Rickenbacker 4003 Bass

I'm sure if you know anything about basses you'll know about Rickenbackers.It's the essential retro bass.Used by the likes of Paul McCartney,Chris Squire,Lemmy and hundreds of other bassists who want a cool looking, cool sounding, cool playing bass.20 frets, 4 strings(I use D.R.'s),solid maple body,thru neck,2 single coil pickups(DiMarzio make replacements),nifty string damper in the bridge unit,very antique bakelite nut,"shark fin" inlays,passive with volume and tone controls and pickup selectors, stereo output.The neck has been compared by a few of my former guitarists to a Jackson Randy Rhoads-but wider.LOADS of chrome!!!

Very distinct sounding bass.Reasonably wide range of tones available with some very double bass sounds on the neck pickup.I use loads of effects with my Ricky and because of the clarity of the pickups combined with the strings I use the effects always come across clearly.....so no problems there.I prefer to use my Musicman at home or in the studio but when you crank up the volume and play live the bass really shines.It sounds awesome for punky stuff especially through a valve amp (listen to any Hives CD and you'll see what I mean)

The guitar was set up pretty poorly when I bought the guitar.I gave the guitar to a friend of mine, and although an amateur , he set up the Ricky well.The action was just how I like it(as low as possible).The pickups were high enough to get a good signal from the strings but low enough to avoid hitting them during frantic playing.I don't know if the paint had a flaw in it but although the very attractive metallic midnight blue was supposed to be solid,the grain of the maple body shows through.It looks cool, even if it is a flaw.The tuners havent given a single bit of trouble and all the electrics are like new-no buzzing or grinding.All in all a very well made but poorly set up bass.

If this is a good measure of the durability or reliability or the Rickenbacker then so be it-I haven't tuned the bass in for 4 months and its still in tune.I play it numerous times a week,it's been in temperatures of minus 10 degrees and plus 25 but still stays in tune.No matter how hard I try it won't go out of tune.The lacquer on the back of the neck came off but it was propped up against the serrated metal front of my amp so it was my fault really.The twin truss rod neck has'nt needed adjusting but I have got the same gauge strings that Rickenbacker recommend.

Dunno never tried to get anything from Rickenbacker

Love it.Unrivalled.Irreplacable,cool,chic,everyone loves its looks,sounds great.Thats it really

Stock 1995 Jetglo 4003. You've probably already read about the features, but to summarize: neck-through construction, two passive single coil pickups, two volume and two tone controls (one set for each pickup), three-position pickup selector switch, stereo output (to power two amps simaltaneously), maple neck and solid maple body, bound body and fingerboard, rosewood fingerboard with "shark fin" inlays and clear polyurethane finish, unique dual truss rod configuration, 20 frets, Schaller Deluxe tuners. Comes with a hardshell case made for Rickenbacker by SKB, a RIC polish cloth, allen wrench, and manual.

The 4000 series bass was extremely innovative when it was introduced in the 50's and thankfully, Rickenbacker has made only minor changes to the original design. In an industry that is inundated with copycats, this is truly a one-of-a-kind bass. It has everything you need on an electric bass without useless bells and whistles. I give RIC a 9 for pioneering one of the few truly classic designs and for not subsequently ruining it by jumping on the bandwagon and turning it into yet another Fender Jazz ripoff with active electronics.

This is by far the most important feature of any musical instrument and this is where Rickenbackers truly excell. The neck-through design that RIC pioneered give their basses unmatched clarity and sustain. This is now my main bass. Probably the main reason I switched to a Ric is that I got tired of not being able to hear what I was playing. This bass cuts through the wall of mush in my
four-piece band with rich definition throughout the range of the instrument. Not only can you hear it, but what you are hearing is heavenly! The notes have that distinctive Rickenbacker twang that is unmistakable. It's very warm sounding, but bright at the same time. By playing with the knobs you can alter the tone quite a bit, but it always sounds like a Ric. Either you love that sound or you don't. Rics have a reputation for being very trebly and some people will tell you they lack low-end. Don't believe this!! Just because Chris Squire boosted the highs on his Ric doesn't mean that they always sound that way. Rickenbacker modified the pickups when they introduced the 4003 and this bass can produce lows on par with any other model. In fact, due to the clarity of the notes, I can dial in more generous lows with my 4003 than other basses without it sounding muddy. I'm in an eclectic jamband and we play a variety of styles - rock, funk, jazz, bluegrass - and this bass sounds right at home in virtually any context. The guys in my band love it too and I've received lots of compliments on my sound from others. I even slap on it occasionaly and it sounds every bit as percussive and twangy as my Fender Jazz!

