The Box...

[kiramdear]

Do tell

[atomic_punk]

Hey, move that red one outta the way, it's obscuring the LAREDO!!

[Elnjaybass]

Saved the BEST for LAST-

Ladies/Gentlemen---


THE BOX!!!

Tomorrow-
Tomorrow I will spurt out my many thought and views on-
Life, (the meaning of) Spiritual Matters, and mostly-
the intrinsic differences and joys of both the Laredo and 4003 Bass Guitars by Rickenbacker.

Hey waidaminnit- You guys have been here a long time, huh, and I...I just joined 2 weeks ago.

Wow, look at me now-- (2) Rickenbackers.
Gosh.

What a *&^&^%%$ Freakin' KILLER BASS-
Remember- I NEVER played a 4003- Never.

I have a few little questions regarding eq, if you all don't mind, but fear not, I've got it- it's in-da-pocket- it's nailed shall we say.

Oh MAN what a fine bass guitar....
What was I thinking, not getting one earlier??
But that was then...
and now-

I got "the Box"

[kiramdear]

All I can say is ...

pictures and sound clips, Larry. Lots of 'em. You owe us big time for this.

[Elnjaybass]

Having seen examples of my great skill as Ansel Adams, I dunno how effective pix will be-
Sound Clips? If I can figure a way to do so, or get a project going with one of the Rics-
(workin' on it) then...that would be cool.
I'm uh, prototyping a Phat/Funky Pocket useage for both the 03 and Laredo.
The Laredo is a natural for laying down R&B, and funny- with only 2 hours of playing the 4003- I repeat- I was a virgin with this Ric, be gentle---
I can see this as a very deep-pocket bass (among everything else of course)

That's one of the things I have to dig in and get with; the eq, for example not only the vintage pull function, but the V-V-T-T thing- and remembering this is not an active bass.
My referenc rig so far has been and is a fine one- LMII LE on top of a Mesa-Boogie PH212- 2x12's HIGHLY recommended btw, as is the Mesa cab, and the LMII of course- Wine Taurus covering on the cab for style of course.

But thru my Ampegs- THAT'S where we get down and deep; sometimes scary badazz.

Ok the Bass-

***** A!
It's light! It's ergonomic. Of course it's beautiful beyond words, even for ME!

This "Ernie" (?) you speak of here, in the finish department....What you want for Xmas Ernie?
Holy- The Woods--The Woods---The Grain...
I need a minute...






Ok-
Construction-
Just did NAMM, played 'em all- literally. Should I mention names? I don't mean garden-variety, your Fneder, your Ernie Ball, even your G&L which comes pretty close to being an anachronistic Ric vibe bass pplace too-
I mean your high-ends- the creme de la creme.. MTD, FOdera,F Bass, Alleva- whatchamacallit,
Sadowsky, I can keep going if ya wants--
Lull, Pedulla, Zon,

Not Rickenbackers. They have some special sauce there, besides the vibe. There build entails something that the others don't have, and it's all good- we have different Ice Cream and places of worship, but the altar of Ricenbacker bass- It's the pinnacle.

The 4003 is almost too easy to play; really. I have to adjust my attack and technique because it is so fast and ergonomic, it rings the notes enunciate themselves.

Ok that's it- I've only laid into it for about 1 1/2 hours withstanding, so I don't have it wired for my satisfaction yet-
But this particular beautifully crafted instrument which I am SO Damn happy to finally get outta --"the Box"
I'm going to make it MINE!
MINE!
It's MINE.

Jeesh, i'm losin it...
so what?

[scotty]

thank goodness ive slept through most of that!

[Elnjaybass]

thank goodness ive slept through most of that!

Actually, I thought it was fairly well-said myself....

[dog]

Beautiful FG Larry. But just as a suggestion, if you would quit beating around the bush and just say what you mean, your topics would be more interesting and probably have more input from others.

Truth is, these past 6 pages have been a gas.

[jagdeluxe]

Congrats on the bass,Kyra you,re a blast,ikept reading to see what you,d post next

[Elnjaybass]

Yeah, I know I need to hone my communication skills-
(Takes me about 1/2 hour to introduce songs performed on stage...keeps the sets short tho! )

It's really an amazing bass, I'm starting to GET INTO IT!'
Just registered it, now-
PLAY time!

[Elnjaybass]

Wow-
The 4003 has some VERY nice eq points doesn't it.....?

Gotta go to work now, but I'll find more of them later.
Boy can you imagine how much fun this is; I mean new bass and all....?

Kinda like when I was with Robin, back in 8th grade, and her parents were outta town,
so we---

Oh, this is a Family forum, isn't it...

