Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I hope this doesn't come across as inflammatory, but I've been wondering for the past 15 years why there are still folks that consider the 'vintage' 4001 on equal ground with the 4003, let alone superior. I had 3 pre-1980 4000 series Rics, and while they were great basses, I just feel that they were certainly of no better quality in any aspect than the 3 4003 basses I've had post-1986. Rather, in my opinion the newer 4003 is an overall better instrument than the 4001, with even higher quality electronics and a more straightforward truss rod system.

Now, since the instruments are handmade of wood which has characteristics that would lend to unique tonal qualities from instrument to instrument, is the consensus among 'vintage' 4001 enthusiasts that the older instruments are more unique voiced than the 4003s? Or is the preference for the 4001 one of sentiment only? Why would you spend $1000+ on an old 4001 when you can buy a brand new 4003 for under a grand?

You did not mention '60's Rics ... If you can ever pick up a '60's ric do so ... they are really cool ....

Early 70's Rics went through lots of changes ... finally in '75 they quit changing them until the 4003 which came in 1980 or so ...

The 70's 4001's had that cool walnut stripe, they also had the bass cut capaciter on the bridge pickup ... the high gain pickups were usually 8k ohms ... the neck on a 70's bass had a really nice feel ... the truss rods on 70's basses were a pain to adjust ... if you did it wrong you could pop the fret board off ... everything considered the 1970's ric bass is an excellent instrument ...

The 4003's from 80 to 85 had the truss rod adjustment at the body instead of the headstock ... no bass cut capaciter, hotter pickups, and a 2 piece pickguard. these first few years are not reguarded as the 4003's finest ... then about '86 the one piece pickguard and headstock truss rod adjustment came back ... then in 1990 the pickups got even hotter ...

I personally prefer the Ric 4003 models from 1990 to present ... but I like the '70's rics alot ... they have a different sound and feel ... I believe the 4003 is slightly more massive

I can see spending more for a late '60s/early '70s 4001 if they had the old features - checkerboard binding and the old pearl inlays being the biggest draw, and horseshoe pickups coming in second. I have a '73 that isn't really all that showy, having no checker and high gains, but sounds pretty good, and the neck feels better than the late '90s 4003 I traded in. There is something to be said for old, but that doesn't mean I'll necessarily pay for it. I'm looking at an '83 4003 today which is selling cheap, but I'm not so sure if it has the body truss rods yet.

I think it takes a pretty discerning ear to really tell the difference in tone between all these instruments, especially in a mix, but the feel and balance would play a more important role in whether I'm interested, once the asthetic character is taken aside.

another thing to consider ... every Ric is hand made ... they are all a little different ... some just came out of the factory cooler and better than others ... I own 11 basses but my 1990 4003s5 sounds better than them all ... even in the mix ... it is noticeably better than my 1989 4003s5 ... my coolest bass is of course my '68 but it only has 4 strings so I don't play it much ...

From the ones ive picked up and played, Rickenbacker's quality and attention to detail has not slipped over the decades, but the "modern" 4003's do have the most thunderous pick up's ive ever heard!

But the neck's on the old 4001's are nicer IMHO, seem a tiny bit wider (across the nut), but much thinner back to front. I think the older 70's ricks have some nicer touches tho, exept the rods, thats a whole different matter! I recently bought a 1973 Jetglo 4001, yet to see it tho!

Ive never picked up and played a 60's rick tho

Yeah, all the Ric basses I've played and owned have been beauties - the old ones and the newer ones. I just think that the general opinion is that Ric quality & attention to detail hasn't slipped any over the years, so it seems that the newer 4003 would be viewed as more desirable since it exhibits more of Rickenbacker's experience and improvements on the original design.

It all depends on what you want - i have a modern 4003, but its a well used 1991.

I bought an "old" rick 4001 recently because, to me they offer more of the "Rickenbacker charm" No one can deny that the really old 50's and 60's Rick basses have more "magic" than new ones.

Also, i personally hate new guitars, they always seem sterile to me, i like old things i guess

Ok, I'll chalk up one vote for "sentimental."

not exactly sentimental tho, i wasnt even born when the 4001's were about! I just think old guitars are better, and 'pre enjoyed' instruments are nicer, they tell a story - that kinda thing

Each and every RIC is unique in it's own sort of way. I like both 4001s and 4003s. But nothing beats my '98 4001v63. It is like RIC took the best features of the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's and put them all into one bass.

This is a interesting topic Brad. You've got to know that there are going to be alot of different opinions on this, like mine.
I'm a good old boy in my early 50's. When it comes to guitars I prefer the ones that were made during my youth. And because of this, I have no problem spending more (or the same) money for a 70's or 60's 4001 in great condition.
I own a early 70's 4001. I don't have the urge to own a 4003. That's not to take anything away from the 4003, rather just my personal preference.

That's cool, Jon. I'll just add another to "sentimental."

The first 2 Ricks I owned were 4001's (a '77 JG, then a '79 FG). They never caused me any trouble, though I always used them with roundwounds...

The first 4003 I got (a '99 WHT one) caused me neck troubles. I sold it after 1 year of use.

Though, my new Rick is a '03 4003 JG. But I believe that one day or another, I'll add a 70's 4001 in my arsenal, though it's not my priority.

Last point : the pickups on the 4003's seem hotter to me. But my opinion may be biased by the context in which I used my instruments.

I'd rather buy a 60s or 70s 4001 than a recent 4003 any day. If I had no choice but to buy a recent 4003, I'd be sure to change a couple of things on it back to 70s specs, including the new, not-particularly-pleasant-to-look-at pickguard shape.

First of all, I love all Rics. I love the idiosyncrasies of the older ones, and how they have evolved over the years.
I have several 4001's and several 4003's, I play a lot and play a lot of different styles. I find the new 4003's with their great pickups and less delicate feel blow away the older ones as far as keeping up with other modern instruments and they are versatile enough to play just about any kind of music. At this point I make a lot of my money playing and I can't afford to be sentimental. But I will continue to buy old ones as I still love them, And there is definitely a place for them in my playing.
I played 4001's for a long time after the 4003's were introduced, I never liked the two piece pick guard, even though the truss rods were a definite improvement over the 4001's. I got sold on them the first time I played a post 90's 4003, I couldn't believe the difference, these things had b@lls. I think Jeff describes it as a roar, that is how I felt, these things roar! Right now my favorite bass is a run of the mill 96 Jetglo, I bought it for a beater, it was cheap, scratched and chipped, but what a sound this bass has. In the last week I have played a blues gig, a rock a billy gig, a wedding, and a country gig, it sounded great and fit right in at every one, at the wedding the guitar player turned to me and said: "I love the sound of that Rickenbacker" (he is about twenty and into modern music, and I use flat wounds) Now this is a wedding mind you, not a YES convention, but I guess we must remember that the bass player for Bread played a Ric, haha.