I bought this bass used, but it was mint when I got it. I'm not sure how much it was tweaked before I got my hands on it, but I can't find a damn thing to complain about. The action is low without ANY buzzing. The intonation is perfect. This bass never goes out of tune. I'll play a gig with it, sweating all over it for two sets, then come to band practice a week later and it's still in tune! The hardware is totally solid. The finish is beautiful and seems really resistant to scratching. The bass looked unplayed when I got it and it was six years old at that point.

My one complaint here is that the strap buttons come loose regularly. It's not a big deal, all I do is screw them in a couple of turns when I'm done playing. This is a common problem due to the weight of the instrument and it's been an issue with the other two basses I currently own as well. Eventually I'll do what I did to the others and glue pieces of a dowel into the holes and re-insert the screws.

I've only gigged with it a couple of times, but it's been standing up great to the thrashing it gets twice a week at our marathon rehearsals. The hardware is heavy, solid, and straightforward. The body is a solid slab of maple and it's a neck-through. It's passive, so there isn't much that could go wrong with the electronics unless something somehow came unsoldered inside. I can't anticipate having any problems with it. I don't use a backup. If I felt like I needed one, than I simply wouldn't play this bass. If I break a string, then it's time for a drum solo!

Never needed it, doubt I will. When purchased new, it comes with a five year warranty.

I've been playing bass for 12 years. I also currently own a Fender American Standard Jazz and a G&L L-2000. I have owned the following basses: an Alembic Spoiler, an Ernie Ball Stingray, a Fender Precision, an Ibanez RoadStarr II, a Washburn six-string bass, and a Kramer Ferrington acoustic bass guitar. All three of my current basses are great in their own ways (that's why I still own them), but my Ric is easily my favorite. I've gone through a lot of basses searching for the right one and wasted a lot of money in the process, but I feel that I've finally found my voice with this 4003. I will keep this bass for the rest of my life and if something happened to it, I'd go right back out and buy another one.

If you've read this far, you know that I love this bass and you know why. In the interest of full disclosure, I'll share the downsides of this bass. First, it has required a significant modification of my right hand technique. Many Ric players play with a pick, so this wouldn't be an issue for them, but I don't. Ric basses come with a hand rest over the bridge pickup. Like most owners, I removed mine (which was a bit of an inconvenience in itself.) The bridge pickup sits in a wide cavity in the body of the bass. When I tried to position my hand on the pickup as I do when playing my other basses, I ended up with a nasty cut in my thumb where it was rubbed raw by the metal plate around the bridge pickup cavity. I've since learned to play with my thumb anchored just in front of this metal plate against the screw that fastens it to the body. It took some time to get comfortable playing with my hand in this location, but now it feels natural.

Second, the edge of the binding on the body rubs against my forearm and can become uncomfortable after a prolonged playing session. Again, it's something that I have become used to, but it bothered me sometimes initally.

Every bass has pros and cons and this one is no different. The exquisite sound of this bass makes the adjustments I've had to make in my technique seem like paltry sacrifices. Still if you've never played a Ric before, you should probably try to play one a bit before you plunk down your cash.

For the time being, I play through a GK 400RB into an SWR Workingman's 4X10T or through a Nemesis NC-210 combo amp. However, I am currently assembling a rack that will include an Ampeg SVT-3 Pro and a dbx compressor and will soon upgrade to an Eden D-410T cabinet. When I plug my Ric into this system I'm expecting some serious magic!

