Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Just went to see a friend play live, and his main bass is a recent (thick neck) fireglo 4003. I took along my '91 CS for him to try. Action is about the same, but the 4003 has 40-100 Rotos and the CS has 40-95 Rotos. Still, an interesting comparison, and seen/heard from offstage for a change!

The 4003 had quite a bit more midrange push and growl, more like a cross between a Ric and a P-Bass. Sat in the mix really nicely (they're a 4 piece rock cover band). The CS was snarlier and rattier but didn't sit in the mix so well; it had much less midrange, was much more "smiley eq". You could really tell the difference between the 1/2 inch toaster and the 1 inch high gain. Next time I'll take my '72 4001 or my 4000 and see what that's like.....

So you liked the 4003 better? Or was it just different?

My 4003 has more of the Ric snarl, while my CS is a little more refined or 'jazzy' in it's tone characteristics. I use the CS a lot in my cover band because of its versatility.

The only CS that I have played was an awesome bass ... it sounded a lot like a 4003 to me ...

I think I liked the sound of the CS marginally better as an instrument, but I didn't think it worked as well in their band. The 4003 was definitely thicker sounding.

Although it doesn't really sound like a 4001, the CS had a bit more of the vintage 4001 thing we know so well going on.....I would actually say that my CS has less midrange than my old '72 though, so it will be really interesting to see how that compares in the future.

Shaun, I ordered a new AFG when the slim neck was announced. I am getting a toaster fitted as well. I am hoping that it will be my main player because of the toaster and the vintage tone and modern tone. I hope I don't lose too much punch with the toaster. I have a toaster in my '72 and think its great, but maybe there is a synergy with toaster and 1/2 inch spacing. I have never tried a toaster at 1 inch spacing.

Maybe I'm getting a little bit anoracy here, but is there anyone who could comment on how a toaster sounds at 1/2 vs 1 inch, or is there, as I suspect precious little difference?

I'm going to move the neck pup on my 4001 up to the 1/2" spacing. The pickguard's almost done. It's still going to be a Sergio-rewound original 1977 higain in the neck, though. It should still have lots of mid.

For what its worth, my V63 doesnt sound anything like my 4003's.

Thats not a bad thing,,,it just sounds like a totaly different animal.

I prefer the modern 4003 basses.

I agree. My V63 is also very different from my 4003. Not just because I have flats on the V63 and rounds on the 4003, I had flats on both at one time. The 4003 has more of a midrange presence than the V. And my C64 is a little different than both actually. BTW, I had the neck pick-up moved to the 1/2" spacing on my 4003. It added a little more bottom to the sound, which I like a lot.

I also like the vintage pickguards on the V and C series. I wish RIC would go back to them for the 4003. I had one made for mine. I was never a big fan of the spacing between the pickguard and the surround IMHO.

I bet a 4003 with a neck HB1 would have tremendous bottom end. I've considered it on mine.

try the hb1 in the bridge position ... it will growl ...

Bob A. - I just moved my toaster (4003) from the 1" to the 1/2" position and what I got was more deep sounding toaster. Otherwise it still had all the toaster sound. It was immediately noticable. (And thanks to John Biscuti!)

A toaster can be VERY punchy - just move it closer to the strings.

One of the easiest ways to add hb's is to.....buy a Laredo(or Cheyenne), then you don't have to monkey with the classic 4003, and you have a more modern rick in your stable. I went for years ignoring the 4004's and now I'm turning into a 4004 freak, I think they sound great with the hb's or toasters. And John's right about moving the pickup closer to the strings, my hb's came alive when they got about 2mm's away from the strings.