ezbass Posted January 1 Posted January 1 (edited) 12 hours ago, snorkie635 said: Go on, go on, go on! 11 hours ago, Reggaebass said: You’re not helping 😁 He didn’t come to help, he came to encourage. The more I play recently, the more I realise my preferred tone is in the Geddy/Squire/Foxton camp. Whilst I know I can achieve this with a Mustang or Precision through an SVT/VTDI, I really want a 4003s again, but a walnut one for the reduced weight. Damn you GAS 😡! Edited January 1 by ezbass 1 1 Quote
snorkie635 Posted January 1 Posted January 1 11 hours ago, msb said: I spent some years looking for one (this was before the internet) they simply were rare as heck in NS. Finally found one in a visit to Toronto. It was one of the later 4001 basses with the one inch spacing. The neck is gorgeous , it has that classic thing going on. I fell for it. It has the old style truss rods , they’re incredibly stable. In about 28 years I’ve adjusted them twice. The bridge was a misery , only had to set that once. Now these days I mostly play short scales , but when I pick up the Ric it instantly feels like home. Beautiful thing. You're not helping @Reggaebass either. 🥳 1 Quote
Skybone Posted January 1 Posted January 1 (edited) 17 hours ago, Reggaebass said: You’re not helping 😁 You know he speaks the truth though. 😀 Edited January 1 by Skybone 2 Quote
edstraker123 Posted February 18 Posted February 18 (edited) Picked this up a few weeks ago -a lovely 2012 walnutglo 4003 I'd owned a few Ric guitars before and found them o.k. but this is sublime. Edited February 18 by edstraker123 14 Quote
WHUFC BASS Posted February 26 Posted February 26 Got a 2024 Fireglo recently, really liking it, sounds great recorded 11 Quote
wateroftyne Posted February 27 Posted February 27 (edited) Picked up this 2013 recently. It's not a Fender so I think it's just staying with me temporarily, but nevertheless it's a stunner. Edited February 27 by wateroftyne 14 Quote
prowla Posted February 28 Posted February 28 10 hours ago, wateroftyne said: Picked up this 2013 recently. It's not a Fender so I think it's just staying with me temporarily, but nevertheless it's a stunner. Ditch the Fenders! 1 1 Quote
prowla Posted March 1 Posted March 1 (edited) Well, today I'm reverting the V2 bridge on my 2013 jetglo back to the original. The V2 saddles are bottomed out and won't go low enough, so the action is too high and I've been reaching for other basses instead. @briansbrew had the same issue too. I'm hoping the guy who fitted the bridge (whilst it was in for a refret) didn't fill in the original screw holes! Edited March 1 by prowla Quote
prowla Posted March 1 Posted March 1 (edited) Phew - the holes were still there, so it's back to stock. My new cheap 500C temperature controlled soldering iron didn't budge the existing solder though - dunno if it was super lead-free or what! Edited March 1 by prowla Quote
AMV001 Posted April 6 Posted April 6 9 hours ago, vinorange said: New addition Is that one of the Fab Gear specials on the right? Quote
vinorange Posted April 7 Posted April 7 (edited) On 06/04/2025 at 20:00, AMV001 said: Is that one of the Fab Gear specials on the right? Sure is. Number 11 of 30. My surname is Orange and it was sort of meant to be.......... On the left is a very good nick 1980 4001, middle a 2019 limited run pillar box red 4003s and of course, L'Orange on the right. Edited April 7 by vinorange 1 Quote
Bassman1974 Posted April 9 Posted April 9 On 07/04/2025 at 20:44, vinorange said: Sure is. Number 11 of 30. My surname is Orange and it was sort of meant to be.......... On the left is a very good nick 1980 4001, middle a 2019 limited run pillar box red 4003s and of course, L'Orange on the right. If you had to keep only the one that had the best playability, which one would you keep? Quote
vinorange Posted April 9 Posted April 9 (edited) On 09/04/2025 at 09:31, Bassman1974 said: If you had to keep only the one that had the best playability, which one would you keep? What a tricky question. Playability also to me also means comfort and versatility so the red 4003s would be the most playable. With having a maple board it’s a bit snappier so is less of a one trick pony and of course no body binding means no forearm injury so if I was gigging and needed the most playable then I'd take the red. Edited April 11 by vinorange Quote
Pow_22 Posted yesterday at 06:32 Posted yesterday at 06:32 So ive had a Ric itch for quite a while now and been looking at this particular one for some time:- https://richtonemusic.co.uk/rickenbacker-4001-1978-autumn-glo-hard-case-2nd-hand/ It seems to have sold once and been returned a few months back (ive watched it for a while). Obviously i have concerns it has been returned although it may just have not suited the buyer. From what i can see there is a reasonable tail lift that i would absolutely want more pictures of before travelling to Sheffield to see it fully. Love the colour and the 'mojo' but is there anything else obvious from the photos that i should ask for more in depth pics of before travelling to actually try the bass. This will be (potentially) my first ric being mainly a J and P player so me knowledge here is very limited. Cheers in advance.. Quote
