Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I may have a line on a 4003s8 and have a couple of questions for owners/players:

How difficult are they to play?

How are the strings tuned?

How do they sound?

I just bought one about a month ago and I am thrilled with it.

The strings are tuned in octaves.....I have heard of some people tuning to fifths but I tried it and didn't much care for it.
I had virtually no trouble adapting to it. I am a finger player and it is almost as easy to play as my other 4003's. It is harder on the fingers though and the first gig I used it at I blistered my fingers pretty good. I refer to it as playing the cheese grater now. Since then I have had no issues and have played it all night on several gigs without a hitch.
The sound is huge. It is like playing chords on every note. I swapped out the p/u's in mine pretty quick after I got it (for Bartolini replacements) but I will say that with the stock toaster it was by far the nicest sounding stock 4003 that I have heard.
It is without a doubt my favorite now.....very glad I bought it.

Thanks, Brian. What style music do you play? I'm trying to think of appropriate music to use it on. I mainly play 70's rock; Cheap Trick would be a no-brainer. Maybe I could do some Deep Purple with it?

I love my 4003s/8. It's presence is very strong, clear and powerful. The Rickenbacker 8 string is setup like a 12 string guitar. The strings are in pairs and are normally tuned in octaves. The 'extra' strings are tuned an octave above the normal strings. For me, it took a little time to play it comfortably. You will definately need strong hands to play it for more than a few songs. I found the the E strings don't intonate very well because they share a saddle. I tune them together at the 7th fret that way it intonates nicely near the middle of the neck. I suppose adjusting the saddle forward a bit would work too but I have not tried that yet. The only serious flaw of the model is the 4 saddle bridge. I have said it here before, the power of these basses is simply undeniable. I wish I had another!

My band is essentially a Metallica cover band and (thank goodness) we are finally starting to work on some other stuff....but it's all heavy. I think the s8 would sound great playing anything.....certainly any rock stuff IMO. I've received nothing but positive feedback from bandmates and "fans" since I have started using it. The general comments are that it adds depth to the songs and everything sounds "fuller". It's got a great tone. Plus it's a unique tone .
If the deal is decent, I'd get it and if it doesn't work out I don't think you'd have much of a problem getting your money back. I bought mine with that same idea in my mind and it suckered me in......now I don't know what it would take to get me to part with it.

is ric. planning on putting out another 8stringer anytime soon? 4003-4004?? does anyone know?

I understand that there is a plan to make a 4004 CII/8 but it won't happen for a while yet.

now that's going to be a hot one, thank's for the info ted.

how long can you hold your breath?

LOve that 8 banger power!



As Mike Parks said "Get those Ampegs cranking..."

[The strings are tuned in octaves.....I have heard of some people tuning to fifths but I tried it and didn't much care for it.]

I've tried that, and loved the sound (just the D & G sets in 5ths though - it doesn't work as well with the E & A). I'd love to get another 8 just to dedicate it to that tuning set up.

I also am fond of the 8, and agree that it takes getting the fretting fingers strengthened to really put to good use. I could see owning another one with a horseshoe in it.

Also have to say I love the AG with the black guard!

I used the 8 on our latest album in a couple of spots, it can fit into both sparse and more complex arrangements well. I like chording on it.

Well, so much for that idea. I contacted the dealer and it was already sold. It didn't hang around long.

Ya' gotta be quick to get the semi-rare ones

you gotta -quickly!