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As a former 4003 owner I'm pleased to see that Rickenbacker has fixed SOME of the major flaws in these instruments (neck profile, unnecessary dual truss rod, ridiculous bridge prone to turning into a banana,). Gotta say though that I'm not interested in trying again, unless they also fix the tiny lacquered frets and the giant trapdoor under the neck pickup.

How many people say Hoffner is a great bass????? If not for Paul...no body would know. I agree, if not for the famous FEW no body would even get the visual of of a Rick like the visual of a Hoffner all because of Paul or Lemmy

U R completely right and wrong at the same time Pickup cover is plastic but the original ones used to have the metal horseshoe Pickup cover In addition have you heard and played the newer 4003W? No thick lacquer onthe MAPLE NECK! WALNUT WINGS and neck through. This has to be the best RICK 4003 EVER IT WILL CHANGE YOUR MIND The other 4003s I've played in the 80s and 90s had no easy neck . Yes they are a bit over priced. In Germany costs around 3000 eur But the reason is that they still make it by hand and the orders can't be fulfilled on time I don't think that their quality would drop if they engage GNC machines and go to more mass production

This is the same way I sometimes feel about Fender/Gibson. A big consideration is how many of those iconic players started with a Ric and then switched to something else for the rest of their career. Rickenbacker benefited tremendously from being a very early designer of electric instruments, and the fact that they'd literally give the instruments to pros for free to use as advertisement. But like Fender/Gibson, it's an incredibly flawed design that they've never improved on because of "tradition," meanwhile artists started switching away from Rics when they got tired of fighting with the flaws. And the fact that they've never given a thought to a budget-friendly line that can innovate the design like Squier/Epiphone makes them over-blown and antiquated. Just look at Japanese clones, they made small improvements which make it a better instrument.

I can’t believe I’ve just seen this! Thank you soo much! So glad you like it! Proper cool of you to share ❤️

A plastic pick up cover a bridge that is a nightmare to adjust a wait of more than a year( minimum) for 3 thousand dollars? Plus the owner of the company is a dick.I'd Rather play a Japanese copy.The Fender P still rules and is affordable.

You spit on the most succesful bass of the world. You don't know anything about bass,. So sorry.

If chris aquire had a great bass sound, same with geddy lee, lemmys sound was much different then the two i mentioned yet his own style and sound was killer to me, i love Motorhead and lemmys sound. You didnt mention what basses you like and for what reason you like them. A Rickenbacker has always been one of my favorites for sound quality.

That’s an opinion. A dumb opinion in my opinion. I’ve owned 2 4001 basses totaling over 40 years. People wanting to sound like everyone else don’t like Rick.

So if I want the Ricky sound without the price tag and short comings, what do I get?

Hi just a question i know this maybe quite long but may i know if you have any grade 8 stuff with this kind of tempo ?

I agree I've got 3 of them that have become decorations. They just don't do it for me.

Love that you made this video. I was fortunate enough to get a 95’ 4003 in jetglo and after removing the pickup cover(installed a pickup bezel) and getting an upgraded hipshot bridge, I am finally satisfied with the adjustability and it is a joy to play and look at. It has its own voice among other basses but it never ceases to be probably the coolest looking instrument at any gig. I’ve heard they made improvements to the stock bridges but players should know what they are getting into before purchasing one for sure. They absolutely do something all their own and acquiring one was a real milestone for me as young bass player. Love your content

Literally nothing you said has anything whatsoever to do with how it sounds. Odd choice considering it’s a review about a musical instrument.

Anyone who actually tours or gigs regularly doesn’t use one, they look great on the wall. Overpriced rubbish especially nowadays A guitar techs worst nightmare I own a 75’ 4001 and wanted to burn it more times than play it, I cannot believe what it’s worth it’s mind blowing

They’re the best basses made. If they didn’t neck dive , they’d be beyond perfect. But they already are

8:25 or just after for the solo. :-)

Nice one Tim, it’s a great piece of kit!

I did a search for IR2 rectifier and your video popped up. Very cool. I'm thinking of building a live FOH pedal board and recording solution and thinking about this . I play mostly blues hard rock and kinda so called 80s metal. So I would probably just use this and the crunch channel. ❤ Thanks Regards from Indiana. USA Tim.

Had a chance to play a rick about 5 years back. The sound is distinct, but it wasn't till I played one that I found myself wanting one. Earlier this year the clouds parted for me financially at the same time there were new Ricks available so I snagged one. It came to me unplayable. Angry hornet buzz on the D string and bridge pickup so high the strings bounce off it if I so much as breath on them. I ordered a bridge bezzle (with a spot to hang my thumb built in) and will take it to a shop eventually... just ironic to me such an iconic bass has such bizarre fit and finish issues. For now? It sits under the bed in its case un-played for about 3-4 months.

All basses sound the same to me, plasticky or not 🤣😂

I’ve owned two - a 4004 and a 4003s/5. They’re not well made instruments when compared to similarly priced basses. The necks are unstable in my experience and they only deliver a great sound about 50% of the time - very variable from gig to gig. And in particular the B string on the 4003s/5 is really weak. The look great, but that’s not enough for a £2.5k instrument

First 🥁🔥

This video felt really plasticy.

