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This Is Why Rickenbackers Are The Most Overrated Basses EVER!
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- čas přidán 17. 08. 2024
- The White Dog doesn't like Rickenbacker, he thinks that they are over priced rubbish! This won't go down well with Ricke fans!
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I’ve actually seen this basses be overhated not overrated. They play amazing, sound amazing and look amazing imo
I see what you did there... Overhated not overatted! Very good ;-)
@@WhiteDogMusic everyone I’ve encountered hates them. Only a few bassists I’ve talked to like them. I love rickenbackers myself
It’s iconic for a reason, that distinctive Ric tone. My 4003 feels pretty solid in the hands. Not plasticky.
AMEN!
All I heard was Charlie Browns teacher (WA WA WA WAAA , WA WA) do you really judge a bass only by it's looks???? Because that's all I got out of your video. Seems to me there's a lot more to it than looks.... Well,That's a few minutes out of my life I'll never get back...... shit, that time could have been better spent playing.....
"MY RICK" !!!!
How do you miss Paul McCartney's work on Sgt peppers, Revolver, and Magical Mystery Tour as one of the most iconic Ricky Bass moments of all time
I think those song are iconic because of Paul, not because of the instruments he played.
Yes, Roundabout. Nuf said.
The Ric basses of Paul McCartney and Chris Squire were basses of a different Rickenbacker era.
The Cris Squire bass is a RM1999 (NOT a 4001) /// Paul McCartney's Bass: They put a right handed neck on a lefty made body.... Ugly! Rickenbacker's cheap solution! The plastic pickup cover also!
@@guitarstringman7403They’re pretty much the same. Toaster pickup in the 1/2” position, and horseshoe pickup. Much closer than the ricks from the 80s and after.
Plastic? What about the wood, neckthrough, the SOUND, the look, the style, Ricks are solid pieces of art, all those bass players can’t be wrong. I’ve owned two and among some other more modern basses I have, Rick has an unbeatable sound.
Well, one mans art is another mans Tracey Emin I guess...
This was an interesting video, and you make some really VALID points. One question: do you ever plug it in and PLAY it? I have a 4003 identical (visually) to the one you are referencing. YES, there are some "quality control" issues that are maddening, like that crap plastic pickup-cover that EVERY player tears off the minute the get it home, but it's a "legacy" thing, the way an old Corvette or a Harley Davidson are: there's a beauty to it's "madness," and in the right hands (and you respectfully make mention of some of them) it is a wonderful tool. I bought the 4003 for the "string-clatter" of Yes and early Rush...but I can play the warmest, woody blues on it when needed. I think this is a good, honest video. I just think you're leaving out a lot. Thanks!
Bro, if you hate your Rick that much, then give it to me! I'd be more than pleased to have a Rick added to my nice Bass arsenal 🤣
Just came across this. Made me smile. Buyer's remorse a bit? OK - don't like the finish, the appointments, whatever - I guess if you've never seen one close up it may feel 'different' if you're more used to Fender basses. I bought a 'blonde natural' Rickenbacker about 10 years ago and put flat-wounds on after a while and have used it on a number of pop style album tracks where I want that 'Beatlish' thing and I absolutely love it. When I got it I played it with round-wounds and it was bright and sorta funky and crisp. Sorry it isn't doing it for you - sell it, I guess?
People get whiplash from how fast they snap around to find out what that amazing bass sound is. I get off stage and there's always at least one who come up and compliment the sound. One huge factor is the Rick just really stands out in the mix. Beautiful bass, great to play and really meshes with a live band so well.
Happy to take your word for this. Personally I get whiplash from how fast I want to put it down...
@@WhiteDogMusic I'll have it! I only have a Jap copy =) Greco is the company
The irony being that yours is probably better made ;-)
It's all relative. Although I agree the overall feel of my 2019 4003S is a tad clunky, I absolutely love the tree trunk neck. It's the only bass I've played where my hands feel totally comfortable.
I always found the complaint about lacquer on the fretboard as strange. Yes my 4001 had a lacquered fretboard but so does my 58 Precision and no one complains about lacquered maple fretboards
The Frets on the Fender are not puny.
The lacquerd fretboard is a Rickenbacker thing. I DO feel that they over-spray the neck, and when I come back to this bass after one of my Fenders or Gibsons, there's a readjustment period: my hand just doesn't move as fast. I love my 4003. Wouldn't part with it!
I've always thought that rosewood is an alternative to maple because it does not need to be lacquered. Lacquering rosewood seems to be a strange decision. If you want lacquer, you choose maple, if you want a non lacquered feel you choose rosewood.
totally agree
Huge Chris Squire and Paul McCartney fan from back in the day.
Mostly played a Precision back then.
