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The Rickenbacker Club Part Twelve

#3,265
Hey guys, I'm looking for some advice. Last night at band practice I had the pleasure of playing a rickenbacker 4000 that our guitar player brought from the shop he works at. I loved the looks of it, the aggressive tone it had, and even some aspects of it's feel. I liked the thin body, and light weight. The issue I was having was finding a good place for my right hand. It didn't have a bezel, so I'm assuming that would have helped, but the real problem seemed to be that there just wasn't the right amount of "real estate" for me. I had the same issue when I tried out a Fender Rascal Bass. I really wanted to get comfy with a Ric, because I love them, mostly. Any suggestions for my "real estate" problem?
 
#3,266
It depends on the model. You said "4000" which is the old discontinued one-pickup model. Usually, there is a plastic cover over the treble pickup, and some find this unwieldy. On most Ricks, this can be removed (it'll take some effort) and shouldn't affect the instruments performance but for some reduction in shielding. The treble pickup cover is original equipment on most Rick basses. On the "modern" 4004 however, there are no covers (or pickguard) so there's plenty of "real estate" to play in. There are other Rick models that are completely different, but I think we have this issue "covered.":D
 
#3,268
PaulBoyer said:
It depends on the model. You said "4000" which is the old discontinued one-pickup model. Usually, there is a plastic cover over the treble pickup, and some find this unwieldy. On most Ricks, this can be removed (it'll take some effort) and shouldn't affect the instruments performance but for some reduction in shielding. The treble pickup cover is original equipment on most Rick basses. On the "modern" 4004 however, there are no covers (or pickguard) so there's plenty of "real estate" to play in. There are other Rick models that are completely different, but I think we have this issue "covered.":D
Click to expand...

Thanks Paul. It was, in fact a 1973 4000 model. I might not have explained what my issue was very well though. I am used to playing P Basses. My most "natural" feeling hand positioning is resting the thumb on the pickup and playing slightly behind it. I tried doing this on the Ricky and I was on top of the bridge. So, I tried moving my hand in front on the pickup and resting my thumb on the E string, which I often do on other basses, but my arm angle just didn't feel right. I felt cramped or something. Is the spacing from the treble pickup on 4003, 4003s, etc . to the bridge the same as on a 4000? I am most interested in the new 4003S offering, but if I cant get comfortable, then I don't know.
 
#3,269
ScarfFace said:
Thanks Paul. It was, in fact a 1973 4000 model. I might not have explained what my issue was very well though. I am used to playing P Basses. My most "natural" feeling hand positioning is resting the thumb on the pickup and playing slightly behind it. I tried doing this on the Ricky and I was on top of the bridge. So, I tried moving my hand in front on the pickup and resting my thumb on the E string, which I often do on other basses, but my arm angle just didn't feel right. I felt cramped or something. Is the spacing from the treble pickup on 4003, 4003s, etc . to the bridge the same as on a 4000? I am most interested in the new 4003S offering, but if I cant get comfortable, then I don't know.
Click to expand...

There should be no appreciable difference in the distance from the bridge to the treble pickup among the 4000, 4001, 4003, 4001V63, 4001C64 models. Tubeampology makes several varieties of "bezels" (inserts) in place of the cover: One has a raised ridge, one with a coved dimple, one that is just flat. With these you may find the most comfortable spot is right over the pickup. Or not. Don't forget, finding a comfortable spot may take some time as you get used to the new instrument.
 
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#3,272
ScarfFace said:
Yeah I figured it would just be a matter of adapting. Hey, you Rickenbacker guys are really helpful!
Click to expand...
You can adapt,or you could do this.
image.jpg
The biggest hindrance i've found in playing the older style Rick basses is the presence of the mute assembly in the rather tight area between the bridge pickup and the tailpiece. The Hipshot bridge solves this issue for me. As you can see,i prefer to leave my pickup cover on,too.
 
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#3,275
PaulBoyer said:
Tubeampology makes several varieties of "bezels" (inserts) in place of the cover: One has a raised ridge, one with a coved dimple, one that is just flat. With these you may find the most comfortable spot is right over the pickup. Or not. Don't forget, finding a comfortable spot may take some time as you get used to the new instrument.
Click to expand...

Another option is to play over the neck pickup. Some people use the edge of the pickguard there as their thumb rest, but there's a company called "Zeromod" that makes thumb rests that attach to the edge of the pickguard using the existing pickguard screw holes, which gives you a more secure playing position. I use both; playing over the two different pickups gives me very different tones, especially when combined with the pickup selector switch and the "vintage" tone pullout that newer 4003s have.

Here's what it looks like. I have the "cove" version of the Tubeampology bezel for playing over the bridge pickup, and the Zeromod thumb rest for playing over the neck pickup:

2014-07-19024143.jpg
 
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#3,279
Chicken Dog said:
That bass does look very clean for its age, but I'm also digging the vintage Carvin gear you have there. It looks to me like it's the same era as the bass, perhaps a few years newer, yet it looks brand new.
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Good catch! Bass is 1974. Carvin head and cab are early 1980s. I do have the original receipts that I dug up over the weekend and have been cataloging. I remember the purchase and manufacture date of the bass. I don't remember off the top of my head about the amp. Good eyes picking out the amp. It's been interesting going through the receipts and seeing all the pedals and misc stuff, not to mention basses and amps, that I bought and what prices were back in the day (late 70s to mid 80s).
 
#3,280
callofcthulhu said:
@ScarfFace you might also consider the Zero-Mod thumbrest which installs on the upper edge of the pickguard over where the neck pickup would be.

Home

As the name implies, it requires no modifications to the body and is considerably easier to install than a treble bezel or a new bridge.
Click to expand...

Or, for about a dollar's worth of plexi, you can make your own.

1zd9mkh.jpg


I used 3/8" clear for the Mapleglo, and 1/4" black for the Jetglo. Both work great, are inexpensive, and completely reversible.
 
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