Rickenbacker Whats the differnce?

[RobJ]

I own a few Rickenbacker basses and find each has it's unique sound and I find each to be a great instrument in its own right. I have:

'72 4001
'86 4003
'98 4004C
'99 4004Cii
'9? 4001CS (I'm the original owner of all but the '72.)

For me the 4004s are better meat and potatoes basses sound wise. While they do sound like Rickenbackers there's not so much of the classic 4001/4003 RIC sound that they aren't very usable for a wide variety of music genres. Others of course may disagree, but that's my view anyway. Of the two 4004s I prefer the Cii.

Regarding RIC 5 strings, I could never get passed the string spacing. I'm a finger player with fairly large hands and I just couldn't deal with the limitations around adding a fifth string to a four string neck and pickup design and calling it good. I had always wished they'd do a complete redesign and come up with something else but they haven't.

I recognize a couple of names on this site from the old Rickenbacker forum, the one a guy named Peter ran before the Rickenbacker site started the current forum. I was a regular poster at that site and gave it up after growing tired of a few people clubbing others over differing opinions and going to great lengths to try to "prove" others wrong, usually over the silliest things. Some people think way too much of themselves it seems. Anyway I tired of it and stopped posting or reading that forum. I'm registered for the current site but don't think I ever posted there and don't really read it so I don't know what the current atmosphere is like.

 

[Ric5]

Wow, Jeff, they really evicted you from Rickresource? Everything over there generally seemed pretty civil to me, very mild compared to, say, the DB side of this board!

I own 3 4003s5s and think they are great instruments, but the spacing is pretty tight if you want fingerstyle. Perhaps because of the lighter gauge stock string setup that they come with from the factory, I think when picked they sound even closer to that classic Rickenbacker clank than a modern 4003 4-string does.

The RickResource forum is not tolerant of diversity ... When I joined that forum I was playing a 68 4001 and a 73 4001. They embraced me loved my contributions. But I changed. I got a 4003s5, and I started converting 4003 and 4004 4 string basses to 5 string basses. They started getting uncomfortable with me. Then I sold all of my 4 string basses. That made me less acceptable. But then I started doing unforgivable things like playing jazz and p-basses. Then I came out and said the jazz bass that I built in my basement was better than my Rickenbackers. After that the hostility became open and unrestrained.

The RickResource forum does not tolerate diversity. If you play a 4001c64 and string it up with flatwounds and you are working on finally nailing that bass line from Sgt. Peppers, then they will love you. But I was playing 5 string basses and playing FooFighters, Staind, 3 doors down, and other modern bands and doing it with many different basses.

That is why I like this forum ... there is a lot of diversity ...

 

[keb]

It's disappointing the company can't get a good 5-string out. I'd played a 4003S/5 years ago in a store, and like how many others feel about them, the string spacing was just way too tight. Now if they'd come out with a redesigned 4003S/5 with a wider neck... that would be just awesome. But that's some serious wishful thinking!

...and *when* are they gonna introduce a new bridge for the 4003? If the pickups on the 4004 5-string qualify as a design flaw (an opinion I agree with, by the way), then surely the clunky, archaic 4003 bridge does as well, with its tendency to bend up under the tension of the strings (mine did, and I use light gauge strings!) Installing the Hipshot replacement on my 4003 made that bass very happy, as Emeril would say. Hell, RIC should just work with Hipshot to make that bridge standard equipment. The keywinds are made by Schaller, after all... nothing wrong with farming out a little bit!

 

[12stringbassist]

Ric are currently stuck at one place in time because of the back orders they have to fulfill. They are happy not to tool up further and to increase staff and go for huge mass-production, as they have a confortably full order book and a product that people want. They can make it to the correct quality with the staff they have and don't need to change anthing.

They have it sewn up, really. A business running to full capacity with a fairly assured future. How it should be. The perfect business model. Most similar companies would be jealous of them.

This means they haven't got staff with marginal time to tinker about with major changes to the product range. New bridges made by Ric (or supplied by another maker directly for fitting on their new basses) may be exactly what some people want. New body shapes (I think John Hall has said they have a couple of ideas ready to go,which are held up by everything else - or words to that effect) take a lot of work to get onto the street and the staff / time resources would be at the expense of fulfilling existing orders. Catch 22.

It will happen.
The question is 'when?'.
The answer is 'How long is a piece of string?'

 

[lowendblues]

I currently dont own a five string. But when I was playing in a band I needed one. I think they are a very neccesary tool. Every major bass maker should offer at least one five string model.

