Wow...she's breathtaking!
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
-
highway_star
- Intermediate Member
- Posts: 1028
- Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2004 4:33 pm
- Contact:
-
rickaddict
- Senior Member
- Posts: 6163
- Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 7:46 am
That's so funny. There must be some sort of demographic connection between Rick bass players and guys who appreciate REALLY well made stuff like the high-end cycles.
Marty..I always liked that Y-Foil and part of the reason is that I bought the full-suspension mountain bike that it was sort-of based on, the Y-bike. Of course, I had to reach for the top and get the Y-5-O. The cool thing about bikes as I'm sure you guys know is you can find good deals in the off-season. I was looking through that bike shop window(Cycle Smithy on Clark St. in Chicago)and drooling all summer long, but in 1997 I wasn't going to cough up $4300 for a bike. But then in late October of '97, every bike in that shop from $300 up to around $7000 went 50% off. WOW! It had to be done, and I've never regretted it. I've seen so many outstandingly beautiful remote vistas out West on that bike. I've raced it too(only about 8 pounds ago!) Although its not the best racer, its very comfortable and I can just PLOW over the scary stuff.
It sounds like you roadies have some sweet bikes. I'm Italian (100%) and really appreciate Campagnolo, Colnago, Pinarello, Merckx and many of the other Euro-brands. I was lucky enough to get out to France last summer for the Tour. Somehow I managed to scope out and get to the sweetest view on the L'Alpe d'Huez time trial stage. About 8 photographers followed me up there too, so if you saw photos of that stage you probably saw shots snapped from right over my shoulder(high up on a cliff overlooking turn 20).
I don't have a roadbike, but maybe I'll spend the money that would have gone for this '72 Rick(Oh yeah...is this a guitar forum?!)
Marty-I hope you're not too close to the coast. I've seen what that salt air can do to chrome!
Marty..I always liked that Y-Foil and part of the reason is that I bought the full-suspension mountain bike that it was sort-of based on, the Y-bike. Of course, I had to reach for the top and get the Y-5-O. The cool thing about bikes as I'm sure you guys know is you can find good deals in the off-season. I was looking through that bike shop window(Cycle Smithy on Clark St. in Chicago)and drooling all summer long, but in 1997 I wasn't going to cough up $4300 for a bike. But then in late October of '97, every bike in that shop from $300 up to around $7000 went 50% off. WOW! It had to be done, and I've never regretted it. I've seen so many outstandingly beautiful remote vistas out West on that bike. I've raced it too(only about 8 pounds ago!) Although its not the best racer, its very comfortable and I can just PLOW over the scary stuff.
It sounds like you roadies have some sweet bikes. I'm Italian (100%) and really appreciate Campagnolo, Colnago, Pinarello, Merckx and many of the other Euro-brands. I was lucky enough to get out to France last summer for the Tour. Somehow I managed to scope out and get to the sweetest view on the L'Alpe d'Huez time trial stage. About 8 photographers followed me up there too, so if you saw photos of that stage you probably saw shots snapped from right over my shoulder(high up on a cliff overlooking turn 20).
I don't have a roadbike, but maybe I'll spend the money that would have gone for this '72 Rick(Oh yeah...is this a guitar forum?!)
Marty-I hope you're not too close to the coast. I've seen what that salt air can do to chrome!
Play what you love, love what you play!
-
rickaddict
- Senior Member
- Posts: 6163
- Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 7:46 am
Hey Jared-
I'm sure the salt air would do a number on the 4130 and slx tubing, but I'm more concerned for the '72 Rick that Marty's about to take delivery on. I have a '77 4001 that came from central Canada and the chrome on that one is like brand new. I've also seen some newer ones from the California and Florida coast that took a beating.
I'm sure the salt air would do a number on the 4130 and slx tubing, but I'm more concerned for the '72 Rick that Marty's about to take delivery on. I have a '77 4001 that came from central Canada and the chrome on that one is like brand new. I've also seen some newer ones from the California and Florida coast that took a beating.
Play what you love, love what you play!
