6 String Ric Enthusiasts?

jamie · Post by **jamie** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 8:09 am

Why is it that the Bass forum appears to have so much more activity than the guitar forum?

Are there just a lot more RIC bass enthusiasts than Ric guitar enthusiasts around?

Having recently purchased a 4003 bass my curiosity about the RIC guitars has been heightened but have been slightly discouraged by the lack of talk about 620 or 330 guitars. Guess everyone is too busy playing their Ric basses

I'll post some of my guitar questions in another thread.

spencer · Post by **spencer** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 8:28 am

Good question - I've always wondered that myself.

If it makes you feel any better, I'm a 325/330/360 6 string enthusiast.

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 8:39 am

Part of it, IMO, is the sense that Rick and Fender are the two "prototypical" rock basses. On the guitar side of things, the Big Two are Gibby and Fender. I speculate that rick basses are less of a niche instrument than rick guitars, but I really don't know.

Do guitarists by ricks more as collectors than players? The hardcore bass forumites seem to be giggers or producers. .. I do not know whether that's true of the guitarists. For my own part, I'm just a guitarist/hobbyist/self-medicating therapist. . . not a semi-pro musician.

I do not beleive it's because the basses are *better instuments*, however.

jamie · Post by **jamie** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 8:53 am

**I do not beleive it's because the basses are *better instuments*, however.*

Eactly and that's what really has me so keen on possibly getting a Ric guitar.

The quality and feel of the my 4003 really won me over. I figure that the guitars would have to be of similar quality to the basses but my concerns lay more of them being versatile enough. But even if it may not be the right gigging guitar for me I still have GAS for one now lol!

Odd that even with artists like Petty and REM and such the Ric fever never really has caught on. May be a good thing for the Ric playeres though! Hate to see such high demand that price would escalate and quality would slip.

Good to know there are Ric guitarists around here!

bbobb24 · Post by **bbobb24** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 9:01 am

I'm a RIC guitar player also, however in my band situation I'm a bass player. My RIC guitar of choice is the 660 6 string which is an excelent rock and roll guitar in my opinion.

kennyhowes · Post by **kennyhowes** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 9:19 am

(raises hand as if to say "Here")

mike_d · Post by **mike_d** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 11:01 am

I love Ric guitars. I have a 350v63 JG, 325c58 JG w/full Lennon mods, 325/12v63 JG, 620 FG, 610 FG. I've also owned a 4003 Shadow bass and a 4001v63 bass. I also had a 1968 366/12 convertible and a 360/12v64.

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 11:24 am

While I'm really a bassist(4001CSLH, 4001SLH, 4003LH),I do have a 340LH which I use in the studio, never live. Everyone I know who owns a Ric is a guitarist.

jamesvwaal · Post by **jamesvwaal** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 1:24 pm

Ronn, that picture is so beautiful (wiping a tear away), so patriotic, so many guitars, why can't I have one?

Actually I do have one stock Ric 360. I had to make a special effort to get the Ric, it is not as easy as picking up a Fender or a Gibson which are found everywhere. I think that that is the reason for the low chit-chat volume amongst players, because people have to make an effort to find a Ric to buy.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 2:50 pm

Ronn,

Can you e-mail me off the board? I would like to speak with you, thanks....

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 5:21 pm

"but my concerns lay more of them being versatile enough."

Chris at Pick of the Ricks has a used 380L with piezo for a very good price. I'd snarf it up if I had the money

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 5:57 pm

I play Ric guitars exclusively (except when I am playing slide, but that is another story!), and I think they are a lot more versatile than most people believe they are.... Although they are certainly wonderful at getting the bright, jangly tones, I am also amazed (and was initially surprised) at the growly sounds I can get out of my model 1997 and my 381 (both have the toaster pickups that are more known for their "jangle"), and also from one of my 330's that has especially hot hi-gains. I'm not a very good lead player, but I would say that my 1997 has a wonderful velvety smooth tone for playing leads.... and I guess John Fogerty proves this point in his "Premonition" DVD, where he plays some fantastic leads on his model 1997....

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 4:42 am

I was messing around with a wah last night as a tone control. I got some very "335"-ish tones out of my 330.

jamie · Post by **jamie** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 7:41 am

I was reading 330 reviews on Harmony Central and there were a couple people that mentioned the guitar was prone squealing at louder volumes. Did that ever happen with your 330?

I actully have a couple of Casinos so I know to use some caution with a hollowbody but if its a sensitive pickup there's not much one can do. Could be a problem only with the high gains and not toaster the pups?

spencer · Post by **spencer** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 9:31 am

The only squealing I've come across with mine is when using alot of overdrive. The 330 w/hi-gains handles it well. Both my 325V63 and 360V64 have toasters and for some reason the 325 handles it better than the 360, which squeals a bit when you stop playing. But not nearly as bad as a Casino.