To me the numbers don't matter ... I know I don't like 4 string basses ... so for me they are wrong ...
rickenbrother wrote:I can tell by John B's comeback to a certain person's post, that more of "those" comments were made by a person who just can't give it up.
Actually I did not bring up the subject at all ... someone else did ...
Some people seem to get upset when any coment is made that does not seem to be 100% complimentary towards Rickenbacker.
Rickenbacker makes great 4 string basses ... I wish the same comment could be made about them making great 5 string basses ... I am glad I taught myself to do 4-2-5 conversions ...
I know RIC has stated that 5 string bass sales are a very small percentage of the market. Maybe a larger percentage of actual players use five strings than the people who buy basses buy five strings (does that make sense?). Whatever the market, RIC is perfectly happy at the moment not building 5 strings and since it still, if the other post I read is accurate, can take 2 years to make a 360, there is really no reason to add the 5 strings back and increase that production time even more. That's fine by me, but I'm not a 5 string player. I'm sure I would be a little bit more upset about if I was really wanting a RIC 5 and couldn't order one. If I ever do decide to try a 5 string again (had one once and didn't quite get it...), I have plenty of other options and creative solutions to choose from.
What bummed me out, following the links provided in this thread, reading old posts, is...
1. that this issue was being discussed in 2005 and now it is 2008
2. that there has been no update on when / if it will be produced again
3. that John Hall hasn't been as active on this board.
Having read those threads from the past, wow, there was some anger and bitterness in them. I don't blame him for excusing himself.
It would be like going on your band's website and having people tell you your band sucks.
"They make great f***'n basses". - Lemmy, NAMM 2009
I personally don't care if Rick builds another 5-string. I have two 4003S/5's, but one is my backup (and never gets played) and the other gets played on only one of my band's songs. They're great basses if you can deal with the string spacing, but a 5-string will never be my main axe.
And I seriously doubt that 40% of all bass players mainly play a 5-string. I see a lot of live music and I'd say that the percentage of bass players that I see using a 5-string is MUCH lower. What I'm saying is...I think I'd like to see how the question was worded in that survey. If it was just: "How many of you bass players play a 5-string?" Then I would have to answer "Yes," even though I don't consider myself a 5-string player.
In general, I don't care for the sound of the notes lower than E and hear too many sub-standard bass players relying on them for shock value. I know that its possible to be a really good bass player and play a 5-string, but for the most part the really good bass players that I enjoy listening to don't play a 5-string. Not trying to insult you, Jeff R...I've heard your playing and I know you're a very good and versatile player. I'm just sayin'...for the most part, Entwistle, Lee, Glover, Dunn, McCartney, Squire, Jones, and so many other outstanding bass players didn't need those 5 notes below the low E and their playing and style is better to my ears than pretty much any 5-string players I've ever heard.
Last edited by rickaddict on Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
rickaddict wrote: Entwistle, Lee, Glover, Dunn, McCartney, Squire, Jones, and so many other outstanding bass players didn't need those 5 notes below the low E
Those guys are all over 50 or dead ... younger players have more options than I did starting out in the 60s ... many choose basses with more than 4 strings ... when I started out I could just get 4 string basses with flat wound strings ... that was it ...
Back in 2001 I joined a band that did music where the bass had to play a low D ... I tried the detuning thing and didn't like it so I went to 5 string basses ... It was a painful transition ... but now I have reprogramed my brain so the 5 string is natural and the 4 string is un-natural ...
Some players will play 4 and turn the bass up to get more low end ... I play 5 and turn the mids up to get more definition ...
jwr2 wrote:Noting that comes out of the Ric factory meets those specs.
And they're just fine with that. They're not attempting to cater to every type of player. Go play a Warwick or something.
Hey John, no reason here to get nasty. Jeff is right, and should be seen here as a guy with a pair for saying so. How would you like it if I said "How many 5 string RIC's have you owned/played/etc... go play a guitar or something"
gshadoan wrote:Hey John, no reason here to get nasty. Jeff is right, and should be seen here as a guy with a pair for saying so. How would you like it if I said "How many 5 string RIC's have you owned/played/etc... go play a guitar or something"
Fair enough Greg, but Jeff is wondering aloud why Rickenbacker doesn't make an active 5-string bass with a wide fingerboard. This sure doesn't sound like any Rickenbacker I ever saw - why don't I go over to the Ritter forum and ***** about how their basses don't come with more conventional shapes, toaster pickups and crushed pearl inlays to cater to us classic 4-string fans?
Jeff has said time and time (and time and time and time and time) again that his conversions work great for him. Why doesn't the discussion end there?
