Hey i was just wondering exactly what the difference in the Rickenbacker Basses such as the 4001 4003 and 4004?
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 Whats the differnce?
- Thread starter holymountainman
- Start date
Then you would be better served by going to the RickResource forums. I doubt if many people on this board own or have owned all of the models you mention and therefore would be unable to give you a 'personal opinion'.
The guys on the Rickresource forum will be able to tell you exactly what the differences are down to the size of thread used in the screws that fix the pickguard...and i'm not exagerrating
I own a 4003 and the differences between the 4001, 4003, Laredo and Cheyenne, subtle and not so subtle, are too numerous to mention in one night.
That site skips the 4001's which haven't been made since about 1980 although you'll find them with dates up to 1986 (old stock) The pickups on the 4001's are wound less, they have more treble and are clearer. The necks as a rule are thinner and the width at the nut is a little bit thinner. The Truss rods are very different and you need to take pressure off the necks before you adjust them or you risk cracking the neck at the nut. As made at the factory they have a treble pass cap in the path of the bridge pickup effectively cutting out all bottom and most mids from this pickup resulting in much less presence but giving them the characteristic tone they're famous for. Most people bypass this cap. Many people also think they play better. Early 4003's were 4001's with the truss rods reversed, they adjusted at the pickguard end under the PG which is why they had two piece pickguards. The new 4003's have very powerful pickups and have thicker necks which results in them having a great big sound unlike the 4001's, also they have a switch to put the cap in and out of the circuit for people who like it. The newest ones are supposed to have thinner necks, I don't know I've never played a brand new one, the newest I have is a 2006. They're all nice basses, just be careful if you want a 4001, many have been abused through ignorance of how to adjust them.
4004's have humbuckers in them and only have one vol and tone and a 3 way switch. I've never heard one but don't like the idea of only having one vol control for both pickups. The body's are very similar to 4003's although they look very different, different finishes, tuners, etc. If I were only going to own one it would be an early 90's 4003, they have thinner necks but have the powerful pickups, they roar.
I've belonged to the Rickenbacker forum for over 5 years but have no idea what thread the pickguard screws have although I can tell you if they are original or not.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Then you would be better served by going to the RickResource forums. I doubt if many people on this board own or have owned all of the models you mention and therefore would be unable to give you a 'personal opinion'.
The guys on the Rickresource forum will be able to tell you exactly what the differences are down to the size of thread used in the screws that fix the pickguard...and i'm not exagerrating
I own a 4003 and the differences between the 4001, 4003, Laredo and Cheyenne, subtle and not so subtle, are too numerous to mention in one night.
The Rickresource forum is good but they are too into Rics ... they practically worship the instruments and worship John Hall. But there are many experts there who know the instruments. They Really frown on any modifications over there.
The 4001 was introduced in the 60s, and they quit making them in the early 80s. The 4001 basses have weak necks and weak pickups. The 4003 replaced the 4001 and fixed some of the flaws the 4001 had. The 4003 has a very strong neck and louder fuller sounding pickups. The reissue 4001 basses like the v63 and c64 basses are really 4003 basses. The 4004 is a new bass with 2 humbucking pickups. The 4004 is a wonderful bass but the electronics are one dimensional, a simple rewiring like a jazz bass or an active preamp circuit makes the 4004 a really nice bass.
The real shame is Rickenbacker does not make a 5 string bass.
Not all WE Ric forum members are the same anymore than any other one brand forum, you have your fanatics and then you have your moderates. and not all 4001's have weak necks I've owned many of them, in fact the majority are fine, bought my first of many in 1977. Most necks are ruined because of people who don't know how to adjust them correctly, see my previous post. The 4003 was introduced in 1980 to accommodate round wound strings. I think perhaps you should read all the threads before you paint all members of the Ric forum with one brush. Ric made a 5 string for about ten years, they didn't sell. I also own Fenders and Gibsons and love them all, there is no perfect bass, worship is too strong of a word.
I don't do irreversible mods on any bass I own, ruins them IMHO.
