Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm a guitar player not a bass man! In a nutshell, what is the difference (in features, not price!) between a 4001 and 4003 bass?

Which is preferred? Or does it really matter?

Thanks!

Tony

Preferences are up to the individuals. I prefer the 4003's but others prefer the 4001's.

The 4003's have a modern truss rod system that allows you to adjust the neck with the rods without having to bend the neck into position. There are other changes (pickup position, capacitor, etc.) that probably won't make a difference to you if you're starting out to find a Ric.

Play a few if you can, and decide which feels best for you.

My personal opinion, is that the 4003 models are more consistent than the 4001s are. Add the additional years in the field to the 4001's and the amount of people that used the truss rod system incorrectly..... well, you get my point.

the 4003 is newer, stronger, louder, fuller, and has corrected a few design flaws of the 4001 ... the 4001 is more vintage and classic ... I prefer 1990 and later basses ... but old 70s 4001 basses and good workhorse basses with a classic sound ...

you will do good either way ...

I have a 4001 (1975), and no 4003...I do have a 2004 4004 Laredo...

I was just playing them out of the same rig, and 4001 is a great bass...and had a really bright and deep tone. I know there's contradiction there, but I do feel that the 4001 gets a rich deep tone. The Laredo has a neck more similar to the 4003's, but it has the same nut width as the 4001.

I find the Laredo neck (wider, chunkier) to be more comfortable that the 4001 (pretty slim 70's example), but there seems to be a lot of individual variations.

Pretty much what Jeff said is a condensed version of my message.

the 4004L and 4004C each have a different personality of their own ... but they still have a Ric sound ...

the 4003 is the updated and improved model ... to the average person the 4001 and 4003 look alike and sound alike ...

Thanks all!

I'm thinking about getting a 4001/4003. I have a Peavey 5 string Foundation bass that I thump on but it's no Rick.

I guess I'll go for the 4003.

Tony

I have a 1975 4001 like Ed, and also a '97 4003.

The 4001 has a brighter tone despite the fact I took out the .0047uf bass cap.....the neck is very narrow and fast, and u shaped.... The pickups are weaker them my 4003, meaning I have to use more gain on the amp for the same volume, all other settings being equal.

The 4003 has a wider neck, more beefy...the pickups are very hot, the bass itself is very weak on mids but tremendous lows and treble bite....I use an Ampeg 350H SVT head and an Ampeg 410HLF cab- I can EQ mids to make up for the lack therof.

Both are great basses..

http://www.fenderforum.com/userphotos/index.html?recid=14630

Er...

Haven't we seen this thread before?

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Hmmm, that's weird Dave, your bass having few mids . . . I find that my Ric is VERY mid-heavy. Actually, I don't find that it's lacking definition anywhere (especially not mids), except that I find it difficult to get a non-agressive "deep" sound from the pickups, but that's probably the combination of the Hi-beam strings and the force with which I play. Apparently, the toaster neck pickup is more "clean" and "deep" sounding, less growly; every time I feel dissatisfied with the neck hi-gain, I think about buying a toaster, but then I manage to get some really awesome sound from it and I go, "Nah . . . I'll wait until I get another Ric to drop in a toaster . . ."

But yeah, 4003 basses are quite balanced as far as low-mid-high goes. The only thing you can't get rid of (unless you use flats and play REALLY LIGHTLY) is that very slight growl that the pickups always have. It's always distinctly a Ric, even if you're imitating other basses.

From a player standpoint i feel the 4003 is a more structurally sound bass than the 4001 . With the modern rods and higher alloy frets they just can take more abuse . I do not not like the high gain tone though . I do prefer the lower output 4001 and 80's 4003 pickups as the tend to be more even and less distorted than their later counterparts

I find the 4003 to be most excellent in mids as well ...

My particular 4003 is weak in the Mids- but I can adjust the amp to compensate. My '74 Precision, however, has AMPLE mids. YMMV.

"With the modern rods and higher alloy frets"

I didn't know RIC changed the fretwire - is that a fact?

In the sixties, the basses had guitar fretwire. I'm not sure when they changed to bigger bass frets.

Hey Dave, Whats that Fender in the back? I believe its like the one Chip showed me the other day. Cause it was a single pickup and had the crazy flowers and stuff all over it. But this one was pink. It was beautiful.