Why am I gassing for a 4003?

[dmccombe7]

[quote name='steviedee' timestamp='1386438210' post='2300169']
Buy one, I've persevered and at this specific moment in time it's the bass I like playing the most. It looks awesome and sounds like a herd of wild horses revving Harley Davidsons in a canyon somewhere.
[/quote]

[jonsmith]

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1386853518' post='2305353']
Depends what you put them through IME. Through the small Ashdown combo at rehearsal mine sounded a bit flat but through my Hartke, with a tweak of the shape control, it sounded like the biggest 4001/4003 you ever heard, and I have the 2 best-sounding 4001s (IMO) I've ever heard to compare it against. Amazing sound, possibly the best I've had, and gutted I had to sell it because (ironically) the ergonomics didn't suit. Having said that, mine sounded a lot better than the other one I tried in the shop.
[/quote]

I recorded with it the other week & it still sounds great. I had to tweak things a little when I first got it as my amp setup was based mainly around 4003/4001 basses, but I've managed to find a point where I'm getting great sounds from my presets with any of my basses.

To the OP, I'd say if you want one, get one!

Edited December 14, 2013 by jonsmith

[4000]

[quote name='jonsmith' timestamp='1387053616' post='2307875']
I recorded with it the other week & it still sounds great. I had to tweak things a little when I first got it as my amp setup was based mainly around 4003/4001 basses, but I've managed to find a point where I'm getting great sounds from my presets with any of my basses.


[/quote]

Glad to hear it Jon. I made the mistake of watching some home footage I'd recorded with it; it sounded depressingly awesome. If only I'd had one before my arm problems started.

[4000]

[quote name='BigBassBob' timestamp='1386851325' post='2305294']
I like my 4003 but it literally took several years of a love/hate relationship before I settled with it. Setup is absolutely crucial with these things. I mean, I know every bass requires a decent setup but [b]getting it right on a Rickenbacker takes time and patience. Once everything is set perfectly then you're gold but they can be extremely frustrating instruments to work on.[/b]

Taking the pickup cover off makes playing them a lot easier in my experience. Setting the neck practically dead-flat was necessary too; with a touch of relief the intonation along the neck suffers badly. From my understanding of bass construction and the physics involved it doesn't make that much sense but I was seriously having terrible intonation with even a little bit of relief.

Always remember when playing a RIC: it's not a Fender. This can be good or bad for you. For me, it's just another flavour to mix up my arsenal
[/quote]

I've said this before but a lot of this depends on what you're used to. I can set up a Ric far quicker and easier than I can a Fender or similar, simply because virtually every Fender-type I've had to set up I've had to shim the neck, something which doesn't come happily or naturally to me as a mainly neck-through player. I hate shimming necks, whereas for some it's probably a moment's work.

Also, as someone who naturally plays with a very straight neck (the bass, not me ) that's not an issue for me at all; in fact it's when I can't get a neck dead straight that I'm in trouble, which is where all of my Fender-types - and I appreciate I may just have been unlucky - have fallen down. I'm not saying that one is superior to the other, just that it's about what you're used to.

Edited December 16, 2013 by 4000

[thebassman]

[sub]I once got to try a 4003 through an Orange AD200 and Orange 4x10.[/sub]
[sub]It was the best tone i have ever heard , still didn't buy it though , i would of had to have changed my whole rig.[/sub]

[sub]cheers[/sub]

[sub]thebassman[/sub]

[Cairobill]

I haven't had the best of experiences with 4003s but my '78 4001 is just an incredible bass...

Try a few and pick the one that speaks to you...

[Jus Lukin]

-

Edited February 19, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[police squad]

Still haven't tried any out yet but I did pick up a black rockinbetter, locally, for £250. I've got a genuine rick 4003 hi gain neck pickup to go in it. Gigged it once, (so far) with a Jam tribute band. 'Love the Rik' said one punter!! It sounded ok I thought. Looks great too. Plays as good as anything else. No sharp fret ends, decent action, no crackles from the electrics and strung with DR Neons 45-105 (white ones)
I'd post a picture but can't seem to anymore. Something has changed and I can't work it out

[White Cloud]

[quote name='police squad' timestamp='1386437480' post='2300153']
I can't stand it. Don't like the way he runs his company and all that but I quite fancy one.
I've owned several in the past, even a really good copy but I don't need one. I certainly couldn't use it in my Police tribute.

I can even get one interest free

AAAARRRGGHGHGH help
[/quote]
Relax. It will pass in approximately 5 days.

[Skybone]

Good find on the Rockinbetter, they are fantastic IMO, very close to the 4003.

[Woodinblack]

[quote name='police squad' timestamp='1393831359' post='2384675'] It sounded ok I thought. Looks great too. Plays as good as anything else. No sharp fret ends, decent action, no crackles from the electrics and strung with DR Neons 45-105 (white ones)
[/quote]

They are great, the weakest point is the neck pickup, I replaced mine recently. Hmm.. thinking white strings on my white bass, that might look good!

[luckman67]

Just got back into playing my 4003 and after 15 years took the pickup cover off,what a difference also changed a couple of things to get a vintage look.

[police squad]

nice