Found a guy who hates Ricks

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 6:31 am

Every '70's Jazz I've seen was tagged for at least $2000 (Cdn). They were worn (a lot) & missing the covers & no case. Same old Tobacco Sunburst finish. Nice enough, but not for that kind of money.
The single coil Strat & Tele tones are classic.
Funny, but I've always heard good things about Stingrays. Never played one.
There is one Gibson Ripper in town & I played it, but at the time it was set up horribly. Action WAY too high with ancient flats on it. Sounded & played like a $50 piece of junk. The guy that has it now has it set up properly & it sounds pretty good, but it doesn't inspire me aesthetically.

Hamers are cool, but quite rare now. I always liked Tom Petersen's sound in Cheap Trick.
Some Washburns looked neat, but I've never seen one up close.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 6:57 am

Kevin, you could say I was very inspired by Tom Petersson, I play a Hamer 12 and a Thunderbird. (Tom's main weapons of mass destruction), that tone on the first CT album made me consider a 'Bird. It's great for what I do.
NOT a big fan of the Stingray, heard another band last night,(on CD, live recording)one of them was playing a Stingray, I asked, "Why is that tone so....plastic? What kind of bass is that?" the answer, a Stingray. Question answered.

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 7:14 am

I got a Musicman Stingray when they first came out in the 70s, huge hype, "Leo's new bass" and all that. Mine had "Patent Pending" on the bridge plate. Came with a very cool MM teardrop-shaped case. I've got an old photo of me playing it, I've got my long, hippie hair and groovy(at the time)70s gradient sunglasses. I never could get a decent sound out of it tho' and traded it Even-Steven for my first Ric, a white 4001 w/black trim.

bobcat · Post by **bobcat** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 7:40 am

Hahaha, it's funny, but like, every time I hear Tony Levin play bass, I think to myself, "He should put down that Stick and pick up his Stingray." And then a song comes along with the Stingray, and I go, "No wonder he mostly uses the Stick . . ."

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 7:54 am

When I listen to their early stuff I hear a mic'ed SVT with the ultra-lo switch on.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:21 am

Even trade of a Stingray for a white 4001...a definite no brainer! Even if you like Stingrays!
I'd still like to try one myself.
Anyone tried one of the new MM Bongos? Of course, there are about a million variations available.
Thunderbirds are pretty cool too.
Steve, how heavy is that Hamer 12? Also, is it neck heavy? Not a lot of those around.
I did some searching a while back & found cool pics of the first few prototypes & models.

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:35 am

When I do the CS sound on my Ric 4003, I use the lightest pick I can find, and turn the amp up. When I use my V63 with flats, I turn the amp down a little and use a much heavier pick. It has worked pretty good. And sometimes I will tuck my pinky in depending on what I'm playing. It's a comfort issue with me.

rikk · Post by **rikk** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 2:14 pm

I traded a Stingray 5 string for a Ric 5 string even. I liked the Stingray neck but could never get a sound that fit my playing.

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 5:33 am

Here's my '80s Hamer B12S, these short-scale 12s do not have any neck dive, but it does weigh 12 lbs! An amazing bass, I used to have two and they were all I played.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 6:19 am

Short scale! I didn't see that reference anywhere that I recall, but maybe I wasn't paying attention.
They are very cool!

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 7:42 am

Mine is like the original Hamer 12s except w/o the quad pickup/mixing board. It wasn't till later before they started making long-scale 12s.