Rickenbacker is really missing the boat in that department.

 

[RickenBoogie]

Yes they are.

 

[Rickengeezer]

The RickResource forum is not tolerant of diversity ... When I joined that forum I was playing a 68 4001 and a 73 4001. They embraced me loved my contributions. But I changed. I got a 4003s5, and I started converting 4003 and 4004 4 string basses to 5 string basses. They started getting uncomfortable with me. Then I sold all of my 4 string basses. That made me less acceptable. But then I started doing unforgivable things like playing jazz and p-basses....

I hope somebody warned Paul McCartney, Chris Squire, Geddy Lee and the others who have sold countless Rics that such behavior will get them evicted!

 

[jbiscuti]

Jeff, for the past several months it's as if you were asking for a banning. You were constantly making completely out-of-context posts about your Jazz basses or Fenderbirds on topics where it was totally irrelevant. You KNOW that the forum is not meant to be your springboard for pointing out the flaws on Rickenbackers. Peter never intended for that to be the case with his forum.

Hell, you had almost 9,000 posts there, and I'm convinced that out of that almost 9,000, there were only about 10 posts that you recycled over and over again. Everyone on the forum (except your friend Steve) was sick and tired of having the same **** shoved down our throats from you about your Jazz, your preamps, your 4-2-5 conversions, the 4004Cii/5, etc. OVER AND OVER AND OVER again.

Your criticisms of the forum are completely off base - no one there "worships" John Hall, and there are often criticisms of the product, the backlog, etc. It's all about how you go about it, though.

 

[Ric5]

spoken like a true rickresource fan ...

No tolerance for a different point of view ...

 

[jbiscuti]

spoken like a true rickresource fan ...

No tolerance for a different point of view ...

Point of view regarding what?

 

[Ric5]

John ... I really don't want to argue with you ... you were one of the more reasonable people on that forum ... But I really didn't belong there ...

You see I like to post things like this ...

I like my Rickenbackers a lot but there are basses out there that are better. John Hall is a smart business man but he has made some mistakes. I prefer active basses to passive basses. I prefer 5 strings to 4 strings. etc...

And when I post stuff like that on that forum it makes people mad ... then after awhile their anger makes me mad and I post in anger ... that becomes a waste of time ...

This forum embraces diversity so people don't get mad when I say I like bass A better than bass B.

 

[EnderZ13]

You see I like to post things like this ...

I like my Rickenbackers a lot but there are basses out there that are better. John Hall is a smart business man but he has made some mistakes. I prefer active basses to passive basses. I prefer 5 strings to 4 strings. etc...

And when I post stuff like that on that forum it makes people mad ... then after awhile their anger makes me mad and I post in anger ... that becomes a waste of time ...

This forum embraces diversity so people don't get mad when I say I like bass A better than bass B.

If John Hall did everything you desired he might not have a product so well respected and coveted.

Its not a Jazz its not a P-bass, not active, not a fiver, just a Ric man, just a Ric. And, enuff people like it just the way it is to keep it just the way it is.

But, I know its your pet-pevee and you can't let it got because if you could, you would have already. Enjoy the hater it builds character, allegedly

 

[Ric5]

Hey guys I'm really not interested in arguing ...

I will embrace diversity and respect your opinion ...

it is intersesting that the hostility against my posts only shows up when people from the Rickresource forum post here ...

John Hall can do what ever he wants to do ... God Bless him and I hope he does well ... I don't think he looks to me for advice ...

 

[Johnny Crab]

I got barked at by one of the mods (and threatened with a forum ban) for what I thought was no reason at all.

Plus I'm playing my other basses more than my Ricks now anyway - shhhhhh.....

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
BANNED!!!!

I too am considering a Ric, wondered about the differences, and found the place mentioned above as described in THIS thread(Great. Now I'm banned and kaint join!). Thanks to all honest Ric owners for the information.

 

[Ric5]

At the rate they are going they will have more banned members than active members ...

 

[Geddyfleaharris]

Jeff, for the past several months it's as if you were asking for a banning. You were constantly making completely out-of-context posts about your Jazz basses or Fenderbirds on topics where it was totally irrelevant. You KNOW that the forum is not meant to be your springboard for pointing out the flaws on Rickenbackers. Peter never intended for that to be the case with his forum.

Hell, you had almost 9,000 posts there, and I'm convinced that out of that almost 9,000, there were only about 10 posts that you recycled over and over again. Everyone on the forum (except your friend Steve) was sick and tired of having the same **** shoved down our throats from you about your Jazz, your preamps, your 4-2-5 conversions, the 4004Cii/5, etc. OVER AND OVER AND OVER again.

