Rickenbacker vs Fender (Side by Side)

[rickenbrother]

Speaking of neck shapes, I remember something about 4004 necks being shaped the same as 4003's now. Does anyone have one of these to confirm?.

The 4004's that were displayed at the last NAMM show had the same neck profile as the latest 4003's.

[johnallg]

.....or go for an MIJ J-bass - I've had two and both have had perfect necks.....

My SX Jazz has a wonderful neck that stays put. And it was only $109 USD.

[johnallg]

Joey, I don't think a swing from AM to PM is enough of a difference to move a neck. I believe it's got to be a seasonal thing.

Same with my Ricks. Seasonal. Only one is stable, the 2004 bat neck.

[jps]

.....or go for an MIJ J-bass - I've had two and both have had perfect necks.....

My SX Jazz has a wonderful neck that stays put. And it was only $109 USD.

You paid for a case, the bass just happened to come with it.

[ricaddic]

Joey, I don't think a swing from AM to PM is enough of a difference to move a neck. I believe it's got to be a seasonal thing.

Same with my Ricks. Seasonal. Only one is stable, the 2004 bat neck.

my 1977 4001 and my 06 4003 although effected by the seasonal are good enough to get by, my 1980 4001 held up through the season's but I dont have that anymore , traded it in to my knowlage the bass player for the Killers owns it now my jazzes precisions, Gibsons , Schecter, Danelectro, Hofners, and Yamaha hold up, my Cii is the worst she just dont want to stay set im ready to move her along, my Larado I can deal with, she is hit or miss but playable more than less shes a keeper..

[Blackstar]

If you're looking for that Chris Squire tone, he is a big Entwistle fan and the Ox played P-basses with Rotosounds back when Chris was searching for his sound.

Chris sounds like himself when he plays his Lakland Bob Glaub (with Joe Osborn neck) bass.

Exactly; a lot of it is technique. The Rotosounds factor heavily if you're looking for that sound. I think for the original poster, if he was choosing a Fender over a Rickenbacker, he should probably go for a P-bass over the J-bass. But it all comes down to how any bass feels and sounds to the person playing it.

[ricaddic]

Im starting to prefer the 4001's more now, since learning to bypass the cap and putting the bottom in the bridge pick up and eliminateing that thin sound, I got my eye on one at POTR right now, its blue,

[kiramdear]

Angelo, I hope you didn't sell the one you named after me.

[dricard]

Well, this IS a Rickenbacker forum so we can expect SOME Rickenbacker bias. That said, I am well aware that there is quite a bit of fluctuation in Fender quality releative to Rickenbacker quality, and perhaps I was lucky, but I feel my latest Fender aquisition, a Geddy Leee Jazz bass, is actually superior to my '75 Rickenbacker 4001. Never thought I'd say that but here I am sayin' it!

[johnallg]

.....or go for an MIJ J-bass - I've had two and both have had perfect necks.....

My SX Jazz has a wonderful neck that stays put. And it was only $109 USD.

You paid for a case, the bass just happened to come with it.

Actually no case. You should play it before judging.....

[jps]

I'm not judging; I have read many other positive reviews on SX basses.

[ricaddic]

Angelo, I hope you didn't sell the one you named after me.

No Kira sweetheart, she is a keeper, as I stated im likeing the older 4001's the one I named after you im going to get refinished, she was originally white but the previous owner sanded the finish off so she is what would be mapleglo right now, she has black hardware and binding so im going to get her refinished white again besides Turquiose and sea foam green, I always wanted a white Ric..Chris has a 81 4001 in Azure blue right now at POTR that I might go after..he also has a 2011 4003 in jetglo too but thinking asbout going after the 4001.

[Ivan3000]

I've played both. I'll compare the necks, and ill try the sound, keep in mind that I use flatwounds, and there weren't flats on the basses I have tried. Also I'll compare quality and capability to mod.
NECK
Fender J-bass: Thin at nut but then gets fatter, the circumference of the neck is large too as you get to the 12th fret. Your hand could get tired if you go wild.
Rick: Not as skinny at nut, but skinnier at 12th fret, all around good neck. The best way I can describe it is "Slim"

SOUND
Fender: Sounds like anyother bass IMO...
Rick: Just that lovely Rick sound, plus with the tone capacitor that switches from vintage to modern, its pretty sweet.

QUALITY
Fender: They mass produce and sometimes you have to search a bit to find a good one.
Rick: All of them are made with care and you can insure you will get a good one.

CAPABILITY TO MOD
Fender: New Pickups, pickup and bridge covers thumbrest, change pickguard.
Rick: You can vintageize it, get Checker binding, the world is your oyster for these.

IMO get a Rick, but thats just me, Its your desicion in the end.

[slave]

I've played both. I'll compare the necks, and ill try the sound, keep in mind that I use flatwounds, and there weren't flats on the basses I have tried. Also I'll compare quality and capability to mod.
NECK
Fender J-bass: Thin at nut but then gets fatter, the circumference of the neck is large too as you get to the 12th fret. Your hand could get tired if you go wild.
Rick: Not as skinny at nut, but skinnier at 12th fret, all around good neck. The best way I can describe it is "Slim"

SOUND
Fender: Sounds like anyother bass IMO...
Rick: Just that lovely Rick sound, plus with the tone capacitor that switches from vintage to modern, its pretty sweet.

QUALITY
Fender: They mass produce and sometimes you have to search a bit to find a good one.
Rick: All of them are made with care and you can insure you will get a good one.

CAPABILITY TO MOD
Fender: New Pickups, pickup and bridge covers thumbrest, change pickguard.
Rick: You can vintageize it, get Checker binding, the world is your oyster for these.

IMO get a Rick, but thats just me, Its your desicion in the end.

Being the Rick forum, I'm not gonna argue here, but I've read just as many "awful neck, sharp frets" stories about Fender and Rick alike online, so I guess you just have to find a good one, regardless of which you pick (if not both).
I have to admit though, a P-bass does seem to work very well with almost every effect pedal and amp I've ever had that is bass specific, where-as many of the active basses are sometimes problematic.

[antipodean]

SOUND
Fender: Sounds like anyother bass IMO...

That's actually the wrong way round - the vast majority of basses sound like a Fender. Leo beat everyone else to it and created the benchmark sound as a result.