The 4003 plastic cover serves no purpose other than to mimic the old 4001 rear horseshoe pickup. Horseshoe magnet actually surrounded the strings.

I have a '79 4001 and I still love it and play weekly. I have never experienced any issues with the bass since I bought it in '79. I use Round Wound Roto-Sound strings @ .45 and have since it was new. Great bass.

Really helpful review, nice work.

Smart man. If your heart is dead set on buying a Rick bass, this the one you buy (IMO).

I have experienced the same minor Rickenbacker 4003 model issues as you have, I own a 2015, Jetglo 4003, 2018 4003S/5 & a 2020 Mapleglo. My 2015 Jetglo came with the old school Ric bridge, I haven't yet experienced bridge tail lift & installed a treble bezel because the pickup up cover got in the way of my playing, I also experienced the same nut issue as you did in the A & D string spots , I remedied it by using a .85 & .65 sting & wrapped fine grade sandpaper on the string & slowly filed the nut to accommodate each string. Now, my 2020 was a different story, 4003 models now come stock with the replacement Hipshot bridge & the UT now accommodates standard guage 105. 85. 65. 45 strings & of course, I took off the pickup cover & installed a treble bezel. My 4003S/5 Fireglo comes with a Hipshot 5 string A Style bridge, and no pick-up cover & the nut accommodates standard guage strings, the 4003S/5 was a short lived offering from Rickenbacker from 2018 - 2022 I guess a lot of purists couldn't accept the triangle shape pickups, I warmed up to the look pretty quick, this is a well made great sounding bass, I keep the vintage tone knob pulled out to vintage on all 3 bass as well. Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, Paul McCartney & Lemmy were my inspirations growing up & all played a Rickenbacker bass. Anyway, good video. It's nice to compare our experience with the Rickenbacker bass. 😀👍

My wife surprised me in 2016 when she got me a 4003s for Christmas. Looks just like yours. I took the useless cover off and put in the chrome bezel as well. The only difference is that you got the hipshot. I tried getting one a couple years back and they weren't available in the chrome finish. Think I may revisit the idea of getting one. Thanks for the post. I always enjoy a good Rickenbacker video.

I bought a 1974 4001S in mapleglo and absolutely love it. I bought the Hipshot bridge because the old bridge actually did have the lift issue (first time experiencing this issue) but otherwise it plays perfect and sounds incredible.

I have a 4003s/5 five string Ric that I bought new in the late 90s. I bought a black pickguard and nameplate for a black-on-black look. It still looks, sounds and plays great.

the tail lift only happens when both criteria are met: 1 there was a period where they used an inferior metal for the bridges, but I'm not sure if that's true/when that was 2. even if it is true, the inferior metal was more than stable enough for reasonable string gauges. Some people are convinced they need to put ultra thick heavy la bella flats on ricks, which makes them harder to play, and pulls the instrument apart. it can cause the neck to fail and the tail to lift. Ricks are really magical but they're not built to hold tons of string tension. the necks are bendy and thin. The new bridges though I think are made of a better material and less prone to lift even when they're abused.

@phipschi4255

11 ай бұрын

Their necks are thin? When was the last time you touched a brandnew ric`?

@YourFavouriteColor

11 ай бұрын

@@phipschi4255 I have a 2016 4003 and they, at least at that time, returned to a wider 1 3/4 nut width and a really flat, thin D neck. I know their neck profiles have changed over the years and maybe the really new ones have gone back to a different spec. point is, rick necks are really rubbery. Even gripping the neck too hard can effect relief. it's justs something you gotta know about that particular bass.

and the new Rickenbacker V2 bridge is a really nice upgrade.

The fretboard wood is called Chechen. It’s also known as Caribbean Rosewood.

I have a 4003S in Fireglo, I kept the bridge cover as I find it comfortable to rest my hand when I play with a pick. I might have it shielded to lower the buzz of it but it sounds very good

The truss rod nuts are 1/4". if you have a hand screw driver that you can change the bits on, take the bit out and you have a slim 1/4'" driver. Works well on Ric truss rod nuts.

Great Review man. I LOVE Rickenbackers too. Matter of fact. It is the bass I play other than an acoustic electric, so I learned to play with the cover on. I use it for a hand rest when picking and fingerstyle on both sides of it. It's odd for me to play a bass without. But it's what a person gets used to and this way, fewer people wanna play my bass. Palm muting is the single issue I have with the cover on. That sucks, but not something I have to do a lot. I can still make harmonics, so I deal. It does look cool too, but I so understand taking it off. I also have a single rod 2022 FG 4003, so I love and use the Rick o sound all the time, but I'm more of a straight out of bass and use my bridge with tube overdrive for distortion and use bridge pup for my bass sound and control it all with the guitar. Different strokes you know. Love the looks of your S. Keep Rockin.

