Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi,

This is my first posting here, so I hope I get the format correct.

I bought my first bass, a JG 4001 back in ’74. I didn’t have a great deal of money at the time & this was my only bass for quite a while. In fact I was on the road for 18 months and it never failed me.

Regrettably the bass was sold in 1980 as, I thought, my bass playing days were over.

About 12 years ago a drummer friend dragged me out of the woodwork and I have been playing again since. I have acquired 2 Fenders & a MM Stingray. These are nice basses & I put my slight lack of previous enthusiasm to playing them down to age etc: etc:

This all changed 2 weeks ago…… I bought an Azure 1980 4001 from the bass player in The Fall (a band from Manchester, UK), and all the mojo has returned with a vengeance.

I had forgotten just how versatile, organic and expressive these basses could be.

I have now gigged it a few times and through my Ashdown kit it sounds so much bigger and better than my ’74 thorough my Hiwatt rig.

Anyway… waffling on here, but suffice it to say I feel like a dog with at least two tales!

Bob

Hi Bob,
Welcome to the Forums, I'm sure you'll enjoy it here. There's a huge wealth of knowledge on Rickenbacker history, and basses, anythting you thought or could think that you'd like to know, there's probably somebody here who can help.

I'm glad to hear you came back to both playing and owning a Ric. If you've any pics of your new baby, and or of you playing her we'd be glad to see them.

I got my first 4001 in 1973 from McCormack's Music in Glasgow, owned and played them since.

Once again, welcome to the Forums ....

Hi Jim,

Thank you for the warm welcome. I really had forgotten how good Ric's were.

Anyway here is a bit of me & a bit of my new bass taked for a web site that is being built for our band.

All the best, Bob

Welcome Bob! You enjoy it here.

How did you post such a big pic?

Welcome Bob! I have been playing Rickenbackers since the early '70s. This won't be the only one you'll have, most of us here have multiple RICs.

Scott,

That pic is 500x412 pixels and 34K, so it fits the format!

Thanks Scott & Jeffrey ( or is that Scott as well...? )

I'll look forward to hanging out here.

Just one question. How come my new 4001 seems to be much bigger sounding than my old ’74?

I have checked that the cap is in place, and I am using quite similar strings & gauges. Admittedly I now use Ashdown instead of Hiwatt, but my other basses don’t seem to sound as big in comparison.

Do later 4001’s sound that different to 74’s?

All the best,

Bob