Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

to have the rick'o'sound do i have to use 2 different amplifiers or only 2 cabinets for the same head?

Anon: You would really need two channels, to take advantage of Rick'O'Sound in any meaningful way. Ideally two amplifiers are required so that you can attain separation. This is my experience at any rate.

I like to use the ROS in the studio to allow better control of the overall tone- that way I (or the engineer) has control over each pickup, the blending, etc.- for the ultimate in tailoring the sound to the tune. I have the RIC ROS unit, and believe it or not, under the microscope of a pro console in a 'real' studio, there 'is' a difference. Very little difference noticed with my home rig (Mackie 24-8 console, API Lunchbox w/ pre's and 550B EQ's), and thru my live rig, tho. Insert cables work just fine otherwise. Experimentation is the best.

Have fun!!

I use two different amps, each with different speakers - 18" speakers for the bass PU, and 10" speakers for the treble PU. Recording I use two different mixer channels with different EQs and effects. You really need to use at least two different channels on one amp or better yet, two amps to take advantage of the stereo.

For a time I was even splitting each PU's signal so I had 4 lines running, one from each PU straight, one from each with their own effects chain. It got a little cumbersome, but sounded great. I kind of do that in the mixer now.

I am wondering when RIC introduced Rick-o-sound in the first 4001 bass. I have learned that in 1969 Ric-O-Sound became a standard as opposed to an optional feature. But when was it first introduced as an optional feature.

My 12 string from 1964 had the Rick-O-Sound jack set up and I'll bet the basses did too ...I'll bet that the moment the capri's turned into 360's they got this setup.

They wanted to be as trendy as Gibson (they were stereo with the ES-345)and Gretsch (they had the project=a=sound guitars)

Fender never did go stereo! interesting .Maybe FC wanted to one up Leo and Don.

One thing I have to say I hate is that stupid switching jack that Ric uses in order to have both mono and stereo jacks available to use. The switching contacts on the jacks of both my basses very quickly became rickety (Ric-kety?) and intermittent and would make this god awful squawk anytime I moved, as the leads of the jack just didn't stay tight to the other leads very well. I ended up yanking them right out and replacing them with standard non-switching simple heavy duty Switchcraft jacks, and disconnecting the mono jack altogether. Haven't had a problem since.