Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am interested in that feature of your Rickenbacker instrument that was surprising and perhaps not noted until after your purchase. There were a number of these for me, largely because there weren't many stores where I lived that stocked Rickenbackers and my direct exposure to them was minimal. One of these unexpected features was that the strap buttons were also used as knobs to raise and lower the mute on my Model 4003.

I was surprised to find 4mm steel stock for truss rods with 8/32 threads !!!

I assumed they were 3/16" stock with 10/32 threads .

So for give me for spreading "assumed" bad information .

As a player that only had experience with heavier basses (T-Bird, Pee bass, Jazz) before I got my first Ric in '76, it was the relative light weight of the 4001. My first Ric was also the first one I ever played. The 4001 was one of the lighter (quality made) basses in the mid '70s.

Banta: I had the same experience with my Model 350 and Model 4003 which I found to be lighter than expected. A nice surprise as the evening hours wear on.

In my ever-growing interest in vintage Rickenbackers, one feature (so far) that has intrigued me is how the tone pots on late '50's and early '60's four-knob guitars are wired in reverse from the volume knobs..I think many people have had these old guitars and thought something was wrong with them!!!! The 325C58 is wired in this manner, just how they were in 1958. Cool.

I was very surprised at how light my 360/12 CW is compared to the 360 and 1997. I really didn’t notice it until one day when I was carrying the 360 and CW from one room to another. Also, the dealer included a Rickenbacker strap (maroon) with the purchase of the CW and that too was unexpected.

I would also say that the feel & consistency of the neck on my first Ric (as well as subsequent ones) was a very nice surprise. Playing up high was/is just as comfortable as in first position. Made me drop the Jazz like a bad habit.