Bajos Rickenbacker

The 4000 series were the first Rickenbacker bass guitars, production beginning in 1954. The 4000 was followed by the very popular 4001 (in 1961), the 4002 (limited edition bass introduced in 1977, only 100 or so models were produced), the 4008 (an 8-string model introduced in the mid-1970s), the 4003 (in about 1980 and still in production in 2007), and most recently the 4004 series. There was also the 4005 which was a hollow-bodied bass guitar (discontinued in the 80's); it did not resemble any of the other 4000 series basses, but rather the new style 360-370 guitars.

Rickenbacker basses have a distinctive tone. The 4000 bass has neck-through construction for more solid sustain due to more rigidity. The 3000 series made from the mid-1970s to mid-1980s were cheaper instruments with bolt-on 21 fret necks.

Some of the earliest Rickenbacker bass users included the Beatles' Paul McCartney, John Entwistle of The Who, Peter Quaife of The Kinks, and Roger Waters of Pink Floyd. Rickenbacker basses became a staple of 1970s hard rock and were featured on countless recordings of the decade. A good example is Roger Glover who used Rickenbacker basses on all of his early work with Deep Purple in the seventies. It was also widely used among progressive rock bassists, like Yes's Chris Squire, Geddy Lee of Rush, the aforementioned Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, and Genesis's Mike Rutherford's, Renaissance's Jon Camp, among many others. Another notable player was Rod Deas of Rockabilly exponents Showaddywaddy.

Rickenbacker basses were not as visible among the punk/new wave explosion of the late 1970s and early 1980s; however there were four notable users. Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols played a Rickenbacker during his tenure with the band. Lemmy of Hawkwind and Motörhead has played a Rickenbacker his entire professional career. Cliff Burton of Metallica played a modified Rickenbacker 4001 bass early in his career in Metallica.He later switched to an Alembic Spoiler,and when this was stolen,he switched to an Aria Pro II which he played almost exclusively.