LeftyBassist.com

I have a 1969 lefty rickebacker 4003 from a friend and i dont know much bass (pianist now trying to remember all the clash bass lines i learned, and im 20 so got some time) but I was trying it out, and I have no idea why, but its quality was over the top splendid even compared to this one 60 jazz bass i played once. any info on subject?

4003 has only been around since '79, IIRC, so you probably have a 4001, if it's indeed a '69.

IME, they can be fantastic basses... or really, really shitty.

They're sort of hit and miss... but the guys who love them seem to REALLY love them and will defend them to death... to them, Rickenbacker can do no wrong. And the guys who hate them seem to REALLY hate them. I'm guessing that most of these guys got screwed somehow.

Anyway, I just got a 4003 this year and I love mine... but it was the second one I had... the first one was a POS. So, I guess I'm somewhere in the middle. I'll never buy another one without a solod return policy.

Good on you that you have a good one... I'd probably keep it if I were you.

IMO, the very legendary players who helped put Rick on the map may have inadvertently done the instruments an injustice, as many people assume that a Rick can only do "That twangy trebly Geddy Lee, Chris Squire" tone or Paul McCartney's "tubby" tones. The fact that McCartney and Geddy's tones are on the extreme ends of the spectrum should show you how versatile Ricks can be. For further proof, check out Rick James, Andre 3000, Cliff Burton, Lemmy, Mike Mills, etc. etc.

They have a signature mid range bump that has a perfect combination of rhythmic support, presence, and clarity, IMO. I brought mine down to my old band's reunion rehearsals a couple of years ago and everyone agreed it was the perfect bass for our alternative rock/pop sound. This, after years of using my J bass or my EB Sterling with that band.

My first "real" bass was a Rickenbacker in 1980 (huge McCartney Wings over America Fan as well as Yes and Rush), I exclusively played that until 96, I always remember my drummer asking if I could get my Rick to sound like a P Bass and I never understood why. In 96 I got my second bass a Fender P and I understood what he was talking about as playing my Rick I never had the experience of other sounds, he wanted that traditional Fender bass sound (and there is no problem with that).

However it made me realize how unique the Rickenbacker sound was. Around 83 I started using the Stereo chord and had two amps to further the Rick experience. So in summary if you want a Fender sound, get a Fender. If you want a Rick sound get a Rick. I feel alot of folks use a Rickenbacker and EQ to get a Fender sound and that is just wrong. Same for the Fender guy looking to get a Rick sound. There is no Good or Bad, Right or Wrong it's just getting the sound you want. Now I have twenty something basses and use each one for it's right purpose. It's sorta like the Ginger or Marianne argument as to who do you prefer, both were awesome but in their own unique way.

Unless your name is Geddy Lee and you can make your Jazz bass and Wahl's sound like a Ric.