Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm lucky. my 4000 and 72 4001 only need touching when I fancy a change; they move less than my Status, which has a carbon fibre neck. My CS moves somewhat more.

I too agree with Scott completely. I use very low action and play very lightly, although my string gauges can vary (usually Roto 40-95, but sometimes 45-105). I find I can't play anything in shops nowdays. Often I can hardly get a note out of basses I pick up. I recently tried a new 4003 and you could have driven a bus under the action. And ignoring the playability issue, my setup is extremely important to my sound. I find that with anything other than my setup I get a terrible tone. Sometimes it irritates me how fussy I am about my setup, but that's just the way it is. And the "discussions" I've had with luthiers about low action...have they never heard of Jeff Berlin, Matt Garrison et al? Even Flea has very low action; for years it was 1/32" at the 12th fret E. He's now up to 1/16"

BTW, the Rick/Pedulla issue doesn't really surprise me. Both, although very different in many ways, are through-necked all-maple basses (assuming we're talking about the MVPs), and both have a not dissimilar string to string ratio (i.e they both sing nicely as you go up the neck, and neither has an overpowering E- the reason why I struggle with the majority of Fender-type basses). Along with my Alembics, Ricks and Pedullas are the nicest instruments I've played, although I do have to agree that not all basses of a particular make are created equal, and there are dogs and gems of every type. BTW, Bobcat, interested to see your top 3; I px'd my Pedulla MVP for a Wal around ten years ago, and regretted it within weeks. I found the Wal great for solo stuff, but I personally thought the tone of the Pedulla far outshone it in a band setting (well, MY band setting!).

Ultimately if someone doesn't like Ricks, I guess it's up to them. Maybe they just don't work for their style, like Fender Jazz basses don't work for me....

Funny this guy hates Ricks and Pedullas - Two of my favs! In fact, I was playing my Pedulla buzz bass just the other day - What a great instrument.

To each his/her own, I guess. So many people swear by Musicman basses - But I have one and can't wait to ditch it - I don't like the neck, and it gets only one sound - granted - it's a great sound - But I'd rather have an instrument that can get a bunch of great sounds.

I also never understood why some people insist you must either like Ricks or Fenders - I have both, and like them all for different reasons. I've had my P bass since 1979. and when I play it, it's like putting on an old shoe. Very comfortable and familiar.

some guys "hate" as a living...

I saw Jeff Berlin at a clinic (his school is down the road from me) and I got to play his bass for a short bit. Not really all that low of an action, not really all that light a guage of strings it seemed.

Can't remember what type of bass it was, but it sounded great and did play fantastic.

jared, stop calling me out.

I had a '71 Tele bass & my '76 4000 which, over time, several different people have played. Mostly younger guys, but they all preferred the Fender.
That Tele bass played average at best: couldn't get the action very low & the tone above C on the G string was weak: too much thump, not enough definition. It did look nice. It was refinished
natural ash & was fairly light, but the neck was quite a struggle for smaller hands. I traded it for a '90 MIJ P bass, which I eventually traded for a guitar.
My '76 4000 FG (which I still have, of course) plays like a dream. Nice thin neck, & action's pretty low (1/8"). It can even go lower than that. The E string is a little less pronounced than the A & it's definitely a neck diver when playing standing up.
No question as to which one I prefer, but I always found it odd that others would prefer the Fender. Some of these guys strongly dislike my Rick & I suspect they've never played any others.

Maybe it IS familiarity that is the key for them.
The 4000 was my first good bass & I don't dislike Fenders, but they just don't get it done for me. I've played some nice P's & only a couple of J's, but they're WAY over priced in my opinion. Even the older P's are very expensive, & I don't see the great attraction. Strats & Teles on the other hand...

I wouldn't go so far as saying a new Fender J or P is "overpriced"...they are good instruments, and if you are looking for a professional grade instrument you're going to have to shell out at least a grand. Gibson Les Pauls...THEY are overpriced.

An old subject this is...those of us who post here are very obviously Rick fans. Seems to me when I venture into the Fender corner of the Dudepit that there is far more "elitism" regarding their favorite as opposed to Rick players. Plenty of us have and love Fenders, seems to be quite a few who love Gibsons of several flavors, as well as some boutique basses.

I think if you play a lot of different basses you'll have an open mind. If you follow the sheep mentality and get a P bass first you might be more inclined to think "Fender is the one and only"...

Probably painting the issue with far too broad a brush, but so be it...

One thing I know: I almost traded my 75 4001 for a Gibson Victory bass when I was a kid. Boy, I'd be kicking myself now if I did that. Far more than if I sold the 4001 for $350 10 years ago like I offered to a friend who would have used it more than me at that point. He was struggling with a house and newborn twins and had a ******* bass...

I knew it was far below market price, the guy was wide-eyed that I would consider it, but it was a mercy thing. His wife wouldn't let him stroke the check.

Whew!

I meant the price for vintage Fenders. I have no problem with the price of new ones, it seems in line with anything of good quality. A friend in town has a couple & they seem quite nice. He paid $1200 for the 4 string & $1900 for the 5 string I think (Canadian dollars!).
I've seen some VERY high prices on some VERY average Fenders from the '60's & early '70's.
As far as Rick prices, they're far more reasonable for more appealing instruments I think, but then I AM biased!

I thought those Victory basses looked pretty cool. I never did get to play one.
I find I'm constantly struggling to find a non-Rick to like.
The Hamer Cruisebass looked cool too. Like a Jazz, but with a little more attitude, & the Hamers I'd heard sounded very good.

Oh yeah, vintage Fenders are fetching insane cash! But the vintage Ricks are starting to climb up there too.

One reason I'm glad my friend wasn't able to buy the 4001 from me. At the time I figured it was worth around $500-600. Now, it's at least $1200 or more...

Hey guys...all basses and guitars for that matter.....are all a matter of personal choice whether it be fashion, comfort or sound quality..I own one gorgeous 2002 precision bass , an old b.c.rich eagle...my homemade spectorish bass and a brand new 4003fg...I love all of them...but the rick is my absolute favorite as far as looks, sound and playability..( if thats a word)

There are very few basses that I dislike. One of them is the Stingray . . . and the thing is, I bet it could be versatile if you messed with it enough, but everyone seems content with ONLY playing Stingrays and ALL HAVING THE SAME SOUND. I dunno, the limited sound capabilities and lackluster looks get amplified in my head by seeing every bassist and his brother these days playing a Stingray. The weird thing is, I liked the Sterling that I played . . . maybe it WAS just a playability issue . . . if you dropped a J-pickup into the Sterling in the neck position, it would sound awesome . . .

But yeah, there are very few really, truly bad basses out there. And even then, if you got a great bassist to play it, it'd probably sound good anyway.

Hey Bobcat - could to hear you say that about the Stingray - I was beginning to think I was crazy for wanting to dump it. I really never warmed up to that instrument - but you see every one and their brother playing those things - people I REALLY RESPECT. I guess the lesson here is what ever floats your boat.

I just picked up a vintage[1970] Fender Jazz[fretless]actually it hasnt arrived yet but I will know soon enough if I like it or not.

Kevin, The early Teles with the single coil pickups sounded a lot better than the 70's with the big humbuckers in them, I had one with the humbucker, about a 1970. Early Fenders kill the newer ones in sound and craftsmanship IMHO. I've owned both, although I've heard good things about the vintage reissues.