Looking for my first Ric

[jps]

Does anybody ever get any sleep around here? An all night party, eh?

We all know why we play bass, it is obviously a superior instrument, 4 strings, notwithstanding.

When I started playing I didn't much encouragement from my parents so I don't think it is necessarily a gender related thing. But I am glad I did not let that get in my way.

[cassius987]

And which song of TAL WILKENFELD's would anyone recommend? There are 7 listed on iTunes and ooo she does Jazz. YES!!

My two favorites from that album are "Oatmeal Bandage" and "BC" but the whole thing is a masterpiece... it's worth the buy. She toured live with Jeff Beck recently and that's coming out soon too.

[ajish4]

And yes I read where Laredos were light and/or the 4003 was like 9lbs? Thats fine. I'm owned by a T40 and that's like... a tree trunk with strings so everything else is light from there.

The "T" in T40 is for Tony!

LoL, I like that Joey!

He sounds like a T40 nut like me. I had a 79 T40 back in the early 80s that I sold. I later gave up bass and got back into it late last year and all I could obsess about was getting a T40 back!! I did about February of this year and I literally hugged it when I unpacked it. Uhm, ok I guess Female lowenders can hug their axes? I ended up with an '85 dark Tobacco burst/maple neck..sweet monster that weighs as much tonnage as my '79 natural did. I've got the huge 4.5 inch padded Levy 'bass' strap and I can still only stand and play it for about an hour before my left arm goes numb from the weight (I have some nerve damage in my left shoulder and lower back for that matter so its a pain to own that monster literally but I won't let this one go for nothing!!). >_<

Welcome Nickita,

As usual, I'm late to the party!

I see John & Joey put down some ground work for me! Thanks for the introduction guys!

Looks like the guys & gals covered the Rickenbacker options for you. The only thing I'd ad is to take your time, and try out as many RICS as possible.
A GREAT place for you to do so is at SERF, a Rickenbacker confluence that will be taking place in Orlando (the first in our neck of the woods) on Feb. 27, 28 & March 1.
http://www.rickresource.com/phpBB3/view ... 5&t=384149
There should be a wide range of Rickenbacker's to try. I couldn't think of a better place to get your feet wet. There MAY even be a T-40 or two there, they tend to sneak into my car every now and then.

I don't want to stray TOO far from the original thread , but yes I do have a 'thing" for Peavey T-40's. I've owned some of the most expensive basses made, and some of the cheapest! http://www.rickresource.com/phpBB3/view ... 5&t=384457 Nothing wrong in my eyes with using a "cheapo" if it does the job well!

It seems we have a lot in common! Location, T-40's, a Yamaha, and even a Foundation! I currently have three T40's, just sold the HEAVIEST last week on FeeBay. That sucker had PERFECT electronics, but tipped the scale at 12.5 Lbs+, talk about tree trunk! ANYWAY, I have a 78 that is the exception to the TREE rule. It is a sleek 8 Lbs, and is made of Poplar wood or Swamp Ash and it is SO VERY LIGHT compared to my other T's. I have TI flats on that bad boy, and it kicks butt with DEEP LOW THUMPIN sounds and it has a Blonde or maple color with a Maple neck and the old style TOASTER pickups. It gets the most live play time because of the weight while the other two are home bodies! I have a 83 burst with a Rosewood neck which is currently being converted into fretless, and a 81 Fingerprint Glo, aka Jetglo, aka..BLACK! OH HOW I HATE BLACK! But this bad boy has a very good pseudo RIC sound and thin neck.
I'm still after a neck through Dyna bass & an EARLY Foundation, I don't like the later one too much....

BUT, as you've seen, there are plenty of helpful people here to guide you through the Rickenbacker jungle. SO many options, colors, pickup combination's....it's a great problem to have!

WELCOME AGAIN and I hope to see you at SERF!

[Starscream]

Does anybody ever get any sleep around here? An all night party, eh?

We all know why we play bass, it is obviously a superior instrument, 4 strings, notwithstanding.

When I started playing I didn't much encouragement from my parents so I don't think it is necessarily a gender related thing. But I am glad I did not let that get in my way.

Hi, Yea we did end up talking almost all night. LOL And yes, bass is a superior instrument.

And it is sad when someone starts playing an instrument and they get no encouragement from the important people in their life. Gotta wonder how many people that had the potential to be great musicians put it up because of stuff like that.

