The reason i wanted one was the bass sound i heard on the first Yes album in 1969, a sound i still love. I've owned about a dozen of them over the last 35 years,and have 4 now,including a 4004 Cii that's being converted to fretless this week.
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Why do you play a Rickenbacker?
- Thread starter lfmn16
- Start date
I wanted one for a long time. I love the sound. To my ear it is better than a precision. I love the rick neck, and tone and that is why I play it.
I also love that is is made in California by a company that not does not offshore its products, and actively works to keep it that way.
I also love that is is made in California by a company that not does not offshore its products, and actively works to keep it that way.
McCartney. Abbey Road. Having the hair on the back of my neck stand up the first time I heard Come Together as a kid. The unique look of the instrument. The way the neck felt in my hands the first time I played one. What else could I do but buy one?
- Nov 9, 2014
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- Disclosures
- Artist for: Spector, Markbass, Pigtronix, Walrus Audio, MONO & Daniel Mari Strings
Love that first gen Cii with the quilted maple top. Had a chance to buy one on eBay back in '05 for $1600, but I thought that was too much. Ehhh! (quiz show error buzzer). A lefty like that one is in my book.
- Nov 9, 2014
- 278
- 732
- 46
- Disclosures
- Artist for: Spector, Markbass, Pigtronix, Walrus Audio, MONO & Daniel Mari Strings
I bought it new in 1999, serial #9909115. It's a amazing bass, with extremely smooth playability! I hate having those regrets of knowing you should have bought something but didn't. That's awesome about the book, I will have to check it out.
Mine doesn't, but then it's a 4003W.
Agreed - the blueburst was just gorgeous.
Mine still is!
I heard the song Roundabout by YES and saved until I bought my 1976 4001 with cash in 1977. I was 17 years old. To this day that is one of the most groundbreaking basslines in all of rock history.
The Permanent Waves album did it for me (even though a lot of it was Geddy's Jazz, which I didn't know until much later).
I had to have whatever made that sound, and then I saw one and it became even more my ultimate bass.
That was a long time ago (1979), and I still have my first, a '76 4000, which was my first good bass.
My 4003 is my main player and will be for the foreseeable future.
Rickenbackers just suit me better than any other.
The look, the feel, and the sound is what I hear in my head.
I had to have whatever made that sound, and then I saw one and it became even more my ultimate bass.
That was a long time ago (1979), and I still have my first, a '76 4000, which was my first good bass.
My 4003 is my main player and will be for the foreseeable future.
Rickenbackers just suit me better than any other.
The look, the feel, and the sound is what I hear in my head.
Played a Fender P most of my early life. Saw some of my favorite bands playing one in the very early 80's and was intrigued with the tone since I tended to emulate a more treble tone from my P Bass. Tried a used one in Sam Ash in NYC and fell in love with the feel. Traded my Fender for it! I no longer had to resort to effects to get the tone I was looking for. Never really looked back.
Sepp
Sepp
Bought (and played) my first Ricky this year (a 4003W) after wanting one forever. I'm a StingRay kinda Guy, and I quickly came to dislike the way the Rick felt and played. The tone, however, grabbed me and wouldn't let go. So I kept her. Slowly but surely, she's growing on me, and I find songs in our setlist that sound stellar on this bass. The balance is perfect, I love the light weight, and now that I've done a proper setup, it's much friendlier to play. Truth be told, I bought it because it's so freakin' cool looking!
I come at the Ric from the direction of the warmer McCartney tone rather than the trebly prog rock direction. I loved the look and tone ever since I became aware that Paul played one, which was around '69 or '70. Didn't get one til about 15 years ago, a jetglo '78 4001. I have it strung with light gauge LaBella flats. I also have a 4003S with flats. I play P-Basses in my soul band but would like to have more opportunity to play the Rics.
I get a creamy rich bass heavy tone when playing close tot he neck on my vintage Rickenbackers and a distinctly Rickenbacker growl near the bridge. All set on the same amp settings. Where you play these, makes a huge difference in the tone.
I took some time for me to adjust to the ergonomics, but it was worth it. And yeah - they look awesome, that was the first reason I wanted one. Hard not to look cool when playing a Rick.
Maybe...just perhaps...that's where I'll start my novella about the young kid who bought the Ric after it had been hanging on the wall, waiting for him for almost 2 years...from the perspective of the 60 year old guy who still owns that Ric...
I'm gonna need some time to collect my thoughts.
I have had my 4001 since 1976, cinnamon red. I love that bass. I have learned to get a lot of sounds out of it and I love to record with it. It has a growl that I just haven't found elsewhere. I do have some other basses that I play, but if I have to pick just one, this is it.
Roger Glover and Chris Squire initially inspired in me in '72, with their tone. Then, there were the carefully placed clues on Deep Purples' Machine Head and on Yes' The Yes Album. To a 10 year old James Bond fan, this was as good as a spy message from 'M', lol;
'Call home.'
'Call home.'
