I watched it a long time ago and I remembered that I thought that, under certain circumstances, when the amp was pushed, the two basses didn’t sound dramatically different and it may have been interesting to share it
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What's wrong with the Rickenbacker 4003?
- Thread starter trothwell
- Start date
Don't confuse Rickenbacker with Gibson. Lots of younger players use Rickenbackers as well -- they're a good value for money, sound great and play amazingly, and are huge in more progressive/experimental musical circles. They're not just for Beatles tribute bands (nothing wrong with that either though -- the Beatles are pretty much Patient Zero for every genre of modern music).
Rickenbacker's market demand is about 8 time larger than their production. They're a small company that sells everything they make years before it's made.
I agree. I was in a music store today and the topic came up. Apparently there is a guy than can do want you described, remove the truss rods and use a press. I am skeptical, but, I may give it a shot, because, as you said, it IS a shame that the instrument is unplayable.
No quote on the cost today. I abandoned the idea when one guy told me that it probably wouldn't be permanent . However, I don't know if he was going to remove the truss rods. Someone I talked to to day said it would be a permanent fix. I have a friend who had this done to his Les Paul, but he got a deal because he was old friends with the guy.. $200 . I don't think I would pay more than 500.. and I would need to be CONVINCED it was going to work
That's one of the great features of vintage ricks and their funky trussrods, you can just pop them out, give them a good bend in the right direction, thread them further if they are bottomed out, or replace them entirely. All without taking apart anything more than the truss rod cover and pickguard. It's not a simple job, but even I feel like I could do it safely and comfortably. If your neck is really badly bowed you might need the press treatment anyways, but those rods can slide right out.
This is really cool info to know, did not know this.
Chalk this relatively easy truss rod repair up as a win for Ric!
Some de-mystification videos.
Rickenbacker truss-rod adjustment (Note: pressing down at the end of the fingerboard).
Someone who knows what they'rs saying explaining the technique on a Fender ("it's just a tiny little piece of steel in there").
Replacing the truss-rods on a 4001.
Rickenbacker truss-rod adjustment (Note: pressing down at the end of the fingerboard).
Someone who knows what they'rs saying explaining the technique on a Fender ("it's just a tiny little piece of steel in there").
Replacing the truss-rods on a 4001.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Guitar pickups! Is that why they distort so well? Is that toaster pup what Squire had as a neck pup?
The one I had had 30 plus years ago had pickups with pole pieces, bridge and neck. What were those?
Yeah, I had a parametric eq pedal that I boosted at about 100 hz when I had my Rick.
Yes, Chris' neck pickup was a toaster. Best pickups, ever!
There's six of them in this photo.
My Mapleglo period.
Those are hi-gain pickups.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
The 51 p-bass had a Telecaster pickup, all the manufacturers put guitar pickups in their basses in the 50 and early 60s. Yes Chris Squire had a toaster in the neck position
Oh yeah! The Ric bridge pickup location is spot on.
I'm a J bass guy, but can never solo the bridge pickup as it lacks that oomph that can support a band. The soloed bridge pickup of a Ric can. I do find the neck pickup of a Ric maybe a touch too fundamental sounding vs the more harmonically punchy neck tone of a J, but that's a small mountain to climb, as that soloed neck tone sounds great.
Overall, I use all 3 Ric pickup positions, but only soloed neck and N+B on a J.
My Ric tone clone ("RicRiot"-the modified Peavey Patriot) sounds great. The stock Patriot is pretty much a Ric 4000. However, I love the tones of a 2 pickup bass (particularly the blend of both pickups), so mine had to be modified.
The J bass and Ric pickup locations leap frog each other pretty equally between the neck and bridge. With amp manipulation, I have been fooled with the J Bass/Ric tones on recordings and live.
NO! The lack of tort gives them cred! haha
Green Rics need to be more prevalent! I would lose my mind over a Sherwood or British Racing Green 4003 with chrome or black chrome hardware and black plastic.Rickenbacker needs to bring back the 4004
D
What's wrong with Rickenbackers?
Mainly that they have certain structural issues that can cause problems as the years go by. This does not affect ALL of them of course but they do seem to have poor QC and a higher failure rate than most other brands (at least in a similar price range!). It doesn't exactly help that they also have the worst warranty policy in the business and the worst customer support I've ever encountered. They are quite simply an awful company to deal with.
The tone/feel of their instrument is just a matter of taste. Some like Ricks, most prefer other basses. I loved my Rick until it more or less self destructed after a couple of years.
Mainly that they have certain structural issues that can cause problems as the years go by. This does not affect ALL of them of course but they do seem to have poor QC and a higher failure rate than most other brands (at least in a similar price range!). It doesn't exactly help that they also have the worst warranty policy in the business and the worst customer support I've ever encountered. They are quite simply an awful company to deal with.
The tone/feel of their instrument is just a matter of taste. Some like Ricks, most prefer other basses. I loved my Rick until it more or less self destructed after a couple of years.
I just got a brand new ricky. I'm a hard core fender player and nothing else feels right to me. The rick is different, but not diffucult or unnatural to play (like a T Bird). Coming from years of P basses, that really have only one sound, I'm loving the way I can play with the pots to shape the tone.
I have no complaints about the build.... But..... I think the neck needs a twerk, but I live where it's very hot and humid and I'm going to wait a few weeks for it to settle in. There is also a spot on the back where it looks like someone took off a little too much wtih a sander.... Maybe covering a mistake.... But it's under the finish and I just chalk it up to the charm of owning a hand built instrument.
I really think we ARE in the golden ages of instrument production right now and I think a lot of companies are putting out very high quality instruments. The problem with Rick is they have not modernize their production and costs are sky rocketing, and they only serve a small customer niche (middle aged white guys with expendable income and a flair the nostalgic). I hope they can survive the next ecconomic downturn before they price themselves out of business.
I have no complaints about the build.... But..... I think the neck needs a twerk, but I live where it's very hot and humid and I'm going to wait a few weeks for it to settle in. There is also a spot on the back where it looks like someone took off a little too much wtih a sander.... Maybe covering a mistake.... But it's under the finish and I just chalk it up to the charm of owning a hand built instrument.
I really think we ARE in the golden ages of instrument production right now and I think a lot of companies are putting out very high quality instruments. The problem with Rick is they have not modernize their production and costs are sky rocketing, and they only serve a small customer niche (middle aged white guys with expendable income and a flair the nostalgic). I hope they can survive the next ecconomic downturn before they price themselves out of business.