When I got my first bass, I didn't have a say on what it was or what it looked like, nothing. It was gotten for me with me not being there or even knowing about it. It was gotten for me just to 'shut me up' by my grandparents (I had bugged them for months about wanting a bass). I received no books, no lessons, nothing at all and I knew no one who played. My 13 year old self was absolutely on my own. I taught myself from knowing nothing. I don't know how I did it but I did. Its embarrassing cause years later when I picked it back I am finally learning things about set ups and tech aspects that I should have known then and am only now learning. But better late then never!!

And which song of TAL WILKENFELD's would anyone recommend? There are 7 listed on iTunes and ooo she does Jazz. YES!!

My two favorites from that album are "Oatmeal Bandage" and "BC" but the whole thing is a masterpiece... it's worth the buy. She toured live with Jeff Beck recently and that's coming out soon too.

I went to iTunes and listened to some samplings of her stuff last night. I am really crummy dial up so that took a bit but what I heard I liked. ^_^ Shes very good!

[kiramdear]

Nickita, I forgot last night, I was going to link you to these photos:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=384319&st=0&sk=t&sd ... t=dockside
She's my pride and joy

[Starscream]

Sounds like a T40 nut like me. I had a 79 T40 back in the early 80s that I sold. I later gave up bass and got back into it late last year and all I could obsess about was getting a T40 back!! I did about February of this year and I literally hugged it when I unpacked it. Uhm, ok I guess Female lowenders can hug their axes? I ended up with an '85 dark Tobacco burst/maple neck..sweet monster that weighs as much tonnage as my '79 natural did. I've got the huge 4.5 inch padded Levy 'bass' strap and I can still only stand and play it for about an hour before my left arm goes numb from the weight (I have some nerve damage in my left shoulder and lower back for that matter so its a pain to own that monster literally but I won't let this one go for nothing!!). >_<

Welcome Nickita,

As usual, I'm late to the party!

I see John & Joey put down some ground work for me! Thanks for the introduction guys!

Looks like the guys & gals covered the Rickenbacker options for you. The only thing I'd ad is to take your time, and try out as many RICS as possible.
A GREAT place for you to do so is at SERF, a Rickenbacker confluence that will be taking place in Orlando (the first in our neck of the woods) on Feb. 27, 28 & March 1.
http://www.rickresource.com/phpBB3/view ... 5&t=384149
There should be a wide range of Rickenbacker's to try. I couldn't think of a better place to get your feet wet. There MAY even be a T-40 or two there, they tend to sneak into my car every now and then.

I'm in Lake Wales. Orlando is not that far away from me. I really should test drive a Ric before I get one but at the same time, I think I might be a freak in the sense that I can buy a bass cold just from doing research and asking around and I have yet to be let down. Though I do not go on the brand names laurels. Before I took a leap into my one Fender, I went to my local shop and played all the Fender basses they had (which is how I ended up getting my Squier VMJ and did you know those beasts are on par with T40s? O_O!! My Squier Jazz clocks in at 11.5 pounds and is as thick and chunky as my T40!). As contradicting at this sounds I wont go on the rep from 'Rickenbacker' but I also got a great recommendation by Eaglemoon. She knows the neck profiles I like, the sound I like and what I like to do on a bass. I talked her into trying a vintage Peavey Foundation that she loves so in a sense she has first hand experience with a bass I love (shes now knows one aspect of the type of feel that I like so to speak) and shes pretty confident I will love whatever Ric I get. Yea, its a huge gamble money wise but its also compelling me to thin out my stable which is something I really, really need to do.

I don't want to stray TOO far from the original thread , but yes I do have a 'thing" for Peavey T-40's. I've owned some of the most expensive basses made, and some of the cheapest! http://www.rickresource.com/phpBB3/view ... 5&t=384457 Nothing wrong in my eyes with using a "cheapo" if it does the job well!

I have a thing for Peavey period I think. LOL They are a great under appreciated company that puts out some great products besides their amp/pa systems. And speaking of Peavey, heres a pic of my 85 Foundation and my Rig (pic too big to load here):

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc29 ... ewbaby.jpg

It seems we have a lot in common! Location, T-40's, a Yamaha, and even a Foundation! I currently have three T40's, just sold the HEAVIEST last week on FeeBay. That sucker had PERFECT electronics, but tipped the scale at 12.5 Lbs+, talk about tree trunk! ANYWAY, I have a 78 that is the exception to the TREE rule. It is a sleek 8 Lbs, and is made of Poplar wood or Swamp Ash and it is SO VERY LIGHT compared to my other T's. I have TI flats on that bad boy, and it kicks butt with DEEP LOW THUMPIN sounds and it has a Blonde or maple color with a Maple neck and the old style TOASTER pickups. It gets the most live play time because of the weight while the other two are home bodies! I have a 83 burst with a Rosewood neck which is currently being converted into fretless, and a 81 Fingerprint Glo, aka Jetglo, aka..BLACK! OH HOW I HATE BLACK! But this bad boy has a very good pseudo RIC sound and thin neck.
I'm still after a neck through Dyna bass & an EARLY Foundation, I don't like the later one too much....

