Choosing My Next Ric

[nextcliffburton]

Hey guys,

I've been thinking of what type of Ric I should get look to replace my loss and need some advice. I can either get the 4001 with the transitional hi-gain pickup (1968-1973?), a 4001 without the transitional hi-gain pickup (1973-1982?????) a 4003 or a newer 4003 with the push/pull with the capcitator.

NOTE: If I get a 4001 I will most likely Bi-pass the .0047!

Anyways the sound I'm looking for is a lot of treble with as much bass output (THUNDERY!) I can get to make that Ric bark (which is why I did the .0047 Mod on my 4001.) I have heard the transitional hi-gain pickup sounds alot better but I have never tried it. I have also heard the the 4003 has alot more output and sounds better with overdrive (Which is half my sound, I use a big muff pedal for loud distortion and a bass driver.) Also I hear the 4001 is really trebly and has that "Clank" sound to it, which I like (and cliff burton recordings have it too, but thats a whole different animal and different pickups installed.) Also I'm a big vintage guy and love vintage stuff.

Now even knowing thats alot of Info and probably is confusing what bass model (with/without the .0047 mod) do you guys reccommend would be more the sound I'm lookin for?

Thanks Alot!!!!!

Jake

[SMR 78]

Sounds like a later model 4003 would be closest to fitting the bill for what you're describing. It's got the push/pull tone pot so you can dial in the cap if you want to get more growl / treble. Some 4003s have just shipped to local retailers - if you bring up the 4003 model on rickenbacker.com you can see where they've been shipped to. Neck thickness is personal preference, but if you find the 2009 necks thicker than you like (and it may be thicker than your hopefully-soon-to-be-recovered 4001) then you may want to try a 2008 - the "measure your girth" thread showed the 2008 necks to be almost as thin as the late 70s 4001s.

Good luck! (don't forget to try a C64S at your local retailer if he has one - ya never know....lol)

[cjj]

As I'm a die hard 4001/4003 fan, I'd say, go try out a 4004Cii. I have to say, I really like mine, lots of thunder to be had...

[ajish4]

As I die hard 4001/4003 fan, I'd say, go try out a 4004Cii. I have to say, I really like mine, lots of thunder to be had...

A BIG +1 to that!

[wints]

Get a V63 with the hot horseshoe. They sound impressive!

[Duckenbacker]

First I would like to say that I do hope you get your baby back...
I have a 4004cii and it is truly a wonderful bass, I can get it to clank, rattle, growl, and even snarl a bit, and its stock, but not for long...
If you have the opportunity to try one I would, you just never know...
good luck
Ken

[rickenbrother]

As I die hard 4001/4003 fan, I'd say, go try out a 4004Cii. I have to say, I really like mine, lots of thunder to be had...

A BIG +1 to that!

+2
I love the 4004Cii basses!

[nextcliffburton]

Do you guys know where I can get any sound bites or a video of someone playing a Cii???

[Darthbass]

Get somehting from the 4001/3 line- A brand spanking new 4003 would be my vote-The 4001/3 line is most versatile(sic) and is still the standard by which all other basses in the Rick line are judged. It also has better resale value I would imagine due to more people wanting it...

The Big problem with the 4004ii is where are you going to go to try one out? Sight unseen is no way to buy a high end bass. It lacks the pedigree of the 4001/3, and cliff didnt play one!

[rickenbrother]

The Big problem with the 4004ii is where are you going to go to try one out? Sight unseen is no way to buy a high end bass. It lacks the pedigree of the 4001/3, and cliff didnt play one!

It wasn't available then, so he couldn't play one.

[ken_j]

The Big problem with the 4004ii is where are you going to go to try one out? Sight unseen is no way to buy a high end bass.

Maybe there is a forum member near you that owns one. Go to a confluence and most likely there will be a few to try.

[cassius987]

Get somehting from the 4001/3 line- A brand spanking new 4003 would be my vote-The 4001/3 line is most versatile(sic) and is still the standard by which all other basses in the Rick line are judged. It also has better resale value I would imagine due to more people wanting it...

With the slow economy, 4004s are more common in stores than ever (to my knowledge). I play-tested a 4004Cii and reviewed it on this forum (see here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=389200 ) and I felt very positive about that bass.

I would say the biggest difference between the two models in terms of tone is that the 4004 emphasizes low frequencies a bit more and doesn't lose any of the IMPORTANT top end (5-10 kHz) but does lose lots of the top end above 10 kHz due to its pickups. This is fine by me; I always cut frequencies in that part of the spectrum.

The 2009 4003 is a true beast. I just got my 4003 MG out last night and, wow. Just wow. A funk machine for sure, with lots of low end and and a very strong voice. Probably more versatile than the 4004 due to the wiring harness, and the pickup spacing is geared to a bit more clarity.

I don't think you could go wrong with either as long as you got to try it out first and in this slow market that should be possible. Sadly new Rics are very expensive as of the last couple of years, for those who don't have one reserved from ages past; expect to pay around the $2000 area depending on which model you go for (some dealers are running decent price cuts off and on, though). I hope your insurance on the bass or whatever funds you have to replace it cover that. If not, the eBay market is fantastic; PM savvy people here for advice (don't publicly post eBay listings if you're committed to buying).

The Big problem with the 4004ii is where are you going to go to try one out? Sight unseen is no way to buy a high end bass.

I was able to try one out the second day I was in Denver. Perhaps it's easiest in the bigger cities right now...

[ram]

I say - when in doubt buy both!

[cjj]

On the 4004, yes, it will be a bit less versatile than a 4003 or 4001 due to the single volume and tone controls. Also, the 4004 does not have the Ric-O-Sound jack so you can't split your pickups between two amps. The sound is still great though, but I like the independent V & T for each pickup and use two amps all the time. So, I modified my 4004 to have independent V &T for each pickup like a 4001/4003 and changed the output jack so I can do each pickup to a separate amp like Ric-O-Sound. Pretty easy mods, unless you're an uber-nerd like me and make everything so it can be switched back to "normal" 4004 mode too...

[ram]

Jake, to answer your question – if you want THE Ric sound go for the newer 4003 – you will have all the stuff rolled into one. If you have a 4001/3 laying around (which I recall you don’t) then go for the 4004. It has a sound like a Fender or Gibson on Rickenbacker steroids. A huge sound! Different but still Ric.