Your criticisms of the forum are completely off base - no one there "worships" John Hall, and there are often criticisms of the product, the backlog, etc. It's all about how you go about it, though.

When I first started reading that ^^^^post I thought it was humourous sarcasm that would end with a funny/happy ending. Guess not.

 

[jbiscuti]

When I first started reading that ^^^^post I thought it was humourous sarcasm that would end with a funny/happy ending. Guess not.

Oh. Sorry to disappoint?

 

[Rickenbrother]

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.

Excuse me, but you getting booted had nothing to do with me. Yes I am a moderator of the bass section there now, but I do not have the capability to ban anyone. Your getting banned had to do with your own inflammatory remarks that were inappropriate for the forum. Don't worry I won't sling mud back at you and call you a stupid name like we are in grammar school. Brown noser? Give me a break, dude!! What should I call you?...I won't sink to a childish level of name calling.
I used to like you Jeff. Used to stick up for you when others picked on you. When you first started 4-2-5'ing basses, I told you I thought it was cool. You never have anything nice to say to anyone, yet you fishing for compliments when you put together a bass or 4-2-5 one.
YOU talked me out of liking you!!!

 

[soundmasterg]

I guess I missed all of the brouhaha there.

I've voiced criticisms in the past about Ric's business practices, some of the instruments and decisions made regarding their parts designs, etc., and have never had any issues. Maybe its all how it is done rather than what specifically is said? I've certainly enjoyed your posts there in the past Jeff, and have learned a lot. I also really like the high gain in a toaster cover that you did for me too and use it in my Ric copy.

Since everyone hears differently and has different hands and feel preferences, some will prefer rounds, while others prefer flats, while others don't like the RIC bridge, while others don't like 5 string basses, etc. It takes all kinds, and some people weren't willing to let some of those exist there anymore. I guess life goes on.

Greg

 

[elysrand]

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.

The 4001 and 4003 are vastly improved with just a little active electronics and pickup work. I should know, one of our companies is designing just such a mod and it promises to be both an Alembic-killer (one-fourth the price of the Alembic solution) and a much more noise-free emulation of the original Rick sound.

I am sorry that the RRF was so intolerant of you. I always thoroughly enjoyed your posts, and think you have a process for converting a 4-string 4003 to a 5-string that results in a far-superior product and sound than anything from the factory. I will withhold my opinion of John Hall - my personal relationship with him has always been good, but I concur in that the owner of the RRF is pathologically afraid of John's every breath online, and is willing to screw over any RRF member at any moment if it advances the status of the owner in John's eyes. Do not trust the owner of the RRF ever, for any reason, he will betray his promises to you and "use" you the minute he sees gain for himself at your expense.

At least I was able to inform my friends Scotty and Chris about this, and during the course of many lengthy phone conversations earlier in the year warn them away from posting further on any board who would allow such things to happen, for fear that they might be "used" too.

Jeff, at least you left because of what you really did post. I chose to never post again over there, although I still lurk every so often, for a more bizarre reason: a well-known long-term member on the RRF, who joined over seven years ago IIRC, hacked into my account after I left the USA for a European trip early Friday Dec 7th 2007. Over the course of the next few days after that, with me overseas where it would have been impossible for me to find out, he posted a bunch of crap that did not come from me, and when I returned to discover that, the owner of the RRF did a cowardly thing and refused to discipline the guy or do anything about it - even after a long history of abuse from the guy and a buddy of his from overseas as well - just because the two crooks who did it were long-term buddies of his. Seems they and a lot of other RRF members blamed me for single-handedly causing the price of used Ricks to double in the two years after I joined, go figure.

Jeff is right - the degree of Wrinkle In Time conformity of the boys out front bouncing their balls can be frightening.

At the same time, I must say that my only beef is with the self-centered and self-serving weakling who runs the board - except for him and a few of the nastier egotists aforementioned, the vast majority of folks I met and dealt with on the board are among the best musicians and down to earth, honest people I have ever met. Many of them I proudly call friend, and since returning to the US for good in late July 2008, I am slowly linking back up with them and resuming friendly professional and personal relationships. Too many of them I regrettably do not have email addresses for, and so reuniting with them will have to come over time as they email me at my well-known email address.

It is too bad, therefore, that such a great group of friends and musicians on such a pretty-good board such as the RRF has been ruined by the presence of such a loathsome few....

So, glad you are here, Jeff, and not there!