what's the story on fretless rick basses?

[cassius987]

Cross-posted from Ric.com:

I just played a 3 hour jazz gig. I played my Ric 4003FL through my Ashdown ABM head & 4x10, no EQ, tube pre on. We played stuff like Watermelon Man, Cheesecake, Oleo, Red Clay, and Outkast's "So Fresh and So Clean Clean" (jazzed up of course).

I must say, my 4003FL is by far the best bass I have ever owned. This is my true love guys! I was incredulous at how much it sounded like a true upright--far more so than your average fretless, such as a Jazz or P Bass tends to sound--and yet it could, with the proper attack, go 0-60 into full on fusion! Holy ****!! This bass is incredible. I am not the only one who thought so either. I got gobs of comments on it, even from some of the players who have been playing with me for years and know me as the guy who brings Ric basses to jazz gigs already.

If any of you are debating getting a 4003FL and have the chance before they go on hiatus, DO IT FOR GOD'S SAKE!! This bass is INCREDIBLE! Not a traditional fretless, you have to learn how to treat it, but once you do by God are you rewarded...

GJ RIC! +1 +1 +1

[berth]

I must say, my 4003FL is by far the best bass I have ever owned.

Good to read this. I like non lacquered fretboards more than the Rick fretboards for a fretless. But every time I play my Rick FL's amplified it makes a smile on my face for the sound. The FL's are the only Rick's I take the pickup cover off so that I can go from thumb playing almost doublebass like sounding to fingerstyle playing whereever I want to set my fingers. It's a very versatile bass (and so is the non-FL).

[rictified]

I must say, my 4003FL is by far the best bass I have ever owned.

Good to read this. I like non lacquered fretboards more than the Rick fretboards for a fretless. But every time I play my Rick FL's amplified it makes a smile on my face for the sound. The FL's are the only Rick's I take the pickup cover off so that I can go from thumb playing almost doublebass like sounding to fingerstyle playing whereever I want to set my fingers. It's a very versatile bass (and so is the non-FL).

I like the fretboard the way it is as it cam cut through like a fretted bass, they have a more aggressive sound when you dig in than regular bare wood fretless basses. I also hate epoxied fretless basses they feel like you're playing on plastic.

[sloop_john_b]

Cross-posted from Ric.com:

I just played a 3 hour jazz gig. I played my Ric 4003FL through my Ashdown ABM head & 4x10, no EQ, tube pre on. We played stuff like Watermelon Man, Cheesecake, Oleo, Red Clay, and Outkast's "So Fresh and So Clean Clean" (jazzed up of course).

I must say, my 4003FL is by far the best bass I have ever owned. This is my true love guys! I was incredulous at how much it sounded like a true upright--far more so than your average fretless, such as a Jazz or P Bass tends to sound--and yet it could, with the proper attack, go 0-60 into full on fusion! Holy ****!! This bass is incredible. I am not the only one who thought so either. I got gobs of comments on it, even from some of the players who have been playing with me for years and know me as the guy who brings Ric basses to jazz gigs already.

If any of you are debating getting a 4003FL and have the chance before they go on hiatus, DO IT FOR GOD'S SAKE!! This bass is INCREDIBLE! Not a traditional fretless, you have to learn how to treat it, but once you do by God are you rewarded...

GJ RIC! +1 +1 +1

Wow. I'm sold!

[cassius987]

I must say, my 4003FL is by far the best bass I have ever owned.

Good to read this. I like non lacquered fretboards more than the Rick fretboards for a fretless. But every time I play my Rick FL's amplified it makes a smile on my face for the sound. The FL's are the only Rick's I take the pickup cover off so that I can go from thumb playing almost doublebass like sounding to fingerstyle playing whereever I want to set my fingers. It's a very versatile bass (and so is the non-FL).

So far I've been playing over the neck pickup in the style of some upright players who use the side of their index finger while playing walking bass. Interesting that you bring up the figerboard finish--perhaps that's what gives this bass its unique tone! Played lightly enough it sounds so traditional, but dig in and you've got something worthy of King Crimson and beyond. Not to mention that when I run the Toaster and Hi-Gain together it's one thing, then soloing either one generates something radically different. I have second thoughts about even adding in a second Toaster now, but I am still going to try it and see.

[cassius987]

iiipopes just installed that second Toaster for me. The one I received from PotR measured 6.3 k and the old one was 7.4 k so we put the new one in the neck and the old one in the bridge. The tone is ridiculously smooth and silky, lots of mwah, but still running a lot deeper than you'd expect for a fretless, and the tone can get extremely aggressive if you dig in.

I heart this bass.

[jps]

We need pics!

[cassius987]

Pics and sound clips are being worked.

[jnbass]

having issues on where to place fingers...

no lines...

4003JGBT FL 003a.JPG (6.09 KiB) Viewed 1625 times

[ajish4]

STILL waiting on my 4003FL AFG to return home from my luthier........my new ALEMRIC 4003FL.

[cassius987]

having issues on where to place fingers...

4003JGBT FL 003a.JPG

Actually the dots on the binding are more helpful than lines, which disappear under stage lighting; this still allows the wood to look all pretty like 'n such.

Practice practice practice.

[ginger_lee]

heres mine at Bearlys Sunday nite 82 4002 fl

[doctorwho]

That 4002FL is sooo cool, Ginger!

My Feb 1997 4003FL TUR has every side marker possible:

4003FL TUR side markers

[beatlefreak]

Wow! I hadn't seen one like that.

[cassius987]

heres mine at Bearlys Sunday nite 82 4002 fl

HPIM1224~1.JPG

Ginger, your 4002FL is the main reason I decided to shoot for a 4003FL. Closest I could come. With two Toasters in it and different pickup placement it's a very different animal but I'm still so glad your sound inspired me to move in that direction. Thanks!!

Some pics of mine as I promised: