John Hall, what kind of Rick bass did I see?

j_gary · Post by **j_gary** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:39 am

Dumpster bass, cool looking, one off bass, a mystery, oh my!

Big story here is, is that hairy head back shot really Jeff?!!! OH MY!!!

I prefer your new cut.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:49 am

Just having a little fun, Dale. I figured I'd get to it before Jared did.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:54 am

Big story here is, is that hairy head back shot really Jeff?!!! OH MY!!!

Someone was paying attention, I see!

mgrendel2 · Post by **mgrendel2** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 7:04 am

I like the dumpster bass, I think it looks nice. to bad it is not available to the public.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 7:29 am

Time to be specific. The cap is not walnut, it's bubinga or a similar non-US species--Asian or African. I would not call the wood on the top cap "flame"; that term I would reserve for types of wood that exhibit a virtual 3D effect when coated with varnish or oiled. This wood, though curly, has little 3D effect and the use of an off-white filler flattens it even more. The back is maple and has nice grain, but is not where the "action" is on this instrument.

I know there might be some who would think that I'm attacking an icon of sorts. The bass is definitely a part of RIC history, has an interesting story behind it, and has some people who would give their left, er, leg, to own it or something like it.

But I see it in a different light, as an experiment that didn't pan out, and I for one am glad it remains a one-off. But as I mentioned in my post above, it does have some features that would work in the right visual context; just not all at once as on this specific instrument.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 7:35 am

There is flamed maple on the sides and back though, Paul.

But I do agree with you - this bass always struck me as unwieldy and not wholly practical. It almost reminds me of a one-off NAMM show guitar or something.

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:10 am

"... Why not install the electronics from the back like a 4004 if you're going to try to make the guard 'invisible'--it would look scads better with a white or black guard in the traditional 4001 shape."

I don't think it was an attempt to make the guard invisible, just the subltle effect of same color guard and body, like a Blackstar or Shadow or any Jetglo/BT Ric guitar: the pickguard contours are still visible, it's just that the contrast is less dramatic. I like it.

Maybe a coco bolo top would look better, but the special thing about this bass is that the top and the fretboard are the same wood. It's a bit like the reasoning behind the maple fretboard - Leo Fender wanted to make a guitar that was all blonde.

"... the checkerboard binding with everything else that goes on, makes it look like a candy box..."

You say it like it's a bad thing!

Ususally I'm not attracted to boutique basses with those crazy exotic tops like you see on some Alembics, but this is a gorgeous looking bass.

xsubs · Post by **xsubs** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:33 am

Hmmmm... Agent 99...

Here she is!

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:52 am

I vote for 99!

gray · Post by **gray** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 9:01 am

I think the bass would look good rear-routed or whatever, but when I saw the pictures and read its story, I assumed that all the standard routing procedures had already been done. I love the concept, though. Even just the carved top with regular binding would be cool on a bass for me. I think it'd look great on a nicely figured MG. I imagine it would be just a tad bit more expensive, though.

seyesbass · Post by **seyesbass** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 9:14 am

All this routing talk and Agent 99....I think I need a lie down!

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:22 am

All excellent points, Ilan, and would go a long way toward explaining the front-installed controls, if they are valid.

But close examination of this bass in person led me to wonder why the non-matching guard...it's close, but odd-looking. (You can't buy Formica in a "Curly Bubinga" pattern.) To me, that near miss spoils the concept of body cap the same color as fretboard.

ajish4 · Post by **ajish4** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 5:21 am

Boy oh boy,

I lost track of this thread....

"Tony, you haven't seen these photos?"
No Jeff, I didn't. Thank you!

Paul:

For me, it's the wood!

My love for the bass isn't so much the pick guard or the checkered binding. I never really had a liking for checkered binding. I just LOVE the wood. I must have been a termite in a previous life. That combined with the German shoulder makes it killer.

Hence my fondness for ATG, WAL, and MG.

You know of my love for Alembic's. I've even played with the idea of having Alembic put a Walnut veneer over the standard RIC maple top and matching headstock. I wish RIC offered a PREMIUM wood line. My favorite wood is a book matched Walnut.

The 4002's were made with stunning woods and finishes, but that was before my RIC addiction was in full bloom. IMHO, those were the most visually STUNNING basses RIC made.

I realize I'm in the minority, and RIC probably couldn't make enough of them for it to be worth the costs involved, but I'd pay Alembic prices for a premium wood 4003.

Jeff Rath posted pictures of a 4003 that he tweaked in photoshop, those are something else. If that bass existed, I'd order one in a second!

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 5:47 am

"I realize I'm in the minority, and RIC probably couldn't make enough of them for it to be worth the costs involved, but I'd pay Alembic prices for a premium wood 4003."

+1

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 7:47 am

A lovely mental picture, for sure!