Rickenbacker vs Fender (Side by Side)

[coolhandjjl]

I was looking into a P Bass, but there are too many options....MIM,CIJ.MIA, std, special, Road worn, Hwy 1, RI, , that, I got confused. I've decided to get another 4003.

Try looking into Jazz's. It's even more complicated. How in the world can one wade through the piles and piles of information and choices and make an intelligent decision.

With a Ric, it's pretty much either a traditional 4001/4003, or the contemporary 4004.

[Lefty4003S8]

Been looking at and wanting to post my experience on this thread.

I have owned, and currently own 4001/3 and both P and J-basses. While the Ricks are my favorites, my second fav. is the Fender J. I LOVE the Jazz bass 'cause IMO it is SO close to the Rick in both sound and feel.
I find the neck on the J not as chunky as my 4001. But width wise, they are very similar.

Other people have said that you can get a Rick sound out of a P-bass. This is not my experience, at least not with the Precisions I own(ed).
Now with the Jazz bass.......I have been able to NAIL the Rick sound with every one of these basses.
In fact, I have been fooled by the J bass on more than one occasion.
Elton John's "Love Lies Bleeding" is a prime example. I swore up and down that he used a Rick, turned out to be a Jazz bass!!!!!!

BTW: I also have an old Ibanez Soundgear 800........it DOES have the slimmest neck of ANY bass I've played. Even beats the Hofner.


Lefty4003s8



Do not drink from the toilet when taking Lyrica

[ricaddic]

Rude and unacceptable comments removed by admin. There are thousands of acceptable ways to discuss topics or comments that bother you. I am sorry that you did not take the time to use one of them.

[dricard]

I was fortunate enoughb to buy my 2nd rick back in 1997, when they were about $1K US without case. Now, I could not afford one.

I have recently bought a Geddy Lee Jazz bass and it is every bit good as my Ricks.

[ricaddic]

I was fortunate enoughb to buy my 2nd rick back in 1997, when they were about $1K US without case. Now, I could not afford one.

I have recently bought a Geddy Lee Jazz bass and it is every bit good as my Ricks.

Well my point is that its not about whats better , Is Fender better tha Rickenbacker, IMO NO is Rickenbacker better than Fender IMO NO, is Fender and Rickenbacker better than any other instuments IMO NO THEY ARE NOT, insturments are instruments are all great in thier own right for what purpose they serve, are Brussel sprouts better than Corn on the cobb, no, I love corn on the cobb but dont eat brussel sprouts, but I dont bash brussel sprouts or belittle people that do, to somebody that would like to have one of the high end instruments but due to circumstances beyond thier control cant afford one, if they are truely passionate about being a musician and playing music whatever they have to play is a gem to them , my first bas was a Kimberly Hofner Beatle bass knock off that had a bad bow in the neck, the action was highter than Mt Everest and the pick ups were terible, but that was my first bass and I treasured that bass and appreciated haveing a bass to play and learned how to play bass on it before I was able to get a good bass which was a early 70's Fender precision, than a year later got a Rickenacker 4001 in jetglo which I traded in shortly after getting toward an Ampeg SVT amp, so if Fender, Ibanez, Schecter make a bunch of instuments of all price ranges I say, more power to them, but this whole this is better this is the ultimate, or nothing else compares **** , is imature, childish, and very stupid and narrow minded, Ric's arent the god of all instruments, none are, like all instuments they have many flaws and issues too just like all instruments, but thats a mortal sin to go against the grain on this forum and god for bid mention anything against a Ric, but feel free to trash others, thats welcomed here and greatly encouraged, I like Rickenbackers and own 8 but I dont worship at the alter of Rickenbacker, I like and respect Mr John Hall but dont blatently agree with everything he does or doent do, ( there's a bunch on here that cant say the same thing) I a musician first and formost, and a bass player at that, I love respect and appreciate all basses of all makes and manufacters, and if people here cant handle, well I dont know what to tell, but feel sorry for you, real sorry, time for you to look in the mirror and rethink your priorities, because your piorities are appearently way out of wack........

[clankchris]

ricaddic - did you see I actually put together a Fender style bass and have owned more than a couple of them?

Who cares if we favor Rics a bit more? - after all, this is a forum for Ric enthusiasts.

I know I went back to playing mine solely for the sound it produces, using my own hands. Do I think it sounds a lot better than a Fender? Sure I do, and as pure coincidence, I think it looks much better too.

I take offense that you think I'm somehow kissing someone's "arse" because I really like something.

Fenders are good basses - I also love the Gibson RIpper and some Peavey basses as well.

Your posting reminds me of someone who walks into a Ford Mustang club and tells the people there to have a more open mind about Buicks.

