Rickenbacker 4001

1974 Rickenbacker 4001, Mapleglo, with all the standard features - two pickups (single coil), toggle switch, volume and tone controls for each pickup, both mono and stereo jacks, neck through construction, standard Rickenbacker bridge with mutes, long scale (34"), etc. Got case with it in good shape. Instrument purchased from Gruhn Guitars in Nashville, and they set it up beautifully.

I play a lot of rock and roll, and love the music of Yes, Rush, Genesis, King Crimson, Frank Zappa, etc. This bass is perfect for those genres. The only effects I use are a Morley Power Wah, and an Ibanez Bass chorus, and the Rick really sings through them. Only problem I find with the Rick is that it isn't useful for a lot of other things, e.g., slapping/popping, jazz stuff, blues, etc. I have a 1973 Fender Jazz for that, as well as a '79 Musicman Stingray. The Rick just doesn't cover that sound well, IMO. This being said, you cannot beat the sound of a Rickenbacker for Rock and Roll. There isn't a bass on the planet that sounds like a Rick. Not even 4003's - I tried a bunch before buying this one (I had owned two 4001s previously in the 70's) and wanted the 4001 sound. The 4003's just don't have it. If you want that sound, buy a 4001.

10 - As noted above, Gruhn's did a wonderful job. Finish is beautiful, 28 years later. Still shiny. Bridge assembly is still shiny as well, though the tuners are a bit faded. Everything still works perfectly, and there is no noise I notice from anything.

I don't play it much now - am not doing the Yes/Rush type stuff to the degree I'd like or prefer. However, I have used it extensively in the past and it holds up well. Finish is still beautiful, with minimal wear - not bad for 28 years. Strap buttons are original and fully functional. I've owned this instrument over 6 years, and haven't had to make a single adjustment to the neck - Thanks, Gruhn's. I'd be more than comfortable to use it on a gig without a backup.

Never had to deal with them. I think that says something about their product

Have been playing over 25 years. I own a Hartke 7000 head, a Hartke 1X15 XL series cabinet, a Gallien-Krueger 4X10 cabinet, and a Hartke 4X4.5 XL series cabinet. I use a Morley Power Wah and an Ibanez Bass Chorus. I would definitely buy another if necessary, if only for nostalgia purposes. I love the sound, even if it is limited to certain musical genres. And it just looks cool!

Neck-through-body-construction, two pick-ups, two tones, two volumes, and an absolutely awesome neck! Good ol' made-in-USA-quality.

The two pick-ups deliver quite a powerful sound. No wonder Lemmy plays RICs. I like a rich, mid-boosted sound, and this baby really does it well. It's a real rock'n'roll monster! It even doesn't cause any unwanted hum or noise. Love it.

My 4001 is way back from 1975 (as old as Motorhead, and way older than me :)), so the finish is showing marks of age, yet looking great, and having a special vintage touch to it. I have a few scratches on it, but they're fortunately on the "wrong" side. Have to admit, the years have treated her well :)

I haven't yet had the opportunity to play this beauty live (working on it though), but after all the rehearsal action it's got through so far, I could trust it with my life. Doesn't even go out of tune. Goes under the classification "Rock Solid" :)

Haven't dealt with 'em. RIC unfortunately doesn't have retail in Finland, so I've bought both of my babies used.

She's a proud example of RIC basses, built to last a lifetime, rock solid, rock'n'roll monster. Forget all the women in the world, all ya need is a RIC.

'77 Autumn-glo Rickenbacker 4001 stock single-pole pickups (passive electronics -- no batteries required). Independent volume and tone controls -- 3 position pickup selector switch.
Famous neck-thru-body design -- what a neck and what a body!
Rick-O-Sound stereo output and mono output.

The distinctive Rick sounds that apparently no one tries to copy -- though I don't know why. Booming (yet cutting) lows on the neck pickup, to twangy (jangly?) tones on the bridge pickup. Nothing else in the world sounds like a Rick -- I love it, always have.
I have plugged it directly into the line input of a 4 track recorder and gotten remarkable tone variety on tape right off the pickup.
I have an old Fender Bassman 100, and a Legend 50W (guitar amp) -- Bass sounds fine through both (not as much bottom from the Legend obviously).
A number of people have noted something that I had never considered before, and strikes me as a truth -- it "cuts through the mix." There is never any doubt that there is a bass present regardless of which tonality you select -- the 4001 sound will not get lost in the sauce.

Purchased used, never have had it adjusted, its has stayed in tune even when tucked away for years. Action is low and quick -- standard Rick "fast" (skinny) neck, I guess you either love it or hate it, again I love it.
Finish had some arm-wear patina when I bought it -- looks wonderful 25 years after manufacture.

Very reliable -- built to last. Purchased it with locking strap, everything is still fine, don't know about original strap buttons. I would use it without a backup no problem.
(Electronics are emitting a bit of static on occaision, could be old solder, or the pots are wearing out -- to be expected after 25 years)

I've only asked Rickenbacher one question via email -- had an answer within 3 hours

I have been playing guitar and bass since I was a teenager (I am in my 40s now), I have owned a number of different brands from the "big-names" to the "no-names." I happen to enjoy Rickenbacker electrics, I just love their sound and the "fast" neck designs. I find the body shapes appealing also. I evolved my "collection" over the years to a 4001 bass, a 360 semi-hollow body, and a 480 solid body electric.
Folks either love 'em or hate 'em I guess, for whatever reason other manufacturers don't try to "copy" Ricks (to my knowledge) like they do Gibson and Fender. When you hear "that sound" you know it is the Real McCoy that is making it, and only a Rick can make "that sound."

I've got a nice '72 fireglo (serial no K018) with checked binding and toaster neck pickup in the original case (with the original trussrod adjustment instructions!) I bought it from the the guy who bought it new, and I must admit it is a gorgeous thing. The only anomaly it has is one of the tuning machines was replaced at some point after they went to "wavy" style tuner. I took the bridge pickup cover off it to facilitate playing, but other than that it is totally stock. My first 4001 was a '73 jetglo (ser. no L444) I bought new - my first high quality bass. Wish I still had it!

Well, it sounds like a ricky, which is a nice full range sound with some real ultra-low stuff. The mute is a real cool thing for recording, you can dial in a little or a lot. I consider this primarily a pick bass - it doesn't like to be hit real hard with your right hand. I only use it occaisionaly on gigs, but it sounds great and the tuning stability is good. I play kind of half-assed biamp setup, an old SVT head through 2 JBL 15's in custom cabinets and a 100w Marshall super lead through 2 12" celestions. The ricky needs a little help to match the level of my fender, so I just run it through a Roland SE-50 to raise the gain a little.

