Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

quote "I've always wondered . . . if you have a late 70s or early 80s 4001 with the cap bypassed, how different is it, soundwise, from a modern 4003, assuming the same strings and such? Is there really any difference in tone?"

there are several differences ... the headstock tilts back on the 4003, the 4003 has better truss rods (you won't pop off a fret board), the 4003 has no bass cut capacitor (yes this can be removed from the 4001), the 4003 has hotter pickups (11k ohm for a 4003 and 8k ohm for a 4001), Tone ... the 4003 has all of the treble bite plus more mids and lows, straploks (the 4003 comes with schaller straploks)

but the old 4001 basses have mojo and vintage character ... either will get the job done ...

When I first saw a Rick I thought they were really cool looking basses... I liked the checkered binding and triangle inlays! It looks different from the other basses... unique!

The S looks more like a Fender! It's cheap looking. I hate dot inlays! BORING!

Binding and fancy inlays for me too, please.

Hahaha... sweet sweet VICTORY!!!

mmwwahahaha

I like both looks. S's are simple and elegant. The deluxe models are very classy and refined. The differences are remarkably similar to the Ginger versus Marianne discussions we had about Gilligan's Island as kids.

Ginger rules! Give me a deluxe girl any day!

"S-deficiency-denial-syndrome" LOL!!!!

I've had both. I liked the "S" (4003S Azureglo '82) and played it a lot, but when I got the '73 4001 with the inlays and the binding, that was it. Even saying that, that turquoise "S" above is HOT!
I'm a Deluxe guy.

Thanks Steve.

I put a pearloid pickguard on my Ruby 4003S because it had pearl-envy when it saw the triangle inlays on my deluxe Ricks!

I always tend to reach for the more expensive... fancier, more options, better wheels, bigger engines, etc. And when I saw(and bought) my first Rick I loved those triangle inlays. I still do. I like the way the binding looks too. But for 20 years the binding dug into my wrist and bugged the heck out of me. Now I have seen the light. I really like them both. I'm glad to have the choice.

And as for Marianne or Ginger, Ted...I can't make up my mind. So I'll have to have both!

Funny that I have never had issues with my binding (might be my playing position). I think it is just an excuse that "S-users" come up with to compensate for the fact that us deluxe players get more compliments on our gear. Propaganda I think. I don't blame them really, I would feel the need to make things up if I was playing an inferior design. ;P

DELUXE!!!

I dunno, I don't get compliments based on the binding of the bass . . . it's more on the general shape of it . . . also, how it sounds. There are three typical responses to hearing a Ric:

1)WHOA!!! How did you do THAT?!
2)Ah, Rickenbacker . . . I love how those things sound . . .
3)Ah, Rickenbacker . . . I hate how those things sound . . .

Personally, I love both deluxe and S models. However, I already own a deluxe model, and am now waiting until I can afford to buy a nice early late 70s/early 80s 4001S. Mapleglo of course. And then maybe I can try out my 4004 w/4003 hardware idea . . .

When I was gigging a long time ago in the eighty's,the only thing people noticed was that I was playing a Ric and hey Geddy,Squire, McCartney They played Ric's so it was cool.

I didn't know that McCartney or Squires bass was any different then mine only older.

Even though my 68 S schools any other bass, I suspect a deluxe with the same mods would stack up to it. I like them both. I went thru a S only phase, too. Then I realized that they all are great.

I think it is just an excuse that "S-users" come up with to compensate for the fact that us deluxe players get more compliments on our gear...

lol - man...

We blast people away with curved lines, a no-nonsense-finger-caressing neck and stonking tone. You need binding and "inlays" to show off!