Rickenbacker 4000

I'm reviewing a 1981 model 4000 that I no longer own. The reason I'm bothering to review it is mainly because I've found these reviews tremendously helpful over the years in my buying decisions, and I want to return the favor!
Some people are paying absurd prices for this model, due to its relative rarity--but originally it was sold as a Budget Model! I paid $444 back in 1984, because it was the only genuine Rick I could find at the time. (I bought a near-mint 4001 a few months later for $350, and that was more or less the going rate at the time for a used Rick, so i got scammed a bit).

My 4000 had the most incredible-sounding pickup! I took it to a guitar shop around '86 to swap out the bridge pickup with the one in my 4001. The guy there dissuaded me, saying the sound difference was due to a capacitor..all this is common knowledge nowadays, in the internet age.
So I bypassed the capacitor in the 4001, but it still was not as growly and ballsy as the 4000 pickup was. Maybe the factory overwound the single-pickup models? Who knows....and who knows if someone hasn't already switched out the pickup on the one you are considering buying.

This is the issue that really bugged me about the 4000... it's a set-neck instrument, the neck being glued into the body about four inches or so, but the bass was factory routed out for two pickups, when it obviously shouldn't have been, for neck stability reasons. There was only a tiny amount of wood holding the neck onto the body with the unnecessary routing. I've since learned this was common practice, and RIC in fact sold neck-set basses with two pickups with the same routing in the critical neck-joint area. A luthier told me the neck had a hump at the neck joint, and at the time I assumed this was the reason. But after reading the reviews of the 4004 models, I'm starting to wonder if this is simply a problem that results from a too-thin neck with roundwound strings. Some Ricks are problematic, some aren't, so it seems. Other reviewers give good advice...buy a used one that's withstood the test of time...play it first, or take your chances.

The finish on the bass cracked quite badly, but that was likely due to the extreme climate I lived in at the time, coupled with my ignorance on caring for a guitar in such conditions.

I personally had a correspondence with the owner of the company regarding my concerns...this was all pre-internet. I was delighted with getting personal responses, but basically I was told, "good luck". I am not naive enough to expect a company to stand by a product that's exchanged hands over the years.

The basic reason for this review is that I've seen this model go for MORE than a neck-thru two-pickup model 4001/4003. If the model 4000 you are considering is NOT set-neck, and is made pre-1970's, ignore my review, that's a different beast entirely. But for the prices I see on ebay for these glued-neck 4000's, for god's sake, make sure it has no issues with the neck before you buy it. It's silly to pay more for a set-neck, single pickup 4001 than a thru-neck, twin pickup 4001...this was originally a budget model, after all. You can get the same vibe for less money with a 4001/4003, take out the neck pickup and controls, and get a new pickguard, and there you go...single pickup Rick.

Made in 1975 in USA. Just a volume and a tone for one passive pickup. I believe the body and neck are maple. The bass is painted Jetglo. Most Rick basses are neck-thru but this model has a set neck. Bass came without case but I managed to find a Rickenbacker case from the same year.

I love Rick basses! They suit my style perfectly. I play my basses through Ampeg Portabass amps and an Ampeg Portaflex SB-12. The bass is quiet and has a nice warm sound though it doesn't have much variety. Because it only has one pickup, it's not quite as powerful as my other Rick basses.

I bought this bass used on Ebay and it was a mess! The previous owner "modified" it and I to restore virtually every part of this bass back to factory spec. The trussrods had to be removed and reinstalled. The pickup, bridge, and tuners all had to be replaced.
I had to have the pickguard custom made. It took months to get this bass back in order. The finish still has some small nicks in the paint but it has held up well considering its age.

Rickenbacker basses have never let me down. The hardware, finish, and just the overall build exude quality! I know I can depend on it and would definitely use without a backup bass.

Of course, this bass is no longer under warranty. I did try to call the company for help in getting the pickguard made and they supplied me with a few companies' names. They were very friendly.