WHUFC BASS Posted yesterday at 08:30 Posted yesterday at 08:30 (edited) 2 hours ago, Pow_22 said: So ive had a Ric itch for quite a while now and been looking at this particular one for some time:- https://richtonemusic.co.uk/rickenbacker-4001-1978-autumn-glo-hard-case-2nd-hand/ It seems to have sold once and been returned a few months back (ive watched it for a while). Obviously i have concerns it has been returned although it may just have not suited the buyer. From what i can see there is a reasonable tail lift that i would absolutely want more pictures of before travelling to Sheffield to see it fully. Love the colour and the 'mojo' but is there anything else obvious from the photos that i should ask for more in depth pics of before travelling to actually try the bass. This will be (potentially) my first ric being mainly a J and P player so me knowledge here is very limited. Cheers in advance.. The tailift is a biggie if you want it kept all original. Any heavy gauge strings will make that worse. Other things to check are the frets, they were notoriously soft and roundwound strings would just eat them up. Also, check the fretboard and binding near the body. Occasionally this would separate or the truss rod would poke through on the older 4001s. The 4003 had a much more substantial neck to address this issue. Then you have the dreaded double truss rod which can be a real pain for those not experienced in using them. Special wrenches are needed for them too due to the lack of space in the headstock. There's also that unbelievable crap bridge system which belongs in the stone age imo. The strings need to be loosened to intonate them and it's trial and error for the best part. The strap pins are another thing. Rickenbacker in their wisdom decided to use pins with a thread designed for metal and not wood. The result is that they would occasionally come loose and would need to have all manner of bodges to fix them, although the previous owner appears to have replaced them with straplock pins on this one. I get that it's a lovely colour but imo the latest Rics are a whole lot better. All these issues that plagued the early 4001s have now been addressed with a much better bridge, more tonal options and better hardware all round. I love mine and it cost less than the one you have your eye on too. Edited yesterday at 08:34 by WHUFC BASS 1 1 Quote
Bassman1974 Posted yesterday at 09:04 Posted yesterday at 09:04 I've resisted removing the chrome surround for years, but it was affecting the playability. I'm surprised by how much I like the look of the new bezel to be honest. Next up: Tomastik flats 3 Quote
vinorange Posted 19 hours ago Posted 19 hours ago (edited) 15 hours ago, Pow_22 said: So ive had a Ric itch for quite a while now and been looking at this particular one for some time:- https://richtonemusic.co.uk/rickenbacker-4001-1978-autumn-glo-hard-case-2nd-hand/ It seems to have sold once and been returned a few months back (ive watched it for a while). Obviously i have concerns it has been returned although it may just have not suited the buyer. From what i can see there is a reasonable tail lift that i would absolutely want more pictures of before travelling to Sheffield to see it fully. Love the colour and the 'mojo' but is there anything else obvious from the photos that i should ask for more in depth pics of before travelling to actually try the bass. This will be (potentially) my first ric being mainly a J and P player so me knowledge here is very limited. Cheers in advance.. I have a 1980 4001 which is fantastic. The neck is skinny, stable and the frets don't wear with roundwounds. I replaced the bridge with a hipshot as the old bridges are a weak link for sure but a 78 would sound and play really nicely in my opinion. I have 2 other Rics, a brand new ltd edition orangeglo and a 2019 Ltd pillar box red with .apple board. I've also owned several others down the years but you cannot beat the gnarly grunt and playability of a 4001. Also, the necks are fiddly to set up and should be done by a pro but once set they rarely need tweaking. I can do my own fret levelling and set ups but won't touch the old hairpin truss equipped 4001. It was set up 2 years ago and plays as well now as then. Guess mine is a thumbs up to joining the Ric club. Edited 19 hours ago by vinorange Quote
msb Posted 18 hours ago Posted 18 hours ago 15 hours ago, Pow_22 said: So ive had a Ric itch for quite a while now and been looking at this particular one for some time:- https://richtonemusic.co.uk/rickenbacker-4001-1978-autumn-glo-hard-case-2nd-hand/ It seems to have sold once and been returned a few months back (ive watched it for a while). Obviously i have concerns it has been returned although it may just have not suited the buyer. From what i can see there is a reasonable tail lift that i would absolutely want more pictures of before travelling to Sheffield to see it fully. Love the colour and the 'mojo' but is there anything else obvious from the photos that i should ask for more in depth pics of before travelling to actually try the bass. This will be (potentially) my first ric being mainly a J and P player so me knowledge here is very limited. Cheers in advance.. That tail lift doesn’t look too drastic , to be safe I’d keep low tension strings on it. Look at the binding around the first couple of frets , look for signs of cracks or fretboard lift. If the truss rods are torked without putting pressure on … that’s where issues can occur. Look at the truss rods , if they’re angled down that’s another sign they were not properly adjusted. Check to see if the .0047 cap is on the bridge pickup. That’s the one that removes the bottom end and gives you that clank , many simply bypass that for a fuller sound. Some just removed it entirely. If you keep the same gauge strings on it the necks should be very stable. My 80 4001 does not do the seasonal shifts Fenders do , I’ve only adjusted the bridge twice in well over 25 years. I don’t mind the original bridge , mine has very slight lift , but is stable. Not an issue. I had a minor issue with the output jack , and was only getting one pickup. It just had to be slightly bent inwards with a pair of needle nose pliers. Similar issue once with the toggle switch. Those later 4001 basses are beautiful things. I like the slightly thinner necks. I was never bothered by the binding. Enjoy , I hope you take to it , they are very different than your usual Fender style basses. (and I was an old Fender guy) 1 Quote
unterninja Posted 9 hours ago Posted 9 hours ago Julia, Tony and Jenny on their first group photo ever. 5 Quote
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