I had 2 vintage 4001s, one from 72 that was with old school checkerboard binding etc and one from the 80s. My 1984 4001v63 is the best one i ever played. I'd go with no binding Ricks personally!
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Rickenbacker Users: Honest thoughts on the 4001/4003?
- Thread starter May Cassidy
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- rickenbacker
I currently own 2...a 4001 and a 4003...I prefer to 4003 (it has more tonal variation due to the push pull knob)
I will echo what others have said here the Rickenbacker is just an odd duck...but nothing sounds like a distorted Ric and I mean nothing...
The neck is an odd scale it's 33 1/4"...there is not a lot of variation in the width on the neck the nut is 1 11/16" and at the 12 fret your at 2 1/8"
The neck on my 4001 is thinner front to back than the 4003
The binding can dig in to your forearm depending on how you play and where you wear the bass
The newer bridge is way easier to set up and adjust than the older model...the P/U covers are annoying...mine came off and I installed Treble Bezels with a thumb anchor...
The older models with two truss rods were a pain in the ass to adjust...the newer ones are not
The older ones are hard to Re-fret as everything including the fretboard has a clear finish on it...the newer ones do not
If you can get past the design quirks they are great instruments...I have had no issues with binding or tail-lift or any neck issues to speak of
Try before you buy or find someone that will let you try theirs...
Good luck
I bought a brand new 4003 about 20 years ago via eBay and had it shipped to the UK. Quite a leap, now I think about it - but I had to have one. It was my first 'professional' bass.
First impressions were that it sounded incredible through my Trace amp and Ashdown Boxter cab. Then came the challenging bit - the ergonomics. I found it very difficult to play after years of playing cheap Fender Jazz-like instruments. The edge of the 4003 digs into the arm. The bridge and pickup surrounds are sharp. I drew blood on my 4003 several times and ended up wearing a bandage when thrashing around at some shows I played.
Years later I have settled on Fender Precision and Jazz basses - yes, boring, but they work and there is no fight involved. My Rickenbacker gets very little play these days but it does sound amazing, and very different to the other basses I have. There is no tone like it - it has an almost hi-fi clarity compared to my other basses. The flat radius is quite nice too, and offsets the fat neck.
If you want a Rick, my advice is that you really should try one first. Buying sight unseen, like I did, may not end well for you.
First impressions were that it sounded incredible through my Trace amp and Ashdown Boxter cab. Then came the challenging bit - the ergonomics. I found it very difficult to play after years of playing cheap Fender Jazz-like instruments. The edge of the 4003 digs into the arm. The bridge and pickup surrounds are sharp. I drew blood on my 4003 several times and ended up wearing a bandage when thrashing around at some shows I played.
Years later I have settled on Fender Precision and Jazz basses - yes, boring, but they work and there is no fight involved. My Rickenbacker gets very little play these days but it does sound amazing, and very different to the other basses I have. There is no tone like it - it has an almost hi-fi clarity compared to my other basses. The flat radius is quite nice too, and offsets the fat neck.
If you want a Rick, my advice is that you really should try one first. Buying sight unseen, like I did, may not end well for you.
oh my gosh...played the pants off my 75 4001....loved every minute of it...lots of rs66 strings to boot...ALLWAYS stayed in tune ALLWAYS...strung it BEAD to lower the tension on the rotosounds,...then I finally realized that the only thing that was'nt right for me was those foolish frets...oh to have had, and they require low tension strings, a set of labella tape wound strings and NO FRETS...oh one can dream...Ill still NEVER sell her...Im the only one who's fiddeled her nobs...hey now...ss
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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.
You're never going to get used to it using it s a display.
I went from a Guild Starfire II to a used Ric in about 1973 . Maybe since I was coming from short scales to longer me and the Ric bonded pretty fast . It was my only bass and it was the first long scale bass that felt good to play and it sounded very good too . I had it till 1978 and played a ton of gigs with it . I traded it for a natural finish/Maple board Fender Jazz in 78 . I really liked the Ric .
I hadn't played a Ric since back in 78 so I wondered with all the debate on Talkbass if I would like them now . A friend of mine has a newer Ric , the one with contours on the body like Mcartneys . Him being a big fan of Pauls he had it strung with flats and let me use it at practice . It felt great to me but the sound was pretty dull with the flats , I always used rounds on mine back then as I do now . It told me that the Rics are still comfortable for me and if I ever wanted to get one I wouldn't regret it .
Rics are still cool with me .
I hadn't played a Ric since back in 78 so I wondered with all the debate on Talkbass if I would like them now . A friend of mine has a newer Ric , the one with contours on the body like Mcartneys . Him being a big fan of Pauls he had it strung with flats and let me use it at practice . It felt great to me but the sound was pretty dull with the flats , I always used rounds on mine back then as I do now . It told me that the Rics are still comfortable for me and if I ever wanted to get one I wouldn't regret it .
Rics are still cool with me .
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They made factory fretless 4001's and 4003's. You can still find them on Reverb, expensive now though, I have an '85 4003FL.
I feel like it's the same for Ric guitars. They have a very different feel in the lap or hanging from your strap, and some people are not going to get along with them. It's sort of like picking up a Gibson SG or a Firebird, they feel entirely different from the other guitars you may own and it behooves you to try one before you drop a lot of money on it. At least they seem easy to resell should the need arise.