In my estimation, the overall design and setup of the 4001 has stood the test of time pretty well. My biggest complaint about it is you have to take the strings off to adjust the bridge saddles (intonation), then put them back on hoping you got it right or off they come again - pretty much a pain.

These basses are pretty solid and made to be played, but personally I wouldn't go to a gig without something else. Mine had a trussrod problem (stripped) when I bought it that made tuning stability poor -the third guy I took it to finally figured out how to fix it and it's been great ever since, but that required hundreds of dollars (the fingerboard has to come off to get to it). But this is a 30 year old instrument with a thin 1-piece neck, so you're obviously not going to be able to hammer it like, well, a fender or something newer.

The first two I guys I took mine to with the trussrod problem said the factory was sympathetic, but didn't sell replacements, which seems pretty dumb as I think there are a lot of these instruments out there and this is not an uncommon problem.

I've been playing for 30 years, my other basses are Japanese Fender Jazz Specials (2 fretted and 1 fretless), an Engelhart upright, and a 5-string Clevinger solid body upright. There's something very cool about a 4001, maybe I'm nostalgic because it was my first decent bass, but they are beautiful, play well and have a unique sound. As primarily a finger player and a bass beater, the fenders are overall more suited to my style - but every now and then the rick is perfect for something.

I have owned 3 4001's. 1 from the 60's and 2 from the 70's. The 4001 is a 60's design, but it is a classic. A MUST for any serious bass players collection. Solid maple construction. Neck through body. Single coil RIC pickups. Top notch quality made in USA. The Rickenbacker neck is 33 1/4" scale whereas most basses are 34". In conjunction with pickup placement this gives the RIC a unique sound, low notes have a nasty bite and growl and as you go up the neck the sound gets sweeter and less hard edged. The 4001's of the 60's have a thin profile that really fells nice. The 70's RIC's neck got a little fatter and a little more stable. The high gain pickups introduced in the 70's sound better than the old toaster and horseshoe pickups. The 4001 does not have all of the new active electronics that some new basses have but the features that they have are excellent. The older 4001 and 4003 basses have a capacitor that makes the bridge pickup that cuts the low end off from that pickup. I always remove that capacitor for more punch. The 4003 from 1989 on no longer has this capacitor.

The RIC sound is unique. It really cuts through the mix. It has a nice treble bite, good mid punch, with a nice full bottom. I play through a line 6 POD and an Ampeg b2r, with a 1x18" and a 2x10" cabinets. If I use a pick I can get a nice edgy biting sound. If I use my fingers I can get a sweet soft bluesy sound. This bass can do the funky slap, thump, and pop stuff as well.

When I bought my '68 RIC in '74 the neck was out of wack. The dummy that owned it put it in a case that was too small and bent the neck. I took it to a shop and had the the 2 truss rods adjusted and now it is a neck to die for. The neck is stable with no adjustments since 1974. The 2 1970's 4001's that I owned had great necks as well.

Absoultely rock soild. For many years I went with just a 4001 as my only bass. I had one that I bought on ebay that had been repainted, rewired, hotrodded, refinished, and abused. Someboy painted it red and tried to turn it into a jazz bass. Well with a little tlc I restored it fine working order and it looks and plays very good.

I have always bought used RICs and never dealt with RIC's support.

I love the 4001 / 4003 bass. I currently own 2. The 4001 is my main bass. It has a great sound and feel. There is no subistute for Rickenbacker. Every serious bass player should own one.

I just picked up a 1977 Rickenbacker 4001, Mapelglo finish, made in the USA. I really a Fender P-Bass fan but I always wanted to try a Rick.

This bass' previous owner had changed the bridge pick-up to a DiMarzio, but the bass had the warm rich sound of a Fender P-Bass but it has the Punch I need to cut through the guitars in my band.
I think this bass is extremely versitale and my band members all say it's their favorite out of my 6-Bass arsenal so far.

The action is incredible, extremely easy to play, even more comfortable than my favorite Fender P-Bass

I'd say it's pretty durable since it's 25 years old and it only has a few knicks in the finish and headstock, and I believe it's previous owner gigged with it alot from the description I got from the store.

I haven't dealt with Rickenbacker regarding the bass and I hope I won't have to but from what I've heard they are really knowledagle about their instruments and are very helpful. I have a 30 day warranty from Elderly Instruments which seems to be standard.

I've been playing bass seriously for a little over 3 years although I've dabbled with it while I was a drummer for the past 18.
I've owned lots of basses over the last 18 years, everything from pure crap to my dream bass (my '77 Fender P-Bass) and I have to say that my Rick might overtake my Fender as my main bass. If it were lost or stolen I'd definitely look for another one to replace it.

I own a '78 4001 that I got about 6-7 months ago used (duh): wine red colored body and neck, binding on the body and neck, neck-thru body, 4 strings, 20 frets. I got the original hard case and its in decent condition. Over all this bass has all features a bassist could need. I like the addition of a mute on the bridge if you need it and also the Rick-O-Sound inputs are really cool. I believe 20 frets is enough for a bass. If your going to get that high, you might as well get a guitar as far as I'm concerned. I also like having a volumn and tone control for each pickup (4 knobs and a one 3-way switch). A neck and bridge pick-up for bass and treble. String spacing is far enough to make be able to play with fingers and slap, and close enough to make jumps from the E string to the G string easily. Neck is nice and thin too.

I play rock, blues, jazz, metal, punk, and some raggae here and there. This bass really has a unique tone for every style of music. I play it through a Ampeg SVT-3PRO head and Peavey 1x15 cab, and a Crate BFX-50 combo. Many people complain a lot about the limiting tone, and I'm still trying to figure out what they are talking about. I have my bass set-up so that I play the bridge pick-up for a really growling bass sound for hard rock and metal (nails that Geddy Lee tone to a tee). I play through both the bridge and neck pick-up for a mix of a growl and a deep ballsy low end for blues, rock, and jazz. The neck pick-up I use when I want a lot of bass out of the bass. You can adjust it to have a really deep growl. Rickenbacker has really good stock pick-ups to say the least. I know how good this bass sounds. Since I'm not always playing it through a top-of-the-line Ampeg to practice. It even sounds amazing through my Crate! People play the 4001 on stage and in the studio a lot. I like using it with band gigs because unique sound cuts through 2 distorted guitars really easily. The neck-thru body gives the bass amazing sustain too. The Ric sounds amazing to say the least. Oh, and I have played it with both flat and round wounds and it sound great with both.

