Yes, Rickenbacker is a very good brand. Good enough for Paul McCartney of The Beatles, Chris Squire of Yes, Roger Glover of Deep Purple and many other professionals, they've been around since the late fifties. The 4003 is the current incarnation of the venerable 4000 series bass. The "horseshoe" style magnetic pickup and the available "Rick-O-Sound" stereo output give these basses a unique tone with some extra bite, which can cut through even a grunge band's sonic assault. Made in the U.S.A., in Santa Ana, California.

"Good" is a relative question. Current Rickenbacker basses are priced on the higher side of mid-priced professional instruments. A Fender American Standard would probably represent "more value for money," however, Rickenbackers have a certain cache' due to their distinctive appearance (4003 model in particular) and pedigree as mentioned above. Of the major competitors (Ernie Ball MusicMan Bongo/Stingray, Fender American Jazz, Modulus "Flea" and Warwick), they have a unique sound more suited for traditional and '70's rock. Conventional wisdow is that slap and funk styles are better played on Fender Precision basses, Stingrays, G&L, etc. While the Ric relies on older-design single coil pickups, more modern slap/funk basses use dual coil or 'humbucking' (so named because they don't 'hum' through the amp as much) pickups which allegedly don't have as pure a sound. Other interesting quirks of Rics include the dual trussrod system (difficult to adjust but once adjusted make more a longer-lasting set-up) and a laminated fretboard (either love it or hate it). To use a sports car analogy, they're like finely made Italian Afas - when they're running good, there's nothing like them. But if you don't know a good mechanic (luthier), you'll be riding the bus more often than you'd like. The short answer to your question hinges on your answer to these: - Is the traditional Ric sound something you're looking for? (And remember Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, and Sir Paul also had different amps, strings etc., not to mention their own fingers - which are all crucial to the sound)? - Are you a traditionalist, rock 'n' roller, or into slap/funk or Les Claypool? (Les is occasionally seen with a Fender Jazz, but not a Ric) - Is it a new or used instrument, and will you be doing your own set up, intonation, etc.? (Many shopping mall guitar shops shy away from working on Rics) Good luck, those that own them say there's nothing like a Ric and they wouldn't trade them for anything.

yeah i like them very much.. i have a friend of mine who has a rick and its sound is huge

They are a respected American manufacturer and are used by professional electric basses, so yes they are "good". With that said, they are not perfect and should be test driven if you have never tried one out. Older models (4001 series) can have problems with twisted necks, so be careful of "vintage" deals. New ones (4003, 4004 series) are more durable. Points for nice finishes, good resale value, distinctive look. Concerns: not the most ergonomically thought out design--sharp binding, no arm cutout, no "tummy cut", obtrusive cover over bridge pickup that can be in the way. Also the bridge is a dated design that incorporates a built in mute that has thumbscrews that need to be kept tight or they will come loose. An analogy I would use is from the motorcycle world, would you say that Harley Davidson is a "good" motorcycle? Sure they tend to be several years (decades?) behind in technology, and are certainly not for everyone. But they are distinctive, American made, have a loyal customer base, and good resale value because of the "mystique". In summary, definately a good bass that should be tried out before you know it's good for you.

Yes, Rickenbacker is a very good bass, but they have their own feel, so play on one awhile to make sure you like the "feel." The tone is good, workmanship is excellent, and the weight is acceptable. I've played one before, and I'd buy another, but the Fender P/J bass is also nice.