The wrong brand?

[atomic_punk]

I kinda feel guilty...I remember the day I was sitting in Jeff's office and we were discussing 5-string basses, and we talked about how the S5 was basically a 4003S with a 5th string added...and then there was a light bulb over Jeff's head..I could see it!
He was playing his '68 and a '73 which was tuned down to get what he needed. Soon he was in full-blown 5-string madness and loving it! He soon had a white, red, and blue S5.

Jeff is personally responsible with hooking me up with several Ricks and reinforcing the sickness which is Rickenbacker Addiction. And, he did host the first Confluence, which was pretty impressive with only 3 attendees!

But I also totally get where he is coming from, and my advice, shake it off and rock on, brother! I went to the dark side of Music Man for the sound I have in my head right now, but I still love the Ricks...the full-width inlays just might bring me back!!

[cheyenne]

Yeah, shake it off Jeff. One things certain in the world,,you cant make everyone happy.

[markbass99]

Okay.....here's how I feel about this.....I've played just about every major brand out there and even owned a couple of fenders along the way.....and I keep coming back to RIC. It's just a personal preference of course but everything I want in a bass is achievable with this brand since there are models that can be modded that work for me perfectly. For the collector in me there are the old 4001 models and for the player in me there is the 4004, specifically the Laredo modded to a five string. I really glad Steve and Jeff had that talk so long ago. If not for that I would be probably trying to make do with a five string from another brand that would be uncomfortable.

[s4001]

I rewound and remagnetized the pup in my '68. Got new tuners, routed for a toaster and put a ferrule in it. Soon it will sport a Hipshot. S'all good.

[jwr2]

Well I looked into Fenders and this is insane!

http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDe ... em=1690421

[admin]

Jeff: As this is now a discussion about Fenders, this thread will be moved accordingly.

[charlyg]

Well I looked into Fenders and this is insane!

http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDe ... em=1690421

What, no maple board? Cut the price in half!!!

[sloop_john_b]

Well I looked into Fenders and this is insane!

http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDe ... em=1690421

They have cheaper ones, actually.

[Droog61]

Well I looked into Fenders and this is insane!

http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDe ... em=1690421

I wonder if they would take an IOU?

[atomic_punk]

It's not just Fenders, IMO NO GUITAR SHOULD COST AS MUCH AS A PORSCHE!! NONE! There CANNOT be something THAT special about it, there just can't be!!

[jwr2]

Vintage gear is over-rated. This applies to Fenders, Rics, Gibsons, etc...

Why pay so much for an instrument with finish checking, fretware, degaussed pickups, scratchy pots, and a beat up case? They are not better players just because they are older. They don't sound better just because they are older.

And the kicker for me none of the old basses have 5 strings!

[jwr2]

Jeff: As this is now a discussion about Fenders, this thread will be moved accordingly.

This is a discussion of Rickenbacker compared to other brands.

[sloop_john_b]

Vintage gear is over-rated. This applies to Fenders, Rics, Gibsons, etc...

Why pay so much for an instrument with finish checking, fretware, degaussed pickups, scratchy pots, and a beat up case? They are not better players just because they are older. They don't sound better just because they are older.

And the kicker for me none of the old basses have 5 strings!

Because they're collector's items. Nobody's buying a $52,000 Fender Jazz to bring it to the local dive bar for their weekly cover band gig.

Maybe you're not a collector. Others are.