Why Rickenbacker?

[Deleted member 271037]

I own a 4003 (very early 2000s model). It was my main bass for gigs and recording for around 7-8 years until it more or less self destructed (more about that later...).

Positives:

-Ricks look cool.
-They have a very unique tone.
-Rick-o-sound (although you'll probably never use it).

Negatives:

-Not the best ergonomics (although to a large degree it's really just a matter of adapting).

-I've always found Ricks difficult to mix. Especially in a dense mix. Ricks are at their best when the bass is given a lot of space in the mix IMO.

-I often struggled to hear myself properly on stage when I used a Rick.

-Ricks have a number issues that many (but not all) Rick owners experience: Twisted necks, the dreaded tail lift and the binding coming loose from the body. My brand new 4003 (early 2000s model) started to develop all these issues after only a couple of years. It was more or less useless in less than a decade. The tail lift is no longer an issue on newer models because RIC has finally upgraded the bridge (after blatantly lying and denying the existence of the tail lift for DECADES...). I suspect twisted necks may also be less of a problem after they stopped using the rather pointless double truss rods.

-Adjusting the truss rods on older models (cirka pre-1984) can be a bit of hassle. Many RIC with this older type of truss rod have been severely damaged (or completely ruined) by people who didn't know how to adjust them. Make sure you know what you're doing if you're buying an older Rick.

-RIC warranty is a joke and an insult to their customers.

-RIC is a company to deal with. They treat their customers (and their dealers) like garbage. At least you can get replacement parts from other sources these days...


It's also worth mentioning that the necks on Ricks has varied a LOT over the years, even on the same model.

My advice: Try before you buy!!!

 

[JuanB]

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

Dude. Knew another NBD was coming.

 

[petermwright]

Stop stop! I'm a massive McCartney fan, and don't need to be gassing over another bass!

More posts about twisted necks and bad build quality please.

 

[TeeSee]

They are the coolest looking basses on planet earth.
But only if you play them with the instrument’s body at knee hight or at least sub belly. As been proven by Sid Vicious, Peter Hook (yes, he could only afford a cheap copy) and Paul Simenon and other great experts.
If played any higher, they become the ugliest basses ever made, but this limits your options as a player.

'Sid Vicious' and 'expert' are 2 words that really don't go hand in hand IMHO, but I get what you're sayin' it's all about the pose.

 

[TeeSee]

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.

View attachment 5269418

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.

I will never forget the first time I saw a Ric bass. It was for a Rotosound ad showing Chris Squire. At that time I didn't even know who Chris Squire was but his bass was so beautiful I could hardly believe it. Soon after that at a high school dance there was this band. They were like the most popular band in our area and the bass player had a Ric. I could hardly believe it. The sound that came out of this instrument was out of this world. I couldn't take my eyes off of that bass for the whole evening.

This and this.
There is in my humble opinion nothing more beautiful than a Ric 4001/3 and no finer colour than Fireglo. Must have been my early years of watching bands on TV and Fireglo seeming to dominate in the early 70's. To me this finish is the quintessence and soul of a Ric even though the earlies were just wood finish. Unfortunately I'll never have one as I can't justify £2299 and a year long wait. Actually I probably could justify it but Mrs Teesee would end my life prematurely, besides I'm now just a bedroom noodler and that instrument would be wasted on me. That still doesn't stop me from lusting after one with all my soul though.
Instead I have to satisfy myself with a Ric-O-Like Harley Benton which doesn't sound like a real Ric but has the design cues without being a direct copy. I'm not sure how Thomann got away with this, I suspect there is a little symbiosis between the 2 companies where a lot of Rics are shifted and Ric turns a blind eye in return provided it's not a direct clone. It still plays really nice though.

*Edit* It's not like the other finishes aren't good either it's just that the Fireglo to me is gorgeous. If someone wanted to give me a yellow Ric foc, Hell Yeah I'd say.

 

[prowla]

The sound is great. The feel? Least ergonomic bass ever made.
That being said, I'd like one of the new 5 strings with triangular pickups...

I find my Rics very natural to hold and play.
I did have one of the 5-strings, but I didn't bond with that and it's the only Ric I've sold.

FWIW, Hipshot makes a nice Rickenbacker replacement bridge that allows for palm muting.

I'm not struck on the Hipshot bridge; I find it interferes with the ergonomics.

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!

Reason #N: Jon Camp.

