What's so great about the Rickenbacker?

[isaac42]

For a long time (or so it seemed!) I played only my white Ric. Then, I joined the Navy, and pretty much stopped playing. Something went wrong with the electronics on the Ric, so I picked up a cheap P copy and played that, when I played.

Eventually, I messed with the Ric and got it playable again, and it was like coming home. Nothing else feels quite right in my left hand.

These days, I'm playing a Squier Precision, mainly for the look. It matches the guitars in our surf band. The sound fits with the surf sound, too, but I miss my Rics.

 

[2saddleslab]

For whatever reason a Ric has never come close to entering my "sphere" over the last 4 decades. Early on I remember the bassist for The Pretenders playing a black one which peaked a little interest on my part. But never had an opportunity to really try one for any period. I was able to play one [can't remember the model] w/out an amp and it felt a little strange compared to what I was used to.

Having said that, there are certainly tons of examples of great players eliciting great tone creating great music with them. I think they look cool and wouldn't turn down a 4005 semi hollow, and while it would be nice to have it wouldn't be the 1st bass I'd grab. Still be nice to have.

 

[BassicJazzy]

The '72 4001 was my first bass, after a trash beginner Epiphone, and I played it exclusively for 12 years. I remember it being a bit on the heavy side but I had an awesome leather strap that balanced it and offset the weight. I thought the tone playing finger style was meh unless using Ric-O-Sound stereo and splitting the outputs, neck to compressor, bridge to modulation effects. I liked the neck and lacquered fingerboard. Hard edges and binding didn't bother me. I never had it set-up and changed to all kinds of strings, never had any intonation problems. The action was low and very good, and I never noticed any electronics buzz. I still think it was the most beautiful bass I've owned, it was a purplish maroon stain, but I wouldn't want to buy a new one, especially at the current prices, but I wouldn't mind picking one up to play again, just for the memories. If I remember correctly, my '72 cost less than $600 in '72, including case and strap. Like a fool I donated it to a music school when I quit playing (for 7 year hiatus) in 1984.

 

[Mike Vee]

I like some of them but not the classic 4003 or whatever it is. I like that 5er with the weird triangle pickups.

Do they not make a 4 string just like this? That would be my ideal Rick. Beautiful.

 

[BigBigGuy44]

Coolest looking bass out there IMO, and they sound really really good. I was unfortunately never able to get the ergonomics to work for me.

 

[brianrost]

 

[JC BASS 91]

I absolutely LOVE my 4001. Really hated the necks on the 4003 basses, at least up until last year (or was it this year) when they returned to the slim profile of the 4001 basses.

 

[ghiggin1079]

I guess I'm carrots. They look cool, but not my deal

 

[dlmarquez]

interesting to me that quite a few Ric owners also have Hofners. Both are definitely afficionado basses…the people who buy them tend to either be or become serious fans of the marquee, or they sell and move on. I have a fretless 4003 Ric that has been keeping me amused and frustrated and inspired ever since I bought it last year. they definitely are (in my opinion) unique, and they appeal to me for many reasons. one of which is that I am a person who enjoys rituals in my life, grinding my coffee and brewing it in a mocha pot in my own way. Same with the Ric, I am coming to enjoy checking out the neck relief and double truss rods, adjusting intonation and action, and in general doing all the maintenance and upkeep myself.
One thing is for sure, for me, I will never own another screwed on neck. bolt on is too generous! bolts have nuts on the end of them to hold them tight. screws just dig into the material at hand!

 

[Isaac_James]

I like some of them but not the classic 4003 or whatever it is. I like that 5er with the weird triangle pickups.

Do they not make a 4 string just like this? That would be my ideal Rick. Beautiful.


View attachment 7258413

They don't even make the 5 string versions anymore, I think. That pickup shape was only ever on the 5 string "S" version (unbound, mono output, dot inlays) but that's since been discontinued.

