Basses[] Rickenbacker 4001JG The 4000 series were the first Rickenbacker , introduced in 1957. They followed the 4000 with the (in 1961), 4002 (limited edition bass introduced in 1977), 4008 (an eight-string model introduced in the mid-1970s), 4003 (in 1979, replacing the 4001 entirely in 1986 and still in production in 2021), and most recently the 4004 series. They also made the 4005, a hollow-bodied bass guitar (from 1965 to 1984)—which did not resemble other 4000 series basses, but rather the new style . The 4001S (introduced 1964) was basically a 4001 but with no binding and dot fingerboard inlays. It was exported to England as the RM1999. However, received one of the early 4001S instruments (his unit was left-handed, and later modified to include a ""). Along with McCartney, other early adopters of the 4001 were (), (The Who), (), of and of .[] The model 4003S (“standard”) arrived in 1985, was discontinued in 2000, and relaunched in 2015. This was similar to the 4001S with its dot neck markers and no binding. From 1985 to 2002, the 4003 and 4003S had black hardware and black binding options available. Later special editions included the 4003 Blue Boy, 4003 CS (), Blackstar, Shadow Bass, Tuxedo and 4003 Redneck.[] Rickenbacker basses have a distinctive tone. The 4001 and 4003 basses have neck-through construction. The 3000 series, made from the mid-1970s to mid-1980s, were cheaper instruments with bolt-on 21-fret necks. There was also a glued-in "set neck" 4000 version in 1975-76 (neck set like a ), which featured a 20-fret neck, dot inlays, no binding (similar to the 4001S) and only a single bridge-position mono pickup. of used the 4000 extensively on the album, as seen in a promotional clip for "." This bass also appears on the gatefold sleeve of . In the 1970s, the Rickenbacker bass became a staple of , as exemplified by British bassists () and (). Squire was one of the first to supercharge the 4001 by splitting the signal, sending the neck pickup output to a bass amp and the bridge pickup output to a lead guitar amp.[] Combined with his aggressive picking technique on Rotosound roundwound strings, the effect was a growling, grinding, "concrete mixer" tone that continues to be admired and emulated. In the vein, 's was a prominent Rickenbacker aficionado. of used a Rickenbacker on the band's earlier material. Another enthusiast was bassist , whose heavily modified 4001, red with white hardware and trim, debuted during the group's era. Also noteworthy was vocalist/bassist , for whom Rickenbacker produced a 60-bass run of "Lemmy Kilmister" signature basses: the 4004LK, fitted with three pickups, gold hardware, and elaborate wood carving in the shape of oak leaves. In 2019, the company produced a 420-bass run of signature basses honoring the prominent and bassist, a long-time Rickenbacker proponent. Cisneros's 4003AC model features a signature pickguard, green inlays on the fingerboard, and a removable thumb rest.