The action and feel on this bass is what I loved about it first before I played it through an amp. It feels so perfect. At first I didn't like how the the headstock kind of fitted into the neck, making it hard to play the 1 frets on the bass, but I became used to it and it isn't a problem anymore. I really hate the bridge pickup. Its hard to get the pickup cover off and then harder to get the pickup back in! I had to have my bridge pickup re-adjusted because... well its hard to explain if you don't a 4001, but the thing is 24 years old and it only cost like $15 to fix it. None of the hardware has rusted or anything. Rickenbacker did a damn good job setting this bass up.

Lets just say I could unplug this during a gig and break a window with it and come back and finish the gig... in tune. The finish is perfect on fine with a few dinges and scratches. The finish has lasted 24 years, so I'd say its a pretty good finish :). Everything is fine on it. Really nice bass that could outlast me.

I've asked the company a question about the neck and a question about the bridge pick-up and they answered back right away.

I've been playing a year and a half. Best bass I've played to date. I've played Squires, Fenders, Ernie Balls, Gibson, Warwick, Carvin, etc. and this is still the best bass I've played. If it were stolen I would buy another one. If I lost it I would kill myself. I love my 4001 just like every other Rickenbacker owner. The only thing I can think to use instead of my Ric would be a 6-string, or a fretless. This is the 4 string to have.

This ricky was made at the end of 1779.Rickenbacker decodes all serial numbers for you at their site.

its a typicial AWESOME looking 4001.jetglo finish with the white pick guard.cool shark tooth inlays,four knobs,etc.typical rick bass.What confused me is the whole ability to mute the sound with the knobs on the bridge.WHY would you do this? i got my bass and i was so dissapointed.i didnt make a sound.it was hard to play.then i found out IT WAS MUTED.ogh.why would someone leave it like that? what a relief.

Well,this is where things are different.this rickenbacker(PURCHASED OF EBAY)was sent with humbucker pickups.this sounds great.but its not the typical rick sound(well its almost the same.but its alot louder and powerful than a typicial rick).this i love.so i liek it.it came with the original pickups.so if i ever get curious ill just put those in.

ok this is where i fell in love.oh god.the action is AMAZING!.i was little affraid before igot it in the mail that 1). the action would be alittle off.2) the neck would be messed up do to the typical annoying truss rod ajusting.which people do incorrectly alot.
so basically i was worried id have to adjust the neck and everything would the wrench you need to do this.you can order them from rickenbacker but i heard it takes 3000 years to get a response for this.hopefully i wont have a problem.ill need this adjusting tool in the future.no doubt.other than that this thing plays incredible.but maybe thats because im used to cheap fenders,squires,and epiphone basses.

Well idont know much about this.i havent dropped it or hit it with a tree trunk yet.so i dont really know how well it holds up to typical treen agnst. i dont plan on rolling over it with my car or anything.

USE FLATWOUNDS.rounds well mess your 4001 up if you use heavy gauges .theyll make the freats off your bass seperate from the neck! look for this when your shopping for used.

i havent tried to deal with rickenbacker yet.so im in the dark so far.ill need that truss rod tool soon though.hopefully it wont take 6 months to get a reply from them.

ive been playing bass since about 1996,and this is the best ive EVER Played.ive played fenders(new ones),squires(ACK!),and i own an epiphone ripper copy.i love the way this thing plays and sounds.id get another rick in a second.most people hate them due to their original sound.oh well.thats a shame.i love the way this thing looks and plays.its the coolest looking of all the basses in my opinion.i think i got a hell of a deal on this bass too .since theres basically NO scratching anywhere.the frets are great.no beltbuckle wounds.nothing.perfect neck,and from 1979 too!
id get another one for this much money.to me the new ones are way too expensive to get from rickenbacker though.ill definitely get a 4003 next if i get another ricky though.i like the fact that you can use roundwounds on those without worrying about your bass f-ing up and the fretts popping off

As has been mentioned, all of the Rickenbacker features: through body neck, very slim profile, fast neck, typical Ric features. I purchased this bass new and stupidly traded it for another after several years because those whom I was playing with at the time thought the Ric too conservative for their style. Quite by accident, I came across this exact same instrument over 17 years later, so I bought it back. In other words, I was the original owner and am the current owner, but not the only owner. I don't know where it has been since 1984. Wherever that may have been, it must have been a good home because, except for the case, it is in nearly new condition.
I'll rate 10 for features just because there is everything you need and nothing you don't.

NOTHING sounds like a warrior 4001. NOTHING! The 4001 sound cannot be duplicated by any other bass. It is unique, one of a kind. Very bright, punchy, well defined and cuts the mix. You can HEAR it as well as feel it. Almost sounds like it may be overdriven without the extra hardware. Beautiful. Not quite as loud as my Fenders, but so different. Very hard to explain to those who have not had experience with these instruments. Those who have know what I'm talking about.

No flaws, perfect setup. Rickenbackers are capable of extremely low action. When coupled with the slim neck and close string spacing, they are lightning fast players.

This bass is built to last. Ask Geddy and Chris about theirs. Mine is over 20 years old and looks similar as to when it was new. They are workhorses but should be maintained a bit differently than other basses.
Word of warning for Ric owners or wannabes. Make sure that whoever attempts a truss rod adjustment on an older Rickenbacker understands the truss rod setup. They can be tricky and one risks damaging the instrument by simply torquing away on the truss rod nuts. There is a technique to proper adjustment on older (pre-1985) Rics. Not difficult, just different. The idea is that the truss rods will hold and maintain tension on the neck (regardless of the strings you choose). The rods will not, however, create tension. Simply speaking, you must put the tension on the neck that you desire, by hand, and then snug the truss rod nuts to maintain that tension.
Simple as that. Once set, they stay set -in my experience. They are fine instruments. I have heard that they get a bad rap regarding the neck. THIS IS FALSE! It is for no other reason than an apparent excuse for lack of skills by those who would attempt to adjust the rods without proper knowledge.

I've dealt with the company through emails for queries that I had regarding this bass and my emails were answered promptly. I've never dealt with them regarding a repair or warranty issue because it was never necessary.

One of a kind. If it were stolen, I'd hunt it down and.... nevermind. If it were lost? It wouldn't be, I'm not that stupid. I've been playing for several years cumulative after a break and while I give this bass a 10, I'd give others high marks as well. If you like to slap and pop, there are probably basses better suited given the close string spacing on the Ric. Its not a "one trick pony" per say, but its better suited to certain playing styles over others I would think. If your a fast, precision oriented finger picker and like a unique, well defined tone - this is your instrument.

A September, 1980 production pawn shop refugee, in marvelous Azureglo. This bass is a real road warrior, and has the chips and dents to prove it! Super-slim, fast neck that plays like butter. Two Ric "mushroom" single coil pickups. Just like the bass I first learned on, back in the late '70s.

Fantastic sound! I tend to plug dry into the amp, with no effects. I play fingerstyle, and am amazed at the variety of sounds I can wring from this bass! I plan to switch it over to flats, but I wouldn't be surprised if I end up with light roundwounds in the end.

