Discover the Legendary Sound of the Rickenbacker 4001: Project16 Picked Bass
Rickenbacker 4001 bass guitars hold a special place in music history. Their unique, bright, mid-range-rich tone has shaped the sound of countless hits from The Beatles and Rush to Motörhead and The Cure. And if you’ve always dreamed of adding this iconic sound to your tracks, but haven’t been able to purchase the original instrument, the Project16 Picked Bass plugin from bigcat Instruments is a great solution.
This plugin doesn’t just emulate a bass guitar; it recreates a specific and highly sought-after sound – the Rickenbacker 4001 bass, played with a pick. It is this playing technique that gives the instrument its special attack, clarity, and aggression, making it ideal for many musical genres.
Features of the “Picked Bass” Sound
Playing with a pick on a bass guitar is drastically different from playing with your fingers. It emphasizes the upper harmonics, adds a percussive element to the string attack, and provides a denser and more focused sound in the mix. Project16 Picked Bass captures this very characteristic. You get:
- Expressive attack that easily cuts through the mix.
- Bright tone with the signature Rickenbacker “bell-like” sound.
- Excellent note clarity even in dense arrangements.
- The ability to get both a classic rock sound and more modern variations.
This is not the soft and rounded tone associated with fingerstyle playing. Project16 Picked Bass is designed for cases where the bass part should be a driving force, have character, and stand out.
Where to use Project16 Picked Bass?
Due to its unique character, this virtual instrument will fit perfectly into tracks of the most diverse styles:
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Rock and Hard Rock: A classic application for the Rickenbacker Picked Bass. Add drive and punch to guitar riffs.
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Progressive Rock: Complex bass lines will sound clear and articulate.
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Pop Music: Give modern pop tracks a vintage touch and a dense lower mid-range.
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Funk and Soul: Add sharpness and groove to bass parts.
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New Wave and Post-Punk: Get the authentic sound of the era.
These are just a few examples. In fact, any track where a bass with a bright character and expressive attack is needed can benefit from using Project16 Picked Bass.
Technical Details and Availability
Project16 Picked Bass is developed by bigcat Instruments and is available completely free of charge. It is implemented as a sampler instrument, which means its sound is based on recordings of a real Rickenbacker 4001.
The plugin supports the most common virtual instrument formats, namely:
- VST
- AU (Audio Units)
This ensures its compatibility with most modern digital audio workstations (DAWs) on Windows (32-bit and 64-bit) and macOS operating systems.
Installing the plugin is usually standard for VST/AU instruments: download the archive, unpack it, and copy the plugin file to the appropriate system folder for VST or AU instruments. After that, your DAW should automatically recognize it on the next launch or plugin scan.
Conclusion
Project16 Picked Bass is a great free instrument for any musician or producer looking for the classic, recognizable sound of the Rickenbacker 4001 bass guitar with the characteristic pick-playing style. It offers a unique tonal character that can become a highlight of your arrangements in a wide variety of genres, from rock to funk and pop. Despite being free, the plugin provides a quality sampled sound that integrates easily into your workflow. Add Project16 Picked Bass to your virtual instrument collection and discover new possibilities for creating dense, expressive, and memorable bass parts. It’s a simple way to get a piece of musical history in your projects.
