Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hello all. I've been reading some posts for a few days, this is my first actual post. hooray.
it is awesome that you guys actually get john and ben hall to post on the forum. who woulda thunk it.
anyway, I'm currently searching for the right ric for me. as of right now I play an Ibanez(curse the name) GSR200. amazingly I can even approximate (from a long distance) a ric tone with it when I EQ it right.
Like I said, I am currently looking for the right ric for me. I want to get close to Squire's tone
(who doesn't). i've played a 4003 and loved it but I didn't quite get the sound I wanted so I held off. Any suggestions from you ric-oholics as to what might get me close to the tone I'm looking for. Oh and I'm not a millionaire so the CS is out of the question. Throw some info my way.

WELCOME!!

You could get a 70's 4001. I little less bassy than a 4003 and the neck isn't as thick. My only Rick is a 4001 and I play it to death. I think it needs new frets because of me.

Ibanez made and continues to make some really nice instruments. No problem there. There is no one thing that you can do to get that sound. Squire's tone is largely a function of his playing technique. His overall tone from "Fragile" relies on Chris's picking technique, Rick growl, some fret noise, compression, and a little harmonic distortion. You don't need a CS to get that sound. Any 4001/3 can do it if you work at it.

welcome Luke ... Ibanez is an ok bass ... so are several others ... there is another thread about the Geddy tone and Squire tone ...

welcome nooby!

Sounds to me the basses for you are:

1.) A 70s 4001, there are thousands out there, especially from the years between 74-78...

or...

2.) A new 4003. Great looks, hot hot hot pickups. Squire tone easily attainable.

My 75 4001 used to have flats on it, but I recently went to some lower tension rounds. The brightness is of course much more pronounced. If I were inclined I think I could get a decent Squire/Geddy sound out of it.

70's era 4001 can have some electrical/neck issues. But any of them that have lasted this long are probably good instruments.

My son has an Ibanez. A very good starter bass, a worthy $220 spent. A little electrical upgrades (resolder things a bit) and it'd be a little more reliable. Some Seymour Duncan PU's in it and it would probably rock!

I dont care for Ibanez. Thats probly just me tho. I had bad thoughts before I ever touched one for some reason. Not a good attitude to have there. Then again when I 1st saw a ric I was like What the #$%*! Theres a whole in it! Now I think their beautiful and well we dont need to go into the sound.

Wouldnt you be able to get close to the same sound out of a 4001, 4003... or even a 4002? Arent they all kind of a upgraded version of a 4001?

Ps. Dont listn to me... I have no clue compared to these guys.

Ed, the Ibanez is the first thing I really liked the feel of when I was looking for a starter. I've only been playing for 6 months so I'm not quite ready for something new, but I figured if I start saving now....
I actually already have resoldered some stuff. new input jack, stuff like that.
This question is for everybody: do you think it will be hard to adjust to the rick shape after playing the Ibanez? Is there a big weight difference? That kind of thing.

I would not worry about the differences. Moving from fender to rics, I found rics to be rather slim (very shallow body but same weight) and I had to adjust the playing position of my right hand a bit as the "sweet spot" was different. People who are used to contoured bodies also find the corners of the binding on a ric a little uncomfortable (I find instrument without binding bland... including rics). Others don't like the width of the ric neck by the nut (jazz bass players).

With all that being said... as long as you are willing to accept the differences in feel for the first litte while, before long playing your ibanez will seem alien. The ric bass by design is not uncomfortable... but it is different from what you are presently used to. And different always feels weird for the first while.

A good-sounding Jazz Bass and a Rickenbacker.

All a bassist needs.

(However a Precision lying around would be great.)

... do you think it will be hard to adjust to the rick shape after playing the Ibanez? Is there a big weight difference?

No, and No.

And once you start, every other bass will sound inferior.

Every bass plays different and feels different. Your going to play everyone different too. I wouldnt worry aboutthe difference at all.

How much of a difference is there at a nut? I didnt notice it at all. Now what I did notice was the difference on MusicMan basses. And One of the 2 spectors I played was weird. I only remember 1 of them anyways. It was different for me. But if you give anything a chance you may end up liking it more. Or playing that bass different then you play any other bass, and such.

Mark... dont you mean 5 rics and a jazz bass? I hope be happy till I have one of everything... In every color!

"And once you start, every other bass will sound inferior."

AMEN TO THAT!!!! Every other bass I've played sound like **** compared to my 4001. That's why I got rid of my Dean 5 string.. it sounded like **** after I played my 4001.

Nate... leave me and my 4 deans alone! Gees.
What about those Jazz basses and Wals? Huh...