Rick Basses

cygnusbwa · Post by **cygnusbwa** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:01 am

I could be wrong, but it sure seems people talk about the Rickenbacker basses more than the guitars. Anyone who mentions a Rick bass for sale seems to get surrounded by us sharks. Am I wrong or biased? I love Rick guitars, but the basses really make my mouth water.

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 6:43 am

An interesting observation. When you have a bass, perhaps everything you see seems to be one. From my perspective, watching this Forum rather frequently, I agree with your comment.

My first love is Rickenbacker guitars, however, I continue to wonder at the excitement and interest in Rickenbacker basses here. The Rickenbacker bass is seen in all types of music. Not that Rickenbacker guitars can't do this, I just seem to see it more often with regard to the basses.

Lastly, it is hard for me to keep up with the postings made to the Rickenbacker Basses topic.

greg_mitchell · Post by **greg_mitchell** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 7:12 am

Well FYI some of the folks on the Fender forum pages have been complaining a bit lately about all the Ric owners hijacking the threads. Especially the bass threads.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 7:25 am

I've been playing bass for a long time, even played tuba when I was a kid and play the upright. Even non-musicians like them, I don't really know what it is, I get comments about the sound of them frequently but I get all kinds of comments about them from all sorts of people. You are right though people just seem to love them. There is something special about them and for me there always has been. For me besides the fact that they are a pretty bass is the fact that they are the most versatile sounding bass I have ever played. You can go anywhere from a classic thumpy sound up to a modern jazzy sound and anywhere in between.

thx1955 · Post by **thx1955** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 8:01 am

Your average bass player is occasionally a little introverted. Your average Ric Bass player is anything but. I've never know a more vocal, enthusiastic and opinionated bunch of folks as the you lot, proud to be a part of the Forums ....

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 8:07 am

Exactly Jim!
"Rickenbacker brought the bass player out of the shadows & into the spotlight!"

cygnusbwa · Post by **cygnusbwa** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:21 am

Jim and Chris, You are Exactly right! Rickenbacker bass players and basses stand out. We are a very vocal group. They are the most distinctive and beautiful bass guitars out there. They are the most distinctive sounding bass guitars out there. Most of us aren't happy sitting in the background, AC/DC style. We like to bring the bass to the forefront. We like to play it like it's a real, lead style instrument. Also, most of us are real musicians with talent. You used to hear that the lamest of the guitar players ended up playing bass. When it comes to Rick bass players (at least most of the ones I know) are great musicians. We CHOOSE to play bass. I do believe that Chris is right. Rickenbacker was the reason that the bass player has stepped out of the shadows into the spotlight. I personally wish to thank Rickenbacker, John Hall, Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, Paul DeAmour and Paul McCartney for the inspiration and tools that got us bass players out of the shadows and into the spotlight. I don't know how everyone else feels, but I thank God that there's more out there than just the P-bass to choose from.

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:33 am

I wish I could take credit for that quote, but I lifted it from somewhere...
Some old Rick ad or something.

Regardless I echo your sentiments! I am not your traditional bass player, safely riding the root notes ain't my thing. Of course if that's what the song calls for I'm all about it, but for the most part I like to "step out".

And don't Rickenbacker basses really make "stepping out" all that much sweeter?!

greg_mitchell · Post by **greg_mitchell** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:58 am

My wifes nephew works for an art magazine in Atlanta. He was up for Christmas and looking at my collection when he stated that my P-bass was cool, my Jazz bass was a beautiful instrument , but my fireglo 4003 was an absolute work of art and when not being played should be displayed as art.
I was rather proud of that myelf.
Greg

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 10:13 am

Right there. That says it all. They play great AND have stunning good looks. Even the casual observer knows there is something special about that RIC look....

cygnusbwa · Post by **cygnusbwa** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 10:32 am

In both form and function, they are a work of art. I own 4 basses, 4001, 2 Fender jazz and an Ibanez. None of them come close to the Rick. I only have 1 gripe with Rickenbackers. I only have one and I can't afford any more. I want a blackstar a jetglo 4003 and a white 4080. I've begged for donations! I made signs stating "Will work for Rickenbackers" but no takers. By the way, I wish Geddy Lee would stop using his Rick's for art only.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 10:41 am

Not to contradict anyone here but not all Ric players are lead bass players. For every Chris Squire/Geddy Lee there are a thousand groove players. I don't think you can really attach a personality type to Ric bass players. I can go crazy on a bass with the best of them if I want to but for the most part I play the part, maybe with a little flair that other bass players or musicians can appreciate, but I leave my flash for solos. I play with the drummer and stay in the middle of it, that is how I like to play and coincidently that is how most other musicians like bass players to play.
And actually I believe it takes a lot of discipline to play like AC DC's bass player, their first bass player played a jetglo 4001, and played exactly like their current bassplayer.
Old joke:
An old timer was jamming with a young hotshot bassplayer who was flying all over the neck, showing his chops, finally the oldtimer took the young hotshot aside and said: Hey why don't you and I go out and get ourselves a bass player? We could make a lot of money.

cygnusbwa · Post by **cygnusbwa** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:00 am

Like was said above, most Rick players I know don't just sit in the groove, not all. One can't call Geddy Lee or Chris Squire hotshots. Their music calls for that kind of playing. Ricks are great for that part. Not to miss the point, like we said, we're thankful to guys like Geddy and Chris and Paul for bringing the bass to the forefront, whereas the bass used to always be in the grove, the pocket. We're also thankful to Rickenbacker for giving these great players the vehicle to run with.

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:08 am

But,(along with the P-bass)the Ric bass was the choice of a great many punk bassists during the glory days of '77-'82(me included).

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Feb 02, 2005 12:00 pm

To me Ric guitars are interesting retro instruments ... but Ric basses rule ... a lot of ric guitarists are rhythm players ... where some of the famous ric bass players are know for pushing the envelope of how to play a bass ... Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, Cliff Burton Paul McCartney, ... Ric basses sound good with distortion ... but ric guitars sound best clean ...