The guitars I’ve sold over the last 30 years which I wish I regret. I bought a 4003 in 2016 FIreglo, I love it, just getting into the Ric-O-Sound stereo sounds.
cost too much, back in the day in the 70s they didnt cost that much, but now they are well over $2k I think i paid $400 for a new 4001 with case, in 1972
@@cliffords2315with inflation $400 in 1972 is equivalent to $2.901 today. So technically a Rickenbacker at 2k in 2023 is a better value. With inflation the prices of American made guitars hasn’t really changed much. People love to compare decades old prices to today’s like the value of a dollar hasn’t changed. Unfortunately that’s just not the case. I do wish that a brand new car cost ruffly $3300 bucks today like it was in ‘72 but that’s far from the case lol.
On my 3rd 4001 at the mo a 77 mapleglow and I can honestly say I’ve had no problems ever and I play regular gigs and out of all my basses the Ric is the beast I choose! I get young kids ogling it and always let them have a go if it’s in my power. Good luck 🇬🇧
Great video on the versatility of the Rickenbacker 4003 bass. The tone controls are a powerful tool on that instrument. Like you, I removed the plastic pickup cover from my bass. The cover slows you down and gets in the way of the primary playing area. Thanks for demonstrating the string mutes, too. My best to you, thanks.
Great video! An excellent objective demonstration! There's a lot of demo videos that trash talk the bass. The bottom pickup cover conducts .03 ohms of resistance, I measured it when it was off my 2020 4003. The way it's wired it does act as a shield and ground. John Hall of Rickenbacker stated that in an article and caught a bunch of online crap about it but he's right. I get it's in the way, I installed a bezel but after seeing the reading I put it back on. We noticed it had a slightly darker tone with the pick up cover back in. And I mean slightly. My bass has an updated bridge installed and made by Rickenbacker. I highly recommend it I messed around with rounds and flats on it. The Fender Flatwound 50 to 100 to my ear and feel on the hands is where I want to go with it. Again thank you very much for the refreshingly objective video. Stay cool, safe, and healthy! Excellent playing by the way.
Thanks, Dave! I’m surprised the cover makes a difference but I guess it makes sense. I’m not a believer in “one trick pony “ basses and feel the Ric is a much more versatile bass than some people think.
@@KPJohnson I definitely agree! Last night I played my 4003, we covered a lot of musical ground cover tune wise and the bass held up with compliments. I used the tone pull switch for county-ish tunes and toward the end of the night Zeppelin off with a smidge more bridge pick up. We played outside and I know that indoors it would have sounded different. The important part is to know how to do minor adjustments for tone when needed, I think anyway. On the side for versatility I played my HCT500/1 Hofner in a Disco/Dance band for a while. Light weight for four hour gigs.
@@KPJohnson I definitely agree! Last night I played my 4003, we covered a lot of musical ground cover tune wise and the bass held up with compliments. I used the tone pull switch for county-ish tunes and toward the end of the night Zeppelin off with a smidge more bridge pick up. We played outside and I know that indoors it would have sounded different. The important part is to know how to do minor adjustments for tone when needed, I think anyway. On the side for versatility I played my HCT500/1 Hofner in a Disco/Dance band for a while. Light weight for four hour gigs.
I think the Bass is great. Has a lot of history. And I think it’s very versatile. All Rickenbacker needs is a good marketing department and some new basses and they would be huge.
They sell everything they make and have remained the same all these years. This is why Ric is the only true American made guitar left in this country and you people would rather they sold out to corporate USA just to get a cheaper product. This is why America has become a septic tank to the rest of the world.
Rickenbacker will never do imports. Their obviously happy with how things are going for them especially for a smaller company. Plus they sell plenty of instruments otherwise there wouldn’t be long waiting lists for their instruments. Lol It took them 60 years to go to a single truss rod and update their bridge design. I get it people want affordable instruments and it took me a long time to get one but I absolutely love it. At the same time Rickenbacker’s have always been considered iconic and pricey. Plus their not as expensive as higher end Gibson’s or Prs’s and they could be. Their one of the last small family owned guitar companies that is handcrafting their instruments mostly the same way for 60 years. They use minimal cnc compared to other companies. They also had their production capped in CA because they refused to stop using nitro finishes. You kind of have to respect them for keeping it old school and yeah it comes with price.