Broke down & bought a used Rick and immediately discovered the amp had go UP about 5 more notches to reach the same volume level as my P bass.
The weird fret board finish you reference bothered me while playing too.
It always seemed thinner in tone than the Precision and didn't seem to play as nicely overall.
Sold the Rick, never regretted it.
I think you are correct.
But when Chris Squire (may he rest in peace) leaps in the air w/ one in those old Yes videos - it looks really GREAT.
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
Appreciate that man! Really glad that you got your bass to the point that it finally works for you. They sound great for sure!
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.
Apparently he doesn't care for Paul McCartney.
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.
I’m an owner since ‘74 and was initially pleased with the black piano looking finish it was “plastiky” an along with removing the pickup guard took it back down to the maple. Love it still!
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.
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.
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 recently picked up a 4003s/5W, and that so far has been the absolute cream of the crop out of any bass guitar I've ever played in my life. Apparently with this bass they went away with a lot of things that were causing common problems for decades (lifting bridge for example). It sounds crazy good, has a surprisingly versatile tone, deep range, and it plays like a dream with minor personal preference setup. I even 3d printed a thumb rest that I screw into the pickguard (basically the same as the zero mod one)
I'm happy this was my first experience with Rickenbacker, I plan to keep it in good shape too. As far as I'm concerned, they have made a lifelong fan out of me
I bought a RIC 4003 and a 4001 because of McCartney and The Beatles. I love the tone and how it feels when I'm playing. The only bass I love more is my Hofner 500/1. I like my Fender P-bass as well, but not as much as the Rickenbacker or Hofner. However, nothing said in this video is wrong. Because it is subjective whether one likes something or not. I say find the bass you love the most and play it to your heart's content.
I bought my ric because of Paul McCartney too! I have a jetglo 4003
An example of different strokes for different folks is that the Ric and Hofner you mention are two of my least favorite basses to play, alas! I like a deep, unbound Jazz neck on a P bass body, like a 70’s P bass with the “A” neck option it with an over-sanded “B” neck.
@@geerhoar well most people play the horrible ignition series hofners and think every hofner is like that.
My first ever bass was a 4001 back in 1978 & it was an absolutely beautiful bass for many years until I sold it to a friend, about 4 years later, which I regret to this day.
First thing I did, was remove the pickup guard plate. I never really understood why that was part of the bass. It just covered the most comfortable part of my play position.
I've played & owned a lot of basses since then but I don't think anything ever came close to the tone I got out of that particular 4001.
The pickup cover is homage to the original horseshoe pickup. The horseshoe was the very first pickup EVER. Designed in 1931 and used on Rickenbacker's lap steel guitar called the Frying Pan. I have a 4003 and have kept the cover on it.
I always loved the way a Ric sounded and looked, but every 4003 I ever picked up to play was a real disappointment mostly because the neck profile was just wrong to me. I then heard that the 4001 had a much thinner profile, but I never expected to actually get an opportunity to play one because even 4003 basses are extremely rare where I live, let alone a 4001. This last January, I stumbled on one in a pawn shop; a 1974 MapleGlo 4001. As soon as I got it into my hands, I was sold. I love it and gig it. Sounds and plays incredible.
Congrats on your 74' 4001 score!!🎉👏👍I wanted a 4001 back in 85',cuz of Elton John's"Nikita"song,awesome bass line/tone.But I was SO disappointed with the bass itself,after buying it at a pawn shop for $175!!😁.Got rid of it later.(70's cream 4001).
Jazz bass is too thin and unstable
I recently bought a 4001 Ric, it has a laquered Rosewood Fingerboard. I absolutely hate rosewood as a fingerboard material but that thick laquer makes it feel almost superior to even the best maple fretboard I've played.
But Rickenbacker now stopped laqouring their fretboards on 2022 and onwards guitars and Basses
People who are picky about fingerboard woods are funny to me. Give me maple, mahogony, rosewood, it literally is all the same to me, as long as I can play the guitar lol
@@NopuluFretboard material makes a big difference;in feel,tone,action..ie;I don't like ebony fretboard 's on Strat's.
If you like the grungy and trebly tone that Squire, Geddy, and other Prog bassists had (Jon Camp, Dave Meros, Mike Rutherford), there’s nothing better than a Rick. If you’re into slapping, or a James Jamerson P-bass tone, the Rick is poison.
I always thought the neck pick-up with flat wound strings was thumpier and more solid than the P-bass tone.
Well said
@@phlattgetit Exactly, one thing the rick has over most every fender bass is that the rick has a true neck pickup, placed right at the end of the fingerboard on the older models.
