Rickenbacker - Why do you love/hate it?

[Robroy]

Simple:
Coolest looking bass.
Coolest sounding bass.

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.

 

[rodv66]

I got a beat up 4001 a couple of months ago and it's ugly as sin, but sounds and plays like it should. I like the neck and it's very easy to play. The bridge guard needs to go and the pickups are noisy. I didn't find it as treblely as I expected. Not my main bass, but like to play it

 

[morgan138]

Bought if off the guy from Sham 69.

 

[Charlzm]

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?

LOVE:

• The look of a 4001/4003. It just looks great to me. Iconic.
• The sound. It's not a P Bass or a J Bass - it's huge and thick and has a full spectrum of tones at your fingers, yet it still sounds like a Ric most of the time. Individual tone and volume controls for each pickup, a three-way pickup selector toggle and the cap bypass allow you to really contour your sound.
  
• Playability - they have narrow, good-feeling necks (splitting the nut width difference between a traditional P and J), relatively short scale (33.25", which can give your fingers a bit of a break) and fairly low, flat frets. They are also, at about 9 pounds, easy to wear.

HATE:

• Old-fashioned ergonomics - everything about the bridge pickup surround and the pickup cover (which imitates the old horseshoe pickup) is awkward. The body could really benefit from an elbow cut. And unless you get the 4003S model, the binding around the edge of the body will probably give YOU the forearm cut.
• The hardware - that tailpiece. Those buzzy pickups. Only 20 frets. The tuning machines. Some updates would be nice.
• Finishes - nothing too exciting here: a few solid colors and some coffee table finishes.
• Did I mention the buzzy pickups? I shielded the body cavity with self-adhesive copper, which seemed to do pretty much nothing to reduce interference. I also did the polarity reversal mod on the bridge pickup (aka RWRP) - that made a big difference. Still not silent, but more tolerable.
  

So... when you buy one, you are primarily getting it because there's something you love about Ricks and you are tolerating the things you don't. The ratio defines whether you're in the "for" or "against" camp.

 

[stringthrough]

Hate!... Trying too hard to look stylish. Neck PU in a bad spot. Stupid PU cover over the bridge PU. Tones not suitable to most music styles. The 70's 4003 I had had a dead spot in the important 7th fret of the D string. The neck was unstable, needing a truss adjustment with every season... Is that enough reasons to hate them?

 

[DiMarco]

I hate everything.

 

[jd56hawk]

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?

I like them just fine, and if I ever see one in near-perfect condition for under $1,000 that sounds as good as it looks I just might buy it.

 

[woodyng2]

Love all the S models,and all the 4004 models even more.
Not so crazy about the classic 4001/3 "deluxe" models. (No binding or buick tailpieces for me,thanks!)
Every Rick i've owned has been modified to address either my desires or perceived deficiencies,but they're great once you set them up to your liking.
My favorite basses for over 40 years.
I wouldn't get rid of one of my current 5.

 

[sotua]

Love the looks, love the tone (not for everything, but there's a time and a place where there's nothing like a Ric to hit that spot), but hate the ergonomics.

 

[shadven]

I love playing mine at home. I don't like it for gigs.

 

[TJH3113]

Love all the S models,and all the 4004 models even more.
Not so crazy about the classic 4001/3 "deluxe" models. (No binding or buick tailpieces for me,thanks!)
Every Rick i've owned has been modified to address either my desires or perceived deficiencies,but they're great once you set them up to your liking.
My favorite basses for over 40 years.
I wouldn't get rid of one of my current 5.

Beautiful basses. What model is the black one? And did you have a replacement bridge put on?
I intend on removing the neck pick-up from the 4003S I just got and turning it into a 4000. I ordered the guard from PickGuardian. I much prefer the sound of just the bridge p/u. And while I could just not use the neck p/u, I don't like having features on the bass that I'm not going to use. I find myself gravitating to the simplicity of single p/u, passive instruments.

 

[eyeballkid]

Pluses... they look cool.

Minuses... they hurt your arm to play.
They hurt your wrist to play. The metal surrounds cut your fingers. The pickups are noisy. The hardware all needs upgrading. The quality has no control. Every single one feels different but hurts in a new and exciting way. The finish sucks. Need I go on?

 

[BASSKADET]

I had my 1st 4001 Ric for 10 yrs and never had any ergonomic issues. But everyone's built different.

 

[Wicked G]

I neither hate them or love them. Although I will say that when I first started playing bass, many of my favorites at that time played a Ric, so of course I wanted one. Many years later a drummer I used to play with had his father pass away and he used to play bass. The drummer brought me his fathers 1970 something Ric to check out and needless to say I was pretty excited. After playing a couple of songs on it, my opinion went south drastically.

It lacked volume, the tone was dull and worst of all, it was uncomfortable to play. Now I am pretty sure a new set of strings would have helped the tone a lot, but not the lack of volume or the ergonomics. Now again that was a 70's ish bass, but I just don't look at them the same anymore. Neither hate them nor love them, I just won't be spending any of my money on them. YMMV.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

L

Beautiful basses. What model is the black one? And did you have a replacement bridge put on?
I intend on removing the neck pick-up from the 4003S I just got and turning it into a 4000. I ordered the guard from PickGuardian. I much prefer the sound of just the bridge p/u. And while I could just not use the neck p/u, I don't like having features on the bass that I'm not going to use. I find myself gravitating to the simplicity of single p/u, passive instruments.

post pics when it's done

 

[G On Bass]

When I owned one:
- Loved the looks/cosmetics
- Loved the tone that I knew was undiscovered in there
- Loved the fact that it was a Rickenbacker
- Never found a comfortable place for my right thumb to anchor. so off it went.

 

[Mike Sorr]

I LOVE the look, sound, feel, just about everything....except the price. I used to own a fire engine red one with black hardware, (I can't remember what the Rick "-glo" name for the color was.) and I owned a white tuxedo 4001. I don't think I paid more than $500 for either of them. Of course, that was back in the 90s. I would love to own another one, but not for well over $1000 on the used market.

 

[ThaCoast]

I love the shape hands down. When i first played a real RIC: i was let down by the tone, the weight & the feel of it (tone sounded thin, as well as the body - too thin. Weight wise pretty light - the two models i had played were about the same). Then i figured, i might as well find a copy that might have some "upgrades" to my complaints with the RIC. Years ago, i got my copy & it did solve everything. I still had the nice classic look of the RIC 4003/4001, but with hot pickups: a mini humbucker at the neck & a fat tele bass style single coil at the bridge. I upgraded the controls as the switch broke off at some point & i want to wire it with full size pots & different cap values. PLeased to say: it sounds awesome has good weight ( ilike heavy basses it makes me one with them).

But i tried a ric bass recently & although im still displeased withthe thin body & weight, it didnt sound as bad as i recalled. Enough low end to support heavy riffs, & top end to cut through a mix.

Would i ever own a Genuine RIC? Most likely never. DO i hate em? 50/50 with my above statement.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

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.

Since I value my life, I'm going to go with whatever the rest of the group decides. If there's anyone in danger, I don't want to stand out.

Seriously, I would like a particular model of Ric. I would have to win the lottery first I suppose. I'd like it to be the Chris Squire model in left handed. While I love Rics and their sound I would like rounded edges instead of a hard edge binding. I'd like it to be a vintage Cream color. Would be nice if it was fairly light and balanced well. I imagine Rickenbacker can build this, I'll get back to you on this-- my daughter is buying us some Powerball tickets tonight!

 

[Canadian APII]

I respect Rics and appreciate they have a distinct tone. For that I would like to have one.