They are the coolest looking basses on planet earth.
But only if you play them with the instrument’s body at knee hight or at least sub belly. As been proven by Sid Vicious, Peter Hook (yes, he could only afford a cheap copy) and Paul Simenon and other great experts.
If played any higher, they become the ugliest basses ever made, but this limits your options as a player.

I play mine higher.
FYI, Hooky's was a Hondo II copy; probably the cheapest one of that day, Korean-made, plywood body, bolt-on neck, Treble pickup incorrectly placed.

Those new 5-strings are awesome. Probably the best Rick basses ever made (I have had a few...)
The bridge-screw problem on a four-string can be solved with a new-style bridge retrofit

I did have one of the 5-strings, but I didn't bond with that and it's the only Ric I've sold.

For me, it’s 100 percent looks, on my particular model and finish. The 4003S in Mapleglo is the only Rick that really gets me.

It’s a recent model, and a thing of sheer beauty, especially with the clearcoated gold-anodized aluminum pickguard and truss rod cover I installed.

The bass has good tones, but they’re not unique. I can get the same tones with pretty much any bass. The build and component quality is outstandingly bad for the cost – even when Sweetwater gave me a helluva deal at $1,600 special ordered. The fret work on my example was about the worst I have ever seen, on any instrument costing more than $150. The nut was poorly seated, and the slots poorly cut. There was an area of significant finish overspray on to the fretboard. The bridge is built to very poor tolerances (saddle height screws are way too loose), and the plating appears cheap/thin. Feels like outsourced junk hardware you’d find on a cheap-O import. The mute mechanism is super stiff to operate – also incredibly cheaply made – and the foam doesn’t contact the strings evenly. There was a void in one of the body’s glue joints, and they didn’t reject the body or even apply a filler; they just sprayed right over it. It’s seriously neck heavy. It very stupidly and annoyingly forces me to use Schaller strap locks, which I seriously dislike. The string volumes cannot be balanced on the neck pickup. The volumes of the neck and bridge pickups cannot be balanced as stock, because the pickup cover moves along with the pickup, hitting the strings when you try to lower the bridge pickup. (I solved this by removing and disassembling the pickup/cover assembly, and shimming the cover up significantly.)

Bottom line: It’s a $1,600 piece of garbage, but boy, does it look sweet.

Curious - my opinion is quite opposite to yours (though the looks are just great too!):

• I think Ric's shineyware is the best in the business.
• The sound of the Ric is just the best - the position of the neck pickup is uncommon - I think Gibson EB basses had similar and the Billy Sheehan tribute models have that.
• I think the mute mechanism is useless and remove it from most of mine.
• I take the Treble pickup cover off, so its height is not an issue.
• I use Schaller strap locks on most of my guitars/basses, so them standardising on those is a plus for me.
• The pole heights are adjustable on the more modern pickups.
• The pickups have independent volume controls, so they can be set. The Treble pickup tone control has a push-pull switch to change its voicing and volume.
• If you want to have more control over the volume and tones of the pickups then you can use the Rick-O-Sound (ie. stereo) to send them to different amps.

 

[steve_ss]

All of the above, plus... I like the Rickenbacker scale length. The shorter 33 1/4" length neck of the 4003 makes it easier for my short fingers to span four frets. Ric has a few 30" short scale basses to add to the mix too. Just like potato chips, you can't have just one...

4003, 4005XC, 4030, 3000, 4003 fretless

 

[Auer]

Is there a Ric with a non glossy finish?

 

[Pedullist]

Yes, the walnut.

I have one because it's so different from anything else. It feels different and no other bass sounds like it. I play different things on it, and it inspires me.

 

[buldog5151bass]

From what I have noticed, it comes down to these two things:

1. Those who love the look, which explains why there are so many cheap sounding/playing knockoffs.
2. Those who think there is a special "magic tone" a la Squire or Geddy.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Towson Guitar Center had a Rick in stock last week. Not sure if it’s still there.

 

[TeeSee]

For me, it’s 100 percent looks, on my particular model and finish. The 4003S in Mapleglo is the only Rick that really gets me.

It’s a recent model, and a thing of sheer beauty, especially with the clearcoated gold-anodized aluminum pickguard and truss rod cover I installed.

