Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Never had one. Are the 4001 set neck less par than the neck thru?

wings012345 wrote:Never had one. Are the 4001 set neck less par than the neck thru?

I have 2. a 4000 and a 4001S. Somehow they sound more brutal than my regular 4001's. I am not sure if this is because of the setneck or the pickups or the wheather though.

Is Brutal good?? lol

wings012345 wrote:Is Brutal good??

I certainly do not mean it negative. The sound of my S's is more prominent. More in your face. It is a little different.

Welcome..Jeff.
I see by your avatar, you are a Lefty???? Another Lefty player here.

What bass(es) do you own/play????

Lefty4003s8







Do not drink from the toilet when taking Lyrica

I have a 4000 with a set neck, and I concur, it has a more aggressive, grindier sound. Something about that singe hi-gain PU, I suspect. I am not convinced the tone can be replicated merely by using the bridge PU of a 4003. It's just "different."

Quality wise, the set neck is as steady and reliable as neck through. At least mine is.

I have a 4001S with a set neck. It has excellent tone and playability. It's one of my favorites. Everyone who plays it or even just hears it, loves it!

In some ways a set neck is better. Heckuva lot easier to repair if that ever comes up.

I believe what neck-through does as far as sound is to couple all of the mechanical parts of the bass together much more so than with a set neck or bolt-on. This does not necessarily mean more sustain; it could mean more, or less. It basically just enhances resonance, which is a Pandora's box in a way. The biggest practical effect of this is probably a prominent change in timbre, not sustain. I've heard plenty of bolt-ons that sustain "for days". But their timbre is totally different when isolated (harder to hear in a mix), and when I play a bolt-on I don't feel it vibrating against my body (i.e. resonating) the way I do when I play a neck-through bass.

I've had several set neck basses,and they have been great sounding instruments for live work and recording. I still have the ric 4000 and it is quite a distinct and notable presence whenever i use it. If you are considering getting one, don't be concerned about the difference in construction and one pickup,it's a great instrument,and still sounds like a Ric.

Remember, a 4000 has no big pickup cavity in the middle of the neck-thru-body, thus more wood in an important location, so that's a big part of its sound, in addition to its "treble-only" pickup.

Thanks guys Just won a lefty 4001s Maple glo on ebay. Has a set neck and I never had a Ric with a set neck. I've owned a few thru out the years. Including a lefty fireglo PMC v63 which I sold. Wish I could turn back time. But it's been a couple years and I finally came home to the bass I love. Rics. Sold My fenders and hofner 500/1 to fund this. Was a bit expensive but leftys are hard to find today

jdogric12 wrote:Remember, a 4000 has no big pickup cavity in the middle of the neck-thru-body, thus more wood in an important location, so that's a big part of its sound, in addition to its "treble-only" pickup.

Another point to the treble only pickup is that since there is only one volume pot, it will bleed off less treble than a bass with two. Of course the exception is if you are using Rick-O-Sound.

mine is a 4001s i believe. can never tell between 4003 or 4001. 1982 mono

sweet Macca-backer!

Playing my 4080 right now, god this thing is sweet and so much power from the body, mind there is a lot of it. The bass necks are set and bolted, 6 string neck is bolted.