rick before going fully in cash-wise, grab a Greco, they can usually be found sub-$1000.
Sold that on when I was tight on cash, but still loved the way they looked and sounded. I've since gone to Greco PMB-800s, which are clones of the 4001S, and for me, I think they are every bit as good as a Rick, and better than some I've played. Neck shape is great, D-shape, but far smoother than the 2x4 neck on the 4001v63. Same neck thru construction, but with a wider 4005 style skunk stripe. Ergonomics have never been an issue, but I've always used the S versions of Ricks. If you want to try out the feel of a Rick before going fully in cash-wise, grab a Greco, they can usually be found sub-$1000.
I had friends in my teens and 20s with Rics and borrowed them for a number of gigs. I've always loved them, and I recently picked up a new 4003S from Sweetwater ($1,750 shipped with my pick of fireglo finishes was hard to turn down). Chunky neck, just how I like it on a Ric, with all those inspiring tones… this one's not going anywhere.
Always wanted one. Got one.
Now, it sits as my "Sex, Drugs & Rock n' Roll" display, in the living room.
Still love the idea of having it, however, the neck, body, and right-hand position, were just too uncomfortable. Plus, it was just too bright sounding, for my needs, as I have since graduated to a fretless Jazz Bass Special.
Sell it? Nah. Way too cool to say you at least own one.
And, the "Snow," on top, was during the Christmas Season.
Last edited:
Had a 2012 and a 2016 4003 at different times. There were things I liked and things I didn't, and overall the bad outweighed the good for me.
