In praise of the 2030
Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 4:29 pm
I should also say, in praise of Jeff Rath because I probably would not own this bass if not for his endorsement. I admit it, I started playing 4001's because of Paul McCartney, Chris Squire, and Geddy Lee. That is the plain truth. No other reason - just simple hero worship. The 2030 is the first bass I bought on the endosement of someone other than a high profile celeb. Jeff is a truly pragmatic bassist. He loves basses but is not romantic about them. There is a difference. Jeff calls a spade a spade and does not stand on ceremony. I like that because I tend to be the opposite. Jeff spoke very highly of the 2030 a while back and his praise of the model made me curious so I bought one.
I played it a bit here and there and even jammed with it once but I never really got into it. Something was just not right about it. That is, until the past week or so. All of the fuss about 3001's recently made me revisit my 2030. It turns out that I was really missing the point. It is a Rickenbacker so I kept expecting it to be like a 4000 series and became frustrated when it came up short. I don't expect my Jazz Bass to be like a 4000 series and I get along with it just fine. So I took the Rath approach and treated the 2030 as just a tool (which is really all that it is) and not as a Rickenbacker ( or what I preceive a Rickenbacker to be). In a short time I began to see what it can do instead of what it can't. I was hung up on getting ONE sound from a Rick. The 2030 is a Rick but with a different voice. It can do some of the 4000 series growl but it has a sound of it's own. It is deep and powerful with lots of punch and lively overtones. Yes, it is ugly compared with the 4000's and it balances differently because of the shape but it is not hard to get used to it. I found that if I use a wider strap the balance is not a problem at all. I really like the slender neck. and the clean look of the top. Given it's low-end balls, I have to wonder how it would sound as an 8 string. I have bashed the 2030 here a few times but I am taking it all back right now. I am still not about the pay over $1000 for a 3001 but my 2030 is definately going to get more playing time from now on. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Thanks Jeff!
I played it a bit here and there and even jammed with it once but I never really got into it. Something was just not right about it. That is, until the past week or so. All of the fuss about 3001's recently made me revisit my 2030. It turns out that I was really missing the point. It is a Rickenbacker so I kept expecting it to be like a 4000 series and became frustrated when it came up short. I don't expect my Jazz Bass to be like a 4000 series and I get along with it just fine. So I took the Rath approach and treated the 2030 as just a tool (which is really all that it is) and not as a Rickenbacker ( or what I preceive a Rickenbacker to be). In a short time I began to see what it can do instead of what it can't. I was hung up on getting ONE sound from a Rick. The 2030 is a Rick but with a different voice. It can do some of the 4000 series growl but it has a sound of it's own. It is deep and powerful with lots of punch and lively overtones. Yes, it is ugly compared with the 4000's and it balances differently because of the shape but it is not hard to get used to it. I found that if I use a wider strap the balance is not a problem at all. I really like the slender neck. and the clean look of the top. Given it's low-end balls, I have to wonder how it would sound as an 8 string. I have bashed the 2030 here a few times but I am taking it all back right now. I am still not about the pay over $1000 for a 3001 but my 2030 is definately going to get more playing time from now on. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Thanks Jeff!