Rickenbacker Brand Origins
Adolph Rickenbacher founded the company in 1931 in California, initially producing metal-bodied lap steels before expanding into solidbody electric guitars and basses in the 1950s.
4001 to 4003 Evolution
The 4001 bass debuted in 1960 with features like a horseshoe pickup and stereo wiring; the 4003 replaced it in 1979 with updated bound body edges, improved truss rod access, and a more stable neck joint while retaining the iconic triangular headstock and dual outputs.
Notable Players
Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead used a modified 4001/4003 extensively, while other adopters include Paul McCartney in later years and numerous session players drawn to its midrange cut in dense mixes.
