Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

jdogric12 wrote:The Bass VI is awesome!!! You deserve a good glove slap to the face for that Josh!

I'm with JD and JB on this - the Bass VI is far more versatile than just about any bass you can name. Jack Bruce was an avid user until he had his painted by The Fool, who lived up to their name by trashing the electronics.

It does require a good pick technique, which I understand upsets some of the bass purists who believe that the plectrum is the devil's tool...

The 4001/6 idea is intriguing, but I think a shorter scale is required to get the higher strings to work.

antipodean wrote:the Bass VI is far more versatile than just about any bass you can name. Jack Bruce was an avid user

It does require a good pick technique, which I understand upsets some of the bass purists who believe that the plectrum is the devil's tool....

I have to agree. Other than a Rickenbacker 4000 series the only other bass that I would consider paying serious money for is a Fender Bass VI. They are great basses. Obviously I play with a pick.

One of my favorite Bass VI players is Roy Babbington of Soft Machine. A lot of people don't like the later Soft Machine stuff, but I think the album "Bundles" with Allan Holdsworth is great! As far as I know, he plays a Bass VI with fingers but you wouldn't know it by listening.

I saw someone else ask, and now I will as well. Not being to sharp on this stuff, why could there be a 4005/6 and not a 4001/6? Mark

This is just a shame. If you want a 6 string Rickenbacker.. then buy one. Why waste a perfectly good bass?

Here's a song I recorded last year with my 1963 Bass VI. There is no conventional guitar and no conventional bass in this song - everything you hear is Bass VI.

Katelyn Merrill & John Biscuti - "Winter Wonderland"

ricmic wrote:I saw someone else ask, and now I will as well. Not being to sharp on this stuff, why could there be a 4005/6 and not a 4001/6? Mark

Not only that but, here are some pics for you. I have more of others, too, including a 4005/6WB.

How do you think the new 2-piece neck would hold up 6 strings?

antipodean wrote: Jack Bruce was an avid user until he had his painted by The Fool, who lived up to their name by trashing the electronics.

thisismusicinc wrote:How do you think the new 2-piece neck would hold up 6 strings?

Yes, and many 4001 necks would do just fine as well, its just the luck of the draw....

Eden.

While this one might not be factory, Rickenbacker did make a few 4001-6 string basses in the 60's according to Richard Smith......

sloop_john_b wrote:Here's a song I recorded last year with my 1963 Bass VI. There is no conventional guitar and no conventional bass in this song - everything you hear is Bass VI.

Katelyn Merrill & John Biscuti - "Winter Wonderland"

John, this sounds pretty sweet.

I'm now seriously wanting to kick myself for not jumping at this a little earlier.

C'est la vie...

Yes, I regret trading mine every time I listen to these recordings I did with it, but for such a high-dollar item (a custom color '63!), it got very little use. My next one will either be assembled from parts or one of the MIJ ones, if I can find one at a decent price.

sloop_john_b wrote:Here's a song I recorded last year with my 1963 Bass VI. There is no conventional guitar and no conventional bass in this song - everything you hear is Bass VI.

Katelyn Merrill & John Biscuti - "Winter Wonderland"

Very nice rendition - ALMOST put me in a holiday mood. Hate the cold wx..... The Bass VI sounds really smooth and tonally pleasing.

Guess I'll have to call Mr Rath for a 4-2-6. I know my current 2008 4003 has the neck for it. This bass has the most stable neck of any bass I've owned over the last 40 years. 5 strings and it never moves even from winter to summer.