Online ric bass store

[idealassets]

Some time ago someone on this site turned me on to an online store that had great prices on a selection of Ric 4003 basses. I had to sell a few of my other guitars first, and in that time I no longer can find that website anywhere. By the way I imagine at least owning an MG 4003 bass about every day.

Can anyone recall the website, and does anyone have any experiences with buying their Ric bass from this site. are any of these basses "B stock", or any thing like that?

Thank you,
Craig

[sloop_john_b]

Wildwood? Pick of the Ricks?

[jdogric12]

or maybe Music Zoo. But I'd first and foremost recommend Pick of the Ricks.

[rickyfricky]

or maybe Music Zoo. But I'd first and foremost recommend Pick of the Ricks.

+1.

[rickenbottom]

Wildwood guitars has a good selection on Ric basses and also Daves guitar shop has a few...

[JakeK]

Another vote for Pick of the Ricks here. Chris is true blue and will go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure his customers are satisfied.

Dave's Guitar Shop, Fuller's Vintage (in Houston. Their webstie isn't 100% accurate, so a phone call would be your best bet) and Wildwood are very good places, and Mike Parks (http://www.the-music-connection.com/ric.htm) isn't too shabby, either.

[woodyng]

I can also recommend Mike Parks from experience. And he has a nice looking Mapleglo 4003 in stock right now,if you click on the link.

[loverickbass]

Dave's gets THE best figured wood on his Rics for some reason.

[idealassets]

Wow, thank you for your helpful info. I do really like a nice wood grain, so I'll check out Dave's. (Perhaps he visits the factory to hand pick his basses?) I am trying to sell a 1968 Gibson EB2 & a 1966 Guild Starfire, probably will re-post them on the 'bay again. To own a Ric bass, I really do not mind a new instrument, as I do like the idea of a "one owner" instrument.

Also what might the tonal quality differences of a walnut versus mapleglow construction be in the 4003 bass? They are both really nice looking, and of course I do like that 4003 bling on either wood type!

Thank you,
Craig

[loverickbass]

Well maple is going to give you the classic Rickenbacker sound. Walnut is just a little different. Not very noticeable to most folks,but it does sound just a tad different.

[edski]

Craig - the effect of wood type on tone is a complex question with many questions within questions, and no real answers.

My experience, having several different types of basses, a 4001 and 4004, and a recent custom...

Wood is important - bad wood is probably going to lead to so-so tone, but that doesn't mean that plywood or particle board might not work...in general more mass will give you a better sound, and plywood can be pretty dense.

AND

Good electronics are good. Bad electronics can probably sink a build that has the finest woods. But a good pre-amp might make that plywood bass work pretty well...

Construction technique - neck through versus bolt on versus set neck - probably has the biggest role in tone IMO. In other words, I think the body wood has less of an effect on the tone of a neck through guitar. My reasoning is that the neck itself is the primary resonator that effects the working of the PUP's...

AND

PU placement is a really important driver in tone...

So back to my custom - I modeled the neck off my Laredo, and the construction was Rick-like with a neck through design and body wing even slightly thinner that a Rick (my 4001 and 4004 appear to be ~1.28", my Waz is right on 1 1/4"). The PUP placement is more Jazz bass-like. The bass ends up with some Rick-type upper end snarl, and some J-bass tendencies (especially with either PU isolated). The semi-exotic wood I used for the body (Padauk) might make a difference, but if my bud was to make a similar neck block, and put 2 J type PUP's at approximately the same locations, I think the bass would sound very similar regardless of the body wood...

WITH THE CAVEAT - that the piece of Padauk I got was unusually light - only about 3.5 lbs per board foot, rather than the more normal 3.8 or so...which probably makes about a 6 ounce difference. I think the overall growl of my custom is partially due to the overall lighter weight.

So to conclude - nothing is concluded. Wood makes a big difference when it impacts the sound, but otherwise there are many other variables that can make or break a guitar design. The biggest variable would, IMO, be the actual density of the wood, and IMO also is less noticeable an effect on instruments like a 4003 vs a 4003W.

[woodyng]

Also what might the tonal quality differences of a walnut versus mapleglow construction be in the 4003 bass? They are both really nice looking, and of course I do like that 4003 bling on either wood type!
Thank you,
Craig

Well,here's my 2 cents.
1. I recently played a 4003w,and thought it was the nicest 4003 i've picked up in a while,and it sounded great through the amp,very much the sound you expect playing a Rickenbacker bass.
2. I own 3 4004's,all with different body wood combinations.i have an all-maple Laredo,a walnut/maple sandwich Cii,and a walnut bodied 4004c with a maple fretboard. There are definitely subtle differences in the 3,especially since none of the 3 have the same pickup positions,but overall,they all 3 have the classic Rickenbacker full range sound,character,and clarity that is what you buy a Rick for. In other words,if younlike the look of the 4003w,go for it! As an added bonus,the walnut bodies are usually a least a pound lighter than the all maple ones.

[loverickbass]

It's my experience that what really makes a RIC a RIC is the bridge and tailpiece in combination with the pickups. I think that's the parts you "hear" the most. Of course the air moving inside the body too. My 381 sounds nothing like my 330, but they still have the RIC tone. The 381 has more of a soild body tone to my ears. The 330, you can actually hear the thin body. It's weird, but it's true.

[bottom4]

Mike and Chris have always been my favs for Rick buys. I've had great experiences dealing with Wildwood on Collings acoustics. I'm always impressed by their RIC inventory...

[idealassets]

Thanks for the expose's on the wood. I hope that I just luck out with what I buy. I can pick out a 6 string or 12 string guitar in a calculated approach, and have even spotted some real dogs that were for sale. And there were some truly marvelous gems that the dealers weren't particularly aware of.

But basses do not vary that much, do they? How much could any major name brand bass vary from unit to unit?

Craig