Rickenbacker basses have an iconic sound. Their round low end, powerful midrange, and distinctive treble snarl are beloved hallmarks of quality bass music.
They were popular during the British Invasion and later adopted by new wave and jangle pop groups, often featuring Toaster top pickups that provide them with their distinct sound.
Sound
Rickenbacker 4001 bass guitars are one of the most iconic in existence and beloved among bassists seeking something different. Equipped with two pickups and a “Rick-O-Sound” bridge allowing bassists to switch between mono and stereo outputs, bassists can select various tones from sharp and edgy to warm and deep with ease. Furthermore, its double truss rod ensures great stability; and various finishes including Fireglo (gradient red), Jetglo (black), and Mapleglo (natural).
George Beauchamp of vaudeville fame approached local instrument maker John Dopyera to design a guitar loud enough to stand out in large ensemble settings. Dopyera came up with a design featuring three resonators in a metal body; thus giving birth to the tricone resonator guitar era and shaping rock and roll music forevermore.
Rickenbackers had become an indispensable component of rock and psychedelic music by the late ’60s, featuring in bands led by bassists such as John Fogerty from Creedence Clearwater Revival, Paul Kantner from Jefferson Airplane, Pete Townshend from The Who, as well as John Fogerty himself from Creedence Clearwater Revival and Pete Townshend of the Who. Additionally, their popularity rose even more when The Beatles adopted Rickenbacker guitars as their signature signature guitars.
Rickenbacker International Corporation first unveiled their 4001 bass model in 1957, and it quickly became a mainstay in various musical genres since. Recognizable thanks to its distinctive shape and tone, its use has been seen by legendary bassists such as Lemmy Kilmister from Motorhead, Dave Anderson of Hawkwind and Glenn Hughes from Black Sabbath – each using one.
Legacy
After The Beatles began using Rickenbackers 325, 330, and 4001 basses during their early years, Rickenbacker production rose drastically worldwide and guitars began selling like hot cakes. Rival guitar makers quickly joined in, producing models that resembled those used by The Beatles; for a while however, patent office officials couldn’t decide whether the designs should be approved as either musical instruments or electrical appliances!
Rickenbacker solidbody electric guitars were quickly adopted by rock and roll musicians during the ’60s. Artists such as Glen Matlock from Sex Pistols, Peter Hook from Joy Division and Mike Campbell from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers all appreciated its distinctive look and sound. Additionally, this decade was marked by innovation at Rickenbacker who pioneered crescent double cutaway design as well as neck-through body construction that would soon become iconic designs of guitars made by Rickenbacker.
Rickenbacker continued its legacy of innovation throughout the 1970s by producing models like the 480 and 481 series. They explored body shapes that mimicked those seen on their 4001 basses, while they even introduced novelty versions such as a banjo-style guitar with slanted frets for sale as an unusual novelty option.
Today, Rickenbacker guitars are recognized for their high quality and timeless aesthetic. Still produced in America and widely considered among the best bass guitars available. Highly durable with an authentic vintage vibe that draws many bassists. Additionally, there is an extensive selection of styles so any bassist can easily find one to fit their unique musical taste.
Sweetwater offers an impressive selection of vintage and modern Rickenbacker basses, from original models to updated models or custom builds. Our website provides tools to narrow your options based on product specifications so you can easily compare models to find your ideal bass guitar – shop our entire collection today!
Design
Rickenbacker guitars may be most widely associated with The Beatles, but they’ve been used by a wide array of artists since their introduction in the early sixties. Due to its neck-thru construction and balanced playability, it quickly became one of the go-to options for bass players across many genres and subgenres; from Macca to Lemmy their distinctive chime has become one of the most recognizable sounds in music.
Rickenbacker basses are known for their innovative designs and various models are available. For instance, models 4001 and 4003 feature solid neck-through-body construction that ensures maximum sustain and resonance to create their signature sound.
The 4001 and 4003 basses can also come equipped with different pickup options, including high-gain, Vintage Toaster or humbucking pickups – each offering its own distinct character and tone for you to find what best fits your musical style.
Rickenbacker bass guitars are built to the highest standards. Each instrument is carefully handcrafted in America and undergoes stringent quality assurance checks before being shipped around the globe to musicians around the globe. Furthermore, Rickenbacker only utilizes top-of-the-line American electronics, guaranteeing your Rickenbacker bass will perform beautifully both live and in studio environments.
Every RIC bass begins its life in a wood shop where workers pay close attention to every component. Utilizing an intensive finish system that holds each part to high standards prior to assembly. They then go through an exhaustive set-up and testing procedure that ensures it can be played right out of its case.
The 4001 series Rickenbacker bass guitar is one of the most sought-after models available, making it an excellent choice for musicians of any level. This instrument boasts a double cutaway, 12-string neck, ebony fretboard, chrome tailpiece and comes in multiple finishes; additionally it comes complete with its own hardshell case for convenient transport.
Customization
Rickenbacker may be best known for their bass guitars, but they were actually among the first companies to create and market a mass-produced solid body electric guitar: The A-22 lap steel. This circular instrument had no frets and an arched neck which allowed for playback “Hawaiian style” using a slide; as well as being mass produced.
Rickenbacker bass guitars have long been associated with various musical genres and eras, from Lemmy and Geddy Lee of Rush to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers using this iconic instrument on stages worldwide. Their distinctive sound – heavy yet versatile yet nuanced – have cemented its place as one of the premier instruments available.
If you want a vintage Rickenbacker bass tone, starting with its pickups should be your priority. Known for their signature massive and curved magnets resembling horseshoes, the Horseshoe bass pickup is one of the signature features of any Rickenbacker bass. Consisting of a single coil bobbin wrapped with copper coils with adjustable pole pieces down the middle (similar to an Squier Strat), but featuring massive cobalt-infused bar magnets bent into horseshoe shapes that completely encompass its bobbin, which completes its signature sound.
Rickenbacker bass pickups were known for their signature high-gain model known as High-Gain. This pickup resembles a standard single coil but features a much larger bar magnet beneath its bobbin as well as individual pole pieces for each string, giving this pickup its signature fat low end sound. Players often chose it when opting for 4000-series basses with this pickup installed.
Toaster pickups have quickly become a favorite on many modern Rickenbacker basses, resembling single coil pickups from other guitar styles such as Strats. It features a plastic bobbin with copper coil and single magnet on top – similar to High Gain pickups but with slightly different tones; usually noted by having two output jacks instead of the usual single one.