[analogpackrat]

Yes, Fender has a large array of P & J types and RIC has only a few, even if you include all of the past models that have been made. But what does that have to do with the price of cheese in China? Do you choose your instruments based on spec sheets or the way the sound and feel when you play them (or maybe whether they match your clothes)? I have a couple of Ibanez basses from the cheapest SGR200 to the really nice neck thru DWB-1. I also have a Hwy-1 P and recently acquired a 4003. They all have their charms and flaws. One instrument, no matter how versatile, isn't going to do everything well.

So forget about the specs. Set your budget and then go to the store and play all of the instruments near your range. If you find one that inspires you, buy it or save up to buy it. You can get a 4003 for a lot less than $2k used. You can get a great P or J for less or more. Who cares? If it sounds good, it IS good. If it makes you want to play more, so much the better.

[Kopfjaeger]

Angelo,

I've been here for a week or so so in that aspect, call me a newbie. However, I'm a member of several different forums and collector sites and I can tel you that this site is no different that any of the others. The content may be different but they were all created to have a common central meeting place where the members can all talk about the topic of the forum.

Yup rhetoric can be a bit on the high side on most forums since forums deal with a specific thing, brand, or activity. You need to look at the overall "worth" of the forum. Does it meet your needs, does it give helpful information, and does it allow you to interact and share info easily.

In the short time I've been here, I say it does all three. I've learned more about the construction, types, and maintenance, of these instruments in one week than I've learned in 20 years.

I'm also a moderator on another forum and it's almost like a full time job sometimes. Keeping the peace and making sure list rules are abided by is like having a ****** job, with **** pay and no benefits. oh, I forgot to mention, being a moderator is non paying position! I'm pretty sure being a moderator here is the same way.

I believe that it's OK to disagree on a forum. Hell, we all have an interest in Rickenbacker instruments but not everyone agrees on what the best model is. It;s really not worth getting all worked up over.

Ok, that's all I got on the subject.

Sepp

[Lefty4003S8]

To Joseph S., Your points were MOST eloquent!!!!!

As a note---especially to you Ricaddic---- I currently own about 16 different Basses.
While Rickenbacker makes my FAVORITE basses, and FOUR of my 16 are Rics........
The remaining basses are from MANY different manufacturers or are custom made.

I did NOT buy 16 to impress whoever visits me......I bought each one to make up for my lack of self worth as a musician, within a world that holds up Britney Spears as............
I mean, I chose each one AS A MUSICIAN for its own sound and feel.

I mean you NO offence, and I fight for your right to express your opinions.....especially if they might be in conflict with the philosophy, interests, and prevailing attitudes of this forum. 1st Amendment and all...........
Having said the above, I seriously don't see what you see here. Just my 2 cents.

Lefty4003s8



Do NOT drink from the toilet when taking Lyrica

[teeder]

I like brussel sprouts and corn on the cob, but not necessarily at the same time. Now what was the question?

[rickenbrother]

Guys, some edits had to made while I was working. Let's keep this topic civil or I'm going to close it.

[coolingitdown]

I've just now caught up on this thread, so sorry to share this story so late in the game.

In So Cal, especially in June, the mornings are cool and damp (June Gloom), the afternoons are bone dry and warm to hot. I don't have a problem with my Ricks. Always been reliable for me.

I took a 2 and a half week vacation during June. My band was down for a little while before that. We just got together to rehearse last night for the first time in over a month.

I hadn't played my 4003 in all that time; it had stayed in its case. And after a month, going from conditions Joey described (cool, damp mornings followed by dry, slightly warmer afternoons) to current conditions (temps in the 90s, very humid [well, by So Cal standards at least]), my 4003 was perfectly in tune and I noticed no change in the action or the neck. All in spite of a huge change in temperature and humidity over the last month.

I was floored!

[winston]

My 4003 came all the way from Virginia to me a few years ago. It was perfectly setup when it arrived (and still mostly in tune) and I have not had to do anything to it at all set up wise. It's still as good as the day Ron shipped it. I love that bass btw.

I also own a 4001, a Fender P-bass and a fretless Aria Sinsonido. Not a bad arsenal to choose from for a guitar player.

[ram]

Face it Brian you are a closet bass player.....

[jps]

I also own a 4001, a Fender P-bass and a fretless Aria Sinsonido. Not a bad arsenal to choose from for a guitar player.

At one time, not too long ago, I had a 1961 Gretsch 6117, 2003 Larrivée LV-19 Special Vine Edition, 1998 360V64, 660 DCM, 2001 730/12L, 2004 660/12 and 1967 330, not a bad arsenal to choose from for a measly bass player.

I still have the 330 and LV-19.