Standard versions and collectible versions of the 4003 include the 4003s (special)(discontinued 1995, relaunched 2015) a 4003 similar to the 4001s with dot neck markers, no body binding based loosely upon the original Rickenbacker basses and fitted with 4001 pick ups. 1985–2002 versions of 4003 and 4003s were available with black hardware option and black binding. Other later special editions have included 4003 Blue Boy, 4003 CS (Chris Squire) similar to 4001 CS Limited edition specials include the Blackstar, the Shadow Bass, the Tuxedo and 4003 Redneck.
Rickenbacker basses have a distinctive tone. The 4001 and 4003 basses have neck-through construction. British bassist Chris Squire of Yes was one of the first musicians to ‘supercharge’ the classic 4001 sound by splitting the output of his bass – he had his monophonic 4001 rewired so he could split the signal, sending the bass (neck) pickup output to a regular bass amplifier, and the treble (bridge) signal to a lead guitar amplifier. The 3000 series made from the mid-1970s to mid-1980s were cheaper instruments with bolt-on 21 fret necks. There was also a set neck 4000 version in 1975 and 76 (neck set like a Gibson Les Paul), which had a 20-fret neck, dot inlays, no binding (similar to the 4001S) but only a single bridge position mono pickup. Fred Turner of Bachman-Turner Overdrive used the 4000 extensively on the Not Fragile album, even appearing on a promotional clip for You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet. It also appears on the inner gatefold sleeve of their “Four Wheel Drive” album.
Along with McCartney’s usage, some of the earliest Rickenbacker bass players were Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, John Entwistle of The Who, and Pete Quaife of The Kinks.
In the 1970s, Rickenbacker basses became staples of Progressive rock, exemplified by Chris Squire of Yes with his grinding “concrete mixer” sound that Squire achieved by using his Rickenbacker bass with Rotosound round wound strings, and playing with a pick, and channelling the bass through two different amplifiers. With hard rock, the Rickenbacker bass was played by Deep Purple’s Roger Glover. Geddy Lee of Rush also used the Rickenbacker basses on Rush’s earlier material. The “Ricks” continued their popularity among the punk/new wave explosion of the late 1970s and early 1980s, being favoured by Bruce Foxton of The Jam, Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), Paul Gray (The Damned, Eddie & the Hot Rods), Tony James (Generation X), Paul Simonon (The Clash), Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Michael Bradley (The Undertones) and Kira Roessler (Black Flag). Another notable bassist that was famous for use of a Rickenbacker 4001 was the late Cliff Burton, bassist for the influential heavy metal group Metallica. His bass guitar was a Rickenbacker 4001 (with heavily modified electronics) that was red with white hardware and trim, with triangle inlays on the fretboard. His first use of that bass was for live gigs during the group’s “Kill ‘Em All” era. Many bass players continue to play Rickenbackers. (See ‘players section’ below)
Among hard rockers, one of the best-known players of Rickenbacker basses was Motörhead vocalist/bassist Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister, for whom Rickenbacker produced a 60-bass run of “Lemmy Kilmister” signature basses; a 4004LK, fitted with three pickups, gold hardware, and elaborate wood carving in the shape of oak leaves.
just...BASS! 