Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Phil, if you have two volumes on a bass you don't really need a bass control, because you can emphasize either the bass or treble with your pickup blend. That is why I like the two volumes on the 4003's and 4001's
I usually back off the bass knob just a bit to get more mid and bite. With two volumes you can go all the way from deep bass to a very trebley sound like on a Ric 4001 or 4003 without touching your amps controls.

Ric should issue 500 more 4001cs models ... there is a market out there for these ...

interesting idea, a limited edition reissue....

Signed,
Happy owner of 4001CS #946

Here is something RIC has never done to my knowledge: since Mr. Hall admits that Ned Steinberger is one of the true geniuses of stringed instrument design of the past 30 years, how about a limited edition Ned Steinberger Rickenbacker bass? Give Ned fairly free reins, and limit the production to 500 units or so. That should be a small enough run to keep the price up to a reasonable profit level and yet big enough to provide feedback as to the long range viability of a standard production instrument at a later date. Why shouldn't outstanding designers be awarded signature models, instead of just famous players? Designers add value to an instrument, but players usually just add their name. Ned wins from royalty fees if the design makes a hit and goes mass production later, so he is encouraged to make a new landmark design. RIC would win from being the manufacturer of a unique instrument designed by an acknowledged master. But I suppose Ned's current design contract precludes that. Too bad. A Rickenberger would have been nice.

Ned Steinberger a real genius please spare me

Yes, Dave, he really knows his stuff. Ned thinks a little outside the box, which means that some people will never understand his talent. There are a lot of Spector, Steinberger, and NS Design owners that feel like I do.

This is a world full of BS, hype, and follow-the-crowd thinking. Ned saw through some of it in regards to musical instrument design, and that will automatically open him up to ridicule from some.

would it look like this??? Where do we put the nameplate??

Jeff, Ned's already done that look, and that bridge isn't something he would keep. Making each string instantly detunable is a thought. I would put a straight extension past the zero fret for bending open strings sharp, but that's just me. Status Graphite has already done that, however. I would improve on their idea by adding a lever device over each string to increase the bending range. The whole body could be shaped like an inverted nameplate with a strap lock located at the tip. That would be a variation of the stick bass style. I think Ned could come up with something better than a stick bass neck on a 4004 body. A lot of the changes would probably be internal and not visible to a casual observer, as Ned is an experimenter with new materials.

you do know I was joking??? heh?

Yes, Jeff, I knew that you were joking. Ned seems to upset some people though, and I don't know why. He is reputed to be one of the nicest guys in the musical instrument business. The bad experiences that people have had with any of his designs were due to Gibson trashing the quality and failing to properly support the Steinberger end of the business, to the best of my knowledge. MusicYo has caused further damage.

If you were a guy with a physical disability that REALLY needed a good lightweight guitar or bass, you would appreciate his headless stick designs. They aren't exactly pretty, but they work. I need a good neck that can be set to a low action, as I have a bit of nerve damage in my left arm and my left hand is noticeably weaker than my right hand. Steinberger graphite necks don't shift around once you set the action. The higher end Spector necks are also good as they have graphite reinforcement. I have to get a low action or sell the bass eventually.

I saw Bill Wyman playing a Steinberger bass like that headless 4004 once. Hohner came out with a copy called the Jack Bass, and they sell for good money on eBay still yet. I've been unable to nab one at the Philco price......they often sell for more than I paid for my mint Spector ReBop!!! They get great reviews on Harmony Central as well, just like all the Hohner Steinberger copies do.

Ned thinks a little outside the box, which means that some people will never understand his talent.

Oh I understand what he's doing, all right, I just don't like it and I don't think it's very good.

I think headless basses are really not very good looking. I was going to put something a little stronger but thought better of it.

headless bass don't feel right to me ... and I don't like the look either ... they seem to sound ok though ...

Well, different strokes for different folks. A neuropsychologist told me last Thursday that I had suffered some brain damage (but I might recover if I did certain things. Short term memory is real flaky, and I forgot the rest of what she said). What's wrong with a headless bass for a headless player? Huh, what's wrong with that??? Double headless, what a concept!!!

She said playing bass was good therapy. She even had an interest in Gene Simmons (even had a story to tell on that one), since he needs a shrink too. Did you catch that, Bob?

Phil you left yourself wide open that time but, no, I did not sucuum, vert tempting though.