Only owned one Ric in my life personally. It was a 78 if I recall, but can't remember what the actual model was. Bought it on ebay for a steal of a price ($697 as it was pre "buy it now" option) in like 2000 or so. It. Was. Awful. Sold it a week later in the local traders post paper (pre-craigslist). Sold it for $1200, but the guy that bought it came to my house to give it go first, and even brought his own amp which I encouraged. Told him all the things I didn't like about it, but he loved it and walked away smiling.
All that said, I have played some absolutely wonderful Ric's! Timing was never right for me to buy one of the good ones that I've gotten to test drive.
A buddy of mine has an 85-86 4003 I think, and it is just magical. The look, the feel, and the tone are just spot on. It was 100% all original and still strung with the rounds that came on it from the factory even, which is wild. I've pestered him for about 15 years to sell it to me, but hasn't budged. He's let me borrow it many times for sessions where a Ric was warranted. Never let me use it in a live situation, but that's understandable. He still has it, so that reminds me I need to text him again lol.
All that said, I have played some absolutely wonderful Ric's! Timing was never right for me to buy one of the good ones that I've gotten to test drive.
A buddy of mine has an 85-86 4003 I think, and it is just magical. The look, the feel, and the tone are just spot on. It was 100% all original and still strung with the rounds that came on it from the factory even, which is wild. I've pestered him for about 15 years to sell it to me, but hasn't budged. He's let me borrow it many times for sessions where a Ric was warranted. Never let me use it in a live situation, but that's understandable. He still has it, so that reminds me I need to text him again lol.
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I sort of agree with the "try it first" recommendations, but you may not know how a Rickenbacker will work for you until you've taken some time with it.
They are definitely different in a number of respects from a Fender, so they often require a bit of a courtship period, if you will. Depends on the player and to some extent the individual bass.
I own both 4001 and 4003 basses and have for many years. I like them but I acknowledge they're not the first basses I grab for a gig.
They are definitely different in a number of respects from a Fender, so they often require a bit of a courtship period, if you will. Depends on the player and to some extent the individual bass.
I own both 4001 and 4003 basses and have for many years. I like them but I acknowledge they're not the first basses I grab for a gig.
100%. When I play the fusion stuff on the Ric, it is not the fusion sound I want to hear when played with that intent and range of techniques. The far more focussed fully optioned frankenjazz is for that!
I essentially learnt to play on my '74 Ric 4000, bought very used/abused in 1980. As a result, I'm always bemused by the disdain Rickenbackers generate. They're different to the standard FSO, but that's hardly a bad thing. The "try before you buy" advice is great, but it should be applicable to any instrument.
I've had two 4001s and a V63 in addition to my 4000, and I have never been disappointed with playability, reliability, or versatility. I've been able to elicit everything from snarling clank to smooth Beatlesque tones from them. On the negative side, the neck pickup requires a technique adjustment if you're looking to get a good slap sound, but that's about the only issue I've faced (and the single pickup 4000 is flawless for this application).
I've had two 4001s and a V63 in addition to my 4000, and I have never been disappointed with playability, reliability, or versatility. I've been able to elicit everything from snarling clank to smooth Beatlesque tones from them. On the negative side, the neck pickup requires a technique adjustment if you're looking to get a good slap sound, but that's about the only issue I've faced (and the single pickup 4000 is flawless for this application).
Over the last 40 years I've bought numerous 4001/4003, never kept one more than a few hours. The hard edge of the bound bodies annoy the heck out of my wrist! Every few years I delude myself into thinking I will get over that - but so far never have.
I would suggest a 4003"s" (unbound body!) or one of the 4004 models - if you can find one.
Also, I do not have any use for five strings, but this is the most comfortable 5-er I have ever played (sounded awesome, too) :
Rickenbacker 4003S/5 Bass Guitar - Mapleglo
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also unbound body...
I would suggest a 4003"s" (unbound body!) or one of the 4004 models - if you can find one.
Also, I do not have any use for five strings, but this is the most comfortable 5-er I have ever played (sounded awesome, too) :
Rickenbacker 4003S/5 Bass Guitar - Mapleglo
[This invalid link has been removed]
also unbound body...
Since we're sharing, 1982 Mapleglo.
Had a couple 4001's back in the early 80's. Nice basses, but long gone. Don't really remember why, either.
I saw this thread when you posted it and it made me bust my Rick out yesterday 1986 Red 4003! 80's Rock have pretty slim necks by modern Rick standards. One thing to point out is if you happen to have 2 amps and in my case 2 pedal boards as well. Rick'O'Sound is something that opens up sonic possibilities like no other bass out there! Got me really considering getting a second Rick to play out at gigs, this one doesn't go out too often just because I'd be really hard pressed to get another one like it.
Playing a Rick through 2 pedal boards into 2 separate amps is just about the most fun you can have with clothes on!!
Sorry for the bad lighting, forgot to take a picture until after the fact! Bridge pickup was running through the smaller board into the GK Legacy 500 into the Bergantino CN112s and the neck pickup was going into the big board, Darkglass MT900 v2 into the Schroeder 1515+L
Playing a Rick through 2 pedal boards into 2 separate amps is just about the most fun you can have with clothes on!!
Sorry for the bad lighting, forgot to take a picture until after the fact! Bridge pickup was running through the smaller board into the GK Legacy 500 into the Bergantino CN112s and the neck pickup was going into the big board, Darkglass MT900 v2 into the Schroeder 1515+L
They're what some people play until they graduate to a Fender... unless they're Lemmy.
