Opinions and info on the Rickenbacker 3000/3001

rudi_remme · Post by **rudi_remme** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 11:23 am

Anyone that have more knowledge than me in this one? Some pictures and price suggestions too maybe?

Thanks!

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 4:31 pm

I always like to take the 3000 series inquiries...

I have a 1978 3001 that I absolutely love. Picked it up at a flea market almost 10 years ago. They aren't as graceful as the 4000 series, but special in their own right. They have a gutsy tone - a lot of low end from that single humbucker, but yet still enough of that Rick growl. Way underrated in my opinion - you can get them all day long (when you can find them) in the $600 - $700 range. Sometimes less...

The only drawback is that they are VERY HEAVY.

The 3001 was the full scale version of the 3000.
Manufactured from 75-84.
There are some fans of the 3000 series on this forum, hopefully they'll chime in & give you some more info.

Here's a pic of mine...

vito · Post by **vito** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 5:29 pm

I have a '76 Mapleglo, and I absolutely love it. To my ears, it has a crisp, biting tone that I can't get most other places. The treble and bass boost don't do a whole lot, but I don't need or want them to.

Get yourself a big thick padded strap and go!

rudi_remme · Post by **rudi_remme** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 7:05 am

How is it compared to the shortscaled Fender Mustang Bass?

I have a '73 Fender Mustang Bass and a '75 Rickenbacker 4001 so do I really need a 3000?

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:09 am

I've played a mustang and there is no comparison. The 3000 is much nicer, has a better pickup and 21 frets!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:10 am

how many more basses do you need? just one more!

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:19 am

You mean one after another..........

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:57 am

that's right ... no matter how many you have you only need one more ... it's an addiction ...

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 9:00 am

I'm with Dane...the 3001 has a much better neck that the Mustang & is tonally superior.

rudi_remme · Post by **rudi_remme** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 9:03 am

It's not really a question about what I need, rather a question about what I "need" or want.

My Mustang is my main bass (sorry guys...), I just haven't get a really nice sound out of my 4001. Maybe it is the strings? I really don't like it when the strings are completely new. I use Dean Markley Blue-something on it. Anyone have suggestions how I can make the 4001 my main bass?

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 9:39 am

How do you make the Ric your main bass? put down the fender and play the Ric ...

take the bass cut capaciter out of the Ric and it will growl better and have more mids ...

rudi_remme · Post by **rudi_remme** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 11:16 am

Is that a common thing to do? Does anyone have schematics showing and instructions on how to take the bass cut capaciter out? You are welcome to e-mail it to me at [email protected]

Anyway, I play the bass that plays best and that I is most comfortable with - and these days it is the Mustang Bass.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 11:33 am

there is a .0047 capaciter in most 4001 basses ... it goes from the treble volume control to the toggle pickup selector ... simply replace it with a wire ... this is a common modification ... it is easily reversable ... the schematics are on the ric web site.