Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I just bought Michael Skiffington's 4003 fretless right here from the forum. Not only is it beautiful with lots of flame and figuring in the maple, but it sounds incredible. I've had a few fretlesses over the years but NONE had the sustain and growl that this fretless has.

I am really happy with it. It sounds exactly like I wanted it too. Thanks again Michael.

So THAT's why you offed the 4004DS! I was wondering about that...

I've never heard a Ric fretless. Does anyone have a little recording to share with us?

And congratulations Greg!

Thanks.

Yea, this was the bass I bought after selling the DS to Tim. The DS was a great Rick too though.

Hope this works...

http://www.pw3theband.com/01_Alaskan_Jihad.mp3

Nice!
Congrats, Greg!

What year is yours Greg? The new ones really do sound and play great but are impossible to play accurately at least me especially in a flatted position as the neck binding is from a fretted bass not a fretless. I have been playing fretless now for thirty years and have never seen a dot scheme like this on a fretless bass before. I have better intonation on my upright than this bass. When you have used the dots as markers for thirty years and all of a sudden they are in the middle of the notes rather than on the notes like every other fretless it is very confusing because it is like second nature to land on them. I think this was a big mistake for them to do and maybe a cost cutting measure as all their older ones had dots on the notes. I play it better with my eyes closed. I am in the process of looking for someone to fix mine so the dots are in the proper place. Mine also seems to have come with a low spot giving me a buzz on the G string at around the low D to E section. I have been in contact where I bought it about that also.

Cool track Dane, really like it.

I use a FL from '84 with a split guard. I love it and it has got the old markers at all the fret points. Very handy for me as I have to cheat and look quite often!!!

My FL

Slightly off the subject, but have any of you checked out the new PBS live jazz series hosted by Ramsey Lewis? I've only seen a couple of installments, but it's great. Last week featured Bucky Pizzarelli's son (Jimmy, I think?) who was an amazing guitarist...not surprising, considering...but he was playing some kind of wild custom made hollow-body electric. Looked kind of like a big Gibson or Gretsch...but the amazing thing was that although it was fretted, there were not dots or markings of any kind on the fretboard, which didn't seem to pose any kind of hardship for the younger Mr. P...mind-blowing...

Bob,

Mine is an 05 and has the same dot issue as yours does. It is a little confusing I'll admit and I'd like to know why Rick does this on the binding instead of putting dots where the fretlines should go. Every fretless I've had before has had dots in the fret position.

I'm OK with it when I get my bearings and remember to play in front of the dots and not on them. It's a fabulous sounding fretless though.

I love my 73 FL. Finally bypassed the cap last week and now it sounds better than ever.

Dane, I'll have to check that out. This board is a little too white for my liking at times, and I know you are one of the few here who likes to change it up from time to time...

Hey, I resemble that remark!

Except for the top of my head. It's bright red. Burned the **** out of my melon from being out in the sun. Jeez, seems it was only 20 minutes and I'm toast.

Dane, enjoyed the jam, thank you. How many in the group? Sounds like a big band, yet it was very nice to hear the members give each other room to move. So many muti member bands sound like a big train wreak.

Sounded live yet it was a great mix.(more bass & cowbell please) Was the tune an original, and what were you playing? Cool stuff!

FREEBIRD!!!

And more cowbell!

Just kidding. Please don't kill me!

One of my favoutite tracks is "Jazz Carnival" by Azymuth. Big time jazz/funk groove with a great cowbell....