L8

[kiramdear]

Be sure and add your new treasures to the registry here, Larry

Well, pity about the pix. If you had some large full colorpictures this thread could roll on for days.

So, how's that Laredo feeling today?

[Elnjaybass]

Breaktime-
I really must actually get back to my day-job some time soon-
Naaah, it'll wait, I've got bass-breaking in to do...

Picture-Schmictures, what is this an art exhibit; or a "Ric Collector's Club" symposium??
"Thread roll for days?""

Yes lets!

Only it's got this agenda-

My agonizing wait for 'the Box"- that's history, thank gawd, I knew it would go down to the wire...
and now-

My learning curve with the 4003-
Got it down, pretty much.
Ran it through my Ampeg rig, which is my bread-and-butter, and in some ways pays for all this indulgence (oh, there's more...you don't wanna know....)

A 3-PRO and a SVT48HE (4x8 w/horn) on top of a SVT-15E.

Have you ever heard a FG 4003 play Tower of power, eg, or Joe Louis Walker trhu Ampegs?/
Well I just DID-

Loverly bass, yes, may actually be a bit too easy to play, and require calisthenics when I revert to my Laredo-
They are two very different basses, and let me pose a ? to you all who might care...

I don't notice a major tonal difference with the "Vintage" knob engaged, I THINK I sorta hear a mid-shift, but---not really.
Now I'm thinking that this is sorta-kinda the way it's supposed to be, insofar as it is not an active tone control, nor should the basic character and voice of the bass be altered..
Speaking of which-

I don't, never, but for those that do and choose to use a pick (or "plectrum )
Man, I could feel that fer sure! The bite of the bass, would really be brought out with a good str5iking technique.
I, myself am a finger player always, lots of finger-funk, and I've been developing, or feeling if you will an attack and approach to thumb "utilizing" the pup cover, which I've already forgotten about removing, I think.

I dig this bass so much, and it is such a Classic that I don't want to alter anything-
Prolly might even stick with OEM strings, tho I am hearing the muse of Ti-JR-344's calling out to me on this baby-

Funny aside- I went up to the TI booth at NAMM, just to kibitz, not much there- and said to the rep- "You guys have cost me a LOT of $$" (meaning of course that their sets are $50+ now-
Well, he thought I was coming across as a Distributor that had been ripped-off or something, so he went all business-like and serious on me, expression-wise, for a sec til I clued him in!!

Anyway who cares-

The bass-
Like Joshua I believe it was earlier stated, this is no one-trick pony nossir.

I'm still working it, I've mentally snapped into the V-T upper lower placements, and rather than read the manual or wait til my next session with it soon-
I will pose ??'s here, and await the responses, inorder that we may set new longevity records for my silly little numpty thread.
Don't like that word btw- I dunno, just doesn't get my pocket, howzabout "frumpty"r "bumpity-bumpity" or is that messing with a legacy???
Questions- up for grabs-

1) Toggle- Split coils or pup selector?

2) Vintage mode- little difference, or what interacts with it, if anything??

3) IF i wanted to remove pup cover...big deal or no?

Hey, this is a killer looking and feeling bass, I am so into it.
The good thing is I have 2 completely distinctive Rickenbackers; they are very different beasts IMO.

I dig 'em both.
Wow.
A newbie like me. Gawsh.

[cjj]

Questions- up for grabs-

1) Toggle- Split coils or pup selector?

2) Vintage mode- little difference, or what interacts with it, if anything??

3) IF i wanted to remove pup cover...big deal or no?

Hey, this is a killer looking and feeling bass, I am so into it.
The good thing is I have 2 completely distinctive Rickenbackers; they are very different beasts IMO.

I dig 'em both.
Wow.
A newbie like me. Gawsh.

Toggle switch is a pickup selector.
Vintage mode adds in a 0.047uF capacitor in the bridge (treble) pickup, cuts out more lows.
Not too big a deal to remove the cover, lots of places to get instructions.

[Elnjaybass]

But with the Vintage Mode engaged, Do YOU (meaning "You" at large)
feel that there is a noticeable or appreciable sonic difference at output?

I have sensitive ears and excellent rigs, and I sorta kinda hear a drop-off of frequency-
Not big deal, EXCEPT if there was said to be a major diff, such as a "Pull-Deep" switch on an amp, or a "bassBoost" such as the tri-tone eq on a G&L, I woul be afraid to satrt thinking that I MAY have a flaw circuit...
So short version-

Is it a BIG or little eq difference, in so many words.

Thanks- Seriously!