Expensive as Hell but I had to get one! I got this same exact bass, same color. Ya can't play no Lemmy without a Rick! And Yes I took the pickup cover junk off as well as the mandatory Hip Shot swap
Just purchased a 4003 S fireglow , played it with the band last night for the first time , took a bit of tweaking with the amp to get the desired tone , requires a bit more power for volume than my precision but it was pretty epic sounding, the E string was thunderous with the A and D a bit weaker , going to mess around with the pickup height a bit on the bridge and try and even that out . The build quality is superb and the action is very low enabling fast runs. Now I just have to take that silly horseshoe thing off.
It was actually a debate who bought a 4001S first, some said Entwisle and some said Pete Quaife of The Kinks did. Entwisle played the 4001s for while and he stopped because the neck became too bent that he said it was “you can shoot an arrow with it.” My favorite Rickenbacker player was Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters!
. Without any doubt.. The most over priced, over hyped, unreliable POS ever. I'm sure this relic was good half a century ago, but it's only fanboys these days are boomers who only play it in their bedrooms and the occasional garage jam. Disclaimer: My 4003 Jetglo will be turned into a toilet seat in the near future.
Always hear people complain about a Rickenbacker but not a single person gives any legitimate reason for complaints. Seems to me that many want one and can't get one (not judging as I myself cannot afford to buy one) and choose to hate on them. Granted every single guitar purchased there are always going to be lemons. Which absolutely sucks when it happens to you. However if you know what you are buying inside and out there isn't a problem you cannot resolve yourself. I have friends and family who are in bands and absolutely love their Rickenbacker guitars.
@Silenced Ones I was actually commenting about their basses. Specifically the 4003. Their guitars are quite good actually. Perhaps they have a more capable staff manufacturing those.
@@TenFalconsMusic ahh makes more sense. I was curious because everyone I know has been very happy with their Ric's however most of them are guitar players and the bass players all have the 4001 series. I was just gifted a 2022 4003 and have been researching them for a few weeks now and have seen so many mixed reviews which has absolutely boggled my mind. I should receive it this week and know it takes a few months to break a new guitar in but hope I don't come across a lemon. Wanted a Ric bass for over 30 years and would truly sadden me if they are as bad as what I have read. .
@Silenced Ones Good that you're getting a 2022 (with the updated bridge). Still... A few bits of advice: Have the bridge pickup cover removed. It's made of cheap plastic (painted to look like chrome/metal) and it will crack in two if you're not extremely careful. Make sure you don't let the top of the bass rest near your hip or ribs. The body is thin, very flat and not ergonomic. So it will dig into your side & forearm like nothing you've probably experienced before. The frets are extremely soft. So don't use stainless steel strings as they will wear the frets down in a very short time. I sent back 2 of these to Rickenbacker due to crap workmanship & faulty components. Their customer service is horrible BTW. I brought it on tour back in 2018/19 but The neck had to be adjusted constantly despite it's dual truss rods. Then there's the constant 60 cycle hum (mentioned in this video). It makes it almost unusable. Especially if you want to record with it. "Buzzzz." The one I have now (3rd one they sent me) hasn't been out of it's case in over 2 years. My MM Stingrays blow it out of the water in every way. It's a fun bass to have when you first get it. Looks great too. But... It's definitely not for me. I sincerely hope yours is everything you've dreamed of and is of much higher quality than the 3 I've experienced. 😁 👍
played a rickenbacker one time a few years ago at a music shop, have been wanting one ever since.
The guitars I’ve sold over the last 30 years which I wish I regret. I bought a 4003 in 2016 FIreglo, I love it, just getting into the Ric-O-Sound stereo sounds.
Excellent job exploring a range of tonal possibilities. I don't think the Rickenbacker bass gets enough recognition for its versatility.
I agree. Hopefully I’ve opened some people’s eyes.
I've never had the opportunity to play a Ric. Would love to get my hands on one eventually. Such a classic bass and tone.
cost too much, back in the day in the 70s they didnt cost that much, but now they are well over $2k
I think i paid $400 for a new 4001 with case, in 1972
@@cliffords2315with inflation $400 in 1972 is equivalent to $2.901 today. So technically a Rickenbacker at 2k in 2023 is a better value. With inflation the prices of American made guitars hasn’t really changed much. People love to compare decades old prices to today’s like the value of a dollar hasn’t changed. Unfortunately that’s just not the case. I do wish that a brand new car cost ruffly $3300 bucks today like it was in ‘72 but that’s far from the case lol.