Word. I play the middle position with both pickups and roll off the bridge pickup slightly. With LaBella low tension flats. Great tone that covers a lot of ground. @@phlattgetit
@@phlattgetit yes, it is and you are right. I own a rick 4003 (2011) with flats.. amazing sound.
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.
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.
Had my 4003 for 40 years now it’s a love/hate relationship
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.
Yeah you forgot McCartney and the Beatles…
And his career in Wings, too!
O Mike Retherford do Genesis também. Angra dos Reis, RJ 🇧🇷.
Alright, bit of a long post ahead, but as someone who is neither a Rickenbacker apologist nor a Rickenbacker hater, I'll say a few things:
Ric's, at the end of the day, are alien-marmite instruments, so you either love or hate em', that's just how it was, is, and likely always will be. So I wouldn't worry if you don't gel with one!
The plastic pickup cover is there because the original 4000 series basses had a Horseshoe pickup, you can identify these by the slit in the middle of the "cover", except it's not a cover at all, it's the horseshoe magnet itself, it's *a part of the pickup.*
Rickenbacker switched from the horseshoe pickup to a regular single coil sometime in the late 60's/early 70's, but to keep the vintage look they used a chrome plated plastic cover that could be removed, since it wasn't integral. It's a bit of a shame they didn't make the cover metal, but since most take it off, I guess there's no real point, since those who like the look of the vintage cover would just buy an actual horseshoe pickup.
As for the plastic knobs, I mean, Ric's have almost always had plastic knobs since their inception, from the gold diamond TV knobs, the black knobs with the white slit, or the chrome tops. That's just kinda their thing. Either way, you can always change the knobs, so the point just seems kind of moot.
I'm not sure how pickups can look like they came out of a toy factory, but I suppose you should ask Danelectro haha!
The lacquered Fretboard is definitely a "Ric thing"; always a subject of debate in Ric circles, some like it, some don't, but I can say as of August 2021 they no longer ship with a lacquer over the fretboard, and are now "all natural" (save for some fretboard oil)
The body and the neck are actually the same piece of wood, it's a neck-through instrument, the body wings are glued on later.
If Rickenbacker needs to be called out for anything, it should be on the account of the Awful "R" tailpiece on the guitars, the now redundant 5th knob, and the neck profiles/widths on both the basses and the guitars!
Some interesting additions, thank you!
definitely should be called out ffor the worst bridge ever, and why they cut out soo much wood under the bridge
A Ric's a tool for specific sounds and designed to be customized (e.g., sanded, parts removed/subbed, circuit modified, etc.). It's not for beginners. Start students on a Fender- or Ibanez-type bass with a front-contoured body and no pickup cover.
Not for beginners :-) Thats brilliant! One of my students came and played it a couple of weeks ago and he loved it. At grade 3 he's a relative begnner...
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.
I have a Ric 4001 that i have played for over 30 years. When I first got it, I could not for the life of me get the intonation right. So I had the bridge replaced. Then I adjusted the truss rods improperly amd separated the fretboard from the rest of the neck, and had to get that fixed. I wore out the frets twice (i played it a lot) and the bridge pickup had a very weak sound so I mostly used the neck pickup, which is deep and sonorous as opposed to bright and raspy (it’s the other Ric sound that no one talks about).
So yeah, the bass has problems and requires the musician to adapt to it and learn its ways.
On the other hand, I also have a Ric 4004 L which is amazing. Good feel, sturdy neck that doesn’t need much adjustment, and two himbucking pickups that will give you just about any tone you could want.
No one ever talks about 4004’s. One of the finest bases you’ve never headd of.
What I don't understand is after all of these decades and the huge consensus on how tedious that bass is to set up for people, why Rickenbacker won't go to a single truss rod. How difficult realistically would that be?
💯
@@WhiteDogMusicand @oldfriend327 thank God Rickenbacker finally went to single truss rod on 2023 models and V2 Bridge so I respect them staying true to original design and building them in America in California never selling out over seas but come on make that bridge better lol and that complicated dual truss rod lol FINALLY
What’s wrong with the dual ?
I have a 4001 that I bought in the late eighties. It had a cracked neck near the headstock, so I got it cheap. I guess because of the two truss rods it stayed stable. I played it for years before the crack finally opened enough that I could get glue into it and clamp it and it is fine to this day. After that experience, when I found a Rick 12 string on ebay that was cheap due to a cracked neck, I bought it. I play it every week, have not repaired it, and the neck doesn't budge. There is apparently an advantage to the double truss rods, although yes adjustment is difficult if it is needed.
They’re the best basses made. If they didn’t neck dive , they’d be beyond perfect. But they already are
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
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.
I have a 4003 chickenbacker and honestly it’s a really good $300 bass. People love to trash them but they aren’t bad and the pickups sound great. I also recently got a real Rickenbacker 4003s. It’s great too but we’re talking the difference between $300 and $1950.