I'm a hardcore Rickenbacker fan, and the day my stock mapleglo 4003 was delivered produced a big adrenaline rush. Everything about this bass is first-class. The maple grain, though relatively conservative, was gorgeous. The front body binding was great, and the fret job was nice, though the side filing could've been a bit better. The lacquer finish was flawless. This bass was ordered with standard chrome hardware and white trim. The serial number on the jackplate indicates a production date of November, 1992.

The neck is the classic slim Rickenbacker style-- very easy on the hand, and very easy to play. Binding on each side of the neck, and those beautiful sharkfin inlays on the fretboard. Great action and set-up straight out of the factory; I've never had to make any kind of adjustment. This bass is incredibly low maintenance. The pickups/electronics are stock Rickenbacker passive, with individual volume and tone controls and 3-way pickup selector switch. The body and headstock styling have the instantly noticeable and recognizable "cresting wave", which makes it my favorite over any other brand of bass ever made. The design is classic and timeless, and I hope Rickenbacker never changes it.

I'm rating this bass a 9 for features, only because of passive pickups. But that's what I want anyway; I HATE active electronics on any kind of bass or guitar except for the Zeta Crossover (which is another review.) Rickenbacker bass pickups have always had the reputation of having a high output. With a high quality rig, this eliminates the need some players might feel for active electronics. It has all the features you would expect or need for a passive pickup bass.

As most bass players know, a Rickenbacker has a unique tone that is different from any other. It doesn't have the most versatile tone around, and certainly it's not for everyone. But you know a Ric when you hear it, and that's what I wanted.

However, there is a secret to making the 4003 more versatile in tone: a premium set of Pyramid Gold flat-wound strings. When the factory installed round-wounds (which I hated) finally gave out, I replaced them with a set of the Pyramid Golds. Be forewarned that these strings are pretty expensive, but they are the BEST I've ever played. They give my Ric a much warmer sound with the tone controls all the way flat. The Pyramids are made of a special silver and nickel alloy, and have a glassy smooth feel. (These would also be ideal for any fretless.)

Anyway, a high quality set of flat-wounds make my Ric more acceptable in a situation that calls for the classic Fender Precision or Jazz tone. You'll never fully capture a Fender tone with a 4003, but you can get reasonably close with the aforementioned flat-wound strings, the tone controls dead flat, and a quality rig. By the way, my rig now consists of a Walter Woods Super High power solid state amp, and a 4 ohm Euphonic Audio VL-210 cabinet (which is, sadly, now discontinued.) This rig is absolutely unbeatable.

My 4003 works equally well in the studio, or live gigs.

I've covered most of this in the earlier features section. About the only thing I can add is that bass is top quality in every aspect. My only complaint (a very minor one at that) is that the fret job could've been a little more professional; but nothing about this bass has ever given me any problem in the 9 nine years I've had it. The action is quick and just right; it has never required any adjustment. If it ever did, the double truss rod system would make it easy.

The hardware is first-rate. I replace the strap buttons, but only because I wanted straplocks. The finish is nitrocellulose lacquer and no doubt will check or wear off eventually; but I take damn good care of my basses and equipment and, so far, there's absolutely no evidence of checking or wear.

This bass has proven it's dependability and I would not hesitate to take it to a gig without a backup. I've done it many times with no worries whatsoever.

Ric basses have a 5-year factory warranty (but be sure to fill out and send in that warranty/ownership card!) I've never had any problems with my 4003, but I've talked personally with the folks at Rickenbacker several times and they seem like good people. If a problem ever should come up, I'm certain they would be professional and easy to deal with.

Friends, this is a great bass at a great price. Extremely easy to play; quality materials and construction; simply the best bass overall that I've ever owned or played. Let me repeat: it's not for everyone. If you HAVE to have that classic Fender tone, and nothing else will do, then this bass isn't for you. Same if you're a slave to active electronics-- look elsewhere. But if you're tired of that classic Fender tone, or these new-fangled, flashy basses with a million bells and whistles and little substance tone-wise, then a Rickenbacker 4003 just might be what you're looking for. As far as I know, it doesn't cost a penny to test-drive one. You just might surprise yourself.

