Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The reason I kid about the C string is because the first time I saw a 6 string bass it happened to be a Ken Smith; I picked it up to try and as soon as I plucked the C string it broke! I guess first impressions really do last.

In 30 years of bass playing, I think I've only ever broken about 3 bass strings (and I play hard, lemme tell you). The most memorable was the low E on my double bass at TT the Bears in Cambridge, MA back in November 2001. It snapped like a gunshot (we were playing rock blues loud) and it was floppin' in my way, so I pulled it out of the way and it started that de-winding spiral and the core cut into my right hand just at my pinky joint and I proceeded to bleed all over my bass and kept going...ah, good times.

Harry, the fingerboard on my Ken Smith is nearly dead flat. Radius = {insert infinity symbol here}. View between G and A on the E:
It doubles as a universal gym and it sounds fantastic. Plenty of low, mid and high with individual controls for each plus P/U pan and vol. The soapbar PUs have 12 poles each; all adjustable. Nice bit o' craftsmanship on the back of the headstock, too:

I haven't broken a string since high school. That's what wanting to be just like TOOL when you grow up will do to a kid.

For me it's these two (in this order):

Blackstar wrote:If I didn't have my Ricks: I have a ~90 made in Korea Squier II P-bass with a maple neck that I used to hate but now I've come to like. It's got a great growl. But I think I'd like to try a Burns Bison bass. Very unique looking. Anybody have one or have tried one?

I've got this one - sounds to me like my Rics 'should' sound.
Nice, slightly distorted sound. Longer reach than I was used to.

Ian, great shots…. Love the chrome look – like it’s made from mercury or something… cool look.

I bust strings occasionally – I have low action but do nail them suckers from time to time…….but about 3 years or so since I have done one.

I like that Burns bass!

I must apologize folks, late to the party as usual....

I just had the luxury of going back and reading from the very first post!

I'm really sorry to hear about Dane.....what was the final outcome guys? Did he leave us?

BIG SIGH............OK, other than a RIC huh? Well, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the sound of an early 60's Jazz basses. BUT, never actually playing one......love the TONE on almost every classic MOTOWN tune. Pbass just never did it for me PLAYABILITY WISE, the tone was great, but that neck! Besides, I can't help it...I like 2 pickups! With the exception being John Lodge on those Moody Blues recordings.

I do have a very soft spot for Alembic's, which i think most of you know, but the weight was a KILLER for me.

My FIRST bass was a Gibson G3 or a Ripper....I can't remember which it was....but I thought that 4 position tone switch was the cats ***. NEVER should have sold that bass....

PRESENT DAY, I'm playing the heck out of my USA Peavey Basses. They're not sexy, not expensive, not a "dream bass" but for playability, feel & tone....you can't beat it for the dollar!

Passive/Active, neck through, purple heart stringers (ala Alembic), ebony fingerboards....total investment....LESS than a MIJ FENDER. AND I paid above market value due to condition! BOTH could be had for like $650.00 used.
...and I'm definitely a P/J guy! LOVE that combination.

ajish4 wrote:My FIRST bass was a Gibson G3 or a Ripper....I can't remember which it was....but I thought that 4 position tone switch was the cats ***.

Ripper.

jps wrote:

ajish4 wrote:My FIRST bass was a Gibson G3 or a Ripper....I can't remember which it was....but I thought that 4 position tone switch was the cats ***.

Ripper.

Thanks Jeff, I always mess that up! I do remember position #4 was the RIC tone position!
It was a pretty cool bass....I played through a Kustom 200W Tuck & Roll black head and a 2x15 bottom....I'd love to have that monster back....

12stringbassist wrote:

That Warwick is HOT! Ian - some details, please.

Didn't Sam Rivers from Limp Bizkit play a Warwick like that?

Hey Tony!
What about the Mighty T-40?

emac.

weemac wrote:Hey Tony!
What about the Mighty T-40?

emac.

Hey Eden,

Sorry, I thought I covered it with the USA Peavey comment which does include my T-40's, Dyna bolt on, Foundation and the T-40 basses.

I still have my T-40's, one fretted & one fretless....and I do rotate them as well.

I'm TRYING to learn the 5 string of late, so that red TL-5 is seeing the majority of play time. It has the coolest bridge I've EVER SEEN! A saddle IN A SADDLE! The action is so low it is mind blowing...1mm or lower at the 12th fret! I can almost play the darn thing with just my left hand. Talk about a L O U D bass!

FretlessOnly wrote:That Warwick is HOT! Ian - some details, please.

Have a look at http://www.warwick.de/modules/produkte/ ... 4489&cl=EN
Discontinued, but they are doing a limited custom shop run of Trujillo sig series basses which are very similar..

http://www.warwick.de/modules/produkte/ ... 3771&cl=EN