WOW that 78 is a freak!!! Is it natural or solid colored? The solid colored ones were made of a lighter wood as woodgrain aesthetics was not an issue since it was getting painted. The natural and burst ones were solid slabs of northern ask while the solid colored ones I think were poplar. And did you know that Chip Todd (the father of the T40 and the T60) will take your boat anchor 40 (I say that with love LOL) and lighten it up for you? His work is amazing and who better to lighten the beast up then the man who created them?

And I Iove how you described your black T40 LOL Fingerprint glo. Thats about right with black basses and most of mine are solid black. But wait you have a black 81 T40? Is it maple or rosewood fretboard or maple? A black /rosewood T40 is my dream T40. My first one was a Patent Pending natural /maple 79 that had one of the funkiest woodgrain patterns Ive EVER seen. My present T40 is an 85 burst/maple. The toaster pups on the pre 80s sound great and are deep and thumpy as you know while the blade pups had a slight higher sound as you know too. I like that higher, new string twang sound so I do tend to like my '85 more to be honest. Its electronics are pretty good and all functional but it could use a burst of electronic spray to clean up a bit.

And if you want a thin/narrow neck, go for a Dynabass. The Dyna was a spin off from the Foundation but my Dyna has (to me at any rate) a noticeably thinner and narrower neck. My Dyna is an 87 and my one Foundation is an 85. Very close in years but there is a difference in the necks. My other 2 Foundations are 92s and theres a big difference to me in how the necks feel on those, though they are still really yummy. And yes go for an 80s Foundation. The early to mid 90s (before they went to the soap bar pups) are the second choice for someone to try a Foundation so they are nearly as good. But if you want a true Foundation get one from 85-90

Heres a pic of my 2 '92 Foundations (and the only 5 string Ive ever owned...5ers are really nice ^^) If you look behind them you can see my blacked out 'stealth' Dyna and look at how narrow it is at the nut (1.5 inches)

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc29 ... Twins1.jpg

My Dyna isnt a neck through but a bolt on but its pure heaven. The feel, the weight, the dimensions and its sound? Passive its awesome but you flip that switch to active and WOW!!!! Try to get a Dyna with Super Ferrites if you can.

BUT, as you've seen, there are plenty of helpful people here to guide you through the Rickenbacker jungle. SO many options, colors, pickup combination's....it's a great problem to have!

WELCOME AGAIN and I hope to see you at SERF!

Yes I need some help in the Ric jungle LOL And Im learning and expanding exactly what I was looking for when I joined here. Just a Laredo at first, then a 4003 in the mix and now a 4001. I really like that 4001 for sale here and should probably pop the seller an email.

Who knows, if I can make it to SERF I might be bringing a Ric and my T40 (which is affectionately called Godzilla ) might tag along. Errr if your 81 T40 has a rosewood neck, what are your plans for that Fingerprint glo T40 by the way?

[Starscream]

Nickita, I forgot last night, I was going to link you to these photos:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=384319&st=0&sk=t&sd ... t=dockside
She's my pride and joy

Shes beautiful!! And I love the close up shots of the body!!!! This was exactly what I needed to see!!! I sadly have read where people have tried Rics and have issues for thumb placement and the body edges. The body edges on this Ric are like my Les and perfect!!! I see plenty of places for my thumb. Why do people have problems with Rics? I don't get it. This thing looks awesome in its design. The neck profile looks awesome! The more I see the more I don't see me having any issues with a Ric at all. ^_^

Oh and to comment on something you said last night that slipped my mind. When you commented that you soured a casual audition by the caliber of bass you brought that reminded me of the first time I took my Fender Cowpoke to a jam session. The guitarists had Deans and one had some low end Ibanez and I open the case and pull out a classic Fender bass...O_O Yea that made for a few uncomfortable seconds. LOL The back up I brought was my stealth Peavey Dyna and I eventually switched over to it but there for a while my bass was dominating the sound, ripping through what those guitars had sound wise no matter how much we adjusted amps. LOL The Dyna is pretty powerful too but I was able to tweak it out some and it fit in better.