The metal pickup covers are for electro magnetic shielding. Some Fender basses have similar covers as well. They were widely used in the old days to protect single coil pickups from noise. But electrical systems are much cleaner now so they don't serve much purpose anymore. Just for looks pretty much.

@andyarnette9220

11 ай бұрын

I've owned 3 Rickenbackers and all of the covers were plastic. You're right, they're probably just for looks.

@Supernautiloid

11 ай бұрын

@@andyarnette9220 Oh they’re plastic? Well never mind, I thought they were metal lol. I have a Harley Benton Rick copy and the cover is metal. I assumed the real ones were metal too. That’s weird. 🤔

@irontailrolo4264

9 ай бұрын

Yep, plastic...and let me add the adjective "cheap." I will say that I think it looks nicer with the cover but it covers the sweet spot.

A Rick was on my wish list. Clouds parted so I snagged one. Came to me unplayable, angry hornet buzz on the D string and bridge pickup so high even breathing on the E string would bounce it off the magnet. Even more unfortunate for the Rick, I also picked up a Dingwall at the same time. The Dingwall is freaking amazing and has snagged my #1 quiver spot. So yeah, Love the rick tone and some day I'll drop my brand fucking new one off at the shop to see if I can get mine to a playable state.

@andyarnette9220

Ай бұрын

I'm sorry that happened. I know quality control at a lot of companies is getting worse. Good luck to you!

@TheMemo659

Ай бұрын

@@andyarnette9220 It's a gorgeous bass, haven't given up on it. Just ironic a made in china was better out of the box than a made in USA. /shrug

Per a few of your complaints, as a long time Rick owner: Yeah, the stock bridge sucks ass lol. They’ve changed it recently to a more fender style setup with a thicker casting. The nut slots vary wildly I find, and the last new Rick I held was actually filed way too low, in fact every one on the wall was. I don’t generally nitpick hard on nuts since most instruments aren’t perfect new but this was so low it wouldn’t play open strings. As far as truss rods, the best luck I’ve had is a 1/4 deep socket with a low profile swivel socket on a nut driver. It’s the perfect hilarious over complicated companion to a hilarious over complicated bass. The coating you’re referring to on the fingerboard is actually the lacquer finish, when they paint them they essentially spray and pray. That would also account for that finish bubble. I’ve never understood why they do this, and have stopped since on the newest 4003s, I believe they all are unfinished fingerboards now(thank god) The neck is my single biggest complaint about the new ones, it’s fuckin huge lol. I know the profiles have always varied but good lord I’ve played early 50s precisions with faster necks. My current daily driver is an 88 and has a much much thinner profile which fits me like a glove. I think we all put up with how weird these basses are bc there’s truly nothing else that sounds like them

Looks like the fretboard is Pau Ferro . Looks great

i got a Maple Glo 2015 and love it :)

The goofy bridge pickup cover is supposed to mimic the old horse shoe pickup Rics had back in the day. Serves no purpose now except block the sweet spot over the bridge pickup that many players like to pick/pluck over. It's just chrome covered plastic and doesn't shield buzzing or anything. Take mine off as soon as I get one. I put a Gemini Wave Rider pickup in the neck position of my last 2 Ric 4003 basses. Punchier sound but still keeps it sounding like a Ric. Also use LaBella Low Tension Flats. Love the Ric sound and the newer models aren't as quirky as the older models were.

Sounds really good, its a nice kind of distortion, how do you make that tone? You play with only the bridge pickup in the vintage setting, then it’s normal to not have much low end! By the way: Geddy plays with much harder attack.

@andyarnette9220

11 ай бұрын

It is a biamped system. I have a TC Electronics BQ500 bass amp for the low end and a Darkglass Microtubes v2 900w for the mids and highs. I run distortion through the Darkglass. I realize the sound in the video is lacking low end but I'm still working out how to record my basses better. I have the capability of massively increasing the low end if I want with the set up I have, but I keep the volume low in my house to avoid going deaf! Lol. I realize Geddy has a very hard attack and I generally do too but, at home, once again, I'm trying to lighten up to save my ears. After almost 30 years of playing, my ears have taken a serious beating and I'm trying to preserve them as much as possible these days. Thanks for your feedback!

Great video-I had to file down the nut too 2018 4003

I installed a zero fret on my 4003s. Now no worries about nut slots to deal with.

The fretboards were always made from Bubinga. I think the recent unlacquered ones were made from Chechen.

