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Why Rickenbacker?

tb-player

tb-player

Why so serious?
Mar 6, 2019
6,706
29,952
East Coast, USA
#1
In the last 10 years, my bass tone/style preferences have changed significantly. I used to be a 'jazz bass only' kind of fella. And while I still like a good jazz (usually active), I am head over heels for well-made precision basses with the wide flat neck (stay tuned... I found a REALLY good one this week with a Black Friday deal). Because my tastes have been changing, I've been looking at brands I am unfamiliar with.

The one brand I've never checked out is Rickenbacker. I read through the Rickenbacker club thread.. Some of the discussion gets pretty deep in the weeds (in a good way). So for those of you who love them, what's the deal? Why are they so special?

And do I need this in my arsenal? (Sweetwater & GC don't even have prices listed. I'm a little scared!)

DSC023571__26710.png
 
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#2
I finally got one of the 4003SW models (which are usually lighter than the usual Rick). The 2023 models have a new neck profile, which in my opinion is a big improvement. Super flat on the back and similar in width to a precision-profile. In full honestly, my take after months of owning:

Gripes: Can’t palm mute and the mute screws can cut your hand due to being sharp on the edges. Also totally unshielded which can be an easy/annoying fix depending on how comfortable you are with it. Not a fan of the neck pickup, mine is VERY low output (as they seem to be). Nut is unfinished and not filed for all string types (light gauge works fine).
Pros: Bridge pickup sounds great, light and comfortable body. The neck is super different and is a nice change of pace from a fender.

It sounds like I’m super negative on the bass, but it’s fun and I won’t ever get rid of it. (New it is $1800 though)
 
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#3
cashmoneywill said:
I finally got one of the 4003SW models (which are usually lighter than the usual Rick). The 2023 models have a new neck profile, which in my opinion is a big improvement. Super flat on the back and similar in width to a precision-profile. In full honestly, my take after months of owning:

Gripes: Can’t palm mute and the mute screws can cut your hand due to being sharp on the edges. Also totally unshielded which can be an easy/annoying fix depending on how comfortable you are with it. Not a fan of the neck pickup, mine is VERY low output (as they seem to be). Nut is unfinished and not filed for all string types (light gauge works fine).
Pros: Bridge pickup sounds great, light and comfortable body. The neck is super different and is a nice change of pace from a fender.

It sounds like I’m super negative on the bass, but it’s fun and I won’t ever get rid of it. (New it is $1800 though)
Click to expand...
Interesting. Sounds like a lot of fun. but I get that frustration with not being able to palm mute. That's a big part of my playing. I definitely need to get in a store and play one.
 
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#5
tb-player said:
In the last 10 years, my bass tone/style preferences have changed significantly. I used to be a 'jazz bass only' kind of fella. And while I still like a good jazz (usually active), I am head over heels for well-made precision basses with the wide flat neck (stay tuned... I found a REALLY good one this week with a Black Friday deal). Because my tastes have been changing, I've been looking at brands I am unfamiliar with.

The one brand I've never checked out is Rickenbacker. I read through the Rickenbacker club thread.. Some of the discussion gets pretty deep in the weeds (in a good way). So for those of you who love them, what's the deal? Why are they so special?

And do I need this in my arsenal? (Sweetwater & GC don't even have prices listed. I'm a little scared!)
Click to expand...


I think every bassist should give them a serious go, if just to find out they don't connect with them.

Personally, I love the easy access to the high notes, coupled with the neck heel, and the fretboard radius.

The sound.

The look.

The way all of the above makes me approach the instrument in a completely different way to a P, or a Ray ; it forces me to play, think, and write differently.
 
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#6
cashmoneywill said:
Not a fan of the neck pickup, mine is VERY low output (as they seem to be).
Click to expand...

The neck pickup has a lower output, because it is designed to balance with the output of the bridge pickup in "Vintage" mode (where the cap is in line, that cuts the low frequency output of the bridge pickup).

Yeah, it always sounds weak with the bridge pickup in "Modern?" mode (where people snipped the cap), but then the bridge pickup sound so gnarly, probably nobody even bothers with the neck pickup at that point.
 
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#9
Here's a dozen reasons why:
1. They're some of the most aesthetically beautiful basses in the world
2. They're incredibly versatile in terms of sound
3. They can get more aggressive than a Jazz Bass, particularly when you solo the bridge pickup
4. You can get more dubby, bassy, or McCartney-esque sounds when you solo the neck pickup
5. Both pickups together are incredible, especially with distortion
6. The build quality is top notch
7. There are built in foam mutes in the bridge, which are great for playing Motown (sorry Precision Bass purists!)
8. Stereo outputs / Rick-O-Sound (in the regular 4001 and 4003 models)
9. The 33.25" scale is nice, especially in the lower frets
10. Excellent access to the highest frets
11. They retain their value much better than a Fender does
12. Versatile control layout (V-T-V-T-pickup selector)
 
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#11
Wood and Wire said:
I think every bassist should give them a serious go, if just to find out they don't connect with them.
Click to expand...

