rickenbacker basses

[paulwhite]

are expensive.

[Crash]

Originally posted by paulwhite
are expensive.


So are SVT's doesn't mean they're not high quality.

[TomBert05]

but see ricks are expensive but are really nice

[malcom]

I have a 1979 4001. It's a beaut.

Ric's have their own sound, but they're worth learning

[paulwhite]

yeah if i had an extra thousand dollars laying around i would get one. they're pretty.

[thunda-berd]

yeah.. but ric's can be used for ANYTHING from punk to like experimental, sound is beautyful.. im planning on getting one when I'm rich

[nyrkickazz1]

Come on guys, Rickenbackers aren't THAT much. Mine was $1,050, but you can easily find a used one for $700-$800.

But you are correct about it's greatness. I got it 2 years ago and i've never even though of buying another bass. I've used it for metal, punk, classic rock, and it's good for anything you can think of. You can even get some good slap tone out of it! Well, not for me anymore, since I put flatwounds on it.

My only issues with it would be that it doesn't get enough bottom end, but you can set your amp to have the lows way up, and put flatwound strings on it, like I did. I found regular roundwounds way too bright.

The best feature is by far the Gibson Les Paul style switching. As far as I know it's the only bass out there with a pickup switch, (though I think I once saw a Musicman with one) and I think the guitar style knob setup and switching sets it apart from so many other basses. I've played ones with 3 band EQ's built in and 9 knobs and 4 switches or whatever, but they just confused me too much. Or maybe I'm just dumb, who knows.

But yeah, Rickenbacker 4003 is truly a great bass, I know i'll be playing mine for life. It's beautiful, tone-wise, looks wise, and chances are you'll be the only kid on the block with one.

[Busifer]

I own a bass that got that kind of switching, an old Ibanez Silver series P-bass copy from the seventies. Sweet sounding, versatile and sweet to play on , my baby :D

[johnny]

my friend had an '81 4001 tuxedo bass that got stolen from his car, it's a bummer but i never would've even left something like that in a vehicle that wasn't being watched

[cubby]

I always wanted a Rick bass but for some reason it just never happened. I have used a friends 4001 several times and I like the treble and the pop that you can get from it. However it does lack bottom end so I would usually have to crack out the dusty Bassballs to get it some guts. Other than that it is one of the most perfect feeling instruments made. Perfect balance, finish and feel.

[jimbobass]

oooo.. I want a rikie soo bad I think I will buy one next year after I complete my amp rig. I don't know though I would be afraid that after all that money I wouldn't want to play it for fear of breaking it or somthing I would just stare at it in awe:) . I would probably use it more for recording than live stuff sue to the fact if it did break I couldn't replace it.

[avenger86]

What are the main differences between the 4001 and 4003? Is it just age, because all of the 4001's I noticed are from the 70's, and 4003's are new. Are they really a good deal, because I could probably get one around 700 bux.

[naveed211]

yeah i love the ric 4003, they rock. i've been trying to get my bass player to like them but he likes blink 182 a bit too much and for that reason will only play what his god mark hoppus (aka talentless fat frat guy punk rocker wanna be) plays. oh well.

[The User]

i really like the trebles on a ric, but i think the low E lacks push. I prefer the Gibson thunderbird, or either of the big two fenders

[entrada]

A friend of mine has an Ibanez ripoff of a Ric 4001 and honestly, it sounded at least as good. It had that super hard edged treble sound and the bigger the amp you use, the better it sounds(in terms of low end). It made my Kustom tuckandroll sound awesome. Instant late 70s punk.

[nyrkickazz1]

Yeah it's funny, a lot of the rip-offs actually sound equal or better then real Ricks.

Go figure.

As for the low E lacking push, it really does, especially with the hard rock i play. The upper registers cut through like a hot knife through butter, but the lower notes are muddy and just get buried in the mix. I'm gonna buy buying an Music Man bass soon, just to have a 2nd bass and to use it in songs where those ultra low notes are important.