On my 3rd 4001 at the mo a 77 mapleglow and I can honestly say I’ve had no problems ever and I play regular gigs and out of all my basses the Ric is the beast I choose! I get young kids ogling it and always let them have a go
if it’s in my power. Good luck 🇬🇧
Great review!
Great video on the versatility of the Rickenbacker 4003 bass. The tone controls are a powerful tool on that instrument. Like you, I removed the plastic pickup cover from my bass. The cover slows you down and gets in the way of the primary playing area. Thanks for demonstrating the string mutes, too. My best to you, thanks.
Thanks! I don't recall ever seeing someone demo the mutes, so I had to.
Great video! An excellent objective demonstration! There's a lot of demo videos that trash talk the bass. The bottom pickup cover conducts .03 ohms of resistance, I measured it when it was off my 2020 4003. The way it's wired it does act as a shield and ground. John Hall of Rickenbacker stated that in an article and caught a bunch of online crap about it but he's right. I get it's in the way, I installed a bezel but after seeing the reading I put it back on. We noticed it had a slightly darker tone with the pick up cover back in. And I mean slightly. My bass has an updated bridge installed and made by Rickenbacker. I highly recommend it I messed around with rounds and flats on it. The Fender Flatwound 50 to 100 to my ear and feel on the hands is where I want to go with it. Again thank you very much for the refreshingly objective video. Stay cool, safe, and healthy! Excellent playing by the way.
Sorry 0.3 ohms
Thanks, Dave! I’m surprised the cover makes a difference but I guess it makes sense. I’m not a believer in “one trick pony “ basses and feel the Ric is a much more versatile bass than some people think.
@@KPJohnson I definitely agree! Last night I played my 4003, we covered a lot of musical ground cover tune wise and the bass held up with compliments. I used the tone pull switch for county-ish tunes and toward the end of the night Zeppelin off with a smidge more bridge pick up. We played outside and I know that indoors it would have sounded different. The important part is to know how to do minor adjustments for tone when needed, I think anyway. On the side for versatility I played my HCT500/1 Hofner in a Disco/Dance band for a while. Light weight for four hour gigs.
@@KPJohnson I definitely agree! Last night I played my 4003, we covered a lot of musical ground cover tune wise and the bass held up with compliments. I used the tone pull switch for county-ish tunes and toward the end of the night Zeppelin off with a smidge more bridge pick up. We played outside and I know that indoors it would have sounded different. The important part is to know how to do minor adjustments for tone when needed, I think anyway. On the side for versatility I played my HCT500/1 Hofner in a Disco/Dance band for a while. Light weight for four hour gigs.
i hope you're from massachusetts because thats why i subscribed
Ok. I’m in New Hampshire but was in Massachusetts until last year.
good enough for me
I think the Bass is great. Has a lot of history. And I think it’s very versatile. All Rickenbacker needs is a good marketing department and some new basses and they would be huge.
Maybe even a cheaper lineup which is made outside of the USA
They sell everything they make and have remained the same all these years. This is why Ric is the only true American made guitar left in this country and you people would rather they sold out to corporate USA just to get a cheaper product.
This is why America has become a septic tank to the rest of the world.
Rickenbacker will never do imports. Their obviously happy with how things are going for them especially for a smaller company. Plus they sell plenty of instruments otherwise there wouldn’t be long waiting lists for their instruments. Lol It took them 60 years to go to a single truss rod and update their bridge design. I get it people want affordable instruments and it took me a long time to get one but I absolutely love it. At the same time Rickenbacker’s have always been considered iconic and pricey. Plus their not as expensive as higher end Gibson’s or Prs’s and they could be. Their one of the last small family owned guitar companies that is handcrafting their instruments mostly the same way for 60 years. They use minimal cnc compared to other companies. They also had their production capped in CA because they refused to stop using nitro finishes. You kind of have to respect them for keeping it old school and yeah it comes with price.
Thanks for sharing 👍
super helpful thank you
Really enjoyed you on your playing and video
God continuer to bless ...
