Rickenbacker - Why do you love/hate it?

[Skybone]

Well worth it IME.

It may well be well worth it (and I'm pretty sure that I would do the same mod if I bought a 4004), my point is WHY you have to do the modification to an already high value instrument.

Doing the mod on a brand new instrument would surely invalidate the Manufacturers Warranty, so not only do you have to pay an additional amount on top of purchasing an already high value instrument, you are also invalidating any potential comeback you may have against the manufacturer should anything go wrong.

On a second hand instrument, the Manufacturers Warranty is already invalid, so no issue there, you're just having to spend out on an instrument you've just spent a fair amount on anyway.

Surely a twin pickup instrument, especially a bass, needs either a volume control for each pickup, or alternatively a "blend" pot (or even twin stacked pots, you could keep the selector switch as well).

I am, of course, simply playing Devil's Advocate here, as I don't expect anyone at Rickenbacker to take any heed of this, and I don't expect them tom implement any control layout changes on either the 4003/4003s or the 4004. I'd love to have a 4004 (in either L or Cii variety), and if I ever did, the control layout would be modified.

 

[Tony In Philly]

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

Maybe, but they are one of the ballsiest sounding basses ever made.

 

[nonohmic]

They look, feel, and sound all floppy.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...my point is WHY you have to do the modification to an already high value instrument...

Simply, because I wanted to. It wasn't a need to do so.

 

[bassplayertom77]

I love hearing them. I don't care to play them.

 

[woodyng2]

Simply, because I wanted to. It wasn't a need to do so.

Skybone---Why ask why?
4004's are great basses to start with,but i don't think i've owned more than 1-2 basses of any kind over the years that i didn't "tinker" with. (A Turner Model 1 is probably the only one I didn't mod...didn't keep it,either.)
I got the bass on the right for $1k used,and put about $500 into the mods,some of which i recupped by selling the hb pickups....i didn't have to replace the pickups,add the pg,pickup cover,etc,but wanted something unique.

 

[mindwell]

They roar. Such a frequency range!

 

[ZenG]

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.

Do you really like Ricks..or are you just saying that to fit in...?

 

[Korladis]

It may well be well worth it (and I'm pretty sure that I would do the same mod if I bought a 4004), my point is WHY you have to do the modification to an already high value instrument.

Doing the mod on a brand new instrument would surely invalidate the Manufacturers Warranty, so not only do you have to pay an additional amount on top of purchasing an already high value instrument, you are also invalidating any potential comeback you may have against the manufacturer should anything go wrong.

On a second hand instrument, the Manufacturers Warranty is already invalid, so no issue there, you're just having to spend out on an instrument you've just spent a fair amount on anyway.

Surely a twin pickup instrument, especially a bass, needs either a volume control for each pickup, or alternatively a "blend" pot (or even twin stacked pots, you could keep the selector switch as well).

I am, of course, simply playing Devil's Advocate here, as I don't expect anyone at Rickenbacker to take any heed of this, and I don't expect them tom implement any control layout changes on either the 4003/4003s or the 4004. I'd love to have a 4004 (in either L or Cii variety), and if I ever did, the control layout would be modified.

I'd rather have a pickup switch than two volumes, personally.

If I were to modify the 4004's control layout to get a second volume knob, I'd ditch the tone knob, not the pickup switch.

 

[Trouztrouz]

Do you really like Ricks..or are you just saying that to fit in...?

I can do both.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...I'd ditch the tone knob, not the pickup switch.

I did that recently. The switch needs replacing (faulty for some reason) but having two volume controls is nice and this particular 4004 is not intended for toning down any.

 

[Clipped]

Love the sound (growl), feel (thin), look (unique), playability (TI flats help).

 

[Skybone]

Skybone---Why ask why?
4004's are great basses to start with,but i don't think i've owned more than 1-2 basses of any kind over the years that i didn't "tinker" with. (A Turner Model 1 is probably the only one I didn't mod...didn't keep it,either.)
I got the bass on the right for $1k used,and put about $500 into the mods,some of which i recupped by selling the hb pickups....i didn't have to replace the pickups,add the pg,pickup cover,etc,but wanted something unique.

Why ask why?

Why not?

Personally, I like to have both pickups on at the same time. I've always found on twin pickup basses, that one pickup will dominate the overall sound. To control this, and get a more "balanced" sound, you can use the individual volume controls, turn the "dominant" pickup down until the other pickup can be heard. I've used this on my old 4003, my current Fakers, the various J basses and many other twin pickup basses I've owned through the years. It works.

My point in asking why, is that when the 4004 was released, the design idea was to get around the flaws of the 4003, yet in doing so, has created it's own design flaw in that you can't control the individual pickup volume & tone (like you can on a 4003). Getting around it is an "easy fix", but why do you have to "fix" an already high value instrument in the first place?

If I were to mod a 4004, I'd go with twin concentric pots for volume & tone, and keep the selector switch.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...If I were to mod a 4004, I'd go with twin concentric pots for volume & tone, and keep the selector switch.

Many folks have done just that.

 

[woodyng2]

See,just among the few responses,we have so many control layout permutations, each according to a personal preference.....i personally don't like the mini toggle (functionally or looks-wise),so replacing that was my 2nd reason (after upgrading to 500k push pull pots) for doing the mods.
I'm not even consistent,my 4 modded 4004's each have a different modded control layout.
I don't expect RIC to do something like that,when their basic setup works ok. It's like putting aftermarket led headlights on my 11 year old Scion,it's just an improvement i wanted.

 

[aborgman]

Why do you love/hate it?

Love -

The sound.

Hate -

I only play 5 strings.
The ergonomics are super uncomfortable.
Build quality is sub par for the cost.

 

[NecroticImbecil]

Is there a thread for people that just think they're OK?

 

[Malak the Mad]

I remember the first time I worked up the nerve to even pull one down from the Used Instruments wall at my local Guitar Center…damn, but that price-tag can be scary, especially to a noobie! After noodling with it for a while with no amplification (my primary "acid test" for any instrument I try out), I decided a Rickenbacker was not going to be a part of my future. The way the necks are constructed just doesn't work for me, which is a real shame because I think they look magnificent.

Well, maybe not a shame for my wallet, especially given my tendency to tinker and experiment.

 

[vstring3]

I only know about my 2005 4003 Ric.

What I don't like about it:

It cannot handle flatwounds (and it defies any adjustment to try to compensate for the tension) - so, I have to string it up with tapewounds. It sounds great, but I'd rather have flats.

I have the E-string, low output problem that adjusting the pickup height helps, but does not fix (it's not that big of a problem, but it's there).

The neck seems to be overly sensitive to weather change - and I find myself adjusting it alot more frequently than my Fenders.

It's heavy.

What I like about it:

It sounds, by far, better than my other basses.

The neck profile is perfect for me.


.

 

[RedVee]

Ricks are like Corvettes. They're not Lamborghinis, but those that have them like them, and most that don't have one would like to have one, if they could afford it.

And yes, like Corvettes, they are fun to make fun of, even though you'd like to have one.

I was just thinking 'it sounds like they are like Morgans - not retro, but just built the same as ever'. Is that close?