-
highway_star
- Intermediate Member
- Posts: 1028
- Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2004 4:33 pm
- Contact:
Now if you want to see my favorite bike of all time, look here:
http://www.fenderforum.com/userphotos/index.html?recid=2924
Too bad I no longer own it.
http://www.fenderforum.com/userphotos/index.html?recid=2924
Too bad I no longer own it.
If you think all is going well, you've obviously overlooked something.
What is it with us guys and our "basses 'n bikes?"
I had no idea there would be such a common thread running through us... VERY interesting.
You guys have some really cool rides hanging there. Still, I'm curious. Most musicians that I've known would rather get fired off a gig than go for a 50 mile training ride. Does bass playing do something to ones brain?
Jeff, Very cool story on your mountain "Y". I've never done the MB thing but I may soon enough. We are seriously considering a move from the Gulf Coast of FL back to the hills of CA east of San Diego. Monstrous hills, and also a bit less salt air...good for the chrome on my Ric basses, and maybe I can get back into riding more. FL sucks for riding---no shoulders on the roads, and old people that are "bicycle blind" "motorcycle blind" too.
Andrew, no offense taken at all. I knew when I did this 4001FG deal that it would be shocking and OTT for some. Still, for me, considering it's condition, and how long I have searched, I am very happy to have the search come to an end.
Bicycle racing anyone? Funny, I was just thinking, I can see it now; RICKENBACKER RACING.. Black jerseys with the Ric logo emblazoned across the chest and black bib shorts with Ric logo down each leg... Oh man, that would be one bad-*** looking cycling team---they better get out of our way!!
Or here's a funny one; FIRE GLO!! Skinsuits; Red outside shoulders to legs, fading to light maple all down the center of the body, with Checkerboard patterns around the neck, sleeves, and leg openings! Yeah!! Ric Racing---FG Style!
Let's see... Ted and I can race "Masters", any "Seniors", "Juniors"? Cat 1s, 2s, 3s? We could probably field a mess of Cat 4s 'n 5s
Conjures up a funny sight huh?
I had no idea there would be such a common thread running through us... VERY interesting.
You guys have some really cool rides hanging there. Still, I'm curious. Most musicians that I've known would rather get fired off a gig than go for a 50 mile training ride. Does bass playing do something to ones brain?
Jeff, Very cool story on your mountain "Y". I've never done the MB thing but I may soon enough. We are seriously considering a move from the Gulf Coast of FL back to the hills of CA east of San Diego. Monstrous hills, and also a bit less salt air...good for the chrome on my Ric basses, and maybe I can get back into riding more. FL sucks for riding---no shoulders on the roads, and old people that are "bicycle blind" "motorcycle blind" too.
Andrew, no offense taken at all. I knew when I did this 4001FG deal that it would be shocking and OTT for some. Still, for me, considering it's condition, and how long I have searched, I am very happy to have the search come to an end.
Bicycle racing anyone? Funny, I was just thinking, I can see it now; RICKENBACKER RACING.. Black jerseys with the Ric logo emblazoned across the chest and black bib shorts with Ric logo down each leg... Oh man, that would be one bad-*** looking cycling team---they better get out of our way!!
Or here's a funny one; FIRE GLO!! Skinsuits; Red outside shoulders to legs, fading to light maple all down the center of the body, with Checkerboard patterns around the neck, sleeves, and leg openings! Yeah!! Ric Racing---FG Style!
Let's see... Ted and I can race "Masters", any "Seniors", "Juniors"? Cat 1s, 2s, 3s? We could probably field a mess of Cat 4s 'n 5s
Conjures up a funny sight huh?
It is pretty hard to tell what does bring happiness; poverty and wealth have both failed.
And trying to achieve happiness, I have realized there is a fine line between genius and insanity---I have erased this line.
(Ghandi-and Levant)
And trying to achieve happiness, I have realized there is a fine line between genius and insanity---I have erased this line.
(Ghandi-and Levant)
WOW!! Fed Ex "delivered" my new (old) '72 4001s FG baby yesterday! It's a girl!
The Ebay photos didn't do her justice. I really don't know how a bass can be kept this pristine unless it's locked in a closet for 30 years, and I guess it probably was. I know I took some heat for spending this much, but I am soooo happy with this bass.
