Rick . . . or not?

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 11:37 am

I was listening to ELP's "Karnevil 9" on my iPod through my car stereo (not the greatest) on my way into work this morning, and had it turned up pretty loud (no wife in the car to complain). I know Greg Lake has been pictured playing a Rick 4001 at some point (as I recall it was modified), but I could swear that piece was all Rick bass: sufficient bottom with nasily highs. It's most noticeable in the "Second Impression" (First Impression is the "Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends" part). Anyone out there know for sure or can take a listen and evaluate? It might make an interesting addition to a list of recommended Rick bass tracks (for the book).

edski · Post by **edski** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 11:43 am

Not sure, but I agree it's a Ricky sound. My guess is that it is not a Rick, but I'm often wrong about things like this.

Second Impression is one major tune...one of my favorite rock pieces. I might just have to put it on and crank the stereo.

jps · Post by **jps** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 1:05 pm

The reason I got a Gibson Ripper in the mid '70s is because that is what Greg Lake used on that album! Does that answer your question?

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 1:18 pm

I think he used a jazz in the studio and a Gibson Ripper live ... but as per what he used on that album I can't say ...

bobcat · Post by **bobcat** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 8:46 pm

I dunno, the sound on the album sounds very much like a Gibson Ripper . . . I love those Ripper/Grabber/G3 basses . . . they sound good and look cool. I guess the only disadvantage would be that they're heavier than a bag of bricks.

I know that Greg Lake owned a Ric at one point, but what (if any) albums did he use it on? Oh, and when did Greg Lake start using Alembics?

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 4:22 am

I bought my first Rick ('72 MG which I still have) from the bassist with a Boston-area band "Northeast Expressway" in 1975. They were a terrific dance-hall band that played Yes, ELP, Steely Dan, and other "thinking-man's rock" tunes. The bassist (his name is long gone from the memory banks) was selling his Rick and using a new Gibson Ripper (I think he had a Greg Lake fixation). He sounded good no matter what he used, of course. About a year later, I went to see and hear them again. He was still using the Ripper, but asked me if he could buy back the Rick. He was sorry he made the switch.

davezzzz · Post by **davezzzz** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:18 am

I saw them live back in the late 70s and it was one of the reasons my first bass was a Gibson Ripper. Awesome bass and a great value, if you go for that non-Rickenbacker sort of thing.

edski · Post by **edski** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:24 am

I would have never guessed a Ripper could sound like that. Again, unless it's so obviously a Rick I'm usually wrong about the "what bass is that" game. Often, when I *think* it's a Rick it's a P with the treble cranked...

Strange that I usually can tell a Stratocaster in a mix, though. Like that's very hard!

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:11 pm

Back in the day I picked up an ebony Ripper in a trade. It was pretty rough, gouged finish, missing knobs, and even had an "eye" hook for an upper strap button.

But,,

It had a great neck, and a great sound that really punched through the mix. If I remember correctly, it wasnt very heavy either.

I've always been going to pick up another, but havent gotten around to it yet.

clankchris · Post by **clankchris** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 3:40 pm

Billy Gould played a Gibson Ripper in Faith No More's earliest album, and the sound he got out of it was the closest to a Rick that I've ever heard in my life...I think that maybe the maple, neck-through construction, and passive pickup design attributed to this..

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:34 pm

The Ripper is all maple, but with a set neck (glued in).

cwk · Post by **cwk** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:59 pm

"I dunno, the sound on the album sounds very much like a Gibson Ripper . . . I love those Ripper/Grabber/G3 basses . . . they sound good and look cool. I guess the only disadvantage would be that they're heavier than a bag of bricks".
Robert,I have a G3 and it really isn't heavy at all.
I just don't find it too comfortable sitting and playing.Nice sustain and pretty easy to play,it needs a refin though.
Bill

bobcat · Post by **bobcat** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 7:57 am

The one I played in a store was like 10 or 11 pounds . . . hmmmm . . . I wonder if maybe there was something else weighing it down. It might just be that the body is so large that it felt like all the weight was concentrated in one place.

cwk · Post by **cwk** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 9:40 pm

Well, I don't know.I just weighed it using a '74 4001 in
one hand and the G3 in the other and the G3 seems to be about the same.I thought the G3 was a lower end bolt on neck and I guess they all strung through the body at the bridge but I'm not sure as I have little info on it.Yeah,the body looks big but I don't think it is.I like the Ric body contour much better.The G3 does have a nice sound
and plays well.Strange that you don't see too many of them anymore.
Bill