Well, as I said - this was a road warrior, and looks it. Structurally, the bass is fine. The finish has held up well, with the expected buckle rash, a few small chips and dents, and paint wear on the end of the headstock.

A 4001 will obviously hold up to gigging with no problems.

Friendly people that referred me to a dealer in vintage Ric parts.

I've been playing on and off (mostly off) for over twenty years. I can't believe I've lived without a Ric bass for all these years, and would immediately replace it if lost or stolen, provided the replacement had a similar neck.

Year: 1976
Made: U.S.A.
Frets: 20
Strings: 4
Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone; 1 for each pickup and 1 selector switch.
Pickups: 2 Hi-Gain single coil; passive.
Body: Maple.
Finish: Fireglo Red (Basically a Transparent Red)
Tuners: Klussens
Fretboard: Rosewood
Acessories: "Newer" case. It comes with a polish cloth, and a pair of keys.

Style: Easy-I don't really have one. I play anything that comes to my head.
Amps: Fender BXR200 head, and Peavey 2x10 with Carvin Spekers.
Effects: Electro-Harmonix Big Muff distortion, Alesis Nanoverb, Dunlop Wah-Wah, DOD Stereo Flanger.
Sound: Full of charachter!! There is nothing in my opinion that comes close in sounding like a really broken-in Rickenbacker. The sound would be somewhere between warm and bright.
Likes and Dislikes: The only dislike I have is that the Treble pickup (Bridge positioned) is not as loud as the Neck pickup.

Set-Up: I bought this bass used, and it did need a little work. Fortunately, the store I bought it from did the set-up for me. I feel the set-up feels very comfortable.
Pickups: Again, the guys at the store "Fine Tuned" both of my pickups at the proper height.
Flaws: Of course when buying used, there will be some wear on the finish, as well as belt buckle scratches on the back.

Withstand live playing: Definately.
Does the hardware seem like it will last? Yes.
Finish: The finish does seem to be very durable, but nothing lasts forever. There is minor wear from previous owner(s) at a few locations.
Strap buttons: Very solid.
Dependable: Very much so.
Would I use this bass without a backup? Never. No one can tell when something will break.

I bought this bass used at a Daddy's Junky Music store in N.Y. At the time, they had (and probably still do) a 30 day used gear warranty on any used gear that wasn't advertised "As-Is." The wiring needed some work because the previous owner never really took care of it. The job took about 1 week, and the repair was very well done.

I've been playing for about 5 yaers. I've compared it to other basses, (Too many to list) and this is the best one I have owned.

JetGlo 1977 (made in USA as all Ricks).
I bought it brand new when I was 18.
Came with hard case.
Slanted inlays on the neck, stereo Rick-O-Sound.
I don't remember the exact SN, but the prefix was "QA".

Excellent sound, from roaming low to metallic treble. Much medium range too.

This bass is mainly intended to bass players who play with a pick, but as long as you don't slap, it may also fit finger playing. For more comfort, I recommend that you take the cover off from the treble pickup.

No real problem with this bass, but it is highly recommended you do NOT remove the 4 strings at once. So when you change strings, take one off, replace it, then take the next one off, etc. Most recent Ricks now have a double truss rod, and I guess they are more solid.

I never experienced any problem, so I can't say anything about the customer support.

I kept this bass for 3 years. Then I came into funk music and purchased a MusicMan Sting Ray. But then I purchased another second hand Rick 4001 (fireglo) because of nostalgy. Later, bass playing became a very secondary activity for me (back to lead guitar), so I just kept a very ordinary bass (Ibanez) and nothing else. Now I'm back to bass playing, and my very forthcoming purchase will be a Rick, and nothing else. This will be maybe either a 4001V63, or a 4003 (mapleglo).

As long as I played Rick, I experienced many amps :
- Sunn Concert Bass with 215 cabinet
- Marshall Lead 1960 with Sunn 215 cabinet
- Ampeg SVT (vintage monster with 810 cabinet)
- Peavey 215
- Peavey TNT

The color of Rick is not very "amp-sensitive" so that it can come over your amp, and even sound great with very ordinary amps. But of course it will sound exceptional with a great amp such as SVT.

Rics are all machine-and-hand made in the USA (CA). This one was made April of 1986, and factory finished in midnight blue with black binding, black hardware (very little chrome) and black plastics - it looks like a big bruise. Looks only a mother could love. Right-handed. Solid maple wings on maple neck-through construction thinline solidbody. Standard (old) Ric dual trussrods, standard Ric 4-pole "button" 2x passive single coil pickups (I removed the beauty guard over the bridge pickup), 2x vol, 2x tone (upside-down, the volume is the lower knob for each pickup) and a 3-way selector switch, reverse-wound Schaller (Kluson-style) exposed gear tuners, 2 per side, floating 2-point bridge (height adjustment of entire bridge only) with 4 intonation-adjustable saddles, and a massive stop tailpiece (not through-body strung). The headstock is angled back about 12(?) degrees to keep string tension without trees. Tiny strap buttons. Standard Ric 4001 4-string bass, this one's just uglier. No bells or whistles. I'm the 2nd owner (if you don't count the music store where I bought it). 20 LOW frets with fantastic crowning. Great black binding on neck and body. Black plastic nut (very well cut and set) Big-O-slab of dark and grainy rosewood fingerboard which is lacquered over (standard for Rics) with "shark fin" pearloid fingerboard position markers (tiny black dots on the side). Neck is AMAZING: thin front to back (sort of a sharp C then almost flat) and feels between a P-bass and J-bass at the nut in width. Ric literature says it's supposed to be 1 11/16 at the nut, but this is narrower. Narrower than either P- or J-bass at the heel - smooth heel, too, since it's neck-through. Effortless access to all 20 frets. 33 1/4" scale, 10" radius. Without a doubt THE fastest neck in the bass world. Came with a black pseudo-leather locking case (blue lined - especially ugly against the dark blue bass!) with a small hinged top compartment and a Ric polishing cloth. Ric has changed their bass cases since this, and all for the better. The new (plastic) cases have much less room for storage (as they are molded to fit the bass) but offer MUCH better protection and the neck doesn't rest at just 1 point like it does in this older case. For being solid maple, this bass is surprisingly light and EXTREMELY comfortable to play all night - great balance.

The dual truss rods are a bizarre thing. If allowed to go out of alignment, a Ric is horrible! Keep the truss rods set (once set, they don't need much tweaking) and you'll have the best-playing, lowest-action instrument you ever dreamed of.

Only niggles (and I play a lot, and lots of basses), the "upside-down" vol/tone controls and backwards-wound tuners. But would I change them? NO.

