Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have not posted here in a long time, but I have a question. Has anyone tried their Rickenbacker 4000 series bass with a Bass Pod from Line 6? I have, and just love it. I can virtually get the best of any Rick bass tone, and amp tone for my Rickenbacker. Perfect!! I am glued to it, and still learning how to use it. Has anyone tried one? and what settings do you use? or do you have any cool ideas to try out on the bass pod..

I must be the only Rick player with one...
The acousitc 360 model with a 1x15 cabnet, I think, is one of the best amp sounds in this thing for a Rickenbacker 4001. The Ampeg SVT with the 4x10 or 8x10 cab emulator is excellent too, or you can get a great McCartney sound with the Vox ac-100 model. The Gallien Kruger 800rb is excellent if you want to slap on a Rick. Thes amp models sound real, because they came from the real deal. I was not sure at first but this thing has won me over, it is perfect for a Rickenbacker bass, or any bass in the studio!

Landon: Thanks for taking the time to give us your impression of the Bass Pod from Line 6. It sounds that there is a bit of a learning curve to get past. Have you been able to compare it directly side by side with an Ampeg SVT? I would be interested in your comments in those situations in which you are able to make direct comparisons.

I had heard that the all of the members of the rock group Weezer used Line 6 Pods, plugged all of their instruments straight into the board and used no amps on their last tour. Is this true? Are Pods that good? I almost got one but I opted to spend my hard earned dough on an Ampeg instead.

I don't know much about Weezer, but it would not suprise me if they did used pods. If you have a real good Monitor system for your PA, you could use the pod as an amp live, or use the pod as a preamp with a power amp in a rig. I find that a Rickenbacker Bass needs a bit of amp sound when recording and a pod gives it a variety and you don't have to lug around a huge amp and mike it. As to comparing it to a SVT, I don't own one, but if I ever get the chance to use one live again I will compare the Bass POD to a real one.

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Last year, when I had to choose a modeling preamp for my studio, I hesitated between a Bass Pod and a Johnson J-Station. I finally chose the J-Station, regarding to the fact it allows me to also play guitar, not only bass. I did not have much money to spend for a preamp at this time, so the J-Station was the solution for me. Also, it has the emulation I need : Ampeg SVT, and it sounds pretty good. For what I heard from the Bass Pod, it sounds great too.

All the best,
Jean

I had a bass pod, and wasn't all that trilled with it. Want a really killer Rick tone? Get a Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI.

Want a really killer Rick tone? Get a Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI.

I 'm in total agreement with this. I don't have one, but a few years back I was helping a guy trick out his 5 string Rick, and while it was not a bad sounding bass, no matter what we tried, it never came close enough to the v63 output and tone. I even had a much better amp than this guy, an SWR SM 900, which just kills, but even with That, and much fiddling, Still no go. Then he pulls out this Bass driver DI, which I'd never heard.We plugged the bass into that, and WOW!
Better than the best Rick bass tone you might normally get with a good v63, but on friggen' steroids! I think one of these is on a wish list of mine!!

I agree with Don,

I have a 4001V63 and I use it with a SansAmp Bass Driver D.I. and the Rick tone is simply wonderful !!! I use it live all the time and add a BOSS Bass Chorus as well. The DI on those boxes is great !!! Sweet !!!

How would the SansAmp Bass Driver DI fare with a BOSS Bass EQ? Is the DI just an EQ, or is it more? I ask cause I'm really happy with how the BOSS Bass EQ pushes out the tone for my RIC, I'm interested in the DI if it can compliment my BOSS.

Hey Sea Green,

The SansAmp BDDI is not an EQ but instead is an amp simulator. It provides a warm sound to your bass as well as great overdrive if needed. The DI is exceptional as it preserves the warmth and the colour you add using the settings of the BDDI.
It`s not an EQ. If you like your sound with the BOSS EQ, which is a great EQ, maybe just give the BDDI a try and see yourself.
Good luck !

Thanks Stephane, I think I'll look into it. From what I'm hearing, it sounds like the BDDI is a great tool for a RIC Bass.

I use the Line 6 bass pod with my Ampeg b2r and 2x10 and 1x18 cabs to get a great sound out of my Rics ...

There is a line 6 setting that sounds very good with a rickenbacker ... in fact it sounds good with any bass and any amp ....

Here are the settings ...

Amp 360 - Drive 5 to 7 - bass 8 - middle 2 - treble 8 - chal vol 10 - compress 4 to 6 - apply fx rodent - effect tweek 0

I then run it into an ampeg b2r with the following settings - bass 10 - ultra mid 8 - treble 5 - and the following eq settings