I agree I've got 3 of them that have become decorations. They just don't do it for me.
I started as a classical pianist and classical guitar player so I use classical hand positions (my palm isn't near, touching, pressing or dragging on the neck, and no thumb over), so the whole neck thing (size, shape, coating) is irrelevant to me because I only touch the strings; the frets too are 'under' the strings so I don't touch or care about them either. By the way, Fender maples are lacquered too.
The cover over the 'magnetic' pickup is plastic, not metal for obvious field resistant reasons. The pickguard has a square edge, rather than a beveled edge, which 'does' cause it to 'look' thicker (I simply ran mine round with my router) not more plastic. The white looks 'plastic'! I think you have a problem with plastic in 'certain' forms, but not in the forms that Fender employs apparently
RICs have a far wider range of tones than either of the P of J basses, and the new ones can be easily caused to sound like a P or a J; neither of which can return the favor. The bigger aesthetic problem is RICs love affair with plain white pick-guards (and bindings), which it has come to think of as a signature of sorts. I agree, nothing looks so plastic as when it is 'white'. Come on RIC!
Aesthetics aside, it is the sound of RICs that defeat any commentary about being overrated. That's the only thing anyone has ever claimed for them, or acclaimed about them. There quality control is as good as it ever was, which is saying something given the number of years they''ve been cranking them out, and the general depreciation of the American work ethic. That's what's changed.
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
Couldn’t agree more!
These basses are great with the exception of the bridge setup. I got the babaiz's retro fit saddle... it plays amazing now
Ric has made improvements with the bridge, finally. Intonation adjustments, string height and string spacing is easy to work with. Sill kept that goofy string mute on it though. Way better then a 1975 4001 bass I first had back in the day.
haha true
So if I want the Ricky sound without the price tag and short comings, what do I get?
Take your existing bass to as many shops as possible and/or research/try as many pedals as you can. Find your own sound rather than emulating a sound that has been used to death.
I own a 4003 and it is my primary instrument. Part of the misconception with the Rick bass is that the Fender Jazz has so thoroughly defined the electric bass both in sound and feel. These basses aren’t for everyone. They are heavy and it is impossible to make them sound like a jazz bass or a p-bass due to the pickup placement. It’s a bit like expecting a Les Paul to sound or feel like a Telecaster- they are simply too different. But if you’re willing to let the instrument’s tone drive the way you use it, then they are quite versatile. The bridge pickup is powerful and works perfectly for aggressive music like rock and punk. The neck pickup is way fatter than a Fender and sits like a giant, squishy marshmallow under the band. I quite enjoy mine but understand why some people don’t like them.
I’ve owned a Rickenbacker bass since the mid 70’s so mine will be turning 50 next year! I absolutely love it. They’re very easy to play and they have a very unique sound.
bruh I can't believe ur using the pfp pic I use on all my other online accounts. Scott 3
I both agree and disagree. I can think of a dozen things I love about my '14 4003W and the '88 4003 I owned before that, and another dozen things I hate about them, and because their consistency is all over the place, those lists would be different for each. They are, by far, the *weirdest* mass-produced basses out there, not very comfortable (fortunately rectified with the 4003S), and far too expensive for what they are, but I'm still not giving up my 4003W.
Owning a Rickenbacker is kind of like being married, I think.
I love my 4001C4 Rickenbacker Bass. Plays & sounds amazing. Not "Plasticy" at all. I also own a Beatle Bass & an American Standard Fender Jazz Bass.
I owned one for more than 25 years, the criticisms of them are valid, that said, I got a lot of enjoyment out of mine, made some money on the road playing gigs with it. I was 19 when I got it, that was less than 10 years after A Farewell To Kings was released, and I was just not going to be happy until I owned "that sound". Now I own a Fender Jazz, also great, also love it, but it's a different animal. The only bass I've never been able to warm to was the P bass. They're not comfortable to me, and I feel limited on them.
Did this guy really just list Rickenbacker bass players and include Adam Clayton and leave out Paul McCartney?!? And his description of the build of the bass is just ridiculous. He’s making a fool of himself.
I've been a U2 fan since 1983 and have always noted what guitars Adam and The Edge use. I know Adam had a Ric 4001 at one point early on, but he ditched it in favor of a Jazz Bass and an Ibanez Musician. But like many other professionals, he played many different brands. I recently took in a concert at The Sphere in Vegas and I swear Adam changed his bass for every song! Not once did he use a Ric.
Don’t like Rickenbackers? Don’t get one. I have a ‘71 Rickenbacker bass which I LOVE, and so does every other person who picks it up and plays it!
That's correct. I bought it knowing full well that I don't like them. Even then I was surprised at it's lack of quality.