I've left this 4001 with GHS light FLAT-WOUNDS on it, as God and Rickenbacker intended. This limits its tone to use for Beatles and jazz. I could run light rounds on it, but I have 2 other Rics for that :-)

But a Ric with round wounds will fit ANY style except slap-N-pop funk. I run her through my standard rig: Ashdown ABM-500 "bass magnifier" head and David Eden 410XLT cabinet, no effects. This one sounds like Beatles "Paperback Writer" and early Chicago "thumpy" bass lines (think "Color My World"). Peter Cetera played a 4001 for a while with Chicago. For flat wounds, the Ric has more sustain than you might expect, and more "guts" - but the neck pickup can get boomy and muddy. Has more WOOD than any other electric bass - and you jazz players know that's a wonderful thing. And with the built-in string mute, it can sound very, very much like an upright.

The pickups are high-gain single coils (much more output than a Fender J-bass), coils staggered for equal string pull (the bridge is pre-curved to match the fretboard crown radius as well). These pickups can be quite noisy, single coil hum monsters. They are not shielded very well. I'm a big fan of the "standby" switch on my bass head. Also, due to the very solid and bright construction/tone qualities of maple, playing hard on any Ric will get lots of "click" and "Clank" from the strings hitting the 20th fret or, if not properly set up, hitting a pickup coil. On a Fender, this sounds aggressive and ringing - on a Ric, it just sounds harsh, brittle and ugly. Due to the limitations of the flat wound strings' tonal capabilities (it's not the bass, believe me!), I'll give it a solid 8 for tone. Running light guage round wounds, 4001s/4003s have an amazing and very versatile tonal range.

I bought this guitar 2nd hand, so I don't know how the factory treated it. I have to guess that the finish shop had a good time painting it midnight blue then reversing the binding, chrome and plastics (all black) - what the heck were they thinking?? The shop owner where I found her assured me that the bass had been bought new by a teenager Christian rock beginner, who didn't like the bass. My gain. Anyway, I have to presume that the nut wasn't re-cut and the set-up was probably as original from Ric. And it is ASTOUNDING. This is THE BEST PLAYING BASS I OWN, and I own 13... I haven't touched a thing except the rare truss rod tweak (which I do not do myself - I'll crank on Fenders all day long, but I only trust my Rics to paid and trusted professionals). I haven't needed to. Action, fit and finish are exemplary. The only "flaw" is the fact that the lacquer is lightly "creased" where the neck joins the body wings, especially on the back of the guitar. So what? It's 15 years old, and still looks new (if ugly). Also, the jack plate (which is chrome) has tints of rust. Don't worry, I know the serial number by heart.

If I were to replace the flat wounds with round wounds, it would be the bass from Hell - but I don't want to mess with perfection and I'll leave it the way God and Rickenbacker intended, with flat-wounds. I'm almost (heck, I AM) afraid that after 15 years of perfect neck alignment, round wounds would throw it out of wack. And this bass has perfect wack as it is.

I play Rics, I play Fenders (and Yamahas, and a '67 Hofner) and I play them LOTS: recording, reherasing and gigging. I've been playing bass since a Jr. in high school (1980/81). Last time I did math, that's 20 years' experience. So take my word on this: RIC's LAST. They can and do withstand the worst weather and hardest gigs, and you won't need a backup instrument. Hardware and finish will outlast YOU. Strap buttons are small, so use strap locks or replace the factory buttons if you're paranoid or jump around a lot (I don't). Rics stay in tune, sound great, look great and ALWAYS work. In 20 years of playing I have NEVER had ANY problem of ANY KIND with a Rickenbacker. End of discussion. Is there an "11" rating?

Two additinal words of caution, especially for you players of older Rics or those looking for an old 4001 (and you know what I'm talking about): First, the neck on older 4001s (not the reissues) can be a very finicky and fragile thing. The weather (temp, humidity) can really effect it: perfect one day, bowed or back-bowed the next. It's the old truss rod system, and it's just the nature of the beast. The 4003s and 4001/V reissues have bigger, better truss rods. Of course, their necks aren't quite as small. Second, never EVER put anything made with chlorine next to your Ric's finish. This means rubber stands and cleaning fluids. Chlorine WILL eat right through and "melt" a Ric's lacquer over time. Have a stand with those soft rubber holders? Chlorine - put a cloth down between the stand and your baby. Do this, and your grandchildren will be wondering where you got the "new" Rickenbacker.

Well, I'm the 2nd owner, and I'm pretty sure the factory warranty has expired on this particular instrument. I've dealt with Ric, 3 times. All were for good things - I've never needed a repair, never had a problem. But all these were more than 10 years ago so I have to give the "no opinion" opinion.

5 year warranty on new instruments from Ric. I personally know of one (1) person who had to send a Ric instrument back - it was damaged during shipping, not a factory defect. Not that Ricenbacker is perfect: just nearly so. They make and finish 10 to 12 instruments at a time, so the quality control is pretty darned amazing.

Been playing 20 years. Own lots of gear, and use it all (the right tool for the job). My main and favorite instruments are Rics. I own Fender(s), Yamaha, Hofner (basses); Ashdown, G-K and Carvin heads. The main Ric I take out to play is a jetglo 4003 - she's my favorite. I'll also often haul out a customized Fender '67 P-bass (or another that's a reissue, especially if it's raining!) and sometimes a mapleglo 4003/S (which is the most "average" Ric I own). This 4001 is THE BEST player, hands-down. But I don't gig it. I don't know what I'd do if it were slolen or damaged, so I keep it under lock and key inside my home, and it never leaves. It's hard to find good 4001s and this one is SO MUCH better than "good", even if it is ugly as sin. People just don't let them go - and that should tell you prospective buyers something. Each Ric is hand-finished, so they all feel different. Some have baseball bat necks, some have necks like mine (thin and perfect, effortless and FAST). I don't think this one COULD be replaced. I want additional Ric basses, but could not replace this particular one. The fact that it stays so perfect and even gets better with age makes it a 10.

1977 Jetglo (black w/chrome hdwr & white binding/pickguard) a la Geddy Lee. Standard neck-thru maple construction with dual truss rods, adjustable at the head stock. Big "Fender-type" tuners. Two volume, two tone pots with 3-way selector switch for the two high-gain single coil pickups. Patented Ric tailpiece with floating bridge. Stereo (Rick-O-Sound) output alongside standard mono jack.

