Straw poll - gig them or not?

[bitzerguy]

My opinion:

Un-gigged instruments cannot develop any personality or true voice. If an instrument is sheltered in a room and only played occasionally, or worse kept in a glass cage, it is really nothing more than wood paint, wire and some metal bits and some craftsmanship. Kind of like a well made sideboard or sofa... All the great and classic guitars we all love so much are so loved because they have had their personality encouraged and developed and we have connected with that. That doesn't mean take a chain to it (unless that is the personality you relate to most!), but guitars have to gig somewhat in order to become that great instrument.

Get out there and gig them! The results are amazing.

[iiipopes]

My 4002 was my main bass for over 15 years - no backup - until I devloped hand cramps and had to go to a custom designed fanned fret electric bass. I gigged with it everywhere, from posh recording studios to and including biker bars. Even now, I still play it when the gig is not more than 20 minutes to a half-hour, or when real RIC tone is de rigueur. I've even put a push-pull on the neck pickup so I can have direct alternative to the stock .01 inline capacitor for more lows. I use GHS Progressives in custom gauges of 45-60-80-105 to better balance the tension across the board, and I haven't even had to tweak a truss rod in over 20 years. There's a few scratches, and some wear and corrosion to the neck pickup cover where I anchor my right thumb.

Little known EQ tip: when you have to emulate those other basses, just bump the 1.5 kHz slider for P and drop the 500 Hz slider for J. You say, "What?! Why should I?" but think about it: A 4002 can emulate a P or a J. Neither a P nor a J can emulate a Rick! Versatility rules!

Play it!

[henry5]

If I have a bass I'm afraid to play/gig I sell it on. It's happened with a few. That's one of the reasons I love a bit of Mojo; if there are already a few dings I'm less worried about it picking up a few more (although ironically they actually seem to pick up less).

[rickaddict]

Meet Mojo Guy (serial number MG XXXX):

http://www.rickresource.com/register/us ... llsize.jpg

http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... ine%3Dtrue

It's perfect for such occasions. I don't wear a spiky dog collar bracelet on my right hand, a giant belt buckle, or a big zipper motorcycle jacket when I play it, but I'm not afraid to play Mojo Guy anywhere.

Maybe you need to turn your 4002 into your own version of Mojo Guy!

[ricaddic]

Little known EQ tip: when you have to emulate those other basses, just bump the 1.5 kHz slider for P and drop the 500 Hz slider for J. You say, "What?! Why should I?" but think about it: A 4002 can emulate a P or a J. Neither a P nor a J can emulate a Rick! Versatility rules!

Play it!

I disagree, have done the complete opposite, and with great success, had a 71 Fender Precision I used to use Roto sound light rounds on and play it through a (70's) Ampeg SVT and get muliple tones even Ric ones that used to amaze other bassist with its versatility, if I had a penny for every offer made to me for that bass by both bassits, guitarest and engineers at studio's, I wouldnt have to work for a liveing, I still have the bass, but its in dire need of an extreme overhaul, it drowned in Hurricane Floyd and it currently at POTR, while Chris and I decide on what to do to bring it back to life again..

[iiipopes]

Little known EQ tip: when you have to emulate those other basses, just bump the 1.5 kHz slider for P and drop the 500 Hz slider for J. You say, "What?! Why should I?" but think about it: A 4002 can emulate a P or a J. Neither a P nor a J can emulate a Rick! Versatility rules!

Play it!

I disagree, have done the complete opposite, and with great success, had a 71 Fender Precision I used to use Roto sound light rounds on and play it through a (70's) Ampeg SVT and get muliple tones even Ric ones that used to amaze other bassist with its versatility, if I had a penny for every offer made to me for that bass by both bassits, guitarest and engineers at studio's, I wouldnt have to work for a liveing, I still have the bass, but its in dire need of an extreme overhaul, it drowned in Hurricane Floyd and it currently at POTR, while Chris and I decide on what to do to bring it back to life again..

Being a '71, was the body ash or alder? Maple fingerboard? I can see that with an ash-bodied P with a maple fingerboard, especially with the D-G string segment of a P pickup being very close to where a standard 4001/3 treble pickup is. I have an HB-1 on my custom fanned fret P-bass in the "traditional" formula of alder body and rosewood fingerboard, and it will never get close to being able to emulate anything Rick, even with the HB-1, or maybe in spite of it, and that includes using Rotos in medium light custom gauges of 45-60-80-105 at times.

[henry5]

I had an early 70s P once and it sounded more like the Rics I'd heard on record (all 60s or very early 70s) then my first Ric did (a 1980 - I had them at the same time). It was maple-necked with an alder body. Great-sounding bass actually; wish I still had it.