Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

rickenbrother wrote: The 4001 was made to be a bass. I don't see too many people that are turned off by the looks of the Rick guitars that were made with that body style.
The Stratocaster borrowed the body style of the Precision bass, I don't hear too many people complaining about that either!

Personally, I'm really not a fan of the Rick 480. I don't think the cresting wave lends itself well to a guitar for some reason. I don't like strats much either

1965 wrote:The Jaguar is just a retarded looking Jazz though, isn't it?

The unique thing about the Jaguar bass is the electronics. By toggling the switches and wheel, you can change the following:
- active vs. passive p/u's
- series vs. parallel p/u wiring
- both p/u's on, or only bridge or only neck.

It's funky and very useable. Not as complicated as you'd think, it's actually pretty logical after you've played it for a few minutes.

It's got the neck of a Jazz, but with a gloss finish on the back (the only thing I wish they'd change about them).

I think Jag basses are a great bargain, for how versatile they are. Looks are subjective, but I like Jazz and Jag both for looks.

Its looks would prevent me from ever buying one. I don't like the colors they come in, maybe if they had daphne blue or surf green with a tortoise guard without the silly matching headstock I'd change my mind a bit. It's hard to beat a Jazz bass for looks though, except for a maybe 1964 4001s.

1965 wrote:Its looks would prevent me from ever buying one. I don't like the colors they come in, maybe if they had daphne blue or surf green with a tortoise guard without the silly matching headstock I'd change my mind a bit.

+ a million. I've been bitching about this since they came out. I would have had one looooong ago if it weren't for the lousy finish choices!

sloop_john_b wrote: + a million. I've been bitching about this since they came out. I would have had one looooong ago if it weren't for the lousy finish choices!

I've only seen them in boring (not fiesta) red and black. If they were more true to the Jag/Jazzmaster origins it might have been better. It seems like they're selling well anyways, but of course BC Rich sells well too .

I think the Jaguar would look best in a burst like they sell in Asia, with a tort pickguard. I think that a tort pickguard would make the black one look better. I don't like the Fiesta Red at all.

One great derivative of the Jag bass that came out in the past few years was the Jaguar Baritone, which was then re-billed as a Bass VI Special for a very limited time before being phased out. It was a standard CIJ Sunburst Jag body, tort guard, with the Bass VI setup. It was a "Special" because it had only two pickups, the Jag body, and a stop tailpiece. It still had Jag pickups and switching. This is one of my favorite instruments as it gives a very cool sound and can do a lot of different things. Great tone as a bass and really good for spy/surf/spaghetti western tones. Here it is in the middle with my US Jag RI.

P-bass for me. I have not heard a Jazz Bass yet that gets the thump and growl a good P-bass can provide. And I find them ergonomically the most comfortable bass design I've tried.

I'm getting in this late, but I am a full-on Precision man. Always have been- always will. Currently have a 1961 slaboard and I place the design and sound of that against anything. I have owned two very early Jazz basses and those necks are just skimpy and not wide enough. Too much to think about how uncomfortable I am when playing.

Just had an hour on a 79 MM Stingray tonight...Fabulous bass, grunt, grind and growl. The guy has a 79 FL neck too...

Time to sell a Ric or two...

sloop_john_b wrote:

1965 wrote:Its looks would prevent me from ever buying one. I don't like the colors they come in, maybe if they had daphne blue or surf green with a tortoise guard without the silly matching headstock I'd change my mind a bit.

+ a million. I've been bitching about this since they came out. I would have had one looooong ago if it weren't for the lousy finish choices!

A white one, but the starting bid is $900!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/Jaguar-Bass-in-rare ... dZViewItem

Yeah thats a bit rich. You can get a new one from Ishibashi for around $900 ex shipping.

I have a black/mint Jag and its an awesome bass- extremely versatile.
With that, my 79 MusicMan Sabre and the 4001 Ric I'm in tone nirvana. All food groups represented.

vin*tone wrote:Yeah thats a bit rich. You can get a new one from Ishibashi for around $900 ex shipping.

I have a black/mint Jag and its an awesome bass- extremely versatile.
With that, my 79 MusicMan Sabre and the 4001 Ric I'm in tone nirvana. All food groups represented.

That's funny... those are pretty much the same as my 3 food groups... mine are Ric 4003, '07 MM Stingray HS, and a black Fender Jaguar bass. Yours are more vintage, but we're in the same area. I lean on the 4003 and Stingray most, but play them all.

Just got an email from the Bass Emporium. The Jaguar bass is now available in 3 tone sunburst & Olympic White in the US!

blueflamerick wrote:Just got an email from the Bass Emporium. The Jaguar bass is now available in 3 tone sunburst & Olympic White in the US!

Yep. They now have them displayed on their website.