I own a 4003 from 2013. 3 complains i have about Ricks. Price is about 2200 euros (1000€ just for the name), too much varshins on neck and the bridge is garbage. My bridge is changed, all the varnish has been sanded away and replaced with oil. Good instrument and cant deny the looks. Always cool. I also removed that mic cover
I've had one and they are, plus a shit-bag to set-up with the daft 2 x truss rods and the useless bridge :-) Most, if not all, of those players he mentioned changed them in some way or removed stuff (bridges, pickups, covers etc), which speaks volumes. I like the sound of them and to an extent, how they play, but I think the point is that you can get so much more in a bass with what's out there now for the silly amount they ask for. People are still paying for the name and if that bass was released now as it is as a new bass they'd be lucky to get half of their daft asking price.
Rickenbacker 4000 and 4001 are so special that they cannot be called bass guitar.
Rickenbacker is another instrument.
The 4003 will not connect near the two 4000 and 4001.
It certainly is another instrument. I'd 100% choose another intrument!
That's rose colored glasses talking. The 4003 is, for all practical purposes, the same as the 4001. In fact, the 4003 is a better instrument because it has a stronger neck and doesn't have the old, janky truss rods.
Interesting point. Some might say the Rick is a one trick pony. I played a 4001 in a small rock band and our sound man said he much preferred the sound of my Rick over the P Bass played by the previous bassist, because the sound was in the middle and was more consistent. Soon I joined another band and the drummer couldn't stand my Rick, said it sounded like "cardboard". So I traded it in on an early 73 P Bass with the thin neck. Best bass move I ever made!
The sound is the only reason to use one…
It’s time for them to refresh this model. Get rid of the ridiculous pickup cover / cavity monstrosity and improve the bridge.
I seriously regret selling my 1968 Rickenbacker 4001 bass. It was pure joy to play.
Ricks are Marmite basses, you either love them or absolutely despise them.
Those that hate them, from my experience, tend to say that you can get a nice Ibanez bass for half the price.
But with Ibanez (and similar makes), you get a couple nice pieces of exotic firewood and a load of nasty modern electronics that do nothing but make the bass sound like a Casio keyboard preset.
I’ll stand my ground and say that Ibanez Soundgear basses are the most overrated bass ever and the best use for most of them are to keep Ray Mears warm!😂
I totally agree with you. I've never owned one, and for good reasons. Not only the things that you pointed out, but others as well. I'm a small man and this bass feels awkward, clunky, and uncomfortable to play. The neck is not up to snuff even compared to cheaply made basses. I like a bass that not only is comfortable, but graceful and effortless to play as well. And this is not one of them. This is personal opinion of course. Everybody likes something different. I really wanted to like these basses, but I am NOT a fan. Sorry!
Rics are one and only. It has one sound and the reason the Pro Family uses these. Picks used or fingers if you will deliver a dirty, nasty sound. Growl if you will. Hate if you must, but the time will come on a recording or live when nothing will cut it for what the sound has to offer. After all some bands didn't get there with the sound clean or sound you hear that this bass is actually breathing. It has a warm tone. Yes it's expensive and so are the others out there who boast of $5,000 to $10,000 to pocket out the cash. You can get close to a sound with a Sansamp to a Fender Jazz, but that's just add on with the money you spend. Not happy with the Pick Guard? Take it off. Or see if you can have a metal one made. A ton of musicians out there will buy a new bass and change the whole insides and looks to make them feel it's an extension of their hands. So it's plastic or to some cheap. The 4003 has a new Bridge, a tone pot that can give it the 4001 sound or beefier tone of the 4003. So it comes down to the sound of the band and taste. But there is no denying it is a beautiful bass and has been around for many years. Without it we wouldn't have that sound that we love in the recordings and there is a big reason for that. It works.
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.
I love the sound of Rickenbacker's. I hear complaints about neck width, clear coat on the fretboard, and etc, but I guess I'm not too picky and can adapt pretty easily. Maybe because I'm left-handed and my choices are limited so I don't really get to be a snob. More like take what I can get when I can get it. Nah to me the two most overrated basses are 1) Hofner whatever that thing was that Paul used. Terribly boinky dead string sounding piece of crap, and 2) the Warwick Thumb Bass. Terrible sound and bad neck dive. I actually owned one of those. Remember I usually have to buy sight unseen so I didn't get to play it before I bought it, and spent the return period trying to like it.
Uhm, not sure about the Warwick Thumb... I would have a 90's bass in my collection.
I agree. I'm trading mine in tomorrow in fact.
It is the strangest bass I've ever played, but leaning towards "love it" though it IS a quirky instrument.
