Back in the Saddle

steverok · Post by **steverok** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 7:18 pm

Hey all, I posted, for the first time on the Bass topic section, last weekend. I got "my" Ric 4001, circa 80s, I believe, back from the local luthier, he dressed the frets, adjusted the neck and intonation, cleaned out the electronics, etc., installed DR strings. I recorded it, with a pick, straight though a pre-amp & compressor. WOW !! For someone who has zero bass chops, I sure am thrilled with the groovy thud that this baby provides me ! I swear, and I'll bet I'm not the first one to say this, it almost sounds like the deepest notes of a piano. Ralph, the luthier, mentioned what a pain it was to work with the bridge, he did the best he could do, he says, the E and D are still a little sharp at the 12th fret, but it looks like he moved the saddles as far as he could. Should I mess with it any more ?

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 11:21 pm

Steve, I had to flip my saddles around to get them to intonate right, you might want to try that if you are just a little sharp.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 5:02 am

Yes, the 4001/3 bridge is a bit of a challenge, to put it politely. How it endured unchanged for 40 years, I will never know.

steverok · Post by **steverok** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:39 pm

And here it is, in all of its yellow-bound glory, after a Wilcynzki (sp?) treatment of 3M, Scratch-X, and Zymol Boogie. I love my Ric bass !

shinynewtoy · Post by **shinynewtoy** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:27 pm

Jetglo Ricks rule!

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 10:11 pm

Jetglo Ricks DO rule!! Here's my '94, my first Rickenbacker (my Baby), recently put back into action, and now of even greater appreciation!

Enjoy your jetglo, they are always in style!

jps · Post by **jps** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 3:06 am

Yes on the Jetglo!

steverok · Post by **steverok** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 6:15 am

JetGlo is a can't-miss ! To me, you can never go wrong with JetGlo or MapleGlo, but then again, all Ric finishes are fabulous. Also like a good FireGlo and the new midnight blue.

This is off-topic, but I started it - anyway, the only thing that bothers me, somewhat, about the 4001 bass is the binding, it gives it a sharp edge, and I rest my arm there when I play, it digs into my arm. It looks like the 4004 series have no binding, a more contoured shape, as well as a more modern bridge design. I guess it's sort of the 650 of the bass line. However, it has humbucking pick-ups and only two knobs. Does this bass deliver the classic Rickenbacker bass sound ? I would imagine it would get lost in the changes.

geddeeee · Post by **geddeeee** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:51 am

I originally had a problem with the binding digging into my forearm. A few bruises too!!!! My right arm soon adjusted to the shape and now I feel like I was born with a rick in my arms!

shinynewtoy · Post by **shinynewtoy** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 9:42 am

Here's mine..

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:22 am

Steve,

You could get a 4003S, V63 or C64 too. None of them have binding and are very comfy!

steverok · Post by **steverok** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:29 am

What does the S mean in 4003S? Is that something that is no longer in production ? I did not see that on the Ric web site. I like the sound of the high-gains, not sure I want an expensive re-issue, given that I don't really play bass ... yet !! I am getting better though

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:36 am

Believe it or not, the S stood for "special" in that it was not the ordinary 4001 with the binding and shark-fin position markers. I believe the original S series was aimed at export orders, primarily from Rose Morris in England who put their own model number on it (the 1999 -- nothing to do with the year) back in the 1960s. The V63 and to some degree, the C64, were designed to emulate the 4001S.

jaybic · Post by **jaybic** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:03 am

JetGlo's are the way to go!

steverok · Post by **steverok** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 1:19 pm

I have JetGlo hair, and that's without any product, so JG is my perfect finish !