Also, for those that were wondering about the missing finger rest. When I pulled the pick guard off, there were no holes drilled in the body for the finger rest. So, it's the real deal---original pick guard---no finger rest was ever on the bass.
Now for some observations---some good---some bad.
It had round's on it. So, off I go to Guitar Center for some flats. They only had Roto Sound flats. No biggie, I just want to save the frets and finger board. So I get home and install the Roto flats. (45,65,85,105).
I plug in the bass and it works, well, sort of...
Explanation. I am plugging the Ric into a Joe Meek VC1Qcs mic/instrument pre---my favorite comp/eq/pre for bass. The Ric sounds like ****. It's muddy, all bass, and when I switch to solo the bridge pickup, it's down a solid 20db below the neck pickup. In other words, the bridge pickup sounds like it's not there. I'm worried. On the advice of Ted (Rickfan60) I take the pickguard off again and have a look at the wiring. Except for some new shielded wire on the pickups, and some new looking (not original I think) Sprague "orange drop" capacitors in the tone circuit, all looks good and matches the Ric wiring diagram perfectly. (two .047s in the tone circuits, and an original .0047 disc ceramic in series with the bridge pickup) So I button it up. Now I'm scratching my head---what to do? Out comes the screwdriver.
Since I can't get more gain out of the bridge pickup, I decide this pickup has to be my zero reference point. So I solo the bridge pickup and fiddle with the height getting the maximum gain I can without rubbing or buzzing. Again, looking at the VU meter so it's even output across all strings. I was able to get all the strings within 3db on the bridge pickup, from open strings to well above the 12th fret. That's not too bad. In fact that is damn good. (I can't pluck more accurately than 3db anyway---well, maybe a bit closer).
But when I solo the neck pickup...WOW!! 20db hotter. That makes the bridge pickup dissapear when they are both selected together. Now I'm now wonderng if someone put in a new "hot" toaster in the neck position? Anyway, I get to work with the screwdriver. The first thing I do is to crank the neck pickup down into the body as far as I can to get rid of all that gain. Not bad---I can get rid of more than 15db. But, the G and D are still a bit hot. So after messing around a while, I end up with the neck pickup cranked almost ALL the way DOWN on the G, D side, and nearly ALL the way UP on the A, and E side. Again, I would say with the neck pickup on by itself, it's within 3db all across the strings, but the best part is I've reduced it's gain by a good 15db in relation to the bridge pickup.
Now when I switch to both pickups? Ah...that Ric sound!!! What a relief!!!
In closeing? I still have a suspecion that the neck pickup is a "hot" one as I can't imagine 20db differnce between the two being normal. What do you guys think?
BTW, I do NOT care for the Roto Sound flatwounds. They do not have even response up and down the neck. There is a horrible dead spot on the A string above the 12th fret. I hope it's not the bass, but I don't think so, because the same position on the D string rings forever. Now of course the bass could have a frequency dependant dead spot there, but for my style that's not too bad, because most of my high melodic cutesy stuff in on the D and G anyway.
I couldn't stand it and I got inspired, fired up the studio, and cut a bass only track. Sort of a "Walk on the Wild Side" thing. Major 10ths glissing between the one and four chord, with some fills in between. This bass is dripping with personality. It really didn't need any effects, it just jumps out at you. My Fender basses would have been fine for this, but the Ric really speaks so well. It has presence, AND personality... Not to mention the action plays like butter, and I haven't even touched that yet. This is so cool, but then I'm just a newbie discovering this for the first time...all your Ric guys knew that already!
It's nice to finally be in the club. Thanks for all the past help and comments guys!!
Marty
'72 4001s FG
The Ebay photos didn't do her justice. I really don't know how a bass can be kept this pristine unless it's locked in a closet for 30 years, and I guess it probably was. I know I took some heat for spending this much, but I am soooo happy with this bass.
Also, for those that were wondering about the missing finger rest. When I pulled the pick guard off, there were no holes drilled in the body for the finger rest. So, it's the real deal---original pick guard---no finger rest was ever on the bass.
Now for some observations---some good---some bad.
It had round's on it. So, off I go to Guitar Center for some flats. They only had Roto Sound flats. No biggie, I just want to save the frets and finger board. So I get home and install the Roto flats. (45,65,85,105).
