Bass Virgin - FULL WIDTH INLAYS!

[red_rob]

Now to start off, I'm a guitar player, but I've been looking at getting a bass for a while now - variety is the spice and all that. Given that this would be my first bass I wondered if it might make sense to get a cheap, second hand P-bass or something. But who was I trying to kid??? It was always going to be a Rickenbacker...

The problem was though, that I'm all about the vintage vibe (2 of my 3 Rickenbacker guitars are V series) and for bases, it seemed I was either looking at a new one with none of that going on or forking out big cash for a vintage 4005 or something, which seemed a bit over the top really.

And then lo and behold if RIC doesn't just blow us out of the water by reintroducing the full width inlays! Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. Snapped this beauty up from Pittsburgh and anxiously waited for it to arrive in London. Two agonising weeks later and she arrives! Loving it - absolutely loving it.

My only shame is that my woeful early days bass playing doesn't live up to this great instrument. It will do in time though, I spent all yesterday evening belting out shaky renditions of Joy Division, Kasabian and Stone Roses classics! It's so funny how tiny a 360 neck feels after a few hours on the 4003!



Good times - and thank you Rickenbacker!!

[1965]

I picked up bass about a year ago after playing guitar for a long while. I thought the Rick neck would feel too weird after only playing my Hofner club for a while, but I've really grown to like it. It's been fun so far, I'm rhythmically in tune so I can really dig it. In a few days I'll be posting a "Think for Yourself" (Rubber Soul) all-parts-video in the recordings forum. Lots of bass on that (2 parts)

[rickenbrother]

Congrats Robert! Enjoy your new 4003 and welcome to the Rickenbacker bass community!

[jps]

Another one joins the enlightened! Congrats!

[jdogric12]

Very cool!

So the new FWI are already popping up on the used market? Or was it new?

[doctorwho]

Congrats, Robert!

[scotty]

Congrats rob!

[johnallg]

Great acquisition, Robert! You'll find the 4003 challenging you to play more inspired from right off. It is so easy to play compared to a lot of basses, and the tone and sound makes coming up with a riff or part an easier thing to do.

[jakeox]

Congrats! Do you have the matching 480 to properly rock Kasabian?

[red_rob]

Thanks guys - it's nice to feel worthy to be part of what you mad bass folk get up to! I'm really enjoying it actually, although I need to make a few adjustments (action possibly a bit high and the neck pickup is way too quiet). I'm also finding it hard to drop the guitar pick and play with fingers.


What's this weird thing with what appear to be the heght adjustment screws just infront of the bridge for (haven't touched it yet)??

Does the neck pickup look low to you?

Jason - it was a brand spanking new one which I picked up in the US. I've not seen any on the second hand market yet (mine never will be!) and I've never seen any in the UK yet either. I tlooks proper vintage cool - I'm well pleased with it.

Jake - keeping my eyes open for a 480....slant fret model!

[bassassin]

Lovely bass - I wonder if yours is the first 4003 with full-widthies in the UK?

That there adjustable thing in front of the bridge is a string damper - tighten the screws to raise the pad inside until it touches the strings, in order to make the sustain less & add more "thud" to the tone - intended to emulate an upright bass. These were pretty common on bass designs which originate in the 50s & early 60s - old Fenders & Gibsons sometimes have similar contraptions!

Jon.

[red_rob]

Cheers Jon - I think I'll leave it where it is for now!

[jdogric12]

When you do play with the mute, be sure not to lower it too low, or the screws may pop out of the piece inside. Then you have to remove the strings and bridge. A royal pain in the arse it is!

[johnallg]

As to the neck height, bring it up as far as it will go, but don't force the screws or you WILL crack the scratch plate. If you want it a bit higher, take the plate off, take the pickup mount screws out, cut one of the rubber grommets in half (like slicing a bagel) and put half on each side instead of a whole. Also play with the height of the bridge pickup and also the volume control of the bridge pickup to balance your tone how you want it.