By the way, I own a vintage '66 Fender Precision that I've had for 30 years, and I also own a Zeta Crossover. I consider my Ric 4003 to be my Number 1 instrument. I would be greatly surprised if another bass came along to knock it out of #1. If mine was ever lost or stolen, I'd get another just like it ASAP.

My Rick was made in February 1986 and purchased a year later. It has the black body (ala Geddy Lee) with the stereo setup. I play it into a Rickenbacker Road amp to take advantage of the stereo setup.

You could plug in a hundred basses in a music store the size of a Wal-Mart, and you would hear a Rick stick out of the crowd. It may be limited in its sound, but no one can question the quality involved in the construction of this guitar, and the distinctive sound it produces. I have yet to hear a guitar, keyboard, or set of drums that can cover my bass.

I have done nothing to this bass in 14 years. It never has needed anything. There were absolutely no flaws in its construction. I can fly up and down the neck with ease with my long fingers, and anyone with short fingers can easily do the same.

The body and neck give the illusion of fragility, especially compared to a Fender "monolith". However, my bass has been from Texas to California to Montana and back to Texas, and has withstood all climate changes with no adjustment.

I've never had any problems with it.

I am a multi-instrumentalist (guitar, bass, saxophone) and I bought this bass just to have one. I haven't toured the music stores in years, and when I did, I couldn't believe the price has almost doubled! I definitely plan to hold on to mine!

1976 jetglo 4 string/ standard pickups and everything else

When I first got it I was into 'Chris Squire' so it worked good for his sound. Was good for Wings material too. I never cared for it when it came to R&B or country. I used ampeg amps with it for about 5 years then ran it thru a Peavy. Now I have GK and Carvin Amps to use for my basses. I never got much noise using it but not much bottom either. If you use a pick it sounds too clicky. Very mid range sound.

The neck is nice and fast and action is low. I had trouble with truss rods during the first two years I owned it. It's dual rod neck kept needing adjustment and one rod stripped out of the threads. I had to get major work done. Finish and fret work are good and hardware is expensive looking.

I used this a lot in the late 70's and it always came on and played consistently. I say it is reliable except for the trouble I mentioned about the truss rods. finish held up in extreme conditions.

I was happy to trade this last month for a 1960 Fender P bass in good condition. I've enjoyed owning the Ric but I wanted the Fender more.I have been playing since 1974 and have been in 16 bands. I don't think I'll own another Ric bass again.

4003 'jetglo'. I would have to say that the Ric bass features are "well-documented" to say the least. I will have to be a bit anecdotal in order to retain originality and justify my review (yes, I am going to gloat over my purchase...). I've heard Geddy Lee mention that he despises the unusual Ric bridge and that he replaced it; Chris Squire heavily filed his 4001 body; an acquaintance of mine removed the neck laminate (!); numerous reviewers insist on taking the chrome cover off; one harmony-central reviewer even replaced the pick-ups with Duncans! Be original...leave your Ric alone. Mine is complete with the big-n-nasty bridge, the unnecessary chrome cover, the original pick-ups and, yes, even the sleek fretboard laminate. purchased as a demo for a slight discount, minor scratches in the black finish on the back (belts, no doubt). This bass is a classic and needs no rating for this category; low-tech; no battery (passive); unbelievable high-end neck access; did I mention the ugly and obstructive chrome cover? ok, wait, maybe there is creative potential in limitation - you have an either/or option for right hand/pick position - behind for treble and before for bass. Not to mention the fact that the guard helps those who typically thump right above the pick-up to remember that this playing position is going to increase your pick-up noise/"click". In short, leave the cover on....