This is the premier center-stage bass of its time. Very cutting bite with lots of bottom end, more than anyone needs. I usually crank the tone knobs all the way and EQ on the amps. I have owned vintage Fender Jazz and Precision basses and old Gibson T-Birds, and none compare to a Ric. I let those all go without regret, and still have five Rics in my current lineup. Unless you play a slap style, or VERY wimpy music where the bass is expected to remain a subtle background instrument (as in, "I think there's a bass but I can't really tell"), a Ric stomps any kind of Fender or the like. These basses were made for using flatwounds, hence the introduction of the 4003 model in 1980 for roundwounds. These basses are used by superstars of every genre of music. So if you can't find a use for one, it's not Rickenbacker's fault. I have used the stereo (Ric-O-Sound) output for separating the treble and bass pickup signals in the past with interesting effect, mostly during recording.

This bass was as I recall, especially well set up from the factory. Not all Rics come that way, but great action can be achieved on any of them once the proper set up is completed. If you don't know how to do this, I recommend taking it to an experienced professional - NOT a music store flunky! The wrong person can screw one of these guitars up quick with the dual truss rods. I have seen these broken because of over-tightening. The finish is perfect on every Ric I have seen, and the frets are nicely dressed. Binding is very nice. The cresting wave body is distinctly different than any other make, and it is interesting and well-balanced without being too radical.

I have played hundreds of shows over the years with Ric basses, and have never experienced any kind of breakage or deterioration. I always install straplocks upon purchase, but the Ric strap buttons are cast with a heavy machine-type thread. I once (in 1979) had my truss rods adjusted too tight and experienced a radical tightening of the neck at an outdoor show in 90+ degree heat, but I fixed that and have never had that happen since. The outstanding balance and light weight (especially with this much incredible sustaaaaaiiiin) make this bass very stage-friendly.

I have had several contacts with Rickenbacker over the years and they have always treated me as a preferred customer. I have never needed to have any of my Rickenbackers serviced over that time, but they have handled all of my requests promptly and to my complete satisfaction.

I have been playing bass for over 25 years and now own 5 Ric basses and two guitars, along with 6 other makes. My Ric basses are my favorites. My current primary instrument is a Ric 4003S/5 5-string. This 4001 has been the least-used of my Ric basses over the last 2 decades, but it is still way cool and in minty shape, even though it was my main gig bass for three years in the '70s. What's not to like?

1976 fireglo with white pickguard. Purchased used with the usual missing items. Mute and mute height nobs gone and OF COURSE the pickup crome cover was missing. Stereo Ric-o-Sound(never have tried it). Individual volume and tone dials for each pickup. Gorgous neck-tons of "curl and burl" and that off-white binding. Deep 3-D finish. Great piece of wood! Thru-body neck.

This was my first rock instrument ever. Bought during my Rush period with a wee bit of Yes. Very bitey. High end solo instrument. Now 15 years later when I am a recording artist myself, I found I used it on only one track. Fender jazz won out. No-I didn't get that because of Geddy either! It's much fuller and usefull than the Rick and I should say, my jazz proffesors hated Ricks, just like another reviewer wrote. I was smart enough not to bring it in the first place. Noisey as hell pick-ups, as anyone will tell you. Turn on a flouresent light anywhere in the building and you'll pick it up.

This is a dream to play. Great and fast, but easily injured neck. Tricky to adjust. Devastating if it warps, with it's thru-body construction.

I'm always scared of bringing this one out. It's too fancy to be tough. I'd take a $299 Mexican Fender to a club gig any day over the Rick and save it for The Roxy, etc, where you can get up and away from the people and accidents. Also, I have a dream, every half year or so, in that I pick it up and the headstock flops around like a baby's unsupported head! I am horrified and check the bass the next day-and I totally don't believe in premonitions!

No idea.

I always say I'm getting rid of this bass. It lives in it's case in the closet year after year. Then I take it out so I don't forget what it looks like and I put it on a stand in my living room. Then, I clean the living room so everything looks nicer. This bass has a hold on me. I told you that I used it on ONE song on my first CD when I got my break, but now I'll tell you this: it's the Rickenbacker I chose to have photographed for the booklet!

My bass is a beautiful Burgundy-glo 1978 Rickenbacker 4001. Like all
Rick 4001's, it is a neck-through-body design with solid maple body wings, two Rickenbacker pickups, two volume knobs, two tone knobs, and a 3 way selector switch. It has a mono output and a "Rick-O-sound" output, which is a stereo output that sends each pickup to a different channel. The burgundy finish is really nice, its a deep red lacquer that you can see the wood grain through. The white trim on mine has yellowed nicely. I've replaced the neck pickup with a Rickenbacker Humbucker. Very good sounding pickups.

I've had this bass for over seven years now, and I bought it from a friend who had it for the five years prior to that. I initially wanted it because I was very into that Yes/Genesis/Van der Graf Generator/Mandrake Memorial/Puzzle art rock thing. I was using DR roundwounds on it through an old Ampeg head and I was in heaven. As my tastes changed, and I started playing in more sedate bands and getting back to my roots a bit, I switched from roundwound to Ernie Ball Chrome Flatwounds. THIS IS THE TONE! Man! People who think it can't get a funky Motown sound don't know what they're doing. Put a set of flats on it and run it flat out with the pickup selector in the middle and you are THERE. Play it with a pick and you sound like McCartney on Sgt. Pepper's. Play it with your fingers and you sound like James Jamerson (that's the Motown bass player, if you're ignorant.) I've used this bass onstage hundreds of times, many studio sessions, I've flown with it to England and back and have never had any doubts about it.

This is an amazing instrument. It was perfectly set up when I bought it, with a Graphite nut, and in all the use I've given it it hasn't strayed from that setup a bit. It is extremely stable; it can tune it at the beginning of a tour and even with the vibration and heat of the van it will still be in tune after several dates. Right after I bought it, the neck pickup died; it had been re-wound by a moron. I replaced it with a Humbucker from rickenbacker and have had no trouble since.

This bass is solid. At first I was worried about the neck - I'd only had removeable necks before and I didn't like the idea that you couldn't replace it. I've played it at hundreds of shows without a backup; even if I break a string the others stay in tune so it's just a matter of finding a creative way to get through the song without that string! The finish is very durable, I've picked up a few chips here and there but each one has a story behind it.

The folks at Rickenbacker are very helpful and knowledgeable about their products. The company has been family owned from the start, so there isn't a big corporation takeover and the associated loss of product continuity like there is with Gibson, Fender, Guild, MXR, hell...just about everyone else except Martin.

I went throug a bunch of other basses before settling down with this one; various Ibanez, a Pedulla, a Washburn, different Fender P and J basses. This one has stayed and is not for sale.

I owned two of these basses, both of which I bought during the big Chris Squire/Yes craze of the early to mid 70's in which every bass player got a Rick, played with a pick, "shagged" his hair, and tried to play complex bass lines (this of course includes me).

