What the hell happened to Rickenbackers?

Jack-Flash-Jr

Amongst professionals that is...
There's a huge collectors and amateur market but amongst performers ??? even those who used them no longer do so (Geddy Lee etc.) Other than Lemmy and Squire (who uses a custom anyway) plus a few other examples I've never seen famous bassists, and otherwise pro-bassists use them. I've never touched a 4001 or 4003 so I have no frame of reference... is the sound too distinctive, limited or what?

AlanRatcliffe

Too idiosyncratic and more than a little difficult to play compared.

Thanks to the all-maple through-neck and body, they are tonally well suited for crunchy rock bass (Purple, Motorhead, Rush, Lizzy, Free, et. al.), but they are a bit low end shy (but have a wonderfully tight bottom) in comparison to things like P-Basses, Stingrays and more modern active basses. Bass has for the most part moved on to more lows and cleaner sounds (and bass amps can do that now too).

Playability wise, the necks are too skinny for most players and they are heavy. The pickup cover goes over the strings (most people removed it).

Jack-Flash-Jr

All makes sense but why are they still so sought after by "the man in the street" then?

AlanRatcliffe

Nostalgia. Because a lot of their heroes recorded a lot of their best-loved classic songs with them. Same with the Hofner "Beatle" basses...

Jack-Flash-Jr

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Nostalgia. Because a lot of their heroes recorded a lot of their best-loved classic songs with them. Same with the Hofner "Beatle" basses...

Not a good enough reason imho to invest so much in them then... was toying with the idea of getting hold of one but instruments have to be useful tools first and foremost...

Hammeron

In the movie "Lemmy", check out the carved inlays in the body wood, and the brass plating in the headstocks of Lems trademark 'backers, stunning.

Skywalker

Hammeron wrote: In the movie "Lemmy", check out the carved inlays in the body wood, and the brass plating in the headstocks of Lems trademark 'backers, stunning.

Yeah!!! Just watched the Lemmy doccie the other day 8) Man his basses look cool.

Let's not forget Cliff Burton and Geddy Lee aswell ?

Dig that double neck!!!!

Jack-Flash-Jr

No denying they look awesome ?

nick_D01

hey guys

and 'the ox' too- senor entwhistle ?

Bob-Dubery

Jack Flash Jr wrote: Amongst professionals that is...
There's a huge collectors and amateur market but amongst performers ??? even those who used them no longer do so (Geddy Lee etc.) Other than Lemmy and Squire (who uses a custom anyway) plus a few other examples I've never seen famous bassists, and otherwise pro-bassists use them.

Squonk

Yeah Bruce Foxton - Think I am going to listen to The Jam sometime. Need to get some CD's