Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

yes, not all pre-CBS's were good, I've played a few dogs also but on the average I'll take an early 60's, 50's Fender over anything they make now, even with the ridiculous prices.
Fender and Ric have been going in the opposite direction for a while now, I think ric quality is at an all time high, while Fender is not so high IMHO. I got rid of 4 Am deluxe basses and one Am deluxe P bass 3 or 4 years ago. New Rics killed them both in sound and quality.

I was playing the Joe Osborn Lakland 4 string bass, and it was really nice. Felt like the best jazz bass I had ever played.

Then I played a C64s which was hanging next to it, and that felt even more amazing. Love the C series neck.

If only I could have both!

DO IT!!!!

Heh, I wanted a Geddy bass too. Oh well. I've never owned a Fender and I've only played one. A MIM jazz that my friend owned. Not bad but he was an idiot and said it was better than my Ric! The funny thing is that in NZ the MIM basses are over $1000. And a 15 watt amp is $300.

I have three US Lakland and the quality and feel is far beyond any new Fender I've played.

Generally speaking, I feel the quality of the Japan made Fender basses are very good.
No arguing that the Rickenbacker quality is above Fenders for the most part (except Custom SHop Fenders but you pay a LOT more comapred to a Rick)

Technically, you are right Bob, the post '57 split pickup Fender Precisions are single coil, but traditional '51 thru early '57 style pickup P's are TRUE single coils and are refered to as such. The sounds are quite different from the spilt coil P's.

The split pickup is also true single coil, each side has only one coil wrapped around it can't get anymore single coil than that, together they are humbucking only because they are exact opposite like Jeff described above. If they are any fatter sounding than an early P bass pickup they must have more windings.
I also like the sound of the early ones, also Tele basses and the reissues.

When two single coil halves of one pickup are connected in series, most people would not call the result a true single coil.

They do have more windings than the original SCPB, I don't know how many turns but the size and configuration definitely allows more wire on the bobbins.

I'm not a fan of US built Fenders but I've always liked the Japanese line. In fact I have a dirty little secret....

Those look cool, Steve!

Yeah those are nice.
OK, I stand corrected Dave.

I really like 4-2-5 string conversion p-basses and jazz basses ... I just like my Rics better ...

P & J bass's are great. Some fenders are excellent but in my opinion most are not. The build quality is just not there these days. Saying that if I were to try trawling round the Fender dealers and try a couple of dozen or so I probably would find a beauty. In recent years I had a 75 re-issue Jazz that was MIJ and it was a fairly bad experience. It looked absolutely superb but sounded bad ! I bought an EMG J-set for it, but that didnt sort it. It must just have been one of those bass's that would never sound good whatever I did to it...maybe poor woods ? I also mistakenly bought a Fender Precision Deluxe USA active job. It was horrible.....why did I buy that ? God only knows, although I reckon we have all done it from time to time. Anyway my favourite P-Bass is mine, A Paulman 62 Fender Precision replica. It really is a very special one off bass. Totally irreplaceable due to the woods that it is made from. Its always a toss-up as to whether I play it or one of my Rics at every gig.

I always thought my Fenders were the ultimate (They are unbelievable!) until I met my '68 4001 a few months ago! Truly!!

I love my P bass - nothing wrong with that. Bought mine new in 77/78 USA made. She's a workhorse but takes a back seat to my Cii these days!