Hi everybody,
I'm new to the bass forum, usually hang out at guitars ; ) Anyway, what do you think about a guitar player buying a 4003 for making demos at home and lying on the couch, playing and watching TV? I don't own a bass so I usually borrow our bass players second bass to make demos etc., but it would be handy to have one at home. I was thinking of getting some cheap Squire or Aria, but the 4003 is haunting me. It has always been my dream bass because of the shape and the sound as demonstrated by Macca, Squire and Mike Rutherford (Genesis, I guess you knew that).
But is it wrong to buy a 4003 as your first bass if you're not even a bass player and the bass is going to spend a lot of the time on the wall being admired? Or do you perhaps think it is a good choice? Why buy rubbish in the first place if something like a 4003 will last for decades and hold its value well? I don't know... I'm confused. I've never even played a RIC bass so I don't know what it feels like compared to, say, a P-bass.
Please, give me some input...
Guitar player GASsing for a 4003...
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
Guitar player GASsing for a 4003...
Life's a garden - dig it!
I'm new to the bass(well, about a year now). Started out with an ESP B-50. Not a bad bass actually for the money(less than $200).
After about 6 months I caught glimpse of the Bongo and knew I had to have it. Put down a deposit at Sam Ash but after a week or so they called me back and said they weren't actually authorized to order it.
So I went in to pick up the deposit and up there on the wall was my first 4003FG.
Just got my second and working on my third(and I have a 620TUR also by the way).
When I first started playing out with the FG, some musicians were surprised that a beginning bass player had such a fine instrument. My reasoning is that I have to rise to meet it. The Rick won't falter, so I practice, practice and practice to hold up my end of the bargain.
Ricks play like a dream and I could tell the difference between the ESP and Rick immediately.
Nice to look at too so sitting on a stand like a work of art is appropriate .
After about 6 months I caught glimpse of the Bongo and knew I had to have it. Put down a deposit at Sam Ash but after a week or so they called me back and said they weren't actually authorized to order it.
So I went in to pick up the deposit and up there on the wall was my first 4003FG.
Just got my second and working on my third(and I have a 620TUR also by the way).
When I first started playing out with the FG, some musicians were surprised that a beginning bass player had such a fine instrument. My reasoning is that I have to rise to meet it. The Rick won't falter, so I practice, practice and practice to hold up my end of the bargain.
Ricks play like a dream and I could tell the difference between the ESP and Rick immediately.
Nice to look at too so sitting on a stand like a work of art is appropriate .
I agree with Jim that there is a tendency to "get as good as your instrument" when first learning. My 75 4001 was my first bass, and I eventually played well enough to justify it. Some felt I was a spoiled rich kid when I got it - my family was/is not rich, and I had to go 50/50 with my folks to get it. Plus the deal was I had to pull my school grades out of the crapper for the 'rental units to even consider helping me get a $500 guitar. Heck, my dad thought electric guitars were made out of plastic-he was surprised that the 4001 was 1) wood and 2) appeared to his eyes to be fine workmanship.
Thomas, you already are an established musician from the sounds of your post, and already can play the bass. So why not get the 4003 if that's what floats your boat? Yes, it will not get a workout all that often...but when you want/need it it'll be there, ready and waiting.
Sort of like my 650 Dakota is right now, although when I bought it I was playing 6 string almost 100% of the time.
Thomas, you already are an established musician from the sounds of your post, and already can play the bass. So why not get the 4003 if that's what floats your boat? Yes, it will not get a workout all that often...but when you want/need it it'll be there, ready and waiting.
Sort of like my 650 Dakota is right now, although when I bought it I was playing 6 string almost 100% of the time.
Above e-mail is inactive. try ed_ardzinski@**** where **** is Hotmail.com or Yahoo.com. I tend to see things inthe hotmail box quicker...
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jwr2
you need to get a 4001, 4003, p-bass, and the musicman ... then quit messing around with those jangley guitars and play a manly instrument ... a bass guitar ... when you you play the guitar it sings but when you play a bass guitar the ground rumbles, women and children run for cover, the thunderous low notes are awesome ...
Thanks guys,
I think I'll try and write my masters thesis by christmas and if I finish it by then, then I can reward myself with a 4003MG/JG! What do you think?
