Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Gentlemen,

What are the best years for Rickenbacker basses, in your opinion.

Some say it's these past few years because of improvements in tools, some say the early '80s for reduction of orders(hence more time for finer craftsmanship in manufacturing), some say early/mid '60s-1973 because of the beloved classic features(checkered binding, legendary toaster pickup specs, original horseshoes, etc).

Please express what you think.

Best wishes for everyone,
Paul

To me that is by no means a rather difficult question to answer. I believe that there has never been a bad year for Rick basses. Does anyone know differently?

Sergio: "To me that is by no means a rather difficult question to answer. I believe that there has never been a bad year for Rick basses."

Indeed, Sergio.

So let me rephrase----What are your favorite years for RIC basses.

Let the discussion continue, please.

My favorite years: from 1987 to present. In general, beefier necks, beefier tone, better workmanship, better sounding pickups, and no extra capacitor.

Dave-- Once again, you're on the mark. Although I do plan to try the vintage re-issue toaster/horseshoe combination in my '92 4003.

The "Golden Age" of Rickenbacker, history-wise, was in the '60s. But as far as overall build quality and materials, we're experiencing the best Rickenbacker has to offer, right now.

As a very fortunate 20 year owner of a 64 4001S I,m biased..but this is a bass with a width of 7/16th,s from the back of the nut to the back of the neck..This IS the slim neck that we all talk about.There,s the toaster/horseshoe,and all those other 60,s classic features.Quality control was day to day, so these basses differ in small detail sometime, making them kind of one off,s which I like...finally throw in that "mystique/rarity" that has built up around these 60,s Ric basses, and you see why they are so often referred to by many as the "definitive" Ric bass..I,m not going to argue....

I never met a Ric I didn't like.

I own a ric 4001 from the 60's, it has an absolutely beautiful slender neck and great sound. You can bend the neck while you play it to incorporate fret buzz as needed. The Fireglo finish is still gorgeous.

I own a ric 4001 from the 70's ... refinished to mapleglo ... I love that walnut stripe through the body. This bass has unbelieveably low action. great tone great playability.

I own a 4003s5 from the 80's. A thunderous 5 string with a distinctive sound ... treble bite, punchy mid, full low end ...

I think I like the 5 string the best ...

Also I'd like to own a brand new ric ... I have bought all mine used.

Late sixties through to mid eighties. The magic is strongest between '68 and '74. Right on.

Sergio---"Late sixties through to mid eighties. The magic is strongest between '68 and '74. Right on. "

You know, when I saw a 1973 4001JG in print(P.165, The Ultimate Guitar Book/ Tony Bacon) for the 1st time, I was so "in love"! It's got Crushed MOP triangle edge-to-edge inlays, Toaster neck PU, Checkered binding...
That's what I call "The Queen of Basses."

Wonder if I could ever get one someday.
(Of course, that same 4001 in Fireglo could be a "museum piece".)

Paul: I guess you would fall as deeply in love with my November 1970 21-fret 4001FG. It has the same appointments as the '73 4001 in Tony Bacon's book. The '64 4001S on the same page thereof is a veritable killer as well. Dear Santa...

Oh you nearly gave me a heartattack, Sergio.
Your 1970 4001FG with 21 frets(4 octaves for the notes E !) is a heaven come true for me. That's the ultimate RIC bass, in my humble opinion. I don't think you'll ever likely to sell it, but...just in case, please let me know.
Wow!(I'm still trembling here.)
As you might know, I'm fairly a newbie here. Developped my love affair with RIC basses for only a year. I've set my mind on collecting them for the rest of my life.(Bad news is:no RIC dealers in my country and RICS are rare as hens' teeth here. Thank God I can order all the RIC books available at Amozon USA and come up here to learn. Lucky I can read English too.)
Now my next target is the '70/80s 4001FG that belongs to the elder brother of my guitarist friend(one of the top studio cats in my country), who used to be a hot shot bassist in a hot shot band when I was a teenager.
He's a businessman now that doesn't play anymore and the bass along with its case is tossed in some corner in his house. Hmm... wonder if he could let her go.

The only years that I didn't like the Rick basses, were the first few years of the 4003, till about '85. I owned two 4003 basses from the early 80's and they just didn't have any where near the great sound of my 4001 bass. On one of them, the finish started peeling off like skin healing from a bad sunburn, and I baby my instruments. I owned and had many experiences with 4003 basses from 86 to the present, and they have all been nice basses, especially the newest ones. I would love to get a new Jetglo 4003, but my heart is set on one of their new 4004Cii/5 basses. I've been waiting for RIC to make a fingerstyle friendly 5 string bass since the mid 80's. I hope I can order one soon.

Indeed, the new RICS produced during the recent years are very good, quality wise.
Just recently the 4004 CII series have started to attract me.
And they are supposed to provide a different yet totally Ricky bass sound with their specs and new hardwares.

Hopefully the best years will ne 2003, 2004, 2005 ... etc

Hopefully the best years will be 2003, 2004, 2005 ... etc