What's "wrong" with a new 4003?

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 10:00 am

Welcome aboard, Paul and Neil.

(Wow, we've got a lot of new friends registered here lately and that's very cool.)

Paul,
I have a '72 4001 FL MG , a '86 4003 Shadow and a '98 4003 FG. I love them all!

While the '60s and '70s 4001 basses are very charismatic, I agree that the post-'85 4003 basses are of better build and quality, especially the ones made in the last decade. I'm actually considering buying a new 4003 this year.

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 10:18 am

Basically ,

I think that Fenders old and new have always been great basses, and that the older Ricks like my now departed 73 have their "own thing going on".

But the new Ricks are the best of both, you get the look as well as a sound that leaves fender in the dust.

paul_yan · Post by **paul_yan** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 10:24 am

By the way, our friend Andy O'Conner just bought a new 4003S/5 JG BT.

m_cuffa · Post by **m_cuffa** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 10:50 am

"But the new Ricks are the best of both, you get the look as well as a sound that leaves fender in the dust."

So what does that mean for the Ric Competitor thread?

prague · Post by **prague** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 11:46 am

Actually, my "list" with the 2 Fenders (P & J-5) and a Steinberger is missing ONLY the Ric. I wouldn't part with the Fenders or the Steiny. Ever.

I want to ADD the character of a Ric along with the character of the Fenders and the Steinberger.

I don't expect to use a Fender for a Ric task, any more than I would use a Les Paul for a Strat task. And vice-versa!

jeff_ulmer · Post by **jeff_ulmer** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 2:04 pm

I agree with Paul. My Rics are used for what they can do, just like my other instruments are used for what they do. Variety is a good thing!

ojobob2 · Post by **ojobob2** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 2:17 pm

Jeff - true, but at the end of the day, bass guitar needs to be solid- to drive the band. I just dont think the old 4001's can do that as well as the modern Ricks

m_cuffa · Post by **m_cuffa** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 2:40 pm

How about a 4004 ? Speaking as one who has never had the good fortune of hearing one in action, how do they sound compared to a 4003 and a 4001?

trick_knee · Post by **trick_knee** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 4:05 pm

When it comes to fingering, the tone of the 4004 is awesome. I was a little disappointed when playing with a pick. My 4003/5 sounds great no matter how I use it. It has the best of both worlds!

jps · Post by **jps** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 4:19 pm

Chris,

"Actually my guitarist (Les Paul) "

I'm impressed, Les Paul is your guitarist, cool!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 4:28 pm

4003s5's rule ...

my modified 4004L5 plays very well with finger or a pick ... one of my tricks is to run it into a bass pod ... the hot pickups react well to distortion ... the vol vol tone controls and different bridge help as well ...

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 5:35 pm

Wow Andy I love that new bass!!! How did you get it? I haven't been here in a while.Congrats to you man. I love my blue beast, but if I really had a choice in a 4003S/5 it would be just like yours.

Could it be the predecessor to the 4002/5 Anniverary model ?!?!?

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 7:57 pm

Oh c'mon Jeff, you know what I was trying to say! Funny though, as soon as I posted that I thought the same thing.
Regardless, anytime the opportunity arises to bust on guitarists & singers we should embrace it & celebrate together!

prague · Post by **prague** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 8:14 pm

Jwr2, nice examples. Too bad one isn't a Mapleglo. I'd attempt to get one from you, as I only need one bass of each kind. I guess neither of us would make a good Noah!

wim · Post by **wim** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 11:26 pm

Owen: "Jeff - true, but at the end of the day, bass guitar needs to be solid- to drive the band. I just dont think the old 4001's can do that as well as the modern Ricks"

You have a point there.
But for me, I never really looked at the 4001 as a bass-only guitar.
To me (also a guitar player) it's an instrument somewhere in between bass and rythmguitar, and a band could probably use a 'real' bassplayer in addition to the Ric.
Sometimes, when I needed a real punchy bass sound, the 4001 wouldn't deliver, but turning up the bass and backing off the treble on the amp in combination with the treble pickup came close enough. And now with the 'cap' removed it sure does.
Hell, with the cap removed you can even get funky slapsounds out of it, schould you be in an emergency to do such a thing on a Ric.
Recently I rewired the circuit in a way I can activate the capacitor on both pickups, but I'll open a new thread over that.