Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

dricard wrote:In my opinion, a Geddy Lee Fender Jazz Bass is a must play- not one with the typically ****** set up from Guitar Center, but rather one set up properly. The one I have has the nicest neck of any bass I have, including a 75 4001 and a 97 4003.

I used to have that bass. They are very popular, but I could never get over it's lack of sustain. I thought it was just mine, but I tried several others in local stores and felt the same way about them. Not sure if it had to do with the groove cuts on the Badass II bridges on them or what.

Just what the Ric and their backlog needs. More attention. I guess 1-1/2 years isn't long enough.

Rickless wrote:

dricard wrote:In my opinion, a Geddy Lee Fender Jazz Bass is a must play- not one with the typically ****** set up from Guitar Center, but rather one set up properly. The one I have has the nicest neck of any bass I have, including a 75 4001 and a 97 4003.

I used to have that bass. They are very popular, but I could never get over it's lack of sustain. I thought it was just mine, but I tried several others in local stores and felt the same way about them. Not sure if it had to do with the groove cuts on the Badass II bridges on them or what.

A guy came over once to buy some Ric parts from me, that I had listed on Craigslist. He was buying a new Ric that week. Anyway, I guess he also had gone through several Geddy Lee Jazz Basses and had said some were great, others not so much. I know they have sort of changed up the neck profile a few times.

coolhandjjl wrote:Just what the Ric and their backlog needs. More attention. I guess 1-1/2 years isn't long enough.

Damn. Word has gotten out.

About time.... I wonder why the quality of the 4001/3 has taken so long to sink in to the consciousness of the music press....

Heres my $0.02. Two different basses so I am not sure its a fair comparison...but I will choose the 4001 over the 4003 everytime. Just glad I own a couple of each.

I have had very similar experiences to those above with singers or (usually) drummers who have a pre-formed opinion of the 4001 from who knows where and are then knocked out by a 4001 that they are really only hearing up close for the first time.
Its great that the Rickenbacker bass is up there in the poll but you sometimes wonder about the magazines.
Have you noticed how the ads and feature writers photos always tend to be of a very intense studious looking bloke playing finger style (compulsory it would seem) on a F type variant or a custom million string bass neck ?
I recently read an article in a major bass publication instructing people how to play bass guitar with a plectrum as though it was so rare and such an unusual thing to do when playing bass that guys needed to be coaxed into using one in almost the same way that the comments above described players saying the Rick was "great looking but I couldnt play one so its not for me" etc.
And that maybe the key to why the 4001 isnt usually considered in many polls because its often viewed as a plectrum style only bass and in this poll the good people at BGP may have just found out what we knew all along.
Does this mean prices will go up?

Only in the UK! I don't think you can get the magazine any where else...

rickenbrother wrote:The 4004 should be at the top of the poll with the 4001 and 4003!

...and the 4002 should be in between!

Ontario_RIC_fan wrote:Only in the UK! I don't think you can get the magazine any where else...

I get BGM (UK) in the mail every month here.

The 4001 is legendary and a great guitar,I'm not surprised that it tops poll,it's topped mine for 35 years.

The 4001 is in my opinion a better bass.Once you remove the cap of course Ive played alot of the newer 4003's and they just arent consistent.A case of messing around to much with an already good design.My 4001's are simply set it and forget it

It really all depends on the bass in question and the individual set up. A poor old 4001 is a dog, of which there are many, and sadly this is the experience that someone trying one for the first time will probably come across. And never go back too either!

On the other hand, a perfectly set up example is simply one of the best, especially when considering the features that really make these basses unique.

heinpete wrote:

rickenbrother wrote:The 4004 should be at the top of the poll with the 4001 and 4003!

...and the 4002 should be in between!

Not enough of them around to put in between, unfortunately.