The only other problem is that there are very few Ricks on sale here in Finland. 2 new at this moment, both guitars. I'll probably have to order from Germany. It will be weird buying a bass never having tried it before. Actually, that's how I bought my 620MB and I can say that I didn't regret that for one moment.
What kinds of tones do you squeeze from your Ric basses? Is it easy to get that prog-tractor-sound with, say, a Bass Sansamp?
Best,
Thomas
I think I'll try and write my masters thesis by christmas and if I finish it by then, then I can reward myself with a 4003MG/JG! What do you think?
The only other problem is that there are very few Ricks on sale here in Finland. 2 new at this moment, both guitars. I'll probably have to order from Germany. It will be weird buying a bass never having tried it before. Actually, that's how I bought my 620MB and I can say that I didn't regret that for one moment.
What kinds of tones do you squeeze from your Ric basses? Is it easy to get that prog-tractor-sound with, say, a Bass Sansamp?
Best,
Thomas
Life's a garden - dig it!
My 4001 has flats on it, and it rumbles very well. Not quite the "meat-grinder" tone a lot of folks associate with Rick's but it does get that flavor to some extent.
My 4004 Laredo has the stock RW's on it, and is actually pretty similar in tone to the 4001...it has a pretty noticeable Rick twang using the bridge PU in the mix, with only the neck it's similar IMO to a P bass...when I turn the tone pot down. Even with only the neck PU, at 1/2 tone I can still hear the Rick twang in there quite prominently.
Eventually I'll put flats on the Laredo, and probably go back to RW's on the 4001...but that's about a year away. I just got 3 sets of RW's from MF guaged like the stock Rick strings...so I'm sticking with the RW's for a while on the 4004. Unless the MF bulk strings are abject ****...
As for buying sight-unseen, I did that with my 650 D and the Laredo. I'm not sure I trust any other guitar manufacturer like that.
My 4004 Laredo has the stock RW's on it, and is actually pretty similar in tone to the 4001...it has a pretty noticeable Rick twang using the bridge PU in the mix, with only the neck it's similar IMO to a P bass...when I turn the tone pot down. Even with only the neck PU, at 1/2 tone I can still hear the Rick twang in there quite prominently.
Eventually I'll put flats on the Laredo, and probably go back to RW's on the 4001...but that's about a year away. I just got 3 sets of RW's from MF guaged like the stock Rick strings...so I'm sticking with the RW's for a while on the 4004. Unless the MF bulk strings are abject ****...
As for buying sight-unseen, I did that with my 650 D and the Laredo. I'm not sure I trust any other guitar manufacturer like that.
Above e-mail is inactive. try ed_ardzinski@**** where **** is Hotmail.com or Yahoo.com. I tend to see things inthe hotmail box quicker...
Yep,
Judging by the picture I see you know what the prog-tractor-tone is all about ; ) If I can hold on until Christmas and finish my MSc then I'm sure I deserve a Ric!!!
Jeff, I was thinking maybe the Sans Amp could do the job. It already has some of that tone (read Chris Squire) I'm looking for even with a P-bass. Could get some serious trebly bulldozing with a Ric.
Ed, which strings would you suggest for the tone I'm looking for? Aren't flatwounds a little mellower? Did they have roundwound bass strings in the 70's?
Sorry for all the questions folks! You're very helpful!
Best,
Thomas
Judging by the picture I see you know what the prog-tractor-tone is all about ; ) If I can hold on until Christmas and finish my MSc then I'm sure I deserve a Ric!!!
Jeff, I was thinking maybe the Sans Amp could do the job. It already has some of that tone (read Chris Squire) I'm looking for even with a P-bass. Could get some serious trebly bulldozing with a Ric.
Ed, which strings would you suggest for the tone I'm looking for? Aren't flatwounds a little mellower? Did they have roundwound bass strings in the 70's?
Sorry for all the questions folks! You're very helpful!
Best,
Thomas
Life's a garden - dig it!
I must add, although I haven't tried a Rick bass but judging from the tone on records, the Rick must be the best bass for a guitarist. It sounds great with a pick and and cuts through a mix allowing the player to hear his/her instrument in a more guitarish fashion. Do you agree?
Thomas
Thomas
Life's a garden - dig it!
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phlemmy
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80stingray
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