I bought them both new in Orlando, Florida. The first one was red with white pickguard, purchased in 1973. The second was black with a white pickguard and was bought in 1975.

The neatest feature was the stereo output. I used a Traynor amp with Sunn 2X15 reflex cabinet for the neck pickup and a Marshall 50W with front loaded Bandmaster cabinet for the bridge pickup.


I think nobody could argue the styling of this bass. It was truly eye catching.

I guess my biggest problem with it was what drew me to it in the first place - its characteristic Geddy Lee or Chris Squire sound.

When I first heard "Roundabout" and "Yours is no Disgrace" in 1971 I KNEW I had to have that sound. It was so cool.

But later, my taste changed to more groove oriented playing a la Motown or J.P.Jones and I found that I couldn't get the warm full bodied sound that a Fender bass is known for. I was playing in a Community College Jazz band and the band director hated it, even going so far as to list me in the program as playing the "Fender Bass". Well it certainly didn't belong in that environment.

I guess I would have to say that I found the tonal possibilities limited.

Both seemed well made to me.

Two major problems here. The 1973 Red one suffered a badly warped neck! On the 1975 black one, the cheap Grover tuning keys (made of pot metal) fell apart. The back plate broke off and since it held the key in place, it fell off. Since they were pot metal, no way to fix.

Maybe the reissues have corrected these problems I had.

Definitely not as robust as a Fender Precision (I've had two of these).

N/A

I've been playing bass since 1969.

Visit my history of Orlando, Florida rock music website at:

www.birdsbands.com

Thanks

This Ricky is an 81 & is an American model. She's a black body with a black scratch plate & no white trim as with most other black models which makes this model somewhat more collectable than others of it's ilk. I chose it for it's somewhat oblique oddity.

It's a fretted 4 string standard with the typical 3 way selector switch for both PU's or just bridge & neck. It has twin tone & volume pots for the individual PU's so you can with a degree of fiddling eek out subtle tonal differences. The bridge PU guard is gone THANK GOD cause who wants it anyway?

Beautiful weight .. not sure on the woods, check other posts on that. It's a Rick you've seen em & drooled. Ofcourse you have the standard input or the classic Rick sound input which I agree with other posters sounds the same as the standard but with this difference - it's just like a way more trebbly input & thats about it. I hate it & never use it.

I have been salivating & searching lightyears for an Ovation Viper solidbody bass & the only bastard who seems to have one is Jah Wobble!

My desire in terms of a bass sound was always to get that Wobble low end distorted rumble. He was using an old precision most of the time anyway so the Ovation only made sense from the angle that I love solid body Ovation ANYTHING & collect them & have two electrics soooo.

Finally I was in store one day & saw the Rick & thought ... thats it lets try it out. It was the sweetest thing I've ever played & really had a beautiful tone. Theres something amazing about playing a quality instrument & this was just magic.

It gives off a funny little bit of noise which I seem to think is an earthing thing to do with the pickups. I recall Chris Squire from YES had the same thing with his Rick when recording BIG GENERATOR, it seems to be a Rick thing. I found the only way to get rid of it was to roll off the treb or EQ it.

This bass actually to me has a DARK sound & I think thats what attracted me to it so much. I know Matlock used a red Ricky 4001 for the early recordings in the Sex Pistols & I've always loved that fat dark Punk bottom end. This bass draws a very long bow though & will give you equally bright stuff if thats what you want.

I have used this bass for mic'd recordings through an amp onto hard disk & it translates as fat as anything. I haven't used it live as I am a guitarist anyway but I wish my bass player to be a Ricky player when next I am gigging.

I really can't fault this beautiful instrument, I won't need another bass for the rest of my life ... I mean it!

2nd hand bass .... but man ... flawless really.

This Bass will stand the test of time ... no problems here.

Never dealt with them & with most GREAT products I probably will NEVER have to.

I've been playing for 12 years & own a slew of amps, guitars, weird electronics, theremins etc etc.

The case was beaten to shit so thats to be remedied in future.
It won't be stolen or lost I guarantee that much!!!!!
I'd buy another one for sure though.
My fave feature is the big horn on it that you can pretty much pick it up by. I also love that it has the rarity of being all black & featureless but for the silver fittings.
Beautiful bass ... never looked back.

Although the guy at the store swears it is a '74, the serial number says its an '81, I think I'll believe the serial number. It has two pickups, each with its own volume and tone knobs, and a stereo output. By far the coolest feature on mine is the bridge, it has "BAD ASS" engraved into it.

My band plays a lot of classic rock stuff and this bass is awesome. I have an Ampeg half stack (it so old the model number has worn off) and use a Dano Fab Tone distortion pedal and Surf and Turf Compressor on occasion. I use it for our everything, I'm almost tempted to sell off my other basses

The action was just right when i bought it, but since i bought it used it looks like its been through a war, the finish on the back of the neck is gone, the back is very scratched and there are chips in the paint on the front.

Like I said, the thing has been through a war, I've even had it fall over a few times and it's still fine, no backup required.

This is the greatest bass I have ever had the priveledge of playing, let alone owning.

You got to love Rick's. My new toy is a 1974-76 4001 purchased at Gruhn's guitars in Nashville (a great store). Mapleglo (natural) finish on maple body, 33 5/8 inch scale (very odd), cream binding on neck and body, two single coil pickups, two volumes, two tones, STOCK PICKUP SELECTOR SWITCH-THANK YOU GOD, stereo input jack, and its neck through My only gripe is that the straplock buttons are too small for the staps I have, I need to buy some straplock buttons fast Came with a hardshell case

Holy christ, this bass sounds good. The pickups sound similar, but who cares, I've been running it through a piece of crap Ibanez 15 watt amp, and I'm convinced this bass would sound good through anyting

Couldn't tell you about the facotory set-up since the bass is older than I am, but it came from the store fine, the ony mar on this bass is a little belt-buckle wear on the back, but nobody else is gonna see that

I haven't played this bass live yet, but I think it would stand up to alot, though I don't plan on finding out how much is alot, though the strap buttons suck

won't need to deal with the company

I LOVE THIS BASS, this is the only four string I will ever need, but one question, why does everyone bitch about the rear pickup cover? I think its the best thumbrest you could ask for.

Mid-70's 4001 (don't know exact year) classic 4-string with pretty honey maple finish, white binding and pickguard, triangle inlays, same standard hardware and specs as in the previous 4001 submissions, etc. - no modifications. Hardshell case somewhat banged up, but bass in fine shape for its age (bought used in 1986). Famous Rick "character" (great quality and style along with the usual quirks).

I play through a Peavey Combo, with no effects. Distinctive and versatile sound, though the contemporary gospel and standard rock/pop/country I play doesn't really display its true character as does pick-happy progressive rock. Great piano-like bottom, but the unique trebly sound is available when you really need to cut through the clutter. Choice of strings is a big factor in getting the sound you really want, so experiment with various flavors before making up your mind on a 4001/4003.