Thanks!
Are some of the Rickenbacker basses made with bubinga fingerboards instead of rosewood?
I've always loved the shape of the Ric. Love Geddy & Chris; always thought Gene Simmons in makeup would look good with one.
Expensive as Hell but I had to get one! I got this same exact bass, same color. Ya can't play no Lemmy without a Rick! And Yes I took the pickup cover junk off as well as the mandatory Hip Shot swap
Rosewood or pau ferro?
Just purchased a 4003 S fireglow , played it with the band last night for the first time , took a bit of tweaking with the amp to get the desired tone , requires a bit more power for volume than my precision but it was pretty epic sounding, the E string was thunderous with the A and D a bit weaker , going to mess around with the pickup height a bit on the bridge and try and even that out . The build quality is superb and the action is very low enabling fast runs. Now I just have to take that silly horseshoe thing off.
I like to use a pick with my Rickenbacker and fingers with my fender’s
Lots of people like to pick on Rics.
The pick up cover is a great hand rest. I wouldnt take mine off.
the black and white Ric screams Geddy Lee!!
They're iconic... maybe it's just because I'm watching online, but to me it sounds kinda trebley, tinny.
I recommend watching my videos on a system with a subwoofer.
It was actually a debate who bought a 4001S first, some said Entwisle and some said Pete Quaife of The Kinks did. Entwisle played the 4001s for while and he stopped because the neck became too bent that he said it was “you can shoot an arrow with it.” My favorite Rickenbacker player was Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters!
Liverpool UK 🇬🇧🎸
hurgurgiddy gurgitty
.
Without any doubt.. The most over priced, over hyped, unreliable POS ever.
I'm sure this relic was good half a century ago, but it's only fanboys these days are
boomers who only play it in their bedrooms and the occasional garage jam.
Disclaimer: My 4003 Jetglo will be turned into a toilet seat in the near future.
Always hear people complain about a Rickenbacker but not a single person gives any legitimate reason for complaints.
Seems to me that many want one and can't get one (not judging as I myself cannot afford to buy one) and choose to hate on them.
Granted every single guitar purchased there are always going to be lemons. Which absolutely sucks when it happens to you. However if you know what you are buying inside and out there isn't a problem you cannot resolve yourself. I have friends and family who are in bands and absolutely love their Rickenbacker guitars.
@Silenced Ones
I was actually commenting about their basses. Specifically the 4003.
Their guitars are quite good actually.
Perhaps they have a more capable staff manufacturing those.
@@TenFalconsMusic ahh makes more sense. I was curious because everyone I know has been very happy with their Ric's however most of them are guitar players and the bass players all have the 4001 series.
I was just gifted a 2022 4003 and have been researching them for a few weeks now and have seen so many mixed reviews which has absolutely boggled my mind.
I should receive it this week and know it takes a few months to break a new guitar in but hope I don't come across a lemon. Wanted a Ric bass for over 30 years and would truly sadden me if they are as bad as what I have read. .
@Silenced Ones
Good that you're getting a 2022 (with the updated bridge).
Still... A few bits of advice: Have the bridge pickup cover removed. It's made of cheap plastic (painted to look like chrome/metal) and it will crack in two if you're not extremely careful.
Make sure you don't let the top of the bass rest near your hip or ribs. The body is thin, very flat and not ergonomic. So it will dig into your side & forearm like nothing you've probably experienced before.
The frets are extremely soft. So don't use stainless steel strings as they will wear the frets down in a very short time.
I sent back 2 of these to Rickenbacker due to crap workmanship & faulty components. Their customer service is horrible BTW.
I brought it on tour back in 2018/19 but The neck had to be adjusted constantly despite it's dual truss rods.
Then there's the constant 60 cycle hum (mentioned in this video). It makes it almost unusable. Especially if you want to record with it. "Buzzzz."
The one I have now (3rd one they sent me) hasn't been out of it's case in over 2 years.
My MM Stingrays blow it out of the water in every way.
It's a fun bass to have when you first get it. Looks great too. But... It's definitely not for me.
I sincerely hope yours is everything you've dreamed of and is of much higher quality than the 3 I've experienced.
😁 👍
@@TenFalconsMusicwhat strings are best to use on the Rick?