[kiramdear]

Thanks! My 4001 is very comfortable to play and about 8-1/2 pounds in weight. I actually put the bridge pickup cover back on and frame my hand around it when I use a pick. I found that a rick bass is a very special animal and had to adjust my style when I got her. For example, I'm used to muscling a cheaper bass in order to get more tone out of it, but the 4001 responds best to cooler and more sensitive fingering. I have the action real low; she practically plays herself And I love the stereo capability and use it in my recordings. Some people like to add one of those thumbrest/tugbar thingies for comfort and appearance.

Check out Jeff's recent upgrade if you can find the thread, uhhhhh hmmm, Jeff, where are you?

[ajish4]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=004

I'm in Lake Wales. Orlando is not that far away from me. I really should test drive a Ric before I get one but at the same time, I think I might be a freak in the sense that I can buy a bass cold just from doing research and asking around and I have yet to be let down. Though I do not go on the brand names laurels. Before I took a leap into my one Fender, I went to my local shop and played all the Fender basses they had (which is how I ended up getting my Squier VMJ and did you know those beasts are on par with T40s? O_O!! My Squier Jazz clocks in at 11.5 pounds and is as thick and chunky as my T40!). As contradicting at this sounds I wont go on the rep from 'Rickenbacker' but I also got a great recommendation by Eaglemoon. She knows the neck profiles I like, the sound I like and what I like to do on a bass. I talked her into trying a vintage Peavey Foundation that she loves so in a sense she has first hand experience with a bass I love (shes now knows one aspect of the type of feel that I like so to speak) and shes pretty confident I will love whatever Ric I get. Yea, its a huge gamble money wise but its also compelling me to thin out my stable which is something I really, really need to do.

Ok, cool! You're not too far for SERF at all!

I don't think you're a "freak in the sense that I can buy a bass cold just from doing the research" at all, THAT is exactly how I bought my first T-40. Mostly just doing the research on the web, asking the folks here, and from these two obscure forums....http://peaveybasses.forum-motion.net/forum.htm and http://peaveyt40.forumotion.com/login.forum?connexion.
Wow, I wasn't aware that the Fender's were that heavy! Glad I bypassed them! These guys are enough for me! I sold off all of my Alembic basses because they were just so darn heavy.
If this helps, RIC"S aren't a gamble at all IF you shop around. I've NEVER lost money on one of my RICS. I tried MANY, MANY of them to find the years I like and the one's that feel and sound just right.

I have a thing for Peavey period I think. LOL They are a great under appreciated company that puts out some great products besides their amp/pa systems. And speaking of Peavey, heres a pic of my 85 Foundation and my Rig (pic too big to load here):

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc29 ... ewbaby.jpg]

OH MAN, Super Ferrites! THAT was what I was after......not in Fingerprint Glo, but THAT"S THE ONE! I'm slowly coming around to getting a second string of Peavey basses. I've never tried their amps, I take it you are happy with them?

I THOUGHT this one had the SUPER FERRITE pups, it LOOKED like like them, and it was a $150.00 BUY IT NOW so I jumped....but when I opened the box, it didn't say SUPER FERRITE ON THEM. They still rock pretty good, but I'm told from other Foundation owners that they aren't the same..

WOW that 78 is a freak!!! Is it natural or solid colored? The solid colored ones were made of a lighter wood as woodgrain aesthetics was not an issue since it was getting painted. The natural and burst ones were solid slabs of northern ask while the solid colored ones I think were poplar. And did you know that Chip Todd (the father of the T40 and the T60) will take your boat anchor 40 (I say that with love LOL) and lighten it up for you? His work is amazing and who better to lighten the beast up then the man who created them?

1978 T-40 BEFORE the clean up!

It's a Natural with a Maple Neck. Yes, I'm aware of Chips' creations, it's not out of the question, but I was afraid it might change the tone. I have to send my Foundation neck to him for a DECAL replacement. I've emailed him a few times and he's a really nice guy and so helpful! The original owner of this bass scratched off the logo, all that remains is "crafted in the USA" and PEAVEY on the pups. They LOOK & ADJUST like Super Ferrite pups, but I'm wondering if these are just a later version of them?

And I Iove how you described your black T40 LOL Fingerprint glo. Thats about right with black basses and most of mine are solid black. But wait you have a black 81 T40? Is it maple or rosewood fretboard or maple? A black /rosewood T40 is my dream T40. My first one was a Patent Pending natural /maple 79 that had one of the funkiest woodgrain patterns Ive EVER seen. My present T40 is an 85 burst/maple. The toaster pups on the pre 80s sound great and are deep and thumpy as you know while the blade pups had a slight higher sound as you know too. I like that higher, new string twang sound so I do tend to like my '85 more to be honest. Its electronics are pretty good and all functional but it could use a burst of electronic spray to clean up a bit.