Lots of people claim that pickup looks like a Dorito, to which I say you haven't eaten enough Doritos, they're much wider than that. I think these are supposed to invoke the classic sharkfin inlay shape.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

The thing about Rickenbackers is that they are so inconsistent that depending on the specific Rick you own (or test) you could vote for any of the options above, and it would be 100% correct.

Ricks can be amazing, but they can also be riddled with various problems, like the dreaded tail lift.

In Rickenbacker's defense, some (but definitely not all) of the most common issues with Ricks are damage caused by people who didn't know how to correctly adjust the older style Rick truss rods, or Rickenbackers dual truss rods in general.

But I I would never recommend buying a Rick, old or new, without testing and inspecting it.

 

[Element Zero]

None of the voting options are how I feel.

GREAT tone. Horribly ugly. Wretched ergonomics. Sub $1000 Ibanez has superior build quality and attention to detail than all Rickenbackers I've ever seen.

I'd never purchase one in a million years. Even if one was given to me, I'd sell it or simply refuse it.

 

[ThudThudThud]

Question one: Where do I put my right hand on the bass?
Question two: Where do I put my right hand on the bass that's a comfortable position?
Apparently, the 4004 was a comfortable bass to play. I'm sure that's why they stopped making it.
Great sound. I'll give you that.

 

[basspraiser]

Really wanted one through high school and college because of the heat sound.

Finally got one... Many years ago
Loved loved loved the sound but couldn't get used to the neck profile... So I sold it

Do I miss it?

The sounds yes... Playing it?
Not really

 

[Mike Vee]

They don't even make the 5 string versions anymore, I think. That pickup shape was only ever on the 5 string "S" version (unbound, mono output, dot inlays) but that's since been discontinued.

Lots of people claim that pickup looks like a Dorito, to which I say you haven't eaten enough Doritos, they're much wider than that. I think these are supposed to invoke the classic sharkfin inlay shape.

To me that's a VERY attractive bass.

 

[isaac42]

As for price, I think it's important to remember that, when you buy a 4003, you're buying their top of the line instrument. Guitar Center lists it at $2499. I looked at the 7ender website, and their Ultra II lists for $2419 or $2519. So prices for top of the line, American made basses are comparable. In short, Rickenbackers are not particularly expensive for what they are.

RIC also has the 4003S model, which dispenses with some of the fancier accoutrements such as body binding, triangle inlays and RICK-O-SOUND outputs. Lots of Ric fans prefer them, and they're a bit less expensive.

What Rickenbacker doesn't have is anything comparable to the Squier line. No Asian-made, low-priced Rics available from RIC.

 

[Isaac_James]

Question one: Where do I put my right hand on the bass?
Question two: Where do I put my right hand on the bass that's a comfortable position?
Apparently, the 4004 was a comfortable bass to play. I'm sure that's why they stopped making it.
Great sound. I'll give you that.

Many players ditch the pickup cover and install a bezel with a thumb rest. Rickenbacker has recently adopted this themselves, new models don't even come with the cover anymore (this is VERY recent). Another popular mod is what's called the "zero mod" thumbrest, a small piece of plastic that gets screwed in to the edge of the pickguard just over the neck pickup.

But yes, an older unmodified Rickenbacker bass with the pickup cover is a weird thing to work around with the right hand.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

Don't limit yourself to the 4003…

 

[monsterthompson]

The 4001/4003 look is fantastic and iconic. The way it sounds and responds is unique and enjoyable by many, though not universally appreciated. The build and shaping can be hit or miss. I enjoy my FireGlo but I've adjusted to a narrower string spacing on other basses and my 4003 might be one of the first to go if I ever thin the herd.

Let's not forget:

 

[Lo-E]

I can't use your multiple choice list.

They sound amazing.
They look amazing.
They're quirky.
They're weird to play.
Rickenbacker sometimes has questionable quality control and can be difficult to deal with.
Did I mention they look and sound amazing?