RickenBacker Bass Guitars - 4003 Model

RickenBacker Bass Guitars - 4003 Model
By Mike N. Foster

The Rickenbacker 4003 Bass is famous for its ringing sustain, treble punch, and solid underlying bottom end. It's also famous for its distinctive, elegantly curved body shape, accentuated by a subtle strip of binding, deluxe triangular fretboard inlays, stereo output, neck-thru-body construction, double truss rods, and high output single-coil pickups with wide response range and brilliant clarity. The Vintage Tone Selector activates a capacitor in the treble pickup circuit to emphasize the high end. Pressed in, you get the familiar 4003 sound, pull it out to add bite and crispness.

In the short lifetime of electric string instruments, very few basses have earned the accolade necessary to genuinely call themselves "classics." Even less can claim the title of industry standard - but no one can dispute the fact that the Rickenbacker 4000 Series deserves these titles. The piano string-like ring, punch, and sustain brought the bass player out of the shadows and into the spotlight.

Unique style and unmistakable tone!
Rickenbacker's original solid-body electric bass was first introduced in the spring of 1957, bringing its own unique style to the Rock and Roll explosion of the early 60's and 70's. In the hands of bass-masters including Paul McCartney, Chris Squire, and Geddy Lee, 4000-series basses forged a solid reputation for distinct tone and comfortable playability. The latest Rickenbacker 4003 bass stays true to its roots, offering these same characteristics to a whole new generation of players.

Neck-thru construction
True pioneers in musical instrument construction, Rickenbacker luthiers were the first to produce a neck-thru-body bass design. A single piece of wood from the headstock to the tailpiece allows string vibration to travel unhindered through the length of the instrument. This results in a clarity of tone and ringing sustain unmatched by bolt-on or set-neck designs. The 4003 uses this same neck-thru principle today. This construction process is too time-consuming for most mass-production brands to implement, but many boutique bass builders are now discovering the benefits of what Rickenbacker has been doing from the beginning. It may take a little longer to build this bass, but Rickenbacker knows it's worth the wait. Get one in your hands, and you'll agree.

Balanced sound for diverse musical styles
Some basses offer deep tone at the low end of the spectrum, but the higher notes tend to be a bit thin. The 4003's combination bridge/tailpiece assembly reflects more string energy over the pickups for a consistent, balanced sound across the entire fretboard. You get piano-like clarity at the top with plenty of growl down below. This is why Rickenbacker basses are played by such a diverse group of musicians. Lemmy from Motorhead, Andre 3000 from Outkast, Mike Mills from REM, and Chris Ross from Wolfmother are all able to get the tone they need from the same instrument. With so many genres represented, you're sure to dial in a sound that suits your style.

Super-slim body
Instead of the chunky, bass-heavy designs used by many manufacturers, a slim, streamlined body gives the 4003 increased treble response and added punch. Both body and neck are made of maple for a full, bright tone with a nice, crisp bite. The rosewood fretboard adds mellow warmth, so notes in the upper register don't sound harsh or shrill. Any style, any technique, comes through with expressive, dynamic clarity.

All about the neck
The thin, fast neck has become a favorite among progressive-rockers and bass-shredders alike. Check out some of Cliff Burton's earliest work with Metallica, Chris Squier's jaw-dropping solos from the 70's, or any of Geddy Lee's blistering Rickenbacker riffs. You can play the slickest runs from low to high and back again without getting bogged down like you would on a fat-necked bass. It may be skinny, but it's also strong and stable thanks to the dual truss rod system. Each neck is designed with a natural curvature, or "neck relief", to ensure the best possible string/fret contact. If the neck relief changes, you'll get fret-buzz and even dead spots in extreme cases. The truss rod adds stiffness from inside, maintaining the proper curvature. Neck relief is partially dependent on string tension, so changing to heavier- or lighter-gauge strings can cause problems, along with temperature and humidity fluctuations. In these situations, the dual truss rod system can be tightened or loosened to compensate for the new conditions, letting every note ring out as it should.

You can find more info about the Rickenbacker 4003 Bass Guitar at:

http://RickenBacker.YouGet.info

Mike N. Foster

http://RickenBacker.YouGet.info

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How to Play Bass Guitar - Fun and Easy

How to Play Bass Guitar - Fun and Easy
By Luke Jordan

Playing bass guitar isn't always about becoming rich and famous; it can be just as easily learned for fun. The skills involved with learning bass guitar and playing a part in writing songs has enabled millions of people to be happy and this is why bass guitar lessons can be great fun. The more intensely you practice the better you will become but it is possible for all different people to have a great time from learning bass guitar.

When you consider the bass guitar and the great bass players who have become famous over the years, there are many people to be influenced by. Many people consider Paul McCartney to be a huge influence on their bass guitar playing and his style may be one you use when learning this instrument. Sometimes you just need a starting point so taking influence from someone you admire greatly can be a great way to get your bass playing skills off the ground. Perhaps The Beatles weren't your thing and you may prefer a heavier sound like Metallica or Iron Maiden. It doesn't really matter what type of genre you like to listen to, it is all about what you want to learn and how much fun you can with playing the bass.

How to play bass guitar and have fun

If you are new to music and are unaware of what to learn, you should not think that all songs and bass guitar lines can be played in the exact same manner. Many people choose to take up bass guitar lessons in order to learn as many new skills and styles as they can before they decide which style to keep playing the most. This wide reaching approach of learning music can open up people's eyes to genres and style they possibly were unaware of. Learning bass guitar has its difficulties but it becomes simpler once you start to understand the nuances and similarities involved.

Learning all about playing the bass guitar can be difficult but it should also be fun and this means you should try to find the approach that works best for you. Just because one style or approach doesn't work for you doesn't mean that nothing will. There are many different styles of lessons available for the bass guitar these days and taking time to find your perfect match will help your skills improve quickly. The trick is to try something and if it worked then great but if it doesn't, you can always move on and try to learn in a different style.

Its how to play bass guitar that counts

The bass guitar is very different from the six string guitar and although there are some similarities it doesn't always follow that a person who can play one can play the other. Everyone has different skills and talents and you may be more suited to playing the bass than any other instrument and if you are, try to develop these skills. Taking bass guitar lessons to build up a better level of skills and techniques should be encouraged in every user and learning bass guitar should be something that never stops.

The bass guitar may not be for everyone but it is an excellent instrument that can bring many hours of fun and enjoyment to a great number of people who learn how to play it well.

With so many different types of bass guitar lessons available, it can be hard to choose just what one is right for you. Our website has a full run down of the options available and will be perfect to help you decide the best way to learn how to play bass guitar. Feel free to visit us to find out more about the bass guitar.

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