Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've never felt the need to try a 5 banger- then again I still need to master a 4 stringer. But if I had my druthers, I'd go for one of Jeff's 4 stringwidth necked-5 bangers, say that a few times real fast!

I've never played a Rick 5 string but I too, love the feel of my Zon 5/1 fretless and the 5/1 fretted that a friend of mine now has.

there are a few modern basses that are cool ... zons are cool ... lakeland, Ken Smith and a few others make some good 5 string basses ...

Scott....Ric's not be the obvious choice for a 5 stringer but that doesn't mean that I don't want one. It also doesn't mean that I won't somehow justify the price of the Cii/5 and the work it needs.

For what I actually "need" as a serious player the BEAD 4 banger does the trick.

I know Brian. I had a beautiful Red w/BT S-5 that I really wanted to keep, but I just couldnt get used to the spacing, so I sold it to Jeff. That was a shame too, that was a cool bass.

And Jeff is also right. Kids coming up dont know what a 4 stringer is. Its a 5 string world, and RIC should be recognizing that.

I'd like to have a Rick 5, but unfortunatly I'm one of the few thats really not sold on the 4004 sound. (what can I say, I'm sold on the 4003 tone).

I'd much rather see a 4003S-5 reissued with a slightly wider neck.

Or, ok,, this is a stretch, bring back the 4003S-5, and then offer a "wide neck" option.

Scott said: "I'm one of the few thats really not sold on the 4004 sound."

Well I am Scott - they're pretty much the basses I play anymore except when I'm playing my 5 string.

So that means you have to sell me your TR LOL

Not for sale Andy.

Let me re-phrase that. It sounds good, great actually, just "different".

I guess I have in my mind the tone I expect a Rick to sound like, and the CII isnt quite that.

Well you know who to call Scott when you change your mind!

Hey I have a black Plexi TRC for sale if anyone needs it- on second thought, just kidding!

Scott.....stupid obvious question time!

Do you tweak your amp settings when you switch to the 4004? I would certainly guess that you do but figured I'd mention it anyway.

When I got my first 4004 it sounded like mud. After spending some time dialing in my preamp it really came alive.....but then the 4003's sounded rough. I never could find a nice compromise between the two. That is one reason I have gone strictly 4004 recently. Since my amp is set to the way I like it for my 4004's my 4003's would sound too sharp and have a treble overload. I just found that the basic 4004 tone suited my needs better than that of the 4003. For you it may be the reverse.

I figured that you, like me, are maybe trying to get them both to sound at their best with one setting and I found it to be impossible.

I think thats the problem Brian. I may set up a completely different rig for the 4004, and A\B between the two.

I just need to get up off of my butt and work with it.

No I wouldn't do that Scott - just sell it to me. I already found that sweet spot on my Mesa!

If you're looking for a good A/B box check out Empress Effects. I got one a while back & it works great, no noise, available DC power supply jack for use with a Boss type adapter or pedal board power supply.
It also works perfectly if you want to A/B between basses with the same amp. Useful for setting up pup heights to match output if you don't like using a VU meter. Gives you a good tonal reference between two very different basses.

Here's the link:
http://www.empresseffects.com/
They custom build your box to your specs when you order it. I ordered mine on a Saturday & got it the Friday following.