I didn't see a thread about these new 5-ers so I'm starting one. I got mine early last week and have been playing it at home, anxiously awaiting a rehearsal with the band or a gig. I put new strings on, which helped the tone and feel, and made some pickup height adjustments to suit my tastes.

I love the thing! For a passive bass there are endless tonal possibilities. Just today I started experimenting with the cap push/pull feature. Very interesting sound there. Backing the neck PU volume just a hair adds a really nice growl, too. Back off the bridge PU tone control and get McCartney-esque.

What I also like is the slightly shorter scale length, like all Ric basses. I have arthritis in my left thumb that makes it tough to play 34" scale, impossible to play 35". The 33-1/4" of the Ric is pretty much my limit unless I opt for expensive surgery.

I A-B'ed this with my 1976 4001 and it isn't quite as growly but has more depth and bottom. Like I said, I'm lovin' it so far.

Congrats to Rickenbacker International Corporation to making a workable 5 string bass


Good choice on the bridge and the neck looks workable … I will probably get one and modify it slightly like a do with all of my Ricks.

_________________
www.3dentourage.com/425

Thomann in Europe will be selling the new 4003s5 basses but they are showing a headstock that has 2 tuners on the bass side and 3 on the treble side and it has the Schaller M4 tuners. Is this a different export model?

_________________
www.3dentourage.com/425

I just ordered mine today from Chicago Music Exchange. Midnight Blue. I was thinking about waiting for a Walnut version to pop up but noticed that most of my basses have maple boards. The blue is a great color. I have a gig coming up a week from Thursday and will likely play it there.

Bones

DenverKen,

What strings are you using on your 4003S/5? I tend to lean towards Nickel strings on my other basses.

Bones

I appreciate the 5-string being styled with the traditional pickup positions as the 4001/3. However, in my opinion, the B string needs a little more definition than a "24th fret" position neck pickup can deliver. I want to see a Rickenbacker 5-string with the pickups in the same positions as the 4002, with the neck, or what would be effectively be a middle position, wired straight and the bridge position, being closer to the bridge and therefore needing a little more lows let through, with the in-line capacitor to the pickup at a value of .01 as on the 4002, rather than the .0047, as on the 4001/3.

I use D'addario super light string on all of my 5 string basses

_________________
www.3dentourage.com/425

I really need to get one of these …

_________________
www.3dentourage.com/425

So far I'm very happy with this bass. It's a bit noisier than I'm used to with my other basses but it really has a great tone. The B string is very solid. I would recommend it.

Looks like Chicago Music Exchange still has a couple in stock (MapleGlo and FireGlo).

Bones