• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

school me on Rick's

68Goldfish

68Goldfish

Nov 4, 2006
2,809
5,109
57
Port Orchard WA
#1
I just watched an old rush video today and now I think I'm Gas'n for a Rick. I've never thought much about them so I don't have much knowledge of what model is what and what's the difference between this model and that etc. Where are they made nowadays? How's the quality of the new ones? Are the new ones like the old ones tone wise? etc. You know what I mean...school me. TIA TB:bassist:
 
#2
Old ones (Geddys) are 4001's. Newer ones (early 80s forward) are 4003's.
Improvements include updated truss rod systems, loss of the .0047 cap (bass cut circuit) & hotter pickups.

Have always been made in the USA - no overseas budget models.

Quality is consistently good, their order backlog is notorious as they won't cut corners.

Use the search function & you'll find a lot of info. There is also a Rickenbacker dedicated forum on their corporate site & at Rick Resource.com.
 
#3
Find one locally you can try before you put in your order. Ric's are very polarizing! You are either positive, (I've had mine for 15 yearsish, and am still absolutely infatuated) or Negative.

No one seems to come down in the middle on a Ric. You either can't stand to have to play it, or you don't want to put it down. Before you drop a G or more on one, make sure it's love, and not lust.
 
#5
Phalex said:
Find one locally you can try before you put in your order. Ric's are very polarizing! You are either positive, (I've had mine for 15 yearsish, and am still absolutely infatuated) or Negative.

No one seems to come down in the middle on a Ric. You either can't stand to have to play it, or you don't want to put it down. Before you drop a G or more on one, make sure it's love, and not lust.
Click to expand...

Excellent points. I have three Ricks, but I totally understand the love/hate thing.
 
#8
My brother has a 4003. Between he and I, we have some very nice basses, but that one is truly sweet. Totally a high quality piece. From what I see on that one and he also has a very interesting Rick guitar and both those instruments are better built than many custom maker's instruments. Some people were posting on the What makes a Rick sound like a Rick.... thread. That might school you on what some people think. I think it is a truly classic and original sound and live it cuts through the mix big time. No problem distinguishing the bass line if the player has a Rickenbacker. The classic 4003 is a dual single coil pickup bass and the 4004 models have humbuckers. I think all of the models are passive mode. Some (4003) have stereo outputs. This is an original feature on Rickenbackers going back at least into the early 70's. It is one of the three early classic bass guitar sounds, Precisions and Jazzes being the other two.

The neck feel on the Rick is different from most basses. It is flattish and a bit wider at the nut. I think the flatter neck profile is more comfortable and I've found the necks to be very fast. I think the shape of my Ritter neck is close to a Rick in profile.

There was an interesting selection of them on e-bay. That deep blue one is the color I prefer, buy the vintage style with dots on the Fingerboard is really cool as well. Can't see how you can go wrong with a Rickenbacker.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back