And for the record, I am a bass player first and foremost and I have played every version of a 5-string Rickenbacker, including one of Jeff's 4-2-5 conversions. If I do make any comments about Rickenbacker 5-strings (which I haven't), it's based on something.
gshadoan wrote:Hey John, no reason here to get nasty. Jeff is right, and should be seen here as a guy with a pair for saying so. How would you like it if I said "How many 5 string RIC's have you owned/played/etc... go play a guitar or something"
Fair enough Greg, but Jeff is wondering aloud why Rickenbacker doesn't make an active 5-string bass with a wide fingerboard. This sure doesn't sound like any Rickenbacker I ever saw - why don't I go over to the Ritter forum and ***** about how their basses don't come with more conventional shapes, toaster pickups and crushed pearl inlays to cater to us classic 4-string fans?
Jeff has said time and time (and time and time and time and time) again that his conversions work great for him. Why doesn't the discussion end there?
And for the record, I am a bass player first and foremost and I have played every version of a 5-string Rickenbacker, including one of Jeff's 4-2-5 conversions. If I do make any comments about Rickenbacker 5-strings (which I haven't), it's based on something.
Alright, well I stand corrected. I apoligize. The real sad story here is the divide that has occured since 2005 here on this forum over one bass. We all love RIC's, thats why we came here. I have been playing bass since 1969, and LOVE RIC 4 string basses. Beleive me, you cannot possibly imagine how excited I was when they came out with the CII5(being at that point primaraly a 5 string player). It seemed all my desires were to be answered. Also, I wil admit that I was/am dissapointed over the whole thing, more so on "how" it was handled, rather than the actuel issue, but it is what it is.
In Dutch music shops it is by far 4 stringers I see for sale Well, actually 6 stringers..... I always thought that was because most bass players buy 4 stringers. Now I think of it there is a posibility that 5 stringers are on an enormous backlog because most players want a 5er. Not very likely though.
Good points all, but I'll focus my response on the lack of JH & COMPANY on this
forum.
I mentioned something about the lack of the Hall's presence on another thread.
I can't blame them for keeping a low profile. I used the reference of the "Whack the
Mole" game on the Anniversary post. It seems that NO SOONER does John, Ben, or Eric
show up to the party, one of us seems to GO OUT OF THE WAY TO INSULT THEM!
I wish I had a better memory but some of the examples are: (and I paraphrase) WHY
ARE YOU MAKING ONE OFF COLORS WHEN YOU SHOULD BE WORKING ON
THE BACK LOG or the CONSTANT digging up of the PRINCE HAS NO CLOTHES
issue about the 5 string, OR (fill in the blank). And my favorite, the wonderful WHY
ARE YOU EXPERIMENTING ON NEW COLORS AND PASSING OFF YOUR
EXPERIMENTS OFF AS ONE OF A KIND GUITARS?!?!?!? HOW INCONSIDERATE CAN PEOPLE BE?
Most comments are just damn down right disrespectful and to be honest, they really ****
me off. There just seems to be a BLATANT DISREGARD for peoples efforts of late.
Greg has mentioned a division, and I believe it does exist, but mostly over HOW the issue
is addressed, not why.
There ALWAYS seems to be someone dying to take a cheap shot taken and JH &
COMPANY. It seems that when we DO approach an issue with just COMMON
DECENCY, JH always responded. Just go back and read those old threads, he
responded....But then, some Jackass decides he's feeling frisky and lobs a nade and the
result is damage on all sides. Got an issue with JH, PM the guy! Why take a cheap shot
and insult him in front of everyone?
Here are a group of people who create what we are all gathered here to celebrate in the
first place. Since I'm here, I've seen many REQUESTED changes implemented all across
the board. Changes WE asked for. I TRY to bite my tongue, I try to see all sides of an
issue and TRY to understand everyone’s ideas or issues, but ...it never fails. I sit here
and say to myself, NO WONDER THEY DON'T COME AROUND. It's like they bend
over to dome something cool, and we kick them in the teeth!
Bottom line, GET OFF RIC'S back, let them do what the do best. Got a *****? PM them,
call them. Do the right thing, show a LITTLE COMMON DECENCY. This forum is
open for the world to see, give them a bit of respect as a sign of appreciation for what
they do. I'm not saying you have to bow down and kiss ***, but if you have a REAL
ISSUE, drop them PM....I've ALWAYS had a response WHENEVER I've contacted
anyone at the factory.
OK, end of rant...for now.
Last edited by ajish4 on Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Ahh the 4004Cii/5!! How I'd love to have an intelligent conversation about these basses without certain individuals making ******* remarks about them and throwing insults at JH and co.
At this point, I really don't care if RIC ever makes a 5 string again. If they do, great, if they don't that's fine too.
Maybe these basses would be in production now at least in small numbers if these certain individuals didn't make ******* remarks about them and throw insult at JH and co.
John B, I liked your post. I'm sure you're tired of reading the same **** over and over and over and over and over and...
Tony, I liked your post too. You're right, but take it easy there!!
Hey, I up to 4 people blocked now!! Wooo Hoooooo!!
