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Average Price: $4,199
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Description
Made as a limited recreation of Paul McCartney's original Rickenbacker 4001S given to him by Rickenbacker themselves, this model is a faithful reproduction of both the look and sound of the legendary bassist. Featuring a reverse headstock loyal to Paul's bass, vintage tuners complete with flathead screws that tune in reverse dilation, Horseshoe, and Toaster Pickups, the 4001c64 stays true to the Beatle's iconic Rickenbacker in almost every way.
Construction of the bass includes a Solid Body Build, Maplewood Neck and Body, with a Rosewood Fretboard.
Discontinued Model Period: 1965-2009
Product specs
| Brand | Rickenbacker |
| Model | 4001C64 |
| Finish | Fireglo, Jetglo, Mapleglo |
| Year | 2001 - 2009 |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | 4-String Basses |
| Active / Passive Pickups | Passive Pickups |
| Active Preamp | No Preamp |
| Body Material | Maple |
| Body Shape | Double Cutaway |
| Color Family | Black, Natural, Red, Tan |
| Finish Features | Matching Headstock |
| Finish Pattern | Sunburst |
| Finish Style | Gloss |
| Fretboard Material | Rosewood |
| Model Family | Rickenbacker 4001 |
| Model Sub-Family | Rickenbacker 4001C64 |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Number of Frets | 20 |
| Number of Strings | 4-String |
| Pickup Configuration | SS |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Series | Rickenbacker 4000 Series |
FAQs
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What makes the Rickenbacker 4001c64 unique compared to other bass guitars?
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The Rickenbacker 4001c64 is known for its vintage design, reminiscent of the classic 1960s models. It features a distinctive double cutaway body shape, passive pickups, and a maple body, delivering a signature sound with a bright, punchy tone ideal for rock and pop music.
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Is the Rickenbacker 4001c64 suitable for beginners?
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While the Rickenbacker 4001c64 offers exceptional build quality and tone, its premium features and price may be better suited for intermediate to advanced players who can fully appreciate its unique sound and craftsmanship.
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What kind of tones can I expect from the Rickenbacker 4001c64?
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The Rickenbacker 4001c64 delivers a bright, articulate tone with a strong midrange presence, making it ideal for classic rock, pop, and progressive music. Its passive pickups provide a vintage sound that cuts through the mix effectively.
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How does the neck profile of the Rickenbacker 4001c64 feel?
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The Rickenbacker 4001c64 features a slim neck profile made of maple, offering smooth playability and comfort for fast finger movements, which is particularly appreciated by players who favor intricate bass lines.
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What is the pickup configuration on the Rickenbacker 4001c64?
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The Rickenbacker 4001c64 has a single-coil pickup configuration (SS), which contributes to its clear, bright tone and helps define its classic sound that has been favored by many iconic bassists.
Videos
PMTVUK
Rickenbacker Bass 4001C64 - A close look...
Rickenbacker Bass 4001C64 - A close look...
PMTVUK
Rickenbacker 4001C64
Dengia64
Rickenbacker 4001C64 plectrum
Dengia64
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Rickenbacker 4001c64.
Features and functionality
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The Rickenbacker 4001c64 is noted for its flipped headstock, a design choice aimed at replicating Paul McCartney's iconic bass.
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The horseshoe pickup on the 4001c64 is noted for offering a distinct tone compared to the common bridge pickup on the 4003, with warmer neck pickup tones.
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Users report keeping all tone controls wide open to manage the bridge pickup, highlighting the 4001c64's unique tonal control requirements.
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Build quality
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Some users have observed subtle changes in the horn shapes over the years, with current models being less appealing to certain purists.
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User experience
Comparisons
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Owners suggest that a Rickenbacker 4003 can be modified with hardware swaps to approximate the sound and feel of a 4001c64.
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5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 3 Ratings
74
Famous, Faithful and Flexible
Paul McCartney's tone is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable and unique sounds to come from any bassist. It helped shape a generation of music and for good reason. Paul's sound had ear-catching treble and real dig to it, while still complimenting his fellow Beatles' melodic vibrancies. That's a hard thing for any manufacturer to do with a bass, how do you manage to make your bass tone sound distinct from the mix while not overbearing the other sounds it's meant to accompany? It's a feat that manufacturers are still trying to pull off today, but I seriously believe Rickenbacker accomplished this goal with this instrument all the way back in the 60s. Not only is it extraordinarily faithful to the sound and look of the original 4001S model that was given to Paul by Rickenbacker, making it an ideal bass for any Beatles cover band, but it's also still able to keep its own identity outside of the Beatles' famous sound. I've had my model for around 3 years, and it's been through multiple string sets, from flatwounds to ghs boomers, dozens of pedals, and tunings, and throughout all of the things I've put it through it's yet to disappoint me from the sound. Never failing to deliver the truly unique sound I was aiming to achieve while still melting perfectly with my bandmates' sound. I should mention that this is of course a Rickenbacker-produced bass, so a lot of the quirks that come with any other Rickenbacker manufactured instrument applies here. So if things like fret buzz and the infamous Rickenbacker bridge pickups bother you, this might not be worth the jaw-dropping prices for one of these basses. But for what it does, it absolutely does not disappoint and exceeds what I would even expect just for one bass to be capable of, especially considering the general reason you'd probably buy one is just to replicate Paul McCartney's sound. The 4001c64 is without question my favorite bass, if not my favorite piece of musical equipment I own. It's anything but orthodox, far removed from the idealized sound of a Fender Precision, but its uniqueness and true versatility keep it as my go-to bass for most of the music I play.
Artist usage
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Paul McCartney's first Rickenbacker bass was the 4001c64, a model that has since been discontinued.
In this video uploaded by South Park Studios, Les Claypool can be seen using the Rickenbacker 4001c64 for a cover of “Closer to the Heart” by Rush for the South Park 25th anniversary concert. The Rickenbacker 4001c64 can be seen in a couple timestamps, but it is most notable at 1:07-1:09 and 1:13-1:14
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Community setups
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