Good info from Ric5, and bobyoung53. I'll add that another dif with 4004's, no pickguard. Makes it look meaner I think, and combined with the humbuckers and wider neck/string spacing, totally different feel from the 4001/4003. My all-time fav bass is an '06 4003, best of all the features through the years. Great tone, feel and looks. 4001's are cool too, but some have been abused and could have neck problems. I've had 2, one with problems, one without. I've had 4 4003's, no probs at all. But, like I said, '06's and newer are the best ever. 4004's are hard to come by, I've had an order in for one since Nov '06, should see it this year, I hope.
RickenBoogie, by any chance the most recent Ric 4003 model you have is the 2006? Not that it can't or shouldn't be your " all it fav" but the 2008 finish and neck profile, not to mention, the full size inlays is probably the best production model to date.
I've had a 2006 FG and a 2008 JG, IMO, 2008. Its seems to be a Renaissance in American guitar manufacturing and QC (ie, Fender, Squire or are they the same
)
RickenBoogie, by any chance the most recent Ric 4003 model you have is the 2006? Not that it can't or shouldn't be your " all it fav" but the 2008 finish and neck profile, not to mention, the full size inlays is probably the best production model to date.
I've had a 2006 FG and a 2008 JG, IMO, 2008. Its seems to be a Renaissance in American guitar manufacturing and QC (ie, Fender, Squire or are they the same
My newest is a 2006 and I find the neck (on mine anyway) is a little thick, is that new thinner neck profile now on all their new basses? I had heard about it but have heard no definitive news, is it close to the late 70's 4001 width and thickness at all? Those are my favorite.
Jeff, I should have known it was you, you cantankerous old bstd, haha! 5 strings? Why would anyone want an extra string? Spare?
My 06 FG's neck looks like it has a clear-coat applied on thick enuff to see a build-up and it has more of a baseball bat feel "C" shape. The 08 JG's neck feels more like a " [ " shape, flat and very straight with polished rosewood and a clear-coat that's transparent. And, I could be wrong, but it feels lighter.
Yeah, my '06 is the last one I got. Compared to my '85, and '99, this one is perfect. They started the slimmer neck in '06, but it was a transition, so not all '06's have it. I'm sure all '08's do. The full legnth inlays mean nothing to me, but the feel of my '06 is more akin to my older 4001's, '76 and '77, Thin, but with substance, and very little taper. The tone circuit is cool, but I don't use it, I like the phat bypassed, (normal) mode much more. Pretty sure I'll be happy with my 4004Cii, whenever they get around to building it.
I currently own a 1973 4001 and have owned a 1985 4003 and 1994 4003. I sold the 4003s when I got the 4001. The 4003 has a brighter sound, somewhat clangy and a slightly fatter neck than the 4001. I kept the 4001 because it had a bright sound, but warmer than my 4003s. The neck is thinner, but not enough for me to go with the 4001 for that reason. The tone is why I switched. I run Rotosound Piano String Design rounds on it, without any neck problems. It is rock-solid. The guitar in general is rock-solid and the neck seems to be less effected by humidity changes than my other basses.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Jeff, I should have known it was you, you cantankerous old bstd, haha! 5 strings? Why would anyone want an extra string? Spare?
Hey Bob ... they kicked me off the Rickresource forum permantly because I posted that my jazz bass was better than my Ric ... they considered that a negative comment ...
They have a new moderator who is a JH brown-noser and he couldn't wait to get me off of that forum.
But I prefer this forum ... here there are people who prefer all types of basses and we all seem to get along ... and nobody here seems to get mad if I say the jazz bass that I built in my basement is a better bass than my Rickenbackers.
Also over there they get really mad if you point out a flaw in a Rickenbacker design.
I don't like to gossip, but in regards to that I've got something I've been meaning to get off my chest for a while (I've always thought it would be tasteless to say as it's just a theory...)
I joined the Rickenbacker forum a while back... posted a few times. Anyway, I went on there one day to find that my account had been deleted. No problem, make a new account. I couldn't make a new account as the site said that my current email was already registered with the forum. After sending several emails to the webmaster, I didn't recieve a single reply, and my gut feeling was that it was because I said on Talkbass that I find John Halls attitude and mannerisms somewhat offensive at times.
Anyway, I apologise that I have nothing constructive to the original topic of this thread; everything that's needed to be said already has been.
True, but it is not included in the 2008 pricelist on the website.[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Mike
