Me and my old friend Rick....

[tncaveman]

My old friend's name is Rick, and he's about 36 years old.  We've been best buddies since 1981 when I was 17 (that makes 30 years together)  
 
I haven't played my '75 Rickenbacker 4001 more than 2x since I adopted my Rogue bass last winter.  This week, I put some shiny new strings on Rick, and we had a little practice session in the basement.  It's really amazing how cool my Rick sounded.  But similar to the Alembic - crisp, clean, punchy, and fun to play.
 
Today at church, I played Rick, and we had a good time.  Sounded awesome.  A little heavier feeling because he's not quite as balanced as my Rogue (I need to name her sometime soon).    
 
So, how may of you have or have had a Rickenbacker?    
 
Stephen
 
PS - there's a pic of me and Rick on my profile.  I need to get a newer picture up there soon.

[terryc]

Ricky's are not my thing BUT that bass looks absolutley immaculate!!!!
Obviously a well cared for bass and not thrashed 'Motorhead' style.

[811952]

I had a '76 Ric' that I sold (along with 11 other instruments) to help fund my Alembic back in '81.  I wish I still had it (although I certainly don't regret the Alembic in any way).  I did replace the bridge/tailpiece with a badass, and did the routing myself.  Really a fantastic instrument.  One day I'd like to think I'll have another, and would be happy with one that's beat-up even.  I think they're the sexiest shape in bass guitars.
 
John

[hieronymous]

I love Rickenbackers! I currently own three - a '76 4001 from around the same era as yours, a '93 4003S/8 8-string, and a 2004 4003. I always loved the way they looked - some of my favorite players are Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, Roger Glover and Lemmy. My '76 has very low-output pickups, but they sound great. Especially with new strings! Here's a picture of my first Ric (the '76) and my first Alembic - an '85 Spoiler/Exploiter since sold:
 

 
I like all my different basses - I find that I play differently on them. Long scale, short scale, flats, rounds, 4- 5- or 6-string, I love 'em all!

[dlbydgtl]

I have a 1979 wine Rick a 5 string blue Rick and a 4 string fretless natural rick. Yea, i like them.

[benson_murrensun]

I had a 4001 V63CS - the Chris Squire model. It was a great player, but I sold it because the market value was very high (I doubled my money on it), I was hesitant to take it out to venues, and because the neck was very skinny and I don't prefer that shape. I would definitely consider another Ric, but it would have to be a 5-string nowadays.

[eligilam]

I wish I could take credit for this collection, but I found it from Alembic Club member fish (fish, you still out there?) from a few years ago.  I'm still envious.
 

 
I got my own Ric 4003 new in 1991 (just celebrated my 20th anniversary with it now that I think about it).  When I bought it, it was paper-white, and now it's mellowed to a nice parchment-like cream color.  Man, I love that bass---built like a tank.  I haven't had to adjust anything on it in over 10 years.
 
And, again recognizing and respecting that this is, indeed, the Alembic Club, I say this yet again:
 
In my Guit-army, the Alembic is the general and the Rickenbackers are the ground troops.
 
Cheers!

[jacko]

Coincidentally I saw YES in concert last thursday in Glasgow. I managed to get 3rd row seats right in front of Chris. He played his original cream 4001 for the lion's share of the set and it sounded fantastic. I'd say most of what I heard came from his rig and not the PA - he was using a selection of marshall, SVT and SWR amps and cabs and was VERY loud but every note from his rick was crystal clear. He also brought out one of the limited edition Fish Out of Water Ricks for a couple of songs. Seeing and hearing his rickenbacker playing reminded me why I took up the bass in the first place - Chris was my first Bass hero and I always lusted after a 4001. Trouble was, once I had enough money to buy one i was really looking for a five string and I found I didn't really like the feel of the Rick fiver - the neck was too narrow to make playng 5 strings comfortable. Ended up with a 5 string Epic after some trials. Odd that ;-) Some day, if I ever go back to 4 strings i'll be looking for a 4001.
 
Graeme

[jacko]

I do feel like I'm already an honorary member of the rick club already - here's my '79 precision.....
 

 
Graeme

[cozmik_cowboy]

I've loved Ricks since the bassist in my high school bands replaced his P-bass with one (about the same time I discovered Mr. Squire & company), but I will admit that I haven't crammed my head with detailed arcania about them as I have with Martin, Fender, Gibson, & Alembic; can someone tell me what the difference is between the 4001 & 4003?  Thanks.
 
Peter

[tncaveman]

WOW Graeme - I've never seen a Rick/P-bass hybrid.  Does it sound like a Rick or a P-bass?    I had to choose between a P-bass and the Rick back in 81.  The Rick was 400 bucks and the P-bass around 300.  I obviously went for the Rick and never regretted it.  Luckily my Mom lent me the money and I payed her back in less than a year.  I was just a kid and only played with some teen friends - nothing serious.  
 
About 5 years ago I started playing rhythm guitar in our church praise band.  It was actually the first time I had ever played in front of people.  And then our bass played quit and I pulled my old friend out.  Got some new strings and it really hurt my fingers at first LOL   Several years later, I'm better than I ever was when I was younger.  I just wish I could remember more theory.   I'm hoping to relearn some stuff this winter, since my son is starting to play bass.
 
And, the purchase of my Rogue really accelerated my playing.  It is a little easier to play and sounds great, also.  It increased the amount of practicing that I do at home for sure.
 
BTW - 12 Rick basses and two acoustics (I did not even know they made them).  That's unreal - I wonder how many Alembics he has???
 
Stephen

[eligilam]

@cozmik:
 
From rickenbacker.com:
 
What is the difference between a 4001 and a 4003?
 
Sometimes it is tough to distinguish these two models based on external appearance, however, early 4003 basses had a two piece pick guard. Other more subtle differences are with regard to the truss rod design and the wiring schematic.  
 
While both instruments had dual truss rods, the 4001 one had old style rods which only had nuts on the top, whereas the 4003 has nuts at both ends of the neck. Due to the different rod styles, a later model 4003 will have larger rounded holes at the end of the neck to accommodate the nuts, while an older 4001 will have small rectangular holes.  
 
In addition, the 4001 was wired with a capacitor on the treble pickup, which cut all the low-end sound out of the signal. In the 4003, this design feature was dropped.

[cozmik_cowboy]

Thanks, Will.  Oh, and another question - I've seen some with checkerboard body binding; what year(s) did they use that?
 
Peter
 
(Message edited by cozmik_cowboy on November 15, 2011)

[811952]

4001's also have a skunk stripe the entire length of the instrument.  4003's necks are all maple (3-piece I think?).

[eligilam]

@cozmik:
 
I'm pretty sure the cutoff year was 1973.  As far as I understand, that was the year that several key functional and cosmetic changes took place, including:
 
Change from checkerboard binding to solid
 
Change from sharktooth fret markers going all the way across the width of the fretboard to more recessed
 
Tuners changed from Grovers
 
Neck toaster pickup changed
 
I'm going purely on memory for this stuff, so I may need to be corrected.  I do know that 1973 is sort of the magical year cut-off for price jumping for really expensive vintage Ric 4003's to less expensive vintage...mainly, it seems, for several of the changes mentioned above.