Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I think they're fugly.

I bet people would like 4005's more if they played the double hi-gain versions rather than the double-toaster versions. That, I imagine, would give more of a J-bass vibe to it.

They are a cool bass, but really, with limited appeal to the majority. The 68 I played had rounds and sounded warm but still with bite, and with a killer thin neck, but they are, of course, no 4001...

From an aesthetic point, and with beauty most certainly being in the eye of the beholder, it's for most, a design of acquired taste.

There will always be a small dedicated demand for them, and I think they really are one for the collector, which means most potential buyers are probably going to come from this group...

Paul- at first , I liked the shape....being similar to the 360 guitar...then I saw a pic of a 4005 and a 4001 side by side(thanks Jerry) and noticed how much BIGGER the body was...THIS got me thinking about "aesthetics" and how the bigger 4005 looked against my large frame....at this point, I am strictly GASSING on looks alone...THEN , when I finally found a decent one for sale, I took the plunge and bought. After receiving it, I noticed the old toasters were a bit weak from age, although I LIKED the sound , it was still a bit too weak. I am currently considering swapping out the old toasters for newer ones. I have flats on the regular 4005 and DR hi-beams rounds on the double bound....the double bound does sounds MUCH better overall and cuts through the mix a lot better than some of the 4001's I've owned....I just don't like the finish as much, it's more of a "modern fireglo" with the pinkish hue in the center (yechhh!)

To sum up....I LOVE the look, the feel and the sound of double toasters....it suits me very well. Don't get me wrong, I love the v63's and 4002 and standard 4001's , as well.....but the 4005 really does it for me....

To each his own, I suppose....

I'll take anybody's 4005 off their hands for pennies on the dollar ... if you don't like 'em...

Chris, you have hands like oven mitts.

Or are those short scale 4005s? (JOKES)

....see what I mean? lol!

4001's look like those little lapel pins on me....

Hang on... you bought the bass from Tony Blair?

Not THAT one! THIS one: http://www.tblair.com/collection.htm

..and he got it from me. I got it from Freedom Guitar.

My 4005WB was the first Rick I ever owned. I am not too .mp3 saavy but I do have recordings I did with mine sporting XLs and it sounds awesome, great Squire/Lee sound and it is more versatile tonally as I can also get a nice deep dubby sound or a decent Jaco burble with it if I want. As I am not quite as large as Chris the bass does look a bit big on me but it is comfortable and the neck is superb. The toasters are a bit weak, but that's what amps are for. I currently keep flats on it so as not to wear the frets down further, and it still sounds great.

I don't care-I want one of those!

Damn!

I have to report that the toasters on mine are of the 12+k Ohm variety. Now I just need to buy a bass amp, ha ha.

I too must say that I want one. It has led me on a quest for hollowbody basses. Looking at those Waterstone - which have jumped up in price - or Epiphone Jack Cassidy model - or even the Lakland hollowbodies. I tend to be more on the Chris Pappas size of things - so the bigger the bass, the more I like it.

There is a unique sound that a hollow body bass offers that is quite different than solid body. I for one am interested in different personalities in basses and hollow bodies offer that to me. They are not necessarily the best choice for live gigs (feedback) but that doesn't bother me much. I still like them because I do! My 4005 offers the best neck I've ever played, its comfortable, not really weighty, and once again -- a unique sound that you can't get from a solid body. Does that help answer your question, Paul?

Yes, Mike. Everyone has been really helpful on this one. I've neither owned nor played one of these basses. (I am partial to the double-bound ones; I'm also partial to double-bound 360s over the "new style"--just a personal preference in appearance.)

But having seen more than my share in the past year or so, and marvelling at the loyalty of their owners as well as the prices I see them going for, I thought I would try to dig a bit deeper into the personality of the instrument as well as those of its owners.

Jwilli, I'm in the same boat as you. Basses but no amps, and the PA just doesn't cut it. I want an old B-15-N Ampeg, remembering how this nice smaller rig sounded back in the days. Soon, methinks. Then I can think about an MB 4003...