B S. They are great basses and the weakness were the shitty plastic chrome bridge that they finally woke up and improved in tecent years

I played one probably 20 years ago at the only place that locally sold Ricks. Definitely an awesome sounding instrument but if you're use to and grew up playing either a p or jazz bass they feel very weird and awkward to play. The neck is more round than either fender basses and the clearcoat is much thicker than on most. The pickup cover makes your standard right hand position a no go (for finger style) unless you take the guard off, so nowhere to anchor your thumb if you decide to leave it on. Despite having more knobs to play with it feels like a much less versatile bass than a much cheaper one so unless you pretty much only play a style that calls for a more aggressive sounding bass you'll most likely have to get another one if you play more styles. Also agree that the bodies are very thin and since the edges of the body aren't rolled it digs into your right arm.

You didn't play it

This guy is DRUNK and OR likely RETARED!!! Back to your trailer!!

It’s a great bass for one reason, it’s the sound bro

Really embarrassing video. how are you not ashamed?

Had my 4003 for 40 years now it’s a love/hate relationship

I've owned 3 Rickenbacker basses. Yes they do feel cheap. But, there are a few things you must know about them before you buy one. In my opinion, don't buy the one like the guy has in this video. The one in this video has the binding and the "Shark Tooth" fret markers. Buy the more basic one with no binding and "Dot" inlays. That binding jabs into your wrist because it is at a sharp angle. The one with no binding has a curved body and is more comfortable to play. If you look at the one Chris Squire used, it was the basic one with no binding and dot inlays. Paul McCartney used the basic one as well. You would think the fancier one would be the bass of choice for rich rockstars but they got the basic one. I think Lemmy had the basic one as well. Secondly, get rid of that pickup cover thing over the bridge pickup. It serves absolutely no purpose - it just gets in the way. There is a product out there that is a fitting designed to replace that cover. Get one. Lastly, the more recent Ric basses have a better bridge than the old ones. Don't get sucked into that : vintage is better than new nonsense. It was almost impossible to set the intonation on the old bridges. The new ones are actually real good. I had one with the binding (like the one in the video) and I could only play it for about 20 minutes before my picking hand got sore. The 2 other ones that had no binding were easier to play. One had the old bridge so I got rid of that one as well. The one I still have is a 2021 natural with no binding and the new bridge. It plays fine.

I've owned one in the past but had to trade it off because of their lack of versatility, though they are decent basses, but not worth near the $1800.00 -$2500.00 they aquire. At 600-$800, they would make sense. But I have 5 string Jackson version with 18mm spacing, three band Eq with a precision bass pickup place ever so perfect 👌 in the sweet spot, and a jazz bass bridge pickup that turns the instrument into a fully versatile beast of sonic perfection.

Sigma

A pointless video really. No mention of the sound or how the instrument plays. Just an opinion on it being "plasticky". And I'm not at all biased - I've been playing a Fender Jazz professionally since the 70s! Just a clickbait video unfortunately with no real content...poor...

hey man if you don’t want it i’ll take it

Got to say ive never seen clayton play a rick.

That’s why I’ve owned three 4001,s currently a 1977 Mplglow! They are a great bass!To be honest I’ve never played a 4003 so I can’t comment on yours but I’ve heard the neck is different and thicker profile. The plastic pup cover I agree is ridiculous it is also plastic on the earlier models but most people I know take it off including me! Your 4003 may be crap but mine isn’t! I rarely take it on the road now and instead mostly use my Japanese Fender P/J. Cheers 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

I agree. The Rickenbacker isnt a great bass. Its a amazing wonderfull bass. I've a '73 4001 model and I love it. Case closed.

Hello Simon, just to let you know that this particular version of Tiberius is corrupted ....it seems to be playing Tiberius and Smack Talk simultaneously.

I have owned 2 Ric basses. One was a 4003. I didn't care for that. The one I did like was a 4001s. The one Sir Paul played. Now it had baseball bat size neck. But the tone was to die for. I got so may compliments on the tone of that bass. The problem with Rick basses (IMO) is you can't just order one. You HAVE to play them.

Didn’t even mention Paul McCartney wow

Paul McCartney, Geddy Lee, Chris Squire…. Why would they play sub par instruments. So, it’s not your cup of tea, (English pun intended), they are awesome.

Cool bass but way over priced

I had a few 4001 and 4003 in my hands. I love the sound and look of them. They feel good. Not for their price though. 2300/2500 €? no way. This bass deserve 1000€ tops. Im pretty happy with my 300€ Chickenbacker, Sounds pretty much the same. Aye it does. No one can guess it on a blind test. No lacquer, and if it get stolen, no love lost. I get another one.

You are nuts. I have owned four 4001/4003s and they are beautiful, sleek, eminently playable. They have the lowest noise floor of any bass ever made. I have since moved to a P-Bass with flatwounds, but to say the 4001/4003 is a substandard bass is nonsense.

Less of you and more Elder would be nice

100% Agree

8:45

Despite my owning a 4003s, i think you (on some cases) may be right. I like the sound of it and ergonomically it's okay. I might come to dislike it if I was touring with it however. If that were the case I would use my deluxe Jazz; overall a better instrument for practical reasons. Either way, to each his own. Peace brother.