Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

This is not easy to post to such a group of professionals, but here goes...

I have been obsessed with looking for a used 4001 lately (I get like that sometimes), reading & learning alot here and other newsgroups, searching the web and eBay for decent deals.

I am not really a good bass player, but I have been enjoying learning lately on my very old Seiwa bass, and I'd like to get something better. I have always loved Rics and would love to have one, but is it "out of my league" to continue to learn the bass on a 4001/4003? I don't really mind spending the money for something that I think I will enjoy (well, maybe up to $1500 or so at this point anyways). I have read alot about the Ric lately and some people think that they are more complicated that something like a standard Fender Jazz/Precision/P bass. If I paid $800 for a new Fender vs. $1200+ for a used Ric, and got pretty good on the Fender, in my mind (knowing me) I would always wonder if I should have gotten the Ric. I guess I could always "trade up" later.

The idea of going new vs. used is also something I worry about. I really like (and maybe can afford) the older Rics (as I've said before, big Chris Squire fan), and might think about a newer (but still used) model, but now that's serious money. The older ones would be great but can you trust what you find on eBay? I wouldn't even know the right questions to ask!

So I am hoping to get good advice from the guys that know best.

Thanks in advance,

Greg in MA/USA

Greg,

It is never a bad idea to learn on a premium quality instrument but here is the caveat:

You must be committed to learning to play. Also treat your instrument with respect and play often. In other words don't beat the cr*p out of it.

Many years ago I learned 95% of what I know today about playing guitar after I purchased a 375 Rickenbacker. That guitar was my pride and joy and I played it every day.

Is a Rickenbacker more complicated than a Fender? The short answer is no. Are they better? The short answer is that they are better built and they will do most things that you might need to do. Can you reproduce a Jazz or Precision bass sound. Not exactly but that is the beauty of a Ric bass. They have a distinctive voice of their own.

The bottom line is go with what your heart tells you to do.

I have a number of guitars. Some are Rics, some are Fender and Gibson. I only have one bass.

You guessed right! It's a Rickenbacker.

Good luck on your decision, hopefully you will get some sage advice from fellow forum members.

BTW welcome to the forum.

I suppose there would be some "muscle memory" problems you might encounter when you switch from one brand bass to another, but learning the music shouldn't be affected. If you're convinced you want to settle in with a Rick, then the sooner the better so that it will feel "natural" to you.

You should be careful on eBay, but once you know what you're looking at, you can find some bargains. I paid $500 recently for a near mint Jetglo '03 4003 that had Bartolini p/u's installed (badly). If you're not too concerned about the physical beauty of the bass and more concerned about the playability, you should be able to find a good 4003 for under a grand. That said, a new one can be had for just over a grand, and you'll enjoy the benefits of a perfect instrument (usually), and a one-year warranty (if it ain't).

Usually the used Ricks on eBay that are high priced are priced either because they have collectable features (pre-mid 1973 4001s have the desirable checker binding and full-width inlays) or rare color, or the seller just doesn't understand the real value (witness the overpriced GC rep sales).

I bought my old '72 in 1975 and I'm currently spending a lot of money having it restored. I went to the Rick from a Japanese Hofner copy, and it was a learning experience: short-scale smooth strings and narrow neck to long-scale round-wounds on a wider neck. Once I got the hang of it, Ricks feel "natural."

But whatever you do, enjoy!

Charly Goehring has a NICE '87 JG that he has for sale for $800. Well worth it, in my opinion, I was going to buy it but my BBR is finally coming in. Check the "4-2-5-checkered Binding" thread in Basses.

Paul is correct about the "muscle memory".
I have found from playing Ric's and the Fender Jazz bass that the string spacing on the J bass is further apart than the Ric's. The neck on the J bass is extremely thin. I find it a little awkward switching between the two once you get use to using one or the other for sometime.
You can't beat the quality of a Ric bass versus a Fender unless you drop big bucks for the custom shop models.
You can buy a new Ric bass for just over a grand, and it will hold it's value more than the Fender's.

Thanks. Steve, I just asked Charly for some pictures in the other forum. I assume that's a 4003? I would take perfect care of it.

-Greg

I learned to play on a Rickenbacker, look at me now...



Seriously, I own a lot of different basses, four of which are Ricks. The biggest problem I had was going from a Steinberger to something else, it feels like you use a different set of everything when playing one of those due to having no body. I go from bass to bass, many of which have different shaped necks and spacing and have no issues.

Greg, yes that is an '87 4003. The late 80's ones supposedly have very nice necks.

Hey, Squirefan - Get a Ric and jam to Yessongs like I do/did!

http://www.geocities.com/hennyboy2002/YIND_ric3.wma

Nice one Mark!

Greg,

Let me give you a guitar player's (bass noodler's) perspective on this.

You're already going to be struggling with trying to learn and expand what you know into what you want to know. Playing an instrument that is incredibly well made will make that process easier and more enjoyable than if you were playing an instrument of a lower level of quality.

Ask yourself, are YOU worth the investment. If you think you're going to stick with it, then why waste time waiting to buy what you already know you want. The flip side of that is that if you end up deciding that bass is fun, but what you really need are six strings and a cresting wave shape, a Rick bass will still have protected your investment, if you can bear to sell it, or will be easy to switch back to when you're working out bass lines for the song you wrote on your Jetglo 620 (THE perfect guitar).

Yeah, get the Rick. It's friendlier on your fingers, if you ask me. But everyone is entitled to their own onion. -J Dog

Muscle memory! That must be why I feel like such a klutz lately.
I'll go from my Rick 6 string to my Hofner bass to my Rick bass to my Rick 12 to my Strat and around again all in the course of the hour or so I manage to find at the end of the day to practice.
I should focus.

Harley's comments are spot on.

There's a few things to consider. Are you going to go the distance in terms of learning to play? It takes a lot of dedication. If you're mostly human, you can look forward to at least two years of playing horribly. Having a top notch instrument is always a plus. Rics will keep their resale value in case you change your mind. When I started playing, the cheaper instruments by and large were all horrible instruments. Now with CNC technology, you can get a $300 Ibanez or Squire and it will play decently and sound fairly good. That makes the learning process less painful as it was before if you can only afford a cheap instrument.

However, if a Ric is what you WANT, then that is what you should get. If you start on a cheaper bass, you may enjoy it, but later you'll still want the Ric.

you can get a $300 Ibanez or Squire

Squier.