OH NO.....OH NO......I JUST SOLD THE ROSEWOOD NECK I HAD for JUST THIS VERY PURPOSE! I purchased the black T-40 just to flip it. I HAD a Rosewood neck that I was going to install on the black bass and sell it. BUT, with the prices tanking, I thought I'd do better selling the neck apart from the bass.
A forum member who helped me with T-40 knobs contacted me and asked me to PLEASE kill the auction and he would take it for a project T40 he has with Chip now. The neck shipped out yesterday.

THEN, I do a complete setup on the Fingerprint Glo, and fell in love with it. LOVE the more treble bite, I have a set of round wound strings on it, and it is a KILLER. Great neck too. BUT it is a MAPLE NECK. I thought a Black with a Rosewood would look cool too, but....DUH.......argh! I was planning on listing this bass on Ebay for money for a Dyna. I just don't know what to do with it at this point, there is a Dyna listed on Ebay now.....http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=010 but it doesn't have the Super Ferrites. I'm told that they made an ACTIVE and a PASSIVE set of Super Ferrite pickups for the Dyna? Is that true?

And if you want a thin/narrow neck, go for a Dynabass. The Dyna was a spin off from the Foundation but my Dyna has (to me at any rate) a noticeably thinner and narrower neck. My Dyna is an 87 and my one Foundation is an 85. Very close in years but there is a difference in the necks. My other 2 Foundations are 92s and theres a big difference to me in how the necks feel on those, though they are still really yummy. And yes go for an 80s Foundation. The early to mid 90s (before they went to the soap bar pups) are the second choice for someone to try a Foundation so they are nearly as good. But if you want a true Foundation get one from 85-90

Sigh, yes...I'm a sucker for a tin/narrow neck....here are the two I'm eyeballing now....http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=015 and http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=015 and from way out in left field....THIS.....http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=017

Heres a pic of my 2 '92 Foundations (and the only 5 string Ive ever owned...5ers are really nice ^^) If you look behind them you can see my blacked out 'stealth' Dyna and look at how narrow it is at the nut (1.5 inches)

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc29 ... Twins1.jpg

My Dyna isnt a neck through but a bolt on but its pure heaven. The feel, the weight, the dimensions and its sound? Passive its awesome but you flip that switch to active and WOW!!!! Try to get a Dyna with Super Ferrites if you can.

OH, you DO have an active Dyna? Hmmmm, hmmmm...... are you planning on selling it?

I'm sorry for steering the thread so far of course, glad Kira brought it back to center slot.

[johnallg]

Why do people have problems with Rics? I don't get it.

My thoughts: (1)Tried one and didn't bond. (2)Want one but can't afford one, so they spread misinformation.

Last thought - this thread gets the award for longest posts!

[EagleMoon]

Nickita, I forgot last night, I was going to link you to these photos:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=384319&st=0&sk=t&sd ... t=dockside
She's my pride and joy

Just wanted to say that that's my favorite color on a Ric after Jetglo. Gorgeous bass. I guess I checked out before the all night love fest last night.

And Nickie talked me into getting a Foundation a few weeks ago and I promptly broke the bridge last night. Those things are hard to find replacements. Luckily I had some spare bridge saddles sitting around.

[ajish4]

Why do people have problems with Rics? I don't get it.

My thoughts: (1)Tried one and didn't bond. (2)Want one but can't afford one, so they spread misinformation.

Last thought - this thread gets the award for longest posts!

I'll add one to that John, IF they had one that was set up wrong.

I've experienced that, after a proper setup, the thing felt like a completely different guitar!

Long posts? Now, how often do you see that from me? That either is my longest or its in the top 3.

Sorry Pat, with all that typing, I forgot the WELCOME!

There, much shorter OK?

[kiramdear]

this thread gets the award for longest posts!

Did someone say T40?

[marc61]

I had a 79 T40 back in the early 80s that I sold.

Welcome Nickita...I had a T40 in natural which had a chance to become one of the most valuable basses in the world. Long story short, I played in a psychedelic rock band in the early 80's and the singer knew this downtown NYC artist who was willing to put his magical touches on the bass. Me, not exactly being an art expert turned down the offer because I didn't want the paint to flake off as I was playing. The artist was Keith Haring..oh well...

but i did love my t40 while I had it...btw..us dudes hug our bases too.

[rickenbrother]

btw..us dudes hug our bases too.

sshh!