Dislikes: (1) I learned on Jazz Basses, so the neck thickness from nut to body being the same depth was unwelcome and has a very vintage feel. Like it plays like your great-granddad's bass. (2) the plastic bridge pickup cover is hideous, which is why most players remove it. I don't use a pick, so there is almost no good place for a thumb anchor. I've found one but it takes significant effort to keep consistent. Got a lot of cuts. (3) the neck / body union isn't conducive to slap bass - not that I play that style, but if I needed to this is possibly the worst bass to choose from.
Like: This is BY FAR the best sounding bass in my collection. Especially unplugged, it has both the highs but also a deep resonate tone which none of my other basses have (I normally practice unplugged, but it becomes more apparent when you put ear to body). Generally speaking, it's my number one bass for recording, but not for playing live.
Very fair appraisal, mirror my experience with it almost to a t. I recently did some session work and the producer wanted the Ric sound so I had to use it. Sounded great but horrible, just horrible to play.
The most important quality of any instrument is the sound. I am surprised you did not play a note on it. Is this bass for sale?
Just week a go I got my hands on a 2016 4003S an I just love it.
One of the craziest thing is that it's so leveled when playing standing up. Love the neck. Love the sound of it. Just the idea of making a Y-cord to get the stereo out to two amps/cabs just tingles me in a very nice and strange way.
I just absolutely love it. I have to adjust it though but just learning how to work this piece is just a thrill and joy.
I tried to find the plastic feel but don't get it.
But I do understand that it's not for everyone to play and use. It's not the easiest bass to use but boy is it still fun!
Most comfortable bass I own. Even plays well sitting down when some of my other basses keep sliding off my lap. It's the very thin body shape that the video poster is complaining about. Very versatile too. Does everything from overdriven metal to old school country.
One mans meat...
I think the intro needs to be longer 😂 Ricky's are awesome.
Totally agree. The bands that made great music with these guitars have made a mark with them. However if they had a choice now, would they have still picked a Rick? Geddy lee prefers Jazz basses now. Paul Mac had his given to him. As for the design, well the bridge is made of two different metals, so over time they fuse. The Frets are of thinner metal, so eventually they need more fretwork, and who puts a serial number on a jackplate? I wont go on, but I must say, they look fantastic!
Yes, I was thinking about the players who stuck with them throughout their whole careers the other day. Outside squire, Lemmy etc not too many did…
You are very wrong! I hate to tell you this. I absolutely love my Rickenbacker and it is absolutely one of best bass guitars ever made.🎸
You hate to tell me, bilious going to tell me anyway…
I say ditch the pickup cover, change the bridge out, and I like to put flat wounds on. Played em for years, I dig it.
Pickup cover is perfect for hand rest ! It’s a dream
Just bought mine. I've always loved them.
So right on that disgusting inch-thick coating of lacquer on the fretboard! Completely unnecessary and the first deal breaker for me. It just feels HORRIBLE.
Also agree on the body depth. Those things are far too thin and feeble. Cheap bastards, give us more chunk!
And that pickup selecter is in the stupidest place ever.
And don’t get me started on the bridge!
What infuriates me about Rickenbacker is, they’ve made absolutely no effort at all to rectify these little niggles over the years. They’re quite happy to rest on their laurels and do nothing to innovate or improve anything.
Butthead would say that they SUCK!
I picked one up at a guitar shop because Chris Squier and Roger Waters used them and sounded great. I found it felt "cheep" in my hands, and not so easy to play, but maybe that's because I have smaller hands than Squier and Waters.
Yes, it's a "cheap" feeling bass to me as well.
It´s the sound and may be the look, that makes them unique! Build quality is usually crap. The bridge is a misconstruction and the dual trussrod is as useless as a catflap on a submarine...🙄Not least the price is simply an outrage ...
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
My Epiphone Thunderbird suits me fine & cost sod all by comparison. Another similarly flat bodied bass that does a great job, both looks & sounds the part onstage.
Unlike the Ricks, my Thunderbird has already had the neckdrop issue solved by it's previous owner too.
As for unique sounds? My Warwick Corvette has that already covered too, so much that I can get a growl without needing a pic to get the tones...
Lots would tell me Im wrong but then I would say a pair of cheap trainers do the same job for me as a pair of Nike trainers & at a lower price.
They certainly are great looking basses with a unique tone, but with old 60s technology. 1 bi flex truss rod would be better than the 2 that they use. Every ric bas i've owned has a kink in the neck at the 12th fret that the truss rods cant remove. Reverse wind one of the pickups to cancel the buzz when both pickups are selected. Pickups glued on crooked. The bridge never bothered me. Usually pickups with the magnet glued to the bottom are cheap ceramic pickups, but they do sound good. I guess they built the 4004 bass to address people's complaints about the 4003, but the 4004 has different pickups in different locations on the body and doesnt have the looks of the 4003 that everyone likes, so i dont' know what they were thinking. Ric is an odd company.