The push pull pot was introduced in 2006.

Hi. Did the replacement bridge drop down exactly in the same holes for the stock bridge?

@andyarnette9220

7 ай бұрын

Yes it did. No drilling required. On mine, the bridge ground wire was soddered onto the stock bridge so I detached it carefully then just placed it under the new bridge. So long as it makes good contact with the bridge, you're all good! Of course you can sodder it on the new bridge if you wish. Thank you!

The tone circuit thing was in 2006. I have a 1994 4003 (non S) and i was disappointed that i didnt have this cool feature :) Someone sell me an azureglo.

Nice video, I don't really care for Rickenbacker visually. they remind me of two basses that were brother and sister, and they had a baby.... Sounds good though.

The cover is a hand/palm rest

What kind of amp are you using?

@andyarnette9220

Жыл бұрын

I have a biamped set up where I use the TC Electronics BQ 500 for the low end and the Dark Glass Microtubes 900v2 for the mids and highs. This allows me to maintain a fat low end while having growly, gritty mids and highs.

@Gggggggyfft528gh

Жыл бұрын

@@andyarnette9220 i thought it had a little darkglass vibe, great combo w the ric! I'm looking for one w a thin neck..your vid enforced the search!

Someone told me the horseshoe cover has something to do with affecting the pickup somehow. I dont know shit but thafs just what i heard

Love the 4003S, but can't afford it. Let me know when Rickenbacker get around to offering a budget series of their products...

Check out that dude from all them witches. he has a 4001 that was tortured before he got it. Premier guitar has a good interview with him

@thorinbane

Жыл бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/hGSE29lyqpW4gJs.html

@AspiringSpaceWizard

Жыл бұрын

He stopped using that one and got a direct custom copy of the mangled one made missing horn and all , its called the “doom broom” lol

I love the tone of mine. I HATE the neck.

So your story, like that of so many other Rickenbacker 'owners' (I'll refrain from calling them 'players'), is...I bought the bass I love, changed everything about it, up to and including rejecting the design and material philosophy of the manufacturer, and now it sounds way better? That's like buying the Gibson you've always wanted and then taking to your luthier who causes it to sound like a Taylor and now its the most amazing Gibson ever! You could have bought both a Fender 'player' P and a J bass for less combined cost that of a Rickenbacker, and been happy the sooner, but without access to Rick sound. It is the case that Rickenbacker do something that 'can't' be approximated by the other two, but people don't lament a P or J bass' inability to replicate Rickenbacker sound, because they assume the Rickenbacker sound to be nice, but... If you start on a Rick, as I did, it is the characteristic P and J bass sounds that are optional. My new 4003 is stock, and I play, as I always have, where the pickup guard allows me, forces me, obligates me to play to better sonic effect. There was no great accommodation of technique except to habituate myself to where it works! In the world of classically trained instrumentalists, every instrument has 'its position of 'play'. You can calculate the optimum position to pluck the string from to describe various effect, and the bridge position isn't one of them. Everyone asks me why 'my' Rickenbacker sounds so much better, but it doesn't. The design of this instrument 'assumes' Rickenbacker's two playing positions, NOT FENDERS! Play it sloppily, or 'where' you want, and it will start to sound like a P or J bass, and it will disappoint you on all fronts. I JUST PLAY IT 'WHERE' AND 'AS' RICKENBACKER INTENDED, so it 'sounds' more like a Rickenbacker. Possibly ironically, I also have greater success dialing in P and J bass sound than Rick 'owners' who play them like Fenders.

@andyarnette9220

8 ай бұрын

First question I'll ask you before I formally reply to your comment is; were you drunk or otherwise intoxicated when you wrote that?

@andyarnette9220

8 ай бұрын

Next question; are you in any way suggesting that there is something wrong with Rickenbacker owner's making modifications to thier instruments? If so, that would be absolutely ridiculous. Individuals are allowed, and even encouraged, to modify thier instruments in any way they see fit, and in any manner that best serves them as individual players. Maybe you're not aware of the literally hundreds of famous and iconic musicians that have made significant modifications to thier instruments over the last several decades. A quick internet search will show you a lot.