Fortunately, the action and intonation were set just just right for me years ago and has stayed that way -- and I have been easy on this bass. After reading some other comments on the dual truss rods, I'd rather NOT have to mess with them anyway. Nice finish and detailing holds up even now, revealing a quality instrument when first built. My Rick still turns heads and brings out positive comments from all, including from other bass players. No major flaws, but I have to agree with others on the silly plate over the pickup -- taken off long ago! Thank goodness it was easy to remove.

Don't know about durability and frequency of adjustments, since I have been so careful with this bass, but the build quality and heft sure beats a lot of other new instruments out there. Strap buttons only so-so, but easy to replace with something better. Finish is still rich and glossy with no cracking -- but as the 4001CS owner stated, does seem to slow playability at the back of the neck.

N/A

Been playing bass on and off since late 70s. Previously owned a Gibson EB-0L (ugh), have since bought a new Washburn XB (ok) and Carvin AC40 (very nice). The 4001 is not perfect, but I know I would instantly regret the day I ever got rid of it. Fortunately, having a nice, trouble-free used sample has influenced my opinion favorably. Shop carefully, make sure the one you like has no problems and is adjusted correctly, and you too will be a proud owner. (Thanks to all the other 4001/4003 owners for their informative and insightful submissions!)

This U.S.-made Rickenbacker electric bass is a 1974 4001 in Jet-Glo finish (black) with white binding. Two proprietary Rickenbacker pickups, each with its own volume and tone control, three-way selector switch, mono and stereo outputs, a very solid chrome tailpiece and a built-in string damper. The construction is neck-through-body, and the instrument is very nicely balanced.

This is a very versatile bass. I play rock, from pop to punk and everything in between, and the Rickenbacker sounds great at all times. I keep the pickup selector in the middle (both PUs on), and the volume and tone maxed. Played with the fingers, the bass produces rich, warm tones; pick playing brings out the classic Rickenbacker sound -- deep, solid, tight bottom end topped off by aggressive treble that gives this bass real personality. In a recording setting (home studio) it can produce a bit of high-pitched hum, but this hasn't been a problem yet.

I bought this 1974 bass used in 1987, and it was set up just about perfectly. It's since gone through some lengthy dormant periods, but it's also seen plenty of action. The intonation is still almost perfect; the pots are starting to get noisy, but nothing a good cleaning won't fix. The finish seems durable, although I have always been VERY careful with this bass -- it's my pride and joy. The frets and fingerboard still look and feel new, even after 26 years, and the action is light and clean all over the neck.

I wouldn't hesitate to take this bass just about anywhere. It's almost immune to temperature change -- it seems to have its mind made up that it will stay in tune no matter what. The hardware is beefy and heavy -- very confidence-inspiring. I would use it with no backup. I'll rate it at nine rather than 10, though, because I am extremely careful with it. Someone who treats instruments a little more roughly might have different results.

Never had to deal with the company. Haven't needed any repairs I couldn't do myself.

I've been playing guitar for about 30 years, and bass for 20. My other instruments include an early '60s Harmony Meteor (the "You Really Got Me" guitar, according to Dave Davies), a late '70s Peavey T-60, and an ancient Raven short-scale J-bass copy, modified by me with Bill Lawrence electrics, that I played in a couple of swing bands in the '80s. I have to admit that a big part of what led me to seek out a Rickenbacker was the "coolness" factor, in sound and appearance. But this bass has come through with performance to match its style. If I ever lost it, I would not rest until I had found another!

This is the most popular Rickenbacker bass ever. a 1974 Rickenbacker 4001. Rickenbacker may have stopped production on them in 1981, but you still see many of them in shops and on eBay. The main difference between this ad the current 4003 is the neck, which requires a lighter tension string, which means a very light round-wound or flat-would strings, as the instrument was intended for use with; due to the original twin double-truss rods (that's 2 double-rods-a double rod is like the "Hot Rod" truss rod in the Stewart MacDonald catalog). Everything else is similar to the Rick 4003--but not quite the same. 20 fret neck, mother of pear inlays, heavily finished neck, 2 Rickenbacker high-gain pickups. Two Volume, and two tone controls, with a 3-way switch, and an adjustable bridge/tailpeice with an adjustable string mute. Neck-through-body construction, with maple and walnut laminates. Stereo (Rick-O-Sound) or mono input. Crafted in July 1974 in Santa Ana, California. Hardshell case is included, but it's a bit beat up.

I play rock of all kinds. I do alot of playing as a hobby, I've only been using a Dean Markley K-20B with this bass, I'm going to get a Hartke B60 combo soon. I use no effects, I don't really see the need, all the tone I want is there. I use the great big bridge pickup, with the tone all the way down, and have most amps with a 3-band EQ set with high treble and midrange, and the bass somewhere in the middle, and the volume all the way up, the result, is bass you can FEEL just as good as, or possibly better than you can HEAR it. I just love the way it sounds like this. Also, I believe the wiring was messed with, because the neck pickup sounds like crap (lots of static), I'm gonna get that looked at soon.

I consider myself this bass' idea of a retirement. I'm a guitar player who occaisionally likes to pick up a bass and peel the paint off the walls. I bought this bass for fun and for recording purposes. For being almost 26 years old, this bass is in good shape, just some wear on the back, and a little cracking on the front, the action is practically perfect, I set it up myself, and did a little fix on the mute, which I plan to do proper, soon. I think this bad boy is in very good shape for its age, solid, except for the finish.

This bass has been through hell. I'm sure it's seen live playing, recording, and possibly even some Dead (Grateful Dead, that is) playing. I'm sure if I was to bring it out for a gig, it would fare just fine. The finish hasn't gotten worse, since I've had it, so I guess it's just years (and years and years) of use. I have only adjusted the truss rods once, and I haven't had to again. I'd definately use this without a backup, if I was a bass player.

Rickenbacker recently has made the factory open to repairs and setups, but it's very costly. The guitar is 5 years older than I am. The warranty has been long expired. Above all this, my hobby is guitar repair, and I have some good friends who are techs. I don't see any worries for me.

I've been dabbling in bass on and off for ages. I've been playing guitar for about 5 years. I've owned numerous guitars, currently, the main guitar is a Rickenbacker 360 6-string. The feel of this bass is great, not too heavy, but you can tell you're playing a serious instrument. I used to own a P-Bass copy and I've tried many a P-Bass type instrument. No comparing this to one of them. I plan to never to take this out of the house, so I doubt much bad will happen to it. If you can get a deal on one of these, pick it up. It's worth it.