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Rickenbacker

#181
Thanks for the replies,

McCartney usually, if not always, used flatwounds on the Beatles' stuff, didn't he? The "Paperback Writer" sound is worlds away from the "Cygnus X-1 ('78 live)" sound to me. I've always loved the tone in the chorus section of "Subdivisions", I know he's at least playing a Ric in the video.

I'm thinking about buying a 4003 and some Ampeg gear.
Any comments and suggestions are welcome; I'm not very experienced and have never had quality gear.
 
#183
well, i'm a happy camper : just picked up another Ric beauty, this one a 4008 Redneck! awlright! in almost perfect condition, just a little lost paint near the bridge, and a smidgeon of damage to the headstock.

it's certainly a different beast to my '98 4003...different shaped bottom horn, toaster neck pickup, different bridge with fully-exposed damping pad, RED fretboard with miniscule black dot markers, 4x2 strings of bass brilliance! and that headstock! count 'em - 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 tuners!

can you guess i'm chuffed? :) this sucker is PURE CLASS! and dig the redneck action?!

here's a lousy (stolen) image, it's a 4003 Redneck, but same deal. one day i'll get a digital camera...

r138.jpg


i've found the same problem with playing with missing the higher octave string (but i don't use a pick...). my thought would be to raise the higher octave or lower the lower octave string to bring them more into line. otherwise i have to dig under the pair a bit to sound both (kinda like a double bass).

oh joy! tonite will be fun!
 
#184
My old jet-glo 4001 was gathering dust because it just wasn't right for the dance club scene. Then I picked up gigs with a band that does trip-hop, acid jazz, drum n' bass, techno, stuff for raves. Since there is a tremendous amount of freedom in those styles, I thought I'd wipe off the Rick. After being raised on a steady diet of slap sound, these kids really like the originality of the Rick sounds. What was once old is again new. (Never was old for me).
 
#185
this is the best thread on the whole damn site!!!!!!kudos to all who shared their knowlege.I learned more about Rics in one hour of reading ten pages here than I did in reading the complete history of Rickenbacker guitars(by Richard R. Smith)which is a very good book(I refer to it as my Rickenbible)..if you don't already have it I recomend finding it(centerstream publishing)some useful info lurking in there.I will try the bypass mod,but I would also like to know if anyone else has\had the problem of the "e" string not being as loud as the other three strings.I've tried lowering the p\u on the "g" side but to no avail,my e just don't have the same output or full tone as the other strings...will the bypass mod help this??please give up any info on this matter or share your experience I would be EXTREMELY greatful.BTW I also owned a eight string(which I sold for a truck that I don't own anymore...sob sob..cry..cry)and a fretless which I sold fof reasons I can't even remember..but enough about that(that sadness\anger felling is returning)if anyone has a cure for my "baby's illness please share the info..thanx
 
#186
Nil That is one sweet looking RIC what a find! I was pondering a 8 string around in my head, How does she play and sound?
I play my RIC through Ampeg stuff and it's a pair made in heaven.
I play through a SVT 3 PRO but I just picked up a 1996 SVT Classic for 600 bucks, it needs new input jacks otherwise it's in mint condition. The pre owner had a case of steppin on the cord to much instead if sticking it through the handle. Now with the Classic and my RIC I should be able to make thunder.
 
#188
Funkster: The 4008 (4003s8? who knows, there's no info anywhere on an 8-string redneck...) plays absolutely beautifully. The wear on it appears to be more from travel/transport/etc than playing - there's no typical playing marks anywhere. It's missing it's high E (unison) string, but the remainder seem like it's originals, and they still sound fresh! It's an unbalanced beast, one helluva heavy headstock!

I picked up a set of Rotosound RotoBass strings plus 4 D'addario singles to try out tonite. At the same time i'll check the capacitor mod. The sounds a little more vintage than my 4003, probably due to the toaster up front.

We've got a decent gig next Thu. night, and I think the backline will be a vintage SVT stack (8x10) i've used before, so that will be nice!
 
#189
One thing I forgot to mention: the 8 can be played just like a 4 (and doesn't need any special style) if you're not wanting to play the unisons...but, play it double bass style (pulling the string from underneath more) and the unisons really ring out. It's really cool to play a normal line and every now and then play a couple of unison'ed notes/chords. Mind you, the unisons can buzz a bit and require a fairly heavy fretting finger at times!
 
#193
Hello,
This is my first post on this site, I found it by way of Voxtalks & Rickenbacker Registration Page.
I have been playing my Rickenbacker 4001 Fireglo for over 20 years,which I bought new in 1979. It still sounds incredible, and it looks as beautiful as the day I bought it. It stood the test of time.
In June of 2000 I ordered a 4003/S5 Mapleglo. It took almost 5 months to get it from the factory. It was worth the wait ! It is a beautiful bass, has a lightning fast neck, and sounds just a little more bassy than the 4001. Highly recommended !!
 
#195
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for the welcome !
The spacing on the 4003/S5 is fine for me , even though I have fairly thick fingers.It did take some getting used to the 5th string however ! I also play with a pick, so the spacing is OK down at that end as well. I play through Hartke cabinets, so I really like to get that high end growl. When I bought my 4001 way back when, I fell in love with Rickenbackers. I tried the Fender 5 string Jazz,before buying the Rick, but after playing my 4001 for so long, it seemed WAY to wide for me. I decided to buy the 4003/S5 site unseen, knowing and trusting that Rickenbacker made the finest guitars made in the U S A . Nuff said. Also the Mapleglo is really beautiful. So nice in fact that when my brother saw it, he ordered a 360 6 string in Mapleglo. For my money , Rickenbackers are the best guitars money can buy.
Thanks again for the welcome !
 
#198
It's a shame it's difficult to reverse the string order on the 4008 (with unisons on top)...I tried the other night, and while the nut and saddles would have to be replaced to make it 100% sweet, as it stood it sounded nice.

Although stringing it this way meant I was playing octaves all the time - so i'm going back to the standard way which allows you to play the bass more like a 4-string, and pinch in to accentuate certain notes.

Now, if only a cheap CS would fall into my hands... ;)
 

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