@andyarnette9220

8 ай бұрын

I don't mean to be rude, but your entire six paragraph comment is completely devoid of meaning and purpose, except perhaps to self-aggrandize in elitist fashion, while simultaneously insulting and shaming many thousands of Rickenbacker owners with a lot of gobbledygook. What did you mean by "I'll refrain from calling them players"? What do you mean reject the "design and material philosophy of the manufacturer "? Did you mean that as a joke? By purchasing the Rickenbacker I obviously have not rejected the "manufacturer's design material and philosophy." I own one, lol. I haven't "changed everything about". I made 3 mods: the bridge, treble bezel and filing nut grooves. Yes it does sound and play way better. Wow, lol The Gibson example you give is ridiculous. A luthier cannot make a Gibson sound like a Taylor. A luthier cannot make one of my Jazz basses sound like an Ernie Ball Stingray. I'd love to see them try, lol. My Rickenbacker sounds exactly like a Rickenbacker. You know why?? BECAUSE IT IS ONE. Mic drop moment.. You say I could have bought a player J and P bass for the price of a Rickenbacker? I also could have bought a nice couch or table and chair set but I didn't because I wanted a Rickenbacker. What does a P and J bass have to do with anything, anyway? I sense a little condescension in the suggestion I'd "have been happy the sooner:.." I already own multiple Jazz and Precision basses. Who are you to suggest what might make me happy or not? You don't even know me! I'll tell what makes me happy; my Rickenbacker bass and it's modifications I provided in the video review, lol. You make a lot of assumptions and put words in my mouth in your comment which calls into question your credibility. To put my experience into context, I have played the bass for 30 years and have gigged extensively for 22 of those years. I have owned and played 3 different Rickenbackers, several Precision and Jass basses. Ernie Ball Stingray, and about two dozen other makes and models of bass guitars. I have gigged over 500 times in halls, clubs, bars, wedding, parks, festivals and many other types of venues. What I get from your comment is essentially this: you're a purist who believes the Rickenbacker bass should not in any way be modified (which is just fine as long as it applies to yourself only), and that those who modify thier Rickenbackers may not be considered "real players" and should, therefore stick with the P or J bass and leave the Rickenbacker to the elites like yourself. Does that about sum it up? Ridiculous! Good day

@markdaniels7174

6 ай бұрын

⁠@@andyarnette9220Way to tell that guy off! He really did come across as self-aggrandizing and condescending. I’ve seen this line of attack before, but usually as “if Ricks are so great, why do their owners so often modify them?” (Which misses the truth that players of other basses modify THOSE, too.) But this guy isn’t attacking Rickenbacker, rather he’s “defending” them in an extreme and misguided way, even suggesting Rickenbacker INTENDED for players to never play over the bridge pickup, and that’s why they covered it. (?!) Essentially his position is: “we should always adapt to our bass AS IS, never modify our bass to better suit our needs and preferences.” Hogwash!! The assumptions are also gross. He assumes you modified the Rick to eliminate the classic Rick sound and achieve that of a Fender. (Not true; you liked and sought out a classic Geddy Lee Rick tone). He assumes your modifications destroyed the classic Rick sound (not true; it still sounds like a Rick, and Geddy-like). What a tool.

What? Do you break strings all the time? See what Dave says, on Dave's World of Fun Stuff. He smashed his Rickie in frustration with it. Now he says he doesn't hate them, just has a strong dislike for them.

I just bought one after wanting one for years. I actually don't like it, I'm looking to get rid of it lol

@andyarnette9220

2 ай бұрын

Sorry to hear that. I'll buy yours for, say, half price? 🤣

@sonofliberty92

2 ай бұрын

@@andyarnette9220 I'll sell it to you for 1600. 2024 fireglo

RickenBACKer not RickenBACHer. Just fyi.

@andyarnette9220

10 ай бұрын

Oh boy..

@profile2047

10 ай бұрын

@@andyarnette9220 This is true. Easy to research. According to John Hall and the rest of them peeps. The person just gave ya a little fun fact. No reason to get insecure about it.

@tombeyerlein3813

10 ай бұрын

Thank you. It drives me nuts that people so frequently mispronounce this.

@BBatesF16

8 ай бұрын

Adolf Rickenbacher changed the spelling and pronunciation of his name to Rickenbacker after moving to america so that he would not be associated with the Germans …so originally he was RickenBACHer….

@markdaniels7174

6 ай бұрын

⁠​⁠@@tombeyerlein3813It’s a mispronunciation that almost everyone makes, and yet the world keeps turning. It’s no biggie. You probably mispronounce Adidas like over 90% of people do, but life continues.

All talk no sound demo

That is not a Rick, the bridge is not Rick, the bridge pickup is not mounted as Rick do, sorry

@andyarnette9220

4 ай бұрын

Lol! You trolling me? Yes it definitely IS a Rickenbacker. Nothing can change that. No need to apologize. I forgive you. 🤣

Its that stupid double truss rod i cant stand. One is lose , the other tight and it doesnt come with a truss rod tool.

@cliftoncaskey5696

Ай бұрын

They’ve switched to a single truss rod recently.