💯
The stock pickups are called "High Gain" by Ric, but are not all that powerful. I have used a toaster in the neck that gives a more vintage sound. And recently have been using Gemini Wave Rider pickups in the neck position. Great sounding pickup with a wee bit more punch and definition.
I’ve owned three 4001s in my lifetime
‘68-‘73-‘79
_(‘73 was my favorite)_
While they DO have that distinct “piano string thing” going on, you put up with a lot of BS with those basses..
As much as you would hear argument, they really ARE a ‘one trick pony’.. (Rock/Prog rock thing…)
Next; Alot of old 4001s, suffer from bad necks.. mostly due to nobody understanding the dual truss rod system over the years-and how to go about tightening the truss rod… you can’t just go in there and turn it… let’s leave it there
Also, not the best thought out construction ..
& those Bridges SUCK…
More negative to say, but I’ll keep it at that…
If I ‘was’ to enter into the Rickenbacker world again, I’d buy a brand new Rick, it would be one with a normal truss rod system, and probably not 4001/3 model.
Just one former owner’s opinion🤷🏼♂️
Truss rods always an issue, for the record they do sound cool!
I waited for years to get a Ricky, I got it, and then kept it for a year before trading it, I did like the body shape, but it had a defect in the neck, and neck throughs are atrocious cause you can't get a replacement, and dual trussrods are the stupidest idea ever
Dual truss rods are far superior
I agree. I hate Rickenbacker, I hate the way they look, feel, sound, everything. The other bass I detest is the Hofner Beatle bass it is the ultimate in over priced garbage.
Unique Tone. Period.
I hate all bass guitars except my friend’s USA Fender Precision 4-string sunburst. THAT is a real man’s bass guitar.
I'm respecting your dedication...
I wish you would have plaid it on your video, the things you hate are what make it a special a P bass it's not a Jass bass it's not a sting ray anything else it's not. You should get a metal pickguard nobs.
I absolutely loved this video, I really enjoyed the mix of humor and seriousness, very well done.
Those who get it, get it...
it sounds like really good quality wood, very sensitive to touch and dynamics, and the sound inspires you to play with genuine creativity because the tone is no Anonimous, you should play some nice YAMAHA with Nokia pickups, a real plastic finish, so you can hear the sound of the pick-ups.... ,, Rickenbacker PLastiky.. haha 99 percent of the bass has pickups made by plastic and the pickguard too.. also fender musicmann they also have models with lacquered fingerboard, 4004 rick are unlaquered.etc..so...in regards the finish .. Rickenbacker finish does not stop the sound, in most brands does... go with Ibanez..Yamaha
Agree and disagree…I own 3 4003’s, one maple, one walnut and one black. 2013 and 2 2014’s. I did change out the pickguard on all as did with the control knobs. Don’t get the plasticky feeling on the neck, pick up cover is gone on all of them. I like the way mine are set up and play. I do have a complaint about the pick up switch ( which I also have up graded and changed on all of them )
They are what they are and are my first choices in basses for performance and recording.
Glad to see someone give an honest review of Rickenbacker basses. You left out, perhaps the BEST tone ever achieved on a Rickenbacker - or ANY electric bass- notably a left handed 4001 S model, by Sir Paul McCartney, on "Penny Lane", and on much of Sgt. Peppers as well. Dead flats, pick, and his uncanny sense of melodic composition.
I'm a Luthier. I've been repairing primarily, for about a half-Century. I'm 72 now. I have many criticisms of Rickenbackers. Like any other instrument, there are both good, and bad things about them. Ricks are somewhat problematic, and I'll list them, is the order of what I least like about them first.
1. The dual 'hairpin' truss rods that I've had to pull out of some and replace, are just stupid, weak, and poorly engineered. Players and some amateur techs frequently strip the rod ends.
2. The abysmal bridge that is both unnecessarily hard to adjust, and the pot metal saddles and weak alloy tailpiece housing that almost always lifts away from the body, are just bad quality.
3. The stupid tone killing capacitor, and absolutely unnecessary stereo system. WHY put a muddy, 'bloopy' neck pickup through one amp, and a thin, wanky treble pickup through another? The sound will just mix offstage into a mono signal anyway.
4. Fender lacquers maple fingerboards- some are horribly coated with poly. That was done to keep them clean. How'd that work out? I don't like lacquered boards, either. Refretting Ricks, is no fun at all.
5. Some of the mid seventies 4001's have routing under the pickguard , treble pickup cavity, and under the bridge, that look like a Chimp did them freehand.
