r/rickenbacker

Finally came in the mail today, my first Rickenbacker after admiring them from afar for years. This one is a 2022 350V63. I love it so much, so glad to finally be part of the Rick family.

Just got a new 2026 Rickenbacker 4003. I notice there’s lacquer that seems chipped around the first fret. Other frets are fine.

Is this normal for Rickenbackers?

Thanks!

Edit: see picture from another angle in the comments

Looking to try something new with Rick-o-Sound on my 4001. Never really experimented, but would love some advice when it comes to pedal chains and what to do/not to do.

Lefty here, this came last night. I have always wanted a 12 string Ric, they’re so iconic! But jeez is it hard to play. The width of the neck and the lack of space between the strings make it so hard to play cleanly.

Has anyone else had this experience? Did it get better after playing for a while? Admittedly I have short fat sausage fingers, but even as an experienced guitarist my initial impression was wow playing this is surprisingly hard.

How’d I do fam?

Hey all, was recently passed down this Rickenbacker 6 string by my buddy and am losing my mind trying to ID the model/year.

My research leads me to believe this is a 450V63, but it just doesn’t sit right. Something about the pickups is throwing me off. Maybe the previous owner swapped the pickups at one time?

Any help ID this beaut would be appreciated 🙏

I’ve been looking into getting a vibrato for my 350 ever since I bought it. Recently, I’ve seen a Kaufman vibrato come up for sale with this attachment piece that I’ve never seen. I’ve attached a pic of it above. I understand Kaufmans aren’t the most reliable, so I have a few questions.

1. From what I know, without that attachment in that picture, I added it should be a direct swap with my trapeze tailpiece, as the mounted stock bolt for the guitar strap should work with the holes for the Kaufman. However, with this attachment, could the picture of the vibrato above with the attachment be a direct swap to my 350’s trapeze tailpiece?
2. To anyone that has used a Kaufman, how is it really for light use? I’ve always loved the look of it. Is it worth considering a new bridge with it also? Right now I have my stock tune-o-matic on the guitar.
3. If the Kaufman is really that bad should I just consider a Winfield Accent Vibrola or a Bigsby? I’d rather not resort to drilling holes for a bigsby but I understand I’ll need to drill new smaller holes for the Winfield Accent anyway to remove the bolt from my trapeze tailpiece. This is why I really prefer the Kaufman if it can work well as it seems like it would be a direct swap.
4. If I go the accent route can I still keep the tune o matic bridge or is it worth investing in a roller bridge? A Kaufman is more expensive so I’d prefer to keep my stock bridge but if I got an accent i wouldn’t be against getting a new bridge for the guitar.

I know these are real niche questions but I’ve been trying to figure out what is the best move entirely for vibratos and bridges 🙏

Howdy!

I'm buying this 4003s this weekend from the original owner. It's been babied, but he lost the treble pickup cover at some point

It's way more bass than I need right now, but I can't pass it up! I noodled on it in the parking lot when we met and it felt great! We're going to meet at my guitar tech buddy's house so he can check it out before handing him the cash.

Beyond a couple minutes in the parking lot, I've never played a Ric. This is actually the first one I've ever touched.

Is it worth it to buy a treble cover to see if I like it or should I just proceed directly to getting the new bridge pickup ring?

I understand the new pickup ring means new holes, so it's a permanent move.

Is there anyone who has removed their treble cover and would sell it / loan it out for a few weeks? (I'm in Vegas.) I'd hate to waste the money and effort tracking one down then not use it, but you don't know until you know.

Thanks!

although not exact, its the best i could do.

hey y’all,

two years ago, my 2013 4003 was stolen out of my truck in austin, texas after a gig. i got home crazy late from the gig, was exhausted, and figured i’d be safe for a night. i was very wrong. i filed a police report, but obviously nothing came of that. it was one of the most devastating moments of my life. i worked my ass off to buy that bass, my first professional grade instrument, and i must have played 100 gigs with it. i’m not really in a financial position to buy it back at the moment, but i am hoping to at least track it down so that, someday when the current owner wants to sell, i can put in an offer. between the color, the wear pattern, and my modifications, it’s pretty distinctive. i have the serial number and police report on file. i know it’s a long shot, but does anyone here happen to recognize this bass? thanks in advance.

notes:

-it’s got a significant number of small dings. the most unique is one on the bass side waist contour.

-i swapped the white plastics out for black, as seen in the photo

-it is a 2013 model. if someone has a possible hit i’m happy to supply the serial number in DMs. the output jack cover will have a 13 printed separately from the rest of the serial number

-it was in a rickenbacker hard case with a black leather strap, a few cables, and caster wheels from my cabinet. i do not expect that any of those items stayed with the instrument, but who knows

-it hasn’t popped up anywhere on the internet since (i regularly check guitar center, fb marketplace, reverb, google images, etc), so i expect it wound up in a sketchy pawn shop somewhere. police report was filed same day, but for some reason they refused to use my serial number. they said it was incomplete, which makes no sense to me.

Is it just me or does the Rickenbacker 360/12 old style (pointy tipped one) sound different from the new style (rounded tipped one). Like the 360/12 New style has a sort of whirly chorus sound I could hear in a live performance of The Searchers (I will link the video below). So, am I going crazy, or does the new style Ric 360/12 sound different than the Old Style Ric 360/12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js_ManKmFp4

Hello I recently got my hands on a new Rickenbacker, is it normal for the letters to be missing paint off the tips of the letters?

Looked around on Google, and even let AI take a shot at it. Closed, it says it's for a Fender. Opened it says it's for a Ric Bass.

It appears to be 60's or 70's made case. Could just be some generic make.