I've been playing bass for 20 years and I own many other basses. This is bass #36 in my collection. If it were stolen I'd be very upset because these are pretty rare. I love that I finally own one, they're so different than the standard 4003. I like my 4000 just the way it is....I wouldn't change a thing.

this one is a 1974 set-in neck 4000,one bridge pickup,passive non-horsehoe,with mono output,one volume and one tone control. it is all original,the white paint has faded to a really nice buttercream color,with black pickguard. it has the open back tuners,the original 2 peice rick bridge,and the fretboard is laquered rosewood with dot inlays. the body is either 2 peice or 1 solid peice with the neck glued in to the edge,similar to rick hollow body basses.

a really good rick sound,having just the one pickup,there is suprisingly a good deal of variety adjusting the tone and volume knobs,this pickup is very wideband,you can get a very nice "jazz" tone,as well as the very bright full squire-type sound-it suits my needs very well,for rock/blues/folk type playing. i use it with an ampeg svt-3 pro through a yorkville 2-10 cab,and a danelecto nifty 70 practice amp when playing with acoustic folks.

this is a near 30 year old bass,in really great shape,the set up is fine,and it has a great vintage feel,the frets are in very good shape,and it is a real joy to play. i have a 83 rick 4002,and these 2 basses are as different to play as night and day,altho both are "rick-o-riffic"! the 4000 stands out with its unbound body,unbound neck,smaller neck profile making for a really comfortable feel,and it feels like it weighs about 2-3 pounds less than most ricks i've tried.

again.30 years old! solid as a tank! double truss rods but have'nt had to use them yet. it currently has nickle roundwounds,but am thinking of going with flatwounds for the beatle-tone. this is one of the good ones,a classic american-made-to-last beauty.typical smallish rick strap buttons,if you mosh,you might want straplocks instead,but i tend to "waltz" if i move at all.

i called rickenbacker to inquire about the vintage,etc,and found them very helpful and informative-but i have no need for repair or warranty for this.

i have been playing for 20 plus years,i own 6 other basses,a rick 4002,greco beatle bass,tacoma thunderchief abg,epiphone jack casady,mtd grendel 4,and a peavey koa dyna bass.i had thought about buying a chris squire rick,or a v63 rick reissue,when i found this-i have to say it is my favorite bass,and the last one i would think about parting with. compared with most basses,i love the feel and the SOUND of this rick,its just very clear and has a warmth that i think is in part attributable to the single peice body with set-in neck-it just sounds very different to me from rick neck-throo-body basses.they are pretty rare,but definitely worth checking out.i might consider replacing the pickup with a horseshoe type vintage pickup,but i hate to monkey with vintage gear,especially when its already great!

Mine was made in April 1968 - U.S.A (of course) - 20 fret - natural finish. 1 pickup, 1 volume and 1 tone knob. When I bought this bass, it had an active p-style pickup in it (complete with a 9v battery and a little routing to fit the pickup in. I just bought a vintage "horseshoe" pickup for it as I am process of returning it to stock. Luckily, the vintage p/u surround will cover the routing job nicely. The neck through body is made of maple and sandwiched between walnut at the headstock with dot inlays. The tuners I believe are the old open back Grovers and they still stay in tune.

I'm just a plug in and play type who likes good old rock and roll music from the 60's on. I've used it through several amps in the 20 years I've had it. Right now I'm playing through a Fender BXR200. This is a very quite bass. I know that I'll be losing a little of the "presence" that it has right now when I put the horseshoe on it, but I'll just crank up the ol' amp. I use black nylon strings on it and they have a really nice vintage tone to them.

Since I bought this guitar used I can't say how the factory set it up, but I've never had any problems with the settings. The strings are nice and low with no buzz and it stays in tune just fine. I'll tell you what - the neck on this baby is the slimmest,fastest neck I've had the pleasure to play on. I also own a 4001 and a 4003 and the neck on this 4000 is so nice, I wish I had it on the other 2. It's just a blast to play.

I have gigged with this bass in the past without a backup and have had no troubles at all. For being 33 years old the hardware has proven itself, including the strap buttons. I don't take her out much anymore, I use the 4003jg for that. I do use this at practice and to jam around the house. As far as the finish goes, what can I say ? Rickenbacker puts that "voodoo magic" on all their finishes. She has held up very well.

I can't say. I've never had to contact them. This bass is 33 years old, I think the warranty has expired.

I've been playing since around 1972. I have the other 2 Rics and a Carlo Robelli acoustic/electric bass and a couple other guitars. If this were stolen or whatever I'd be very upset. Finding another one of these would not be easy since they stopped making them around 25 years ago. But I think I would try and find another. Once you play on this neck, you'll understand.

This probably was the most basic bass Rickenbacker made. It has a glued in neck. One pick-up. Tone and volume controls.

I always wanted a Rick for its sound. But i've always felt this one didn't quit had _the_ Rickenbacker sound. I own a 4003 also now. Now I know for sure. Not compared to a Rick this bass sounds very usefull. (I played it for 10 years.)

For me Rick's belong to the fastest basses on earth. This one is no exception. I bought it second hand. The finish was pretty beaten up.

It was build in 1975. I've used it for ten years as primary bass. The tuning things are not that good anymore. Other than that reliability is great.