6. They are overpriced, and overvalued in the vintage market.
Now, for the things I like about them.
1. They can sound quite good, the newest ones have addressed- FINALLY, the horrible truss dual rods and bridge, and there's a cap bypass that allows for some decent tones.
2. The woodworking and CNC routing is vastly superior than in older basses.
I played, and almost bought a lefty here in Reno, Nevada.. but something felt odd- then, I realized these basses are generally 33.25" scale. I can feel it. I'm an old school Fender 34" guy- So, I built my own 4001 S out of some pretty outrageous flamed maple, and it's 34" scale. I love it.
Oh, I used all Hipshot hardware..and new Rick pickups, which are actually pretty good.
Thanks! It's just my opinion aferr all...
I've owned good ones, and I've owned bad ones.
I should have expanded a bit on my previous comment. I should have pointed out that my 70's era Ric 4001's were killer. I purchased a new Ric 4003 in 2010 with great regret.
Never tried an early one. Played two in my time and both equally weird.
On which album did Adam Clayton used a Rickenbacker? I never heard about that.
He hasn't as far as I'm aware, having said that, I've never knowingly listened to a U2 album...
Had one 45 years and never loved it. Sold it, got a Jazz and never looked back.
I've always wanted to like Rics - I think they look cool...the sharp body edge doesn't overly bother me...but the entire neck lacquer and neck shape really ends it for me. Then comes the natural anemic tones from them. ...(unless they're run thru a pedal)...but at that point, ya might as well use a better feeling bass to get the same pedal tones. Just my opinion - means squat. Great vid content - all the best :)
... Yep, the same tone can be produced whilst using a bass that doesn't suck.
Bolt on Fenders …nah…neck through much better
I first played a Rick bass about 50 years ago, one of the earlier ones without binding and the one pickup. I found it uncomfortable to play and neck heavy. Looked great, though. But I see why McCartney didn't stay with it. So, yes, I agree with you for the most part, but to each his own.
With a few exceptions players rarely stay with them for whole careers... Cue how about Squire and Lemmy?
What do you mean didn't stay with it? His Rickenbacker is all over those Wings records.
Great electric guitar sound at 0:33, which gear did you use? Reminds me an intro of “since I’ve been loving you” from MSG1973
oohhhh good question... I think that it was a Cort as I was using them at the time. Probably with a couple of Strymon pedals.
I had a love-hate relationship with a 4003S. Loved the look and sounded. Hated the weird angle it forced my right wrist and hand into. It’s like they were designed by someone who had never seen a guy play bass. But I still want another.
Yeah none of that stuff bothers me... But I like Danelectro's so obviously a "plasticy feel" isn't a barrier
Overrated underated its all a matter of personal opinion and musical context and preferences.
This is why social media is a god-damned wasteland.
Uhm... I would say that the lack of build quality isn't subjective.
@@WhiteDogMusic um, ok, whatever.
I’ll never get rid of my Rickenbacker but I’m not too proud to admit that it’s not my go-to show bass all the time either.
Biggest show I ever played I used my first ever bass that I got when I was 9 years old; an old Squire P-Bass that was probably worth $100. It’s still my favorite bass that I own, if only for the legacy it has built for itself. However, when I want to make a GOOD impression, I’ll use the Rick. It never fails to catch the eyes and ears of the audience and that’s just an objective fact of my career.
Never felt that any bass I played helped to create a good or bad impression.
@@WhiteDogMusic too bad, I guess.
the worst part is the mechanical mute
Wait what?
My short, stubby arms won't let me reach the "Low end" of the neck, so I have a problem with Ricki's, P-Basses, Jazzes, etc, that's why I bought my
Gibson EB3, in 1968 and still have it!....Love the Ricky sound, but love the short scale even more!....Just sayin'!
I disagree. I own two Rics. Both are great instruments that are completely different from one another. One is a 1978 fretless 4001 with a thin neck and the other is a 2004 4003 with a substantially thicker one. Both sound and feel great. The fretless can almost sound like an upright. The plastic parts don't bother me. Most players ditch the pickup cover because it's in the way of the sweet spot and it doesn't serve any function other than aesthetics. The original horseshoe pickup was shaped like that, the newer ones just copy the style. Nothing sounds like a Ric and the stereo capability makes them extremely versatile. Like a Telecaster guitar, their signature sound is what people expect to hear from them. Being versatile doesn't matter, as long as the trebly clank is there. No. The Ric is a fine instrument capable of an impressive variety of tones.
My 1978 4001 is amazing
Coolest looking bass ever made.
I've always felt that this is such an iconic bass, however, I've never played one.
Dog.....U2....really ??? I play Rick,Fender, Yamaha, Guild,Epiphone......for 42 years now........each style its tool.