I think I'm just a Rickenbacker guy

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Sat Jul 16, 2005 3:14 am

I came to the same conclusion years ago. I've owned or tried just about everything available (and I still try different basses all of the time) but when I bought my 1st Ric I was in trouble. It was a '73 4001 basket case and when I got it together/playable I was hooked. Since then (early '90's) I have been unable to find anything else that suits my playing as well as a Ric.

grayk · Post by **grayk** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 7:53 am

Up till about a month ago I owned two 4003's. My lovely 2000 fireglo and a 2004 mapleglo. The fireglo will be mine until I die but the 04 has gone. I just didn't like the over fat neck on it and it wasnt getting played...in fact it never came out of the case! Mike Smith, a very decent and honest Ric dealer in the UK (RicsRus) sorted a deal for me. I did not see the point in hanging on to a bass I wasnt going to play. I have since acquired a US S1 switching P-bass which I am really impressed with. I have been scathing of Fender build quality for some time, but this one is faultless. The neck is much slimmer and more playable than the 04 Ric and the S1 switching is a great feature. I suppose it says something that I now own 3 P-bass's. One is a hand built special, the other is a superb Tokai. I had to own and experience a Fender at sometime in my life. I'm pleased I did as its not been out of my hands since. Rics are great, I just wish that they would address some issues that are not a problem with a P-bass. I am sure the ground has been covered many times, but it is an issue and Ric should do something about it. I'm talking of the very pretty but useless and weak bridge and saddle arrangement. The other major improvement required is to the pickup poles....they need to be adjustable. It would seem that Ric do not listen to peoples complaints about these issues and just carry on with the same design regardless. How amazing would it be to be able to buy a 4003 with a totally adjustable bridge/polepieces ? Oh and for the neck to be slimmed back to what it was before this last
beef-up.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:54 am

I build my own p-basses and jazz basses using various Allparts, Mighty Mite, Schaller, Dunlap, Seymour Duncan, and other parts ...

2 things I don't like about stock Fenders is the bridge and pickups ... Seymour Duncan 1/4 pound pickups are excellent ... and there are many manufacturers who make better bridges than the stock Fender bridge ... but the p-bass abd jazz bass are both good designs ... although many p-basses and jazz basses are inferior quality in assembly and parts ...

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 1:10 pm

I play my Rickenbacker 4003's most of the time.

I also have a couple of MusicMan Stingrays that I have a love/hate relationship with (currently closer to hate, but the pendulum will swing back, as it has several times, I'm sure). Over the past few years, I would say I've played maybe 70% Rick / 30% Stingray. It's been almost all Rick for the past half year or so. I have a MIM Fender Jazz too, but I only use that for harsh weather gigs, etc.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 1:58 pm

about half of my basses are Rickenbackers ... but when it comes time to gig ... I usually end up using a couple of ric basses ... the other ones are interesting diversions ...

turlu · Post by **turlu** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 2:17 pm

I also feel the same way. I simply can not play anything but Rickenbacker !!!! I am hooked !!!
If I get promoted this year, I know what will be my gift, another Ric !!! But, which one ???? I am so happy with my 4001V63 and my 2002 4003 Burgundy !!

greg_mitchell · Post by **greg_mitchell** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 3:52 pm

I've been in the same band now for over 10 years. In that time I've played a P-bass, a Jazz bass (yes, both Fenders), and a Carvin B4 as my main gigging basses. I've always loved Rics and last September I got myself a '04 4003 in Fireglo. I began taking it to practice and a couple of gigs around Christmas. Our drummer and one of the guitar players told me never to bring any other bass to practice or a gig except my 4003, and my Jazz and that as only a back up.
I do get lots of compliments on both the looks of my Ric from people in the audience and on the tone from other musicians.

grayk · Post by **grayk** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 1:20 am

Jeff - Building your own P-bass is a surefire way of getting the bass that you want from the off. No conversions to do either I would think as all the 5 string gear can be acquired. I think its an attractive idea and one that I may have a go at sometime. I dont know how cost effective it would be in the UK though as parts (especially bodies and necks)seem to be quite expensive. I paid a really keen price for my Butterscotch blonde US S1 P-bass at £649 ($1133). Believe me that is really cheap so I am happy all in all. I bet you guys in the US are thinking Whaaaaat....how much? That is a great price and is two thirds of the retail for one of these in the UK.

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 10:15 am

My bass playing / lead singing band mate has a Fender P-bass and a Ric 4001. He has consistantly chosen to play the Fender much to my dissapointment.

He just remarried and told me that he wants to sell the Ric. He says that the Fender has "better balance".

AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!

Is there anything I can do to knock some sense into this otherwise fine fellow? Perhaps some prozac and a polo mallet might do the trick?

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 10:42 am

Steal the Fender, or at least the strings !!

scoobster28 · Post by **scoobster28** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:24 am

No, offer to buy the Rick cheap to help him finance his marriage.

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 12:23 pm

>>offer to buy the Rick cheap...

I was thinking of something like that. He's in the middle of moving multiple times and dealing with his new wife's little kids and so doesn't have good access to a computer.

I will be soon selling a bunch of things on Ebay (both his and mine).... I'm thinking of making some sort of deal with him to keep the Ric in the family. I've already told him that if he lets it go he will regret it..... and he even agrees.

btw: its a maple-glo and if I got it I'd change the white plastic to black.

cwk · Post by **cwk** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 5:38 am

Intresting thread.I was just looking to part with a couple of jazz basses and a gibson since I have no real intrest in them anymore.The only Fender(s) I really wish to keep I pretty much built the same way Jeff Rath did.The Rickenbackers on the other hand I just can't leave alone.Jeez I really love them.I'll post pics as soon as I figure out the camera deal and linux drivers.
Bill