Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Just thought I would share my experiences from today.

Had a rehersal at a local jam spot last night and a couple of guys followed me around trying to get a look at my 72' before they actually decided to just come over and chat with me. They were drooling all over it.

Tested out a Traynor all tube head at a local store today with my 72' and a random guy comes into the room to tell me that the tone was awesome... and that he loved my ric. He said he was a bass player and did not work for the store, he just wanted to compliment the sound.

Had a gig later on and the venue sound guy was like "nice bass... what year is it?" When I said 72' he almost fell over. Some friends told me that while playing our set, the bartender was eyeing my bass, joking that he wanted to jump me and steal it.

In the past my 96' fireglo 4003 has had compliments like "that is the nicest bass I have EVER seen" and "I am sure that bass would make any amp sound good." There is a vintage instrument store in the area with an owner that is notorious for being really cold/short with young guys like me... but when I brought in my 4003 to try out an old tube amp he was asking me all about it being as nice as he could be.

I have said it before, but in my area there are no ric dealers... some people own them from back in the day, but they mostly sit in closets unused. I almost feel like a celebrity among other musicians whenever I play now. The guys at the local music stores know me as "the guy with the ric."

Oh, and I play in two bands now... and had two offers to play in other bands in the last week (and I'm not even that good... and I don't mean that in a "I'm not really good... but I really play like jaco" type of way).

ric players do get noticed. ;P

It's true, I get similar reactions whenever I go somewhere and bring along my 4003. Works every time!

One of my favorite reactions happened several years ago when I was taking some music and recording studio classes. I had brought my Rick into class one day, and I left it in its open case on a table in the control room of the main studio, and another student (a drummer by trade) was ogling it with a combination of lust and reverence, saying "Man, if I ever start playing bass, I'm gonna play a Rickenbacker."

Nancy down here won me my current girlfriend..!

thats a result Mark!

I know a fair number of guys with Rics in the Halifax area John. Most of them are kept at home but there are some that see regular use. Blair still uses his fretless 4002 as his main bass.

There is someone who did a serious study of Jaco.

Last gig I did we opened for a Rush tribute band. As we were getting off the stage the bass player for the RT band complimented me on the sound of my Laredo, and the free-wheeling style we have (just let it fly rock-n-roll).

The Rush band bassist had a couple of J Basses...I could see he wanted my Rick. Actually, considering how freaking good they were, it was quite the ego boost to hear him compliment us, and my bass tone.

I usually get compliments if I take one of mine into a music shop. They seem to be such an anomoly to most people anymore.

I took my 4003 to my current band audition. Toward the end, one guy commented how he had a new level of respect for Rickenbacker. 90% of my bass work is done on my Ric.

It's our duty to keep bringing these beauties out into the public eye as much as possible. Last week our band provided the gear & mixes for an all day benefit where we were the last band on at night, but I didn't know it was an all day thing 'till I got there. I only brought my Peavey 5 string to do a sound check since I thought we would get back home before the festivities began, so the top local drummer/Rush fan was very disappointed when I didn't have a Rick to play. He always gets worked up whenever he sees one of mine, & he's very complimentary of my sound. It's awesome to hear that from him since the guy is a phenomenal player.

And John,
If you're looking for a tube head I've got a Traynor YBA-1 Bassmaster. Don't know how old it is. I don't use it now that I have an SWR. The Traynor is just brutal. 200 watts I think. I've knocked stuff off my shelves every time I've used it at home. One channel is a little wonky though, might be a bad tube. They haven't been changed in quite a while. I'll sell it cheap if you're interested. I don't know how much shipping would be. I live in Nova Scotia.

Mark: the full length inlays get them every time! "Hey baby, want to see my Ric?"

Morrow: It is good that a few of us are working to keep the rics out from under the couches of Halifax... I will keep my eye out for the 4002 as I have never seen one. What color is it? Also, if you know of anyone else who wants to sell an old ric locally... I am all ears ;P

Ron: They do seem to be an anomoly. It will be intereesting to see if that changes since a number of younger bands are using rics and I remember reading here a while back that the 4003 was the best selling bass over 1000$ last year.

Kevin... 200W of tube power is music to my ears!!! You will have email!!!

Sorry John!!! My bad. I guess it's only 45 watts according to the website. That has to be the loudest 45 I've ever heard. The serial # is 1080147 which might place it between '63 &'66. They only show 4 digits for the serial #'s.
It can't be only 45 watts! I've only ever had it up to 3 & it shook the house so bad that stuff fell down & got broken.
Also it needs recovering, but it does work well.
Like I said I'll sell cheap.

John, are you in Halifax?

yeah... hali. The traynor I tried in gigstreet was the same also.

Was it super loud too? If you like I'll post pics.
I live in Amherst, by the way.