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Rickenbacker - Why do you love/hate it?

#23
Love 'em. Great sound. Great looks. Mine has great playability, which seems to vary somewhat from model year to model year.
Only down side for me is the tendency of the binding to dig in to the forearm.

IMG_0366.JPG
 
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#26
I had one a few years ago and sold it.

Love: Sound and looks.
Hate: Ergonomics (got a treble bezel and still found it to be a pain), inconsistent neck dimensions (my 2011 had a baseball bat neck--and to put that description in context, I'm a P bass guy), setup and intonation (dual truss rods and that bridge), and the lame warranty terms (12 months from date of manufacture instead of sale) combined with the reputation for poor customer service.
 
#27
Tone Twins 4.JPG 330 Ric 2.JPG I don't exactly love them; just like them a whole lot. Why?

- The 4001/4003 basses fit me like a glove. On a strap, they hang just where I want them to.
- Everything on them is exactly where my hands expect it to be, and works just like it should.
- At 9.2 lbs., they aren't light, but I don't find them particularly heavy, either.
- The necks on mine are both on the thin side, with the flattened "D" contour that I really like. If they weren't painted, they'd be the equal of my Danelectro DC 59's necks; slicker than goose grease, and fast as a snake. But, they're very close...
- The bridges are not the easiest ones to set up; but then, neither is the bridge on my Thunderbird - or my Alembic, for that matter. Once it was done, though, I've never had to mess with the Ricks' bridges since - and they were set up years ago. Necks are very stable, and they stay in tune..
- I play them just as they came from the factory; with a pick, and the bridge p/u cover on. And, on the Jetglo 4001, I use the mute, too. Works quite well...

As for the 330 guitar? Other than the color, I like it just fine. When you're a lefty, sometimes you have to take what you can get. But, otherwise? It also fits me well; hangs nicely on a strap, and it's certainly not heavy. Neck is nice - very nice, for a guitar. I had to have it refretted; but, it's a very heavily gigged '87, and 330s have notoriously small, soft frets. Like the basses, it sets up easily (for me, anyway) - and stays that way. All the controls are handy, and work like they should. And, the sound? I play it through a vintage Rickenbacker TR-7 combo amp; you think Dick Dale plays a jangly Surf guitar? You should hear this thing...:wideyed:

I guess the bottom line is that I simply accept them as they are. A little quirky; kind of old school; but worth the effort if you get to know them. Ricks aren't the Alpha and Omega of basses (or guitars), but I never expected them to be. And honestly; what is? I sure haven't found it... Ricks aren't for everybody, but they definitely are for me...:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
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#29
I have two 4001s, a '76 Autumnglo, and a '77 Jetglo that I bought in pieces and restored.

Loves: The neck (nice, slim D shape and narrow nut); nothing, not even my Alembics sound like a Rickenbacker, especially with a fresh set of DR Hi Beams ...

Hates: None for my 4001s. I don't care for the 4003s as they changed the headstock shape and the neck (too C shaped for my tastes). Have never played a 4004 so I can't comment.
 
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#30
I love the feel and the workmanship - I appreciate those things every time I pick it up. The sound is excellent too - a great blend of solid low end, clean mids and ringing top end.

I wish that Ric still offered 5 strings and instruments with active electronics. I've got two Rics right now and if they offered basses with those features I might have more
 
#32
Love: Rick-o-Sound (aka stereo output)

Also the looks, the feel, the sound.

Hate? Not much. Mine had minor finish issues, which I've since covered up by adding my own scratches and the usual wear. I had to buy a nut driver to adjust the truss rods, no big deal.

I keep telling myself I'm going to gig one of my other basses; I use them for recording and practice and home projects, but when it's time to go on a stage and rock the Ric wins every time.
 
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#35
FugaziBomb said:
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.
Click to expand...

The hum is a problem in the studio. In the eight years I had Ric, it was the only time I was asked to play a Fender. I would have, but the action on that P was a mile high. I think Rics play great, and get a number of cool tones. It is a secret that they really work well I Funk and Urban Gospel too.

That pickup cover is easily removed. I took mine off of my 4000 within a week or two.
 
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