The proverbial "Ric" sound really exists and is not a mythical/psychological construct! As opposed to any other bass I have ever played, I prefer the bridge pick-up to the neck pick-up. The almost indescribable (other than to say "Ric") trademark growl/punch/sustain/ring comes from (mainly) that single coil bridge pick-up. The praises are usually sung to the Ric high-end tone, but in truth this is a mid-range heavy bass. If there are complaints about the low-end on the 4003 and the 4001 (c.f. Geddy Lee, et al.), I would try to understand that as a subjective "stylistic" judgment rather than an unequivocal condemnation of the bass's low-end capabilities. The fact is, the low end on the Ric bass seems intentionally contoured, I don't want to say attenuated, but certainly "rounded", not as punch-heavy as the mid range. It goes without saying that the upper registers are clear as a bell. The bridge pick-up is high-output but has ABSOLUTELY clean, crystal, piano-like tone. Another possibility is to use both neck and bridge and pick behind the chrome guard to keep the punchy treble in play. My rig consists of two peavey cabs, a 410 and a 115 and the ampeg B2R. Ideally, I would like to replace the B2R w/ the SVT3-pro, but the sound suffices (see my B2R review for more details).

Being a wall-demo in the store itself, the set-up was initially lacking - the action was a foot high. The tech in the store performed a quick truss rod adjustment and the bass has been restored to playable condition. Soon enough I will replace the factory strings with Rotosounds and have it set-up as such. minor fret buzz in the middle of the neck; I suspect a full set-up will take care of the extra string noise.

Heavy duty; seems/is extraordinarily well-made. The jury is still out on the finish. The back of the neck tends to "stick" after long durations of playing, something to do with the combination of the finish laminate and perspiration/moisture. Jet-black is a scratching liablility; not necessarily bad, just a universal truth...(watch your belts!) Please do not understand this as an endorsement of finish/laminate removal from the Ric.

No idea, relatively new instrument. Incidentally, I have seen a Rickenbacker web FAQ in question and answer format with Ric's CEO responding to a good portion of the questions. He certainly seems knowledgeable, helpful and passionate about his American-made product...just that relatively small level of involvement gives me a happy feeling from the manufacturers.

Where does one go from the Ric? I have a Jazz-deluxe (Fender, ahem, mexican made); no contest. The jazz is thinner, no guts, very little personality when matched against the Ric, although it has a great unfinished maple neck (ahem, bolted-on neck). I also own a Dean Rhapsody fretless, great for what it is (I got lucky and had a really good set-up from Dean) and is highly usable in non-Ric scenarios (How was that?). What else is there to say?

I bought a brand new 2001 4003 mapleglow from AMS recently, the first bass I have ever purchased even though I have "played" bass for a long time (mostly on other people's basses). As to be expected, the bass conforms beautifully to the player, and I for one love the pickup guard that slappers hate because it gives me something to rest my pinky and 4th finger against when I'm using my index and middle fingers. The only, only, only complaint I have which is in part due to my body chemistry, is that I sweat a lot when I play (I play in a farily high energy pop-rock band), and when my left hand gets clammy, the finish of the neck and the wetness of my hand cause more than usual friction, but I have learned to deal with it (or play with less extraneous voracity) and the included wiping cloth has come in extremely handy.

Oh my god, the sound, the sound! I play through a '68 fender bassman rig with a double 15 fender cabinet and also use a SansAmp bassdriver DI for the board. The sound is simply lush, it's not too low, it's not too high, it's not too loud, nor to dry... there is something about that rickenbacker punch in the bass that is just unmatched by anything... I had to readjust some of my playing style to get used to the silky action, but when amplified, quietly plucked notes can really cut through due to the inertia of that famous rickenbacker ring... It's funny, because I usually perfer older gear, but I tried about 10 used Ricks and couldn't find an -as dynamically responsive bass- as the one I own -- although, I've found that pulling back (volume wise) on the pickup closest to the neck actually makes the ouput louder and fuller. This took me a while to figure out. Also, the rick sounds good with a medium guitar pick (oddly)- I never would have even considered playing a bass with a lighter pick but it happened by accident tonight actually, and it actually meshed well dynamically with this song which could be called dense.

