Rickenbacker bass - had a go? - GuitarTalk Community

Rickenbacker bass - had a go?

Hammeron

Jack come on.
Any one know these beautiful beasts?

shaunf

Hammeron wrote: Jack come on.
Any one know these beautiful beasts?

I used to have a black Rickenbacker 4003. Was an absolutely awesome bass. When I stopped gigging a good couple of years ago, I sold it to the guy who plays bass for a band called Starplayer.

MoJo-JoJoe

Here's one I had ...

AlanRatcliffe

I always loved the tone of the 4001 through a valve amp for rock. Not the most comfy bass in the world to play unless you have small hands and don't mind a bit of weight though.

Jack-Flash-Jr

I have not had the honour, except for a short scale copy which kinda put me off the real thing... of course that's a silly way to form an opinion ?
Some iconic bass lines and bass tones have come out of the good ole 'backer so I reckon I'll have to try again!
I have to say that I like my instruments comfy... but I'm telling that to an Explorer player!

dee

If I ever decide to buy a bass, it would be a 4003.

shaunf

I don't have any pics of my old one from when I had it, but here it is in action with it's new owner:

Hammeron

I always loved Lemmies Rick. What model would his be?
They do look a tad weight heavy....and very metal heavy! ?
Who stocks them in SA?

AlanRatcliffe

Hammeron wrote: I always loved Lemmies Rick. What model would his be?

The 4001. The 4003 is the modern version and almost exactly the same (just the truss rod changed I think).

Who stocks them in SA?

No distributor at the moment. You'd have to contact them directly.

shaunf

I can't say I ever thought of the Rick as heavy. Then again, I play a Les Paul... ?

Also never pictured it as a "Metal" guitar. Mine had a really nice bright, funky sound. Also had a really fast neck that even with my small hands, I had no problem playing.

singemonkey

This is what Hammeron's hammering on about:

Before there was heavy metal, their was Lemmy Kilminster. Like a titan father of the gods.

Hammeron

singemonkey wrote: This is what Hammeron's hammering on about:

Before there was heavy metal, their was Lemmy Kilminster. Like a titan father of the gods.

The main man! Motorizer!

How would you guys rate the Ricks against the other main brands?

Bob-Dubery

shaunf wrote: I can't say I ever thought of the Rick as heavy. Then again, I play a Les Paul... ?

Also never pictured it as a "Metal" guitar..

Guitars aren't "metal" or "country" or whatever. In a recent, similar discussion there were shocking revelations of heavy rockers using Stratocasters and Ted Nugent using a semi-acoustic. Let's not forget that Jimmy Page cut a lot of Led Zeppelin tracks with a Telecaster through a little Supro amp.

Paul McCartney played a rickenbacker for years. So did Glenn Hughes with Deep Purple, Bruce Foxton with the Jam, Chris Squire with Yes, Ashley Hutchings with Fairport Convention, Lemmy with Motorhead etc etc etc...

Instruments are not bound to a genre.

singemonkey

X-rated Bob wrote: Instruments are not bound to a genre.

Although I think it's become more so since the choice has expanded so much, and the image links of guitars to music have become more established. I think if Chicago blues had started in the eighties, you would not have been surprised to see Muddy Waters playing a Charvel with a Floyd Rose. Now though, the associations are very well established in peoples' minds. People (guitar players, not audiences still for the most part) kinda know what a guitar says about your style of music now.

But yes, ultimately, as we discussed, you can still get away with anything. John 5 and his Tele. Hammeron could rock a Jazzmaster as long as she made it look evil enough and stuck some EMGs in it ?

shaunf

X-rated Bob wrote:
shaunf wrote: I can't say I ever thought of the Rick as heavy. Then again, I play a Les Paul... ?

Also never pictured it as a "Metal" guitar..
Guitars aren't "metal" or "country" or whatever. In a recent, similar discussion there were shocking revelations of heavy rockers using Stratocasters and Ted Nugent using a semi-acoustic. Let's not forget that Jimmy Page cut a lot of Led Zeppelin tracks with a Telecaster through a little Supro amp.

Paul McCartney played a rickenbacker for years. So did Glenn Hughes with Deep Purple, Bruce Foxton with the Jam, Chris Squire with Yes, Ashley Hutchings with Fairport Convention, Lemmy with Motorhead etc etc etc...

Instruments are not bound to a genre.

Ja look, I hear you, but I wasn't talking about an image thing. The Rick could be considered quite "Metal" looking, but sound wise, I just never thought it would be a good "metal" sounding bass. I'm not saying it's not a good one, I just never thought of it in that way.

AlanRatcliffe

Ric basses are great for rock and metal - very bright and hot, they suit distorted valve amps very well.