Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hello, all! After about 40 years of playing Japanese, Korean, Swedish, Mexican and other American basses, I just bought my first Ric...an '01 desert gold 4003 in lovely condition that I picked up for less than a grand at Bee-3 Guitar Show. Among other musical projects, I record with a progressive rock trio that's heavy on keyboards (think ELP), that will be my main venue for this bass. I'm looking for some advice on getting a nice, ballsy Ric sound on my recordings (before all the EQ, of course). I'm not necessarily looking for the CS 'growl' or the Macca 'boom', but I do want to hear a lot of bottom with a lot of clean twang.

I just installed a set of Elixer Nano 45-100 on the Ric because that's what I've been using on my imports to get the Ric sound, but they sound too trebly for this bass. Any suggestions on strings for my situation?

In the studio, I've usually gone through a Bass POD, which I'm not sure I would use with Ric. I suppose I just wasn't happy with the way my other basses sounded on their own, so I 'Podded' them to sound like something else.

In evaluating the sound of my bass, it seems that my bridge p/u doesn't put out as much as the neck p/u. I'm taking it to my repair shop tomorrow, whom I trust to do a great set-up job for me.

You all seem to know a jillion percent more about Rics than I do, so any advice on strings and settings would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much!

Try Ric nickle RW's they sound great on Rics, not too much twang and they get a good bottom end for a RW string.

Congrats. kenn,I started a thread the other day about a desert gold 4003,I think the colors awesome.

Thanks, Bob. I will put the Ric Nickel RWs on my 'List of strings to buy'.

Thanks for the Congrats, Ken. I've been looking for desert gold since it was discontinued. I saw the one on 'the bay' with the BT...man, what a beaut! I hope my buddy wins that one so I can coax him to trade!

Cool bass, Kenn. Pretty unusual color.

Lots of talk about "the sound", and some general disagreements about how to get it. The Pod from what I read should help you get just about anything you need, and Bob's suggestion for strings is pretty good (Bob-suggesting RW's???? And also, I'm going to give some bulk strings from Musicians Friend a try before I dump $30 on Rick strings...)

And don't be so sure your tech knows what to do with a Rick...lot's of horror stories.

As for the PU output...my 4001 has that issue, but I like that it gets a booming bass sound (have flats on it). You could try to raise the bridge PU a bit, but then there is a chance (if your action is low enough and your playing style is aggressive enough) of the strings hitting the pole pieces. I just dial the neck PU down a bit if I want the bridge sound to come through more.

I have round wounds on one bass I like them also, I just like flats better. I like the Ric Nickles and fender Nickles. Go take the poll in Al's Nudies bar you guys for strings.

Ed, thanks for the advice on the pu's and finding a 'Rick-savvy' techician (You mentioned 'horror stories'...anything come to mind in particular?). The guy I use is known to be one of the best in Philly. He's done some amazing things with my instruments, but I don't know of his track record with Ricks.

Actually, I live quite close to Pick Of The Ricks in South Jersey. Has anyone in this forum had any experience with their tech? I would hope they are skilled in most Rickenbacker issues. I might visit them tomorrow.

By the way...is it 'RIC' or 'RICK'? Now that I have one, I gotta know!

RIC, at least for me, refers to the company (Rickenbacker Internaltional Corporation). I use Rick for the actual product. YMMV. Really doesn't matter much, folks will understand based on context.

POTR's is a great store. Go see Chris Clayton, he'll know who is a knowledgable Rick tech near you. I don't know if he has a tech there. I got my Laredo from him in March, was a pleasure dealing with him.

Horror stories...well, mainly the misinformation like someone else mentioned on another thread (need to route out things to get a low action, other bogus claims like all Ricks have neck problems, yadda yadda). And my experience is that a lot of repair techs just don't "see" the problem they're asked to address. My 4001 had an issue with the selector switch, and about half a dozen folk kept saying "it's fine" when it wasn't. There was a loud pop when it went to the bridge position. Guess they didn't hear it...more likely they just didn't check. Eventually the switch just froze-a large bur had developed. At that point someone was able to diagnose and fix it. Ditto with the output jack-it's flaky. Everyone who has looked at has said it's fine. I know now it needs a good cleaning, but it should not be hard to make it ground out...other stories about horrible truss adjustments. Luckily I haven't had that issue.

Just ask you tech if he's ever set up a dual truss rod guitar. He'll probably understand that you are reffering to a Rick and say sure (hey, he's a businessman, and few businessmen chase business away). Or ask at POTR's if they know of his rep...a trip there would be cool, they have a lot of nice axes from what I hear.

That sounds logical, Ed. Rick it is, then.

I was at POTR a couple of weeks ago and met Darryl there, and I met Chris Clayton at the guitar show last weekend. Both are super-good dudes. At the show, I asked Chris if he had a 4001C64S and he said, "No, I don't but there is another vendor here who does. I'll introduce you to him!" He walked me over to his booth and made with the intro. What a guy! Chris is A+++ in my book!

I just called POTR...left a message (I think they're closed for the holiday weekend - I don't blame him!).

Any other suggestions for RW strings...anybody? How about a good book or DVD on Rick history, repairs, etc?

One more thing...has anyone ever heard of 'Guitar Ville' in the Philadelphia, PA area?

Thanks in advance!

Kenn

Great that you got your first Rick, Kenn. I bought a new 4003FG this week and hell, I'm a guitar player!! Just had to have one to complement my 330/6FG and 660/12FG, if you know what I mean. Hopefully there are still enough years left in this old dog to reach some level of competency on bass. Even if I dont, I'm having a heap of fun!!

Enjoy yours to the max!!

Cheers

I use D'Addario rounds and like them a lot! (.105)
I tried Rotosounds but kept breaking them (???)
As far as I know there is the Smith book on Rics, but no DVD. THAT would be too cool!!

I tried Rotosounds but kept breaking them

Glad I'm not the only one with a history of breaking bass strings!

Actually, my son got a couple sets of bogus GHS Flea strings towards the end of last year and broke the D a couple times. I told him to e-mail GHS, they sent him a new set.

Best of luck with your new FG, Howard! That's a nice stable of Ricks you have there.

Thanks for the input, guys. I've always used D'Addarios for my other basses but I switched to Elixers 'coz they lasted longer. Maybe I'll give the D'Addario EXP's a shot, too.

I've never had any problems with Rotosound RS66's...yet! Has anyone ever tried Roto Piano String Design (RS99LD-G)? I hear they are supposed to twang like crazy...probably not much bottom, tho'.

I guess it's just a matter of trying a bunch and seeing which ones I like. Strings can be such a subjective thing.

Other string suggestions:

Ernie Ball Super Slinkies
GHS Boomers both sound good on both my 4003, and my v63.