Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Thanks for the input, guys. Are the Hipshot Ultralites a lot lighter than the M4S?

Here's another problem for me: it's still a very heavy bass. I can't deal with the weight. My Fender Jazz was killing me. Between carrying it around NYC on my back, and then sometimes 2 hours in the studio on my ...

Here you go, guys. Thanks so much.

You are correct that it has Schaller tuning keys on it. I think the M4S? According to the Hipshot site, 4 of their Ultralites weigh as much as 3 of the M4's, but I'm not sure what the weight difference is between the M4 and M4S. If they are similar, then it ...

So I have this lefty 1978 4001 here that a guy is selling that he lent me to play with to see if I like it. The thing is A LOT heavier than I expected, but it's also way neck heavy. If I have it on my shoulder at a 45 degree angle and let it go, the neck drops down to almost level. Aren't these ...

Well I finally have the bass in my hands. Feels pretty heavy. Need to weight it, and at least compare it to my other basses. This is what's scaring me.

The serial number indicates that it was made in July 1978, not 1976.

And it feels like there's no finish at all on the wood, including the ...

That's a great idea. I had much the same, until this 4001 came my way. Trouble with the Thunderbird bass I wanted was that I play lefty, wanted lightweight, and wanted the narrow string spacing of a Danelectro. So I was looking at a custom job.

I am hoping that this 1976 4001 will satiate me ...

Oooh, and it's lefty. But it's in France. The ad is almost a year old, too.

Jared, not with my playing style, which I got from my teacher, Patrick Pfeiffer. I rest my thumb on the pickup, tilted, so my fingers are both over the pickup and using my thumb to hit against when I play on the E string, like the rest of the strings have another string for your fingers to hit.

I ...

Thanks, Jeff. That's great to hear; that is when I'm not using my thumb to listen.

1976 4001. It's the one I'm considering buying, but haven't seen it in person yet. It has the Seymour Duncans installed, but also has the original pickups, which I would probably put back in.

If you rest your thumb on the bridge pickup, is there enough space to get a good pluck on the E string? In pics, it looks very close to the edge of the pickup.

Thanks.

So if they can make the headstock "right side up" like on the top one, why can't they make all lefties with them like that? They already charge more for the lefty versions anyway....

Thanks, Jeff. I would ask Hipshot if they plan to make the bridge out of aluminum, like the choice for their other bass bridges, but they never replied to another email I once sent them. Why do these companies never reply to email? I can understand the argument for lack of manpower, but if that's ...

I have been looking at some pics here, and I have a feeling that the worst that was done to the bass for the Badass is new screw holes. I think they would be covered up. Here is the bass with the Badass on it, and here is the Hipshot .

Seeing where the mountings come in compared to where the ...

Interesting on the bridge. I definitely don't think I would want to leave the Badass, mainly for aesthetics. I'll talk to the guy (as I said he seems like a really cool guy - we have friends/musicians in common) and find out details on it. He said something about a guitar tech screwing up the ...

All I know at the moment is "The original routing slot remains unaltered so a stock bridge would fit right on". Any easy way to tell when I see it if the Hipshot or a stock bridge would not cover it?