What about Ric fretless 4003?

woodsgirl · Post by **woodsgirl** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:40 pm

OK, So I got an upright Kay and I am digging on it soooo much that I thought in my warped GASsed up mind, that maybe I would like a fretless Ric! So I saw a couple on ebay- real ones, I guess, and they claim that it sounds like an upright. Ridiculous, you could say, she already HAS an upright! OK, it is ridic, but I still might want one! I can get a NEW one cheaper than an ebay one, duh, so I have the form all filled out at music123. Do you guys, and girls, like them? Do they sound like a you-know-what? (UB)

Got one you want to sell me? I c an't believe the level of addiction going on here not only that the (*^%^^**( forum shut down so I could not get my fix here, either! OK< Later

jps · Post by **jps** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 5:11 pm

They do not sound like an upright. I love the tone of mine, but get it for what it is, a fretless bass guitar. For more of an UR sound get an EUB if you want to get away from an acoustic. I have an NS Design CR4M that sounds great, but again, it won't sound like a real acoustic URB.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 5:25 pm

Also if you do get one get a new one and make sure that they have the original dot scheme which they have just gone back to, dots at every fret, otherwise they are adventurous to play to put it mildly, you would probably have to order one new and I'm sure if anyone has anything in stock right now would have the weird way they've been making them for the past few years. Nothing thumps like an upright to me but they have a very good electric fretless sound, much better than many more expensive fretlesses, you'll like one if you like upright.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 5:43 pm

Also Music123 was pulled as a dealer by RIC recently.

http://www.rickenbacker.com/forum_view_thread.asp?thread_id=1962&forum=General_Forum&thread_name=DBI%20/%20123%20MUSIC%20%20Orders

edski · Post by **edski** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 3:35 am

Personally I find the dots at every fret disorientating...guess playing a traditional un-lined neck with the dots at 3-5-7-9 and 12-15-17-19 for nearly a decade and a half will get you used to one way or another.

kernkamp · Post by **kernkamp** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 4:01 am

I am loving mine. It's an 05 Fretless and the dot markers aren't really an issue for me. Once you get your bearings on the fretboard they are easy to get around and sound GREAT!

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 4:55 am

Yes Ed, but the dots on the newer Rics were not on the notes, they were in between like the dots on a fretted bass, very disorienting to most people. I learned on an old P bass fretless with the dots right on the 3rd 5th etc and really like that set up which is what I think you are talking about, the newer Rics were not like that. But the brand new Rics will have dots at every note ON THE NOTES not in between like they made them for years. I would also prefer dots at 3rd 5th etc. but dots on every note is better than the current scheme.
I was able to play my new one better without looking at the neck at all rather than looking at the off-note dots which always threw me, this is good except when you want to go way up to a high note.

woodsgirl · Post by **woodsgirl** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 6:30 am

http://cgi.ebay.com/2005-Fretless-Rickenbacker-4003-Bass-Mapleglo-Mint_W0QQitemZ260005397926QQihZ016QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
So are these on the notes or what? I think without the dots would be better! Can you order one that way?> Thanks for the heads-up on Music123, glad I didn't do that, as there are lots of unhappy people on that thread~

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 9:58 am

Music123 was a hit or miss.

hit

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:00 am

oh yeah, dunno where the dots are here...

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:53 am

Kaia, I believe they are referring to the dots on the binding not the fretboard. Ask the seller for a pic of that view.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 3:07 pm

The dots on the binding and the fingerboard are in the same location on mine, and I assume, Ampeg Bob's, too.

woodsgirl · Post by **woodsgirl** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 3:17 pm

On my 4001 they are in the same spots.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 3:28 pm

Ampeg Bob here haha! On a 4001 they would be on the notes and on that 05 they would be in the middle of where the frets would be although I'm not sure when they made the switch. They have only made them two ways, with dots on the notes at every position and 3rd 5th etc in the middle of where the frets would have been. They made them with dots at every note for years and years until recently and have now switched back to the old way, you cannot custom order Rics at all. Believe me the old way which they have gone back to is a vast improvment over the short lived (couple of years?) notes between the frets.
I'm going to have Dale put new binding on the side of mine with dots on the notes at 3rd 5th etc. but until then I have whited out the old dots and put them on the notes at 3rd 5th etc. with a permanent magic marker.
Yes the dots lined up with the dots on the fretboard on my Blue Boy Jeffrey, I have never seen a 4001 like that, I have a 72 4001FL and owned an early 80's 4001FL at one time.

woodsgirl · Post by **woodsgirl** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 5:29 pm

Well, I found something interesting, and especially considering the dot thing
I bought this
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Larrivee-Fretless-Jazz-Bass-So-Very-Cool_W0QQitemZ110006309886QQihZ001QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I like to have something different..............
Thanks to everyone for your input!