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Logged.Rickenbacker basses, like the 4003 and earlier 4001, rank as some of the most iconic and coveted models in this history of the instrument. Back in the 70's they made some that were shaped like the bass bodies I forget the model number. My favorite off the shelf guitar was a Rickenbacker 620. Just a sort of homage to them does not have to be exact but a comfy sort of traditional body style that is not Fender. It would be nice to make them for guitar too.
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Rickenbacker Style Bass Upgrade Or Update
There have also been a few internal variations in the electrical components used between the two models, but this is also the case between different eras of production for each model individually.Limited Edition, Artist, and Reissue ModelsBoth the 40 have been made in various special editions and signature models over the years. The main difference is that the 4003 introduced a more modern dual-truss rod system which allowed it better accommodate round-wound strings. Click on the images below to see individual listings for each Rickenbacker model and period.While the 4003 was positioned as an upgrade or update to the 4001, the two models are actually extremely similar. We have loads of free guitar images suitable for screen savers and photographers who appreciate a fine guitar.In the guide that follows, we'll break down the key vintage and modern Rickenbacker bass models currently available on Reverb. Players of the six-string Photos of Vintage Rickenbacker Bass Guitars, Vintage Amps and guitar information. Rickenbacker twelve-string guitars were favoured by George Harrison of the Beatles, Roger McGuinn of the Byrds, Pete Townshend of the Who, and Tom Petty.
An "S" in the heading means that the bass is part of a more affordable line of Rickenbacker basses, which keep costs down by dropping body binding and stereo outputs and using dots instead of triangular inlays.The primary finishes for Rickenbacker instruments through the years have been Fireglo, Mapleglo, and Jetglo, which are basically sunburst, natural, and black, respectively. Though Rickenbacker has offered this as an option for decades, fretless 4000-series basses remain relatively scarce on the used market. Beyond these reissues, there have been other artist models from Rickenbacker like the 4004LK "Lemmy Kilmister" and 4001CS "Chris Squier" models.Any Ric bass with "FL" in the model name indicates that it's a fretless variation. For instance, the discontinued 4001C64S is a replication of Paul McCartney's 4001 from 1964.
Most of the models were produced in comparatively limited numbers to the flagship 4001 or 4003 and remain quite rare on the today's market. Notably, to use this feature, you need to run the Ric-O-Sound output via a stereo Y-cable or other single splitting devices—it's not just a matter of using both output jacks at once, as many assume.While 4003s and 4001s make up the vast majority of Rickenbacker basses in circulation, the company has also produced a few other models over the years. If looking at a Rickenbacker listing, you can tell if that particular model is Ric-O-Sound equipped simply by spotting how many output jacks are visible on the instrument. There have also been years where Rickenbacker has offered all its models in special colors, which you can read more about via this blog post about rare Rickenbacker finishes.Most, but not all, modern Rickenbackers are equipped with a unique output system called the "Ric-O-Sound," which is essentially a stereo output option with each channel tied to one of the pickups.
Both model variations remain good values on the vintage market. There was also a short-scale version of this bass, released as the 3000. There have also been 5-, 6-, and 8-string versions of this model made over the years—all of which remain extremely rare and desirable instruments.3001 — In the '70s, Rickenbacker offered a lower-end bass model with an entirely different body shape and style, dubbed the 3001. These basses also offer a different jewel-toned set of finish options.4005 — Dating back to the '60s, the hollowbody 4005 model is essentially the bass equivalent to the famous Rickenbacker 360 guitar model. This shorter-lived model included an ebony fingerboard, XLR output, and a number of fancier cosmetic appointments.4004 — The Rickenbacker 4004 line includes a few different models that use the same classic body shape but with fewer bells and whistles and distinct humbucker pickups.
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