New to Ricks - help me with my '03 4003

ken_swearingen · Post by **ken_swearingen** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 7:45 am

Jeff, your probably right but it has to do with the type of music you and bob play.You play more progresive type rock where as Bob, plays Conway Twitty type of stuff[stuff that puts your grandma to sleep]That being said I think it taste great.haha

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 7:50 am

You need to get out more Jeff ....

I think everyone's a little stir crazy with Snitch Revere day approaching !!!

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 7:58 am

So both of you shut the f--k up.lol haha!

So far out of 12 responses NO ONE has checked rounds only, there are 6 different ways to respond. Hurry up Jeff and be the first.haha! Al's Nudie Pit. The Dudepit.

rickengeezer · Post by **rickengeezer** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:01 am

I use flats....on a Fender Jazz. I use that bass on pickup gigs where I have no idea what the band will be playing and I don't know the songs. With the muddier sound, it is more difficult to tell when I hit the wrong note, and I just slide up (or down) to the right one and pretend I meant to do that!

Isn't that what Jazz is all about?

1rr3l3v4n7 · Post by **1rr3l3v4n7** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:01 am

euh... Hi!

By the way... This "twang" IS the reason why I bought a 4003.

There's nothing like the TWANG of a RIC...

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:11 am

I like your take on Jazz, Les!

I've also noticed that when I hit the wrong note on my Rick, the results can be painful. I don't own a Fender, but judging from the last three Fender bass players I've seen live, I don't think I would have been able to tell if the player were within 3 frets of the correct note!

4003360man · Post by **4003360man** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:21 am

The Rickenbacker bass has two specific signature sounds.

Most are only familiar with the Geddy Lee/Chris Squire high treble "plingy" sound that you get with bright roundwound strings.

But the other (which people forget) is the Paul McCartney warm sound he got with flats. The best example is on "A Little Help From My Friends" and "All You Need is Love".

I'm guessing your tech is feeding you false info because he has a gripe against Rickenbackers and doesn't want you to buy one.

Why is anyone's guess, but it's been my experience that you either love them or hate them. And unfortunatly it's because people either love or hate Geddy Lee's or Chris Squire's sound.

When I've told Rick haters that it doesn't have to sound like that and also that Paul McCartney used a Rick on virtually the entire Sgt. Pepper's album, the first thing they say is "That's a killer Bass sound. Are you sure that's a Rick".

Yep, it's a Rick.....with flats.

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:26 am

I use flats on my Fender Jazz too. Although to be honest, it's not a true Fender. The neck is a Fender Jazz '69 era, the tuners are vintage '62's, but everything else is aftermarket.It has a Warmoth body, Badass II bridge ect. I don't play it much anymore because it's sooooooo darn heavy! My shoulder gets sore after a show when I use it too much. I mainly use my Ric's and my customized OLP Music Man String Ray. Much easier on the shoulder I must say.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:27 am

Sorry Bob ... I don't do the dude pit thing ... and I get out a lot ... but I hang with younger musicians and play a more modern style of music ... I was actually in a band where they thought I was pulling their leg when I was telling them about flatwound strings ... I know a few old guys who used to play who still like flats but I don't know any gigging musicians who use flats ... except for a few on this forum ... to get the rounds off my bass you would have to pry it out of my dead hands ...

edski · Post by **edski** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:39 am

Not everyone at the Pit is a geezer, Jeff.

Heck, IIRC we're pretty close to the same age...

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 9:03 am

Looks like Bob's poll is now starting to make Jeff's case for him:
only flats 2 8.70%
only rounds. 3 13.04%
both but usually flats 7 30.43%
both but usually round wounds 10 43.48%
50/50 1 4.35%
half rounds/ groundwounds etc. 0 0%

edski · Post by **edski** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 9:28 am

It's shifting a bit...with 27 votes it's 14-11 RW (counting the "both but mainly..." in the category for "mainly"). 2 say 50/50...

Actually, thinking that the "both but mainly..." are prety close to 50/50, then the majority are using BOTH...so I'm not sure that Jeff's case that "flats are for dinosaurs" is being played out.

Then again, this is just 27 opinions, on a board that Jeff has no interest in. So take it for what you want.

But no one is saying they use 1/2 rounds!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 10:08 am

there is nothing wrong with using flats or being retro ... just don't try to sell it as being modern ... Ric users are more retro than most ... on this forum there is a lot of interest in Beatle stuff and old instruments and old strings and old music and reissue instruments and the such like ... which is fine ... but accept it for what it is ... RETRO ... heck I get retro sometimes ... I was listening to Soundgarden and Creed the other day ...

I just don't want to scare off the younger musicians with all the retro stuff being passed off as "The way to play" ... sometimes I think this is an old guys forum ... a bunch of over 50 guys trying to relive the 60's ... which is fine ... but I am over 50 and bored with the 60's ... I was listening to a classic rock station the other day and I got really thankful for modern music and new bands and new songwriters ...

grayk · Post by **grayk** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 10:09 am

Welcome Matthew. Right her goes in double quick time. Ashdown + Ric great = combination....especially ABM. If you want to try Pyramids (I reckon you will be disappointed being only 27) buy them from Thomann.de in Germany. They are stacks cheaper, but you would have £15 postage so it wouldnt be worth it unless you were going to order some other gear. Ashdown gear is cheapest at Soundslive.co.uk by the way. As far as techs go, the rest of the guys on here have said avoid...I say this tech you have seen is a total plank....a very thick one ! I only know of one tech that truly knows Rics in Britain, and that is the guy that does Mike Smiths setups at RicsRus. Mike Smith is a totally honest and decent guy to deal with hes in the Midlands. If anyone else in Brit knows of a tech that really knows Rics please let it be known cos they are like rocking horse sh** it would appear.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 10:18 am

As I've said many times here, use what you wanna use to get the sound that moves you. But let's not dog each other for our choices, or assume that our choice is the only one. Especially when celebrating the 4th of July weekend, let us appreciate freedom of choice and freedom of expression.