Rickenbacker - Why do you love/hate it?

[jroboat]

Hello, I hope all is well. I have a question for you all and I apologize if this thread has already been made in the past. Just trying to gather some input from everyone on Rickenbackers. There seems to be no medium and people fall on one end of the spectrum only.

Why do you love/hate Rickenbackers?

 

[dvs20]

I like everything about mine, can't think of one thing I don't like

 

[Trouztrouz]

Studies have shown that when you ask people why they like things, they don't answer that question truthfully. Instead people will give the most socially acceptable answers that their brains can come up with. It's not that they are lying, it's that the brain is not built for introspection. It's built to keep you alive, and you have a better chance of survival if you belong to a group. In this case, the group of people that like ricks (or don't).

I like Ricks a lot and try not to worry about why exactly.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

love the sound
hate that they're heavy (mine was 9-1/2 lbs.)

finish is soft
only 20 frets

I didn't ever contact customer support, but I figure if I had I'd have been told to sod off.

 

[FugaziBomb]

I hate their tenancy to hum, I hate that there always seems to be some part of the bass in the way of my plucking hand, I hate how expensive they are and I hate how much I want one. They are seriously beautiful instruments and I really want to get my hands on one so I can ruin it by replacing the pickups and rewiring it the way I like it.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

the 4004, with humbuckers, solves the tendency to hum problem & has a "normal" bridge
I don't even like the 4003 model & suspect I never will.

RIC guitars are pretty damn awesome.

 

[FugaziBomb]

I feel like the 4004 looks so naked without all the accoutrements

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I doubly hate pickguards, so it looks perfect to me.

 

[5StringBlues]

I hate Ricks!



Because I don't have one....................

 

[farace]

I know they work better for some people than for others, but the neck just feels right in my hand. And if you aren't dead-set on diming all the controls, there are a ton of sounds in there.

 

[two fingers]

I love the looks. I love what Geddy and Squire did with them.

I hate how skinny they are. I can't play them at all.

 

[Spidey2112]

I love the fact that it's different, from the rest of the universe... I'll admit, I selected a 4001 Jetglo, for the sole reason my guitar hero was (and is, still) Geddy Lee...

... after 37 years of playing it, I no longer look at it as Geddy's instrument...

... it's mine, and mine alone.

 

[FugaziBomb]

I doubly hate pickguards, so it looks perfect to me.

Haha, I'm the exact opposite. I've got 14ish Basses and only two of them do not have pickguards. Digging the purple on gold on rosewood here, though.

 

[David Jayne]

I've played 4004's and found them very nice. Great tones and ergonomics, simple, effective controls. Not a fan of 4003's ergos- the hardware is weird and intrusive to me and the sharp, bound body edge hurts my arm. But they sure look/sound cool.

 

[flam]

Love: The neck, just the right size and shape. I like the way the body is shaped, the top part where the body curves in (what is that called) is further back than other basses, and allows me to rest my arm comfortably. It's super rock solid in stability as far as neck and holding tune. Pickups sound amazing, with just the right frequency response to my ears. Plus it just feels cool, and so I play more confidently.

Hate: The company. Crappy bridge design. Pots feel wobbly. Pickups always humming. The 4004. Quality control. Looking back, that may be why I don't like the 4004 very much. I should try it again.

 

[Chicory Blue]

FLCL.

--^@

 

[GnarwhalNick]

I love the look of a 4003 Fireglo, it's one of my dream basses. Either that or a nice green. I love the sound it makes, especially with a pick. I love the decal on the pickguard that says it's made in the USA. I hate the pickup cover. I hate that I can't afford it I hate that I don't think I could ever justify paying over $1000 for a bass, and that goes for other brands, not just Rickenbacker.

 

[ajkula66]

There seems to be no medium and people fall on one end of the spectrum only.

I hate to disappoint you, but I'd venture a guess that I fall into that "medium" category...

The sound, the look...all good by me, generally speaking. That being said, it's extremely unlikely that I'd ever own a Rickenbacker as my one and only bass, regardless of the model.

Why don't I own one right now? Well, I have yet to locate an example which sports a neck that I could live with in a long run. Some were too hefty, and the others too thin in an unusual way. I'm certain that it's out there somewhere, it's just a matter of putting aside the time to actively look for it.

 

[Hounddog409]

I like everything about mine, can't think of one thing I don't like

ditto. the only thing I do not love, is there is only one.

 

[Hounddog409]

I've played 4004's and found them very nice. Great tones and ergonomics, simple, effective controls. Not a fan of 4003's ergos- the hardware is weird and intrusive to me and the sharp, bound body edge hurts my arm. But they sure look/sound cool.

Sounds like someone needs a "S".....