The bass has good tones, but they’re not unique. I can get the same tones with pretty much any bass. The build and component quality is outstandingly bad for the cost – even when Sweetwater gave me a helluva deal at $1,600 special ordered. The fret work on my example was about the worst I have ever seen, on any instrument costing more than $150. The nut was poorly seated, and the slots poorly cut. There was an area of significant finish overspray on to the fretboard. The bridge is built to very poor tolerances (saddle height screws are way too loose), and the plating appears cheap/thin. Feels like outsourced junk hardware you’d find on a cheap-O import. The mute mechanism is super stiff to operate – also incredibly cheaply made – and the foam doesn’t contact the strings evenly. There was a void in one of the body’s glue joints, and they didn’t reject the body or even apply a filler; they just sprayed right over it. It’s seriously neck heavy. It very stupidly and annoyingly forces me to use Schaller strap locks, which I seriously dislike. The string volumes cannot be balanced on the neck pickup. The volumes of the neck and bridge pickups cannot be balanced as stock, because the pickup cover moves along with the pickup, hitting the strings when you try to lower the bridge pickup. (I solved this by removing and disassembling the pickup/cover assembly, and shimming the cover up significantly.)

Bottom line: It’s a $1,600 piece of garbage, but boy, does it look sweet.

Y'know I sort of get this. In a way it'd be like owning a 1967 Mustang or something like that, you know it's going to be ropey in places and everytime you take it out it's going to need some attention once you get it back, it'll never be perfect but you got a piece of real 50's Americana iconic design. Same with the Ric, which other country on this planet could make something like that back in the day? Don't get me wrong, over here in Europe we know American engineering is no better or worse than our own or Japanese, and many other countries have also or are catching up. The Ric will always have the divisive foibles that is like Marmite, you'll either love 'em or hate them. But to me and many many others that guitar is pure class and it's shortcomings (many from what I've gleaned from the forums on here) are outweighed every time by it's desirability as a piece of unmatched art.

 

[eriky4003]

To tack onto GodsLove66:
#6 Dave Meros (Spock's Beard 1-5). Check out 'At the End of the Day' for Rick with a pick nirvana.

 

[FunkHead]

...Because I don't always want to play my Spector, Stingray or Precision.

 

[Wisebass]

Hi tb-player

what's the deal? Why are they so special?

Reason #1: Chris Squire
Reason #2: Mike Rutherford
Reason #3: Paul McCartney
Reason #4: Geddy Lee
Reason #5: Paul Simonon

Don't forget Lemmy

Yep!

wrong pic

that's because!


greetings

Wise(b)ass

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Also, you can just remove the mute mechanism completely, and problem solved without having to buy another bridge.

Uhm no, the obstruction is part of the baseplate.

 

[40Hz]

Bottom line? It’s an iconic bass. Nothing else sounds like a Ric. And they’re cool looking. As a result, people into that vibe are willing to overlook the build quality issues that sometimes go along Ric ownership and put up with a company whose attitude towards its customers and critics is a little high handed at the best of times.

But hey! It’s a Ric! What’s not to like?

 

[mikewalker]

Is there a Ric with a non glossy finish?

You can get them in matte black, too Rickenbacker 4003S Bass (Matte Black) — Andy Babiuk's Fab Gear

 

[msb]

I have two older Rics , a 4000 and a 4001. I love them , and am thankful for the enjoyment of the time I’ve had playing them. When I pick one up today the neck simply feels like home. They have a unique feel , there’s not a lot of taper on the neck. Mine are older and thinner than many of the more recent ones. I prefer a warm thump , over a piano like prog approach , and Rics deliver. They really are versatile sounding basses. I’ve never bothered running stereo ,but I have a nice amp selection and might try that some day. The binding never bothered me. Or the weight. I bypassed the .0047 cap on my 4001 , The trussrods are incredibly stable and I almost never have to adjust the bridges. So those are not issues for me. Both basses have the slightest tail lift. It has not become any worse over the last 25 years. Not a problem.
I love a nice Ric. They have given me a lot of joy.
And hope you will too.

 

[Tommy Sparks]

Had a Ric for just about 2 years now. I got a 4003s, more comfortable for me to play. Simply put.. . I love it, just about everything about it, guess I’m a Ric guy, been playing bass since 1979 and up until this point never touched a Ric. Still play my Ps, J and T Bird often. Keep the Ric and one of the others by my living room couch all the time.
The Ric is definitely different, given one a try if you can.
Only one thing to add, the pick up cover had to go immediately.