I was about to say the same thing. I never really connected with mine, but still miss its unique tones and look every once in a while. The only reason I got rid of it was that I couldn’t find strings that fit easily; something I doubt would be an issue in your location.
 
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#13
Reason #1: Chris Squire
Reason #2: Mike Rutherford
Reason #3: Paul McCartney
Reason #4: Geddy Lee
Reason #5: Paul Simonon

All in all, I LOVE the sound!!! The necks on the 4001 from the 70s are SUPER thin and fun to play! The Electronics on the newer ones are more versatile and cover more ground, though the necks are a little chunkier. I just love the sound and aesthetics enough that I'll work with the cons! And out of devotion for the Squire aesthetic, I'll keep my bridge cover on and adjust my playing accordingly!
 
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#15
-I love the way they look, instant cool factor.
-The sound. Love the sound of it. All other things being equal, nothing quite sounds like a 4001 or a 4003. It may be the wood, the neck-through design, the pickup locations and designs, or some combo of all of the above. Yes, of course you can get a similar sound from a P or whatever, especially if you're using lots of effects anyway, but even unplugged the Ric sounds great.
-The controls are versatile, all the modern 4003's have a filter cap on the bridge pickup and the volume knob for that p/u is also a push/pull strangle switch that bypasses the cap, so you've lots of tone options, and then on top of that you've got the Ric-o-Sound output jack, which lets you run each pickup to a separate signal chain for even more fun.
-I like the ergonomics personally, though I liked them more after I replaced the bridge pickup cover with a Treble Bezel. It balances well on a strap.

The necks vary in a way that makes no logical pattern, so if you're picky about that you probably want to try before you buy, ditto goes for the body shape. Like I said, it doesn't bother me but some people don't care for it.

The bridge looks cool, and I'm okay with it. I don't use the mute much, it takes a minute or so engage or disengage it, and it does get in the way if you like to palm mute, but there are a few options for replacements.

I always wanted a Ric growing up and when I finally got mine I was pretty happy with it and have gotten a lot of fun times playing it live and doing a bit of recording on it.

Plus, like I said, it looks cool.

PHOTO_20200413_164542.jpg
 
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#17
tb-player said:
In the last 10 years, my bass tone/style preferences have changed significantly. I used to be a 'jazz bass only' kind of fella. And while I still like a good jazz (usually active), I am head over heels for well-made precision basses with the wide flat neck (stay tuned... I found a REALLY good one this week with a Black Friday deal). Because my tastes have been changing, I've been looking at brands I am unfamiliar with.

The one brand I've never checked out is Rickenbacker. I read through the Rickenbacker club thread.. Some of the discussion gets pretty deep in the weeds (in a good way). So for those of you who love them, what's the deal? Why are they so special?

And do I need this in my arsenal? (Sweetwater & GC don't even have prices listed. I'm a little scared!)

View attachment 5269345
Click to expand...

I had a 70’s 4001 for 34 years. With a good ROS set up was an incredible instrument especially used in a power trio. Playing in larger ensembles the last 40 some years, not so much. I found that Fender basses play better in the sand box. JMO.
 
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#20
tb-player said:
In the last 10 years, my bass tone/style preferences have changed significantly. I used to be a 'jazz bass only' kind of fella. And while I still like a good jazz (usually active), I am head over heels for well-made precision basses with the wide flat neck (stay tuned... I found a REALLY good one this week with a Black Friday deal). Because my tastes have been changing, I've been looking at brands I am unfamiliar with.

The one brand I've never checked out is Rickenbacker. I read through the Rickenbacker club thread.. Some of the discussion gets pretty deep in the weeds (in a good way). So for those of you who love them, what's the deal? Why are they so special?

And do I need this in my arsenal? (Sweetwater & GC don't even have prices listed. I'm a little scared!)

View attachment 5269345
Click to expand...

Perhaps, but you may want to change it to a Fireglo-

My 4003 has a thin neck with low action, probable due to the twin robust trussrods running down it, which makes it fast and easy to play. Also the olive wood fingerboard isn’t exactly hard on the eyes-

Exceptional craftsmanship, at least on my 2018 model, and the maple neck-thru body in translucent Fireglo is stunning.

IMG_0453.jpeg


The only two detractions I see is the high price (1800.00 new in 2018) and the non-rounded upper horn edges make you sore until you get used to it.
 
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