Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Post what type of Rick bass you own and why you love it.

cp

I own 2 4003's, 2 4001's, and a 4004.
Why I love them?
#1 - The Sound
#2 - The Feel
#3 - The Vibe
#4 - The Look

I have several and I love them all for different reasons. The sound, even though it varies from bass to bass, is where it starts with all of them. To mention a few, my V63 cuts through the mix like sword but delivers solid fundamental. My 4003S/5 is pure thunder. On the other end of the scale is my old 4001 which is lively and full of harmonics and sustain. My 4002 sounds like a Rick but is so much smoother and is very forgiving of sloppy play (I have lots of that). Some of my Ricks have the added benefit of being beautiful to behold. They all have good balance and feel good in my hands. I love the way they look, sound and feel. That is the total package. Each has its own personality but the are all undeniably Rickenbacker.

1975 BG 4001 - my first real bass. I'll always hae a sentimental place for this guitar:



2004 FG 4004 L - rich deep sound, nice wide neck, no binding to bruise my wrist.

'67 4005WB / It fits me perfectly and has everything I want/need in a Rick bass.

'88 4001v63 / Gives me the "Wings" sound and look
that I often find myself reverting back to.

'06 4003 Midnight blue / Love the color and the new features! / Still "feeling" this one out...haven't changed out the stock roundwounds yet..don't know if I will!

'91 2030GF / I like the humbucking p/u's for a different sound and love the "stealth" look.

I have three -

1 - 1973 4001 refinished in Sea Green. The refin does not begin to describe what's been done to this bass. It is a unique animal in the Rickenbacker world as I believe it is capable of making any bass sound associated with any Ric bass.






2 - 2001 4001v63. Bass is perfect. Excellent setup and sound, does anyone have a better v63? I doubt it

78 4001 Fretless, 82 4001 and 90 4001CS
Sound, sound and one more time sound. Nothing is like it and I don't think it will ever be. And reffering to the funny descriptions of the sound..... it is like starting a vintage Harley

Last but not least - my 2004 660 in MB. I often think of selling it to a home where it will get used, but it's like a piece of artwork. I'd love to frame it and put it in the living room.

97 4003JG
68 4000 'S' convert
99 4001CS
06 4003DCM on the way....

I have a lefty 4001C64. I'm with Bob on this one and mine seems to have a much nicer blend in the Fireglo color. It doesn't get so pinkish in the middle. It blends to a nice light red and is just beautiful. Rics are just beautiful basses all around and I love mine.

Rich

1974 4001 - my first real bass. Bought it for $200 when I was the tender age of 16. The longest tenured bass in my stable. Loads of sentimental value.

1978 3001 - an unexpected flea market find back in '94. I'm a big fan of the 3000 series of basses. Real sleepers IMHO. Unique Rick tone courtesy of that weird little humbucker & bolt on neck. HEAVY girl though. HEAVY.

2003 4003 - In Montezuma Brown. Tasty. My wife (then my girlfriend) bought me that bass. That bass never fails to turn heads. I don't play it out much anymore - wanna keep it as close to mint as I can.

I'm actually not sure what year my bass is. It was produced during the first run of Montezuma Brown (i.e. before they extended that color over two years), but I'm not sure how long that run actually was, so I dunno when exactly it was produced. But yeah.

200? Rickenbacker 4003, Montezuma Brown - absolutely gorgeous. The color caught my eye, the neck caught my hand, and the sound sold it. Every bass I have ever played since then is competing against this bass for playability and sound. And I think it has one of the infamous "thick necks", which piques my interest regarding the newly thinned necks. They must be the most easy-playing basses in existence.

I've owned a 1997 4003 FG that I liked but sold on.

I currently own a 1986 4003S in black with black pickguard and trc, early magnetized reissue horseshoe and toaster pickups. I'll never sell this one because it achieves the recorded Rick tone I had in my head.

It is a quirky beast though, the horseshoe cover blocks the 'sweet spot' over the pickup and the bridge is full of sharp edges that make palm muting impossible (for me). But for regular fingerstyle it sounds magic. There are many threads debating the relative differences and merits of the horseshoe against the highgain bridge pickup. All I can say is that mine is more aggressive and 'boingy' for want of a better word.

In the future I would like a new mapleglo 4003 when the new Ric bridge is launched. I'd take the plastic pickup cover off this one and use it as all-styles player.

I have the pleasure of owning the following Ricks:


4003FG (2003) – This was my first Rickenbacker. It looks so much better in the flesh than it ever seems to in a photograph. People still gasp when they see it for the first time. It has the thicker neck, but it feels so smooth and buttery that I find no problem with it at all. This bass is great for nailing Geddy’s tone (which I used to have to do a lot).



4001CS (1993) – I got this earlier this year, it having previously belonged to fellow forum particpant Mike Chrisom. I’m still amazed at how different it sounds to my 4003. I use this bass a lot in my prog rock originals project, as it seems to cut through the mix so easily (too easily according to some!). This is a very easy bass to play.



4080 (1975) – I always wanted a 4080 and when I started doing the Rush stuff I was very keen to pick up a 4080/12. However, despite a couple of false alarms, a 4080/12 has never come up for sale since I finally put aside enough money to afford one (as far as I know). I decided to go for a 4080 and hope a 12 string version appeared later (still hoping!). Dave Pascoe very kindly put me in touch with the seller of this 4080. This instrument seems more delicate than my other Rickenbackers. Now I’ve bypassed the cap, it sounds awesome.

Hoping to add a 4003 DCM 75th to this list shortly!

Dave Pascoe let a 4080 get away? Christmas came earlier this year than we were told!