You can't funk a Rickenbacker, ha!

Rick James concurs.

 

I just wish I could get away with such stylish outfits.

 

Absolutely. Don't let the humble Rick 400x fool you. I had flats on my first 4001 for a while and, unknown to me at the time, it was a total funk machine. Very close to a Jazz with flats, but with with that Rickenbacker kind of "thing" going on underneath, a little thinner but with the hard "pop" when you want it. Wish I still had a 4003 with flats. You can get some amazing chocolate out of that thing...

Watching those Dynasty videos.... I was born 40 years too late. I would have killed if that could have been me.... Some of the best music ever made...

L

 

A lot of us have been talking about Leon Sylvers III for years on TB. I saw him live, first with the Sylvers, then with Dynasty. My first nice bass was a Ric 4000 and for a while, I set it up like Leon Sylvers with flats and my mutes turned up.

 

Cool! I've funked with my Ricky for years. It's also my go-to reggae bass, and has been for a long time. Don't get me wrong, it'll Geddy and Squire just great, but a Rick is capable of much more than that. Another fine example, here!

 

Yes yes that grooves

 

Awesome intro to Silvers work. I’ve definitely heard and admired his work before, just never knew who it was. What an amazing talent, and thanks for sharing.

As for Ricks, had one and got the T shirt. Great instrument, but I’m a PB round wound kind a guy from way back.

 

Wait, is this something people actually say? Wouldn’t that ridiculous…

 

I always thought the problem was with slap. Rics produce a really nasty sound if the strings ever come in contact with the pickup pole pieces.

It did not take me very long to figure out how to get past the problem. Just play thumb strokes over the edge of the finger board. With a proper setup, this keeps the strings from hitting the pole pieces...or at least it did on my 4001.

Looks funky enough in this video:


Possum Jenkins on bass

 

Same here...I also used mine for big band and jazz trio.

 

I seriously doubt if I will ever get another Rickenbacker, but I really enjoy playing them.

 

Not sure how to get this come up here...


https://www.instagram.com/reel/CdsfpQjFsgA/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

 

Yep, exactly. I mean, you can slap a Ric, but you gotta work at it. It just doesn't lend itself to that as easily as some other basses.

But funk? Yeah. All day, everyday, and twice on Sundays. Played a Ric for many years.

 

Patti LaBelle's bassist used a Ric on "Lady Marmalade" (the band was called "LaBelle" and it was a hit in 1975). That is funky and doesn't sound like what you'd expect from a 4001. Rics suffer from the same pigeonholing that Telecaster guitars do. People expect to hear the signature sound from them and nothing else. The neck pickup on a tele sounds very much like a strat. The neck pickup on a Ric has enough bass response to get the job done. Remember, EQ is your friend.

 

Fernando Rosa is a bad man!

 

I heard that!

 

1969 Rickenbacker 4001 fretless with Rotosound Tru Bass 88 Tapewound strings.