I plug in the bass and it works, well, sort of...
Explanation. I am plugging the Ric into a Joe Meek VC1Qcs mic/instrument pre---my favorite comp/eq/pre for bass. The Ric sounds like ****. It's muddy, all bass, and when I switch to solo the bridge pickup, it's down a solid 20db below the neck pickup. In other words, the bridge pickup sounds like it's not there. I'm worried. On the advice of Ted (Rickfan60) I take the pickguard off again and have a look at the wiring. Except for some new shielded wire on the pickups, and some new looking (not original I think) Sprague "orange drop" capacitors in the tone circuit, all looks good and matches the Ric wiring diagram perfectly. (two .047s in the tone circuits, and an original .0047 disc ceramic in series with the bridge pickup) So I button it up. Now I'm scratching my head---what to do? Out comes the screwdriver.
Since I can't get more gain out of the bridge pickup, I decide this pickup has to be my zero reference point. So I solo the bridge pickup and fiddle with the height getting the maximum gain I can without rubbing or buzzing. Again, looking at the VU meter so it's even output across all strings. I was able to get all the strings within 3db on the bridge pickup, from open strings to well above the 12th fret. That's not too bad. In fact that is damn good. (I can't pluck more accurately than 3db anyway---well, maybe a bit closer).
But when I solo the neck pickup...WOW!! 20db hotter. That makes the bridge pickup dissapear when they are both selected together. Now I'm now wonderng if someone put in a new "hot" toaster in the neck position? Anyway, I get to work with the screwdriver. The first thing I do is to crank the neck pickup down into the body as far as I can to get rid of all that gain. Not bad---I can get rid of more than 15db. But, the G and D are still a bit hot. So after messing around a while, I end up with the neck pickup cranked almost ALL the way DOWN on the G, D side, and nearly ALL the way UP on the A, and E side. Again, I would say with the neck pickup on by itself, it's within 3db all across the strings, but the best part is I've reduced it's gain by a good 15db in relation to the bridge pickup.
Now when I switch to both pickups? Ah...that Ric sound!!! What a relief!!!
In closeing? I still have a suspecion that the neck pickup is a "hot" one as I can't imagine 20db differnce between the two being normal. What do you guys think?
BTW, I do NOT care for the Roto Sound flatwounds. They do not have even response up and down the neck. There is a horrible dead spot on the A string above the 12th fret. I hope it's not the bass, but I don't think so, because the same position on the D string rings forever. Now of course the bass could have a frequency dependant dead spot there, but for my style that's not too bad, because most of my high melodic cutesy stuff in on the D and G anyway.
I couldn't stand it and I got inspired, fired up the studio, and cut a bass only track. Sort of a "Walk on the Wild Side" thing. Major 10ths glissing between the one and four chord, with some fills in between. This bass is dripping with personality. It really didn't need any effects, it just jumps out at you. My Fender basses would have been fine for this, but the Ric really speaks so well. It has presence, AND personality... Not to mention the action plays like butter, and I haven't even touched that yet. This is so cool, but then I'm just a newbie discovering this for the first time...all your Ric guys knew that already!
It's nice to finally be in the club. Thanks for all the past help and comments guys!!
Marty
'72 4001s FG
It is pretty hard to tell what does bring happiness; poverty and wealth have both failed.
And trying to achieve happiness, I have realized there is a fine line between genius and insanity---I have erased this line.
(Ghandi-and Levant)
And trying to achieve happiness, I have realized there is a fine line between genius and insanity---I have erased this line.
(Ghandi-and Levant)
-
incubus2432
- Senior Member
- Posts: 4174
- Joined: Sat Jul 17, 2004 11:26 am
Hey, Marty, congratulations on a great catch. My very first 4001 was a December 72 Fireglo too.
If ever you require that beauty to 'talk' more authoritatively, please advise. Cheers.
MartysDec72.bmp (13.9 k)
If ever you require that beauty to 'talk' more authoritatively, please advise. Cheers.
MartysDec72.bmp (13.9 k)
A Rickenbacker bass is much like the Jaguar E car - perennially ultra-fashionable.