Before getting the Rick, I was playing a Kay bass from the 60's which, although it had some charming tendencies, is vintage like old spaceships don't exactly appreciate with modern use... I was used to very high action, so I had an extremely heavy playing style to match -- which, when transfered to the Rick, sounded like I was playing crotales with a sledghammer. When I found an appropriate volume on my amp, I realized I didn't have to beat the hell out of the rick to get it to make a pretty sound, and hence, I learned to appreciate its slightly lower action. The instrument was totally setup exactly as I would have wanted it right out of the case, I still have the factory rick strings on it (after 4 months) and they still sound fantastic. And of course, regarding the finish, I sweat all over it -- I feel bad because it's so beautiful, I just hope this doesn't cause problems in the long run.

The one thing I have to say I really love about the Rick is that it stays in tune for days and days, even after rigorous playing and pretty extreme bending of strings. It does this without being strung like Ulysses's bow -- the strings feel fairly loose when tuned, hence the lower action -- but amidst the looseness, it stays in tune, without those cheesy lock nuts that are used on heavy metal guitars. Becuase it has the feeling of being built like a tank, it's relaxing at shows because you know it will be able to stand up to the elements of strange bars or weird outdoor venues.

I feel converted -- I have played bass off and on as my standard rock and roll instrument of choice for about 12 years now. I had played a couple of Fenders before -- Fender Jazz's and a few precisions, I had played a hibrid Kramer bass, a Kay... The rick is probably the nicest instrument I have ever purchased -- there is a real sense of top of the line quality, versitility and passion in this bass, and it was new too!

4-string Rickenbacker 4003 Bass, white w/black hardware, manufactured July 99, purchased as new in July 2001 (this probably means that it remained 2 years in the importer's stocks). Comes with hard case.

The finish is perfect, after all these years (this is my third Ric bass) Rickenbacker's attention to make perfect instruments is still the same.

Standard strings are Rickenbacker 45-105, and the neck is nicely set with the strings.

4003's have two truss rods to reinforce the neck if you play heavy gauge strings.

I have no amp, since I only play in my home studio. But I have a Zoom 506 effect pedal, and even with this low priced effect, the Rickenbacker sounds great. Both bass and treble pickups have a huge dynamic. Absolutely no noise is heard from the bass.

The 4 pots (volume and tone for each pickup) allow a very wide range of sounds.

The standard action, as the bass is set-up from the factory, is perfect. The whole finish of the bass is excellent.

Can't say anything, since I just purchased this bass. All I can say is that I owned two 4001's before, and I never experienced any reliability problem.

No opinion.

I am the happiest man in the world to have a Rickenbacker bass again. This time, I promise I'll never sell it.

Beautiful beautiful sound.

There are those here who say that a Rick isn't good for slapping, but I have to disagree. Slap right on the 20th fret and you can get some thick chiming sounds.

Manufactured in December of 2000 at Rickenbacker's Los Angeles factory. There are 18 other reviews of what this bass features, so I'll spare you. I love the foam string mute. It also comes with a really nice case.

I play 60s and 70s rock (Beatles, Stones, Hendrix, Cream, etc...) and I've owned and played a lot of basses, and I can honestly say that for the type of music I play, there is absolutely no better bass. For all of the complaints about the pickups humming (they're single coil), the axe that I got is nearly silent when sitting still. It is very versatile as far as the sounds it produces, and will play equally well on stage. I've never recorded, so I can't say for sure.

Right out of the box, the bass was perfectly intonated and the action was perfect (for me), not too high and not too low. It's a brand new bass, so it was in perfect condition. The wood was excellent, with only a couple of blemishes, that I actually think add character to the bass. Fireglo is definitely my style.

This bass is build like a Sherman tank. I think anyone who's ever played a Rick will attest to this. If you've ever noticed how many 20 to 30 year old Ricks that have had the crap kicked out of them but are still in perfect playing condition and sound sweet, then you'll agree. American made all the way. My only complaint is that the strap buttons could be a little bigger. And yes, I'd definitely play without a backup.

Haven't had to deal with Rickenbacker yet.

I've been playing for about 3 years at this point and own a bunch of basses, including a 1976 Univox Stereo Bass, which is a 4001 copy. Out of all of my instruments, this is definitely the one I reach for. If I lost it, or if it were stolen, I'd definitely buy another. Hell, I may buy a 4001 at some point in the future regardless.