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More Fun with Forumites and a Gorgeous CS

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 2:42 pm
by atomic_punk
My band, Model Citizen, played a benefit show this afternoon to benefit a children's charity, we got to do one set, it was a lot of fun for a good cause.
What made it even MORE fun was getting to meet fellow forumite Mike Chrisom, who brought his 4001CS for me to have a look at. Image

He brought it in and opened the case and my first reaction was "WOW." I mean, I've played a few Rics in my day, but this one was awesome to see in person. I took it out of the case, gingerly of course, and gave it a look over, it was in great shape, I was looking for some kind of flaw, but couldn't see anything!

He then asked me if I wanted to play it for our set, I was like, "Are you serious? Um....yeah!" after thinking it over for like .001 seconds.
It did not have straplocks on it, like all of my basses do, so I was a little nervous about dropping it (much less breathing on it).
I plugged it into the Ampeg 8x10 setup they supplied for the gig, and was blown away immediately by how LOUD it was. The bassist in the band before us, using some active Ibanez thingy, was barely audible in the mix, but this beast was twice as loud as his, at the same volume!

And the tone? Oh my....great sound, I had the pickup selector in the middle (I usually go heavy on the bridge pickup but no need with this one) and it just had great bite.

Playability-wise, this bass had the nicest neck I had played on a Ric. It was so slim that my hand almost wrapped all the way around it!
I was worried that the horseshoe would get in my way when picking, but it didn't, it felt tremendous to play and I was shocked when he said that he had played it for 5 years in his church band. I told him it looked like it had been under a bed for 5 years!

He had all the 'candy' in the case as well, the cert, signed by JH, number 536 or thereabouts, it was just an awesome bass. Thanks so much, Mike, for coming out and bringing that bass, and for letting me play it! I hope I didn't make you nervous!! Image

Here are some photos of Mike and I and the bass...
I seriously wanted to take it home with me!!
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This one is out of focus, the lead singer took it. Image
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:29 pm
by jps
Has the RAS started yet for one of your own?

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:33 pm
by jwr2
man we gotta do a local confluence for those of us in southeast Michigan ...so I can hang with all of you guys ... and actually see a 4001cs in person ... and I promise not to drill any holes in it for a 5th string ... love them walnut headwings ...

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:42 pm
by jps
As nice as the CS is, it can't beat seeing this up close.

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But you did get to play that one!

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:48 pm
by mikeyjc
Steve - hey, I was glad to have the opportunity to meet you and to hear your band.

Dang fella, you made that Ric SING today! I'm thinking back, and I don't think I've ever heard it played by someone else before, so it was cool to hear you rock on 'Vertigo' and those other tunes with killer bass lines.

Hope to have a chance to see ya again soon.

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:49 pm
by atomic_punk
Oh yeah, Jeffrey, I have RAS BAD for one of those now....never really liked them before, but WOW, this one changed my mind on that REAL quick.
Mike is actually thinking about selling that one, but short of a kidney, there isn't any way it's in my future right now.

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:52 pm
by atomic_punk
Mike, thanks so much for the opportunity to play it, and it was great to meet you too! Very glad you had a good time!
I'll keep you posted on where we're going to be playing, hope to see you again soon!

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:53 pm
by mikeyjc
Whoa! Jeffrey, great pic of Da Man himself ... wow, to be THAT close to hear and see him play ... (chills)

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 4:11 pm
by jps
The best part was hearing the sound of his bass from about 12' away from his Ampeg! Right out the horseshoes mouth, so to speak.

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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 5:11 pm
by sloop_john_b
Jeffrey, what pickup was he using? Looks like the toaster in these pics.

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 5:14 pm
by jps
He switched between both pickups and just the toaster depending on the song, and yes, there was a very distinct difference between them so the horseshoe pickup is working just fine!

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 5:24 pm
by jps
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 6:49 pm
by clankchris
OK...so my action isn't too high!Image

BTW...those CS4001s look good enough to eat...vanilla puddin'

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 6:53 pm
by j_gary
Look at the size of those paws! Bass looks like a toy on him. Was CS ever a boxer?

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 7:17 pm
by jnbass
look at them sausages/fingers!

how big is that pick?