Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have 1 Ric, My 2001 4003 Jetglo. Since getting it I have wanted a backup just to have out on a stand for those times when I dont feel like taking the Ric out of the closet and its case.

I have had several P and J basses over the years and never ever felt comfortable with them. I came to the conclusion a few months ago that the Fender line was just not for me.

I read some reviews about the Thunderbird bass recently and remembered that 20 some years ago when I tried one I hated it. It sounded dead. I didnt like the feel either so I never gave them another thought. Well based on those reviews I went out and tried a few.

I bougth an Epiphone Thunderbird over the Gibson. The Gibson was still as I remembered it except the P/U's were better but still felt like ****.

The Thunderbird is an awesome sounding bass. It has a nice crunchy sound to it.
It is a pure rock bass and is a good back up to my Ric.
When I would switch from my Ric to a P or J I lost so much that it became annoying. I no longer have that problem

who else has a Tbird?

I had a Gibson T-Bird a few years ago. I kept it for 8 days. I detested it.

I played Birds for a few years. Still like 'em. Although I wish they made an Epi 5-string version. I dig the sound. Plus I am a big guy and the length of the Bird made me feel almost normal, standing next to my 5'6" lead singer.

I have 2 fenderbirds ... T-bird body with a p-bass neck ... and of course both are 5 string basses.

One has 2 4004 pickups and a 3 band active preamp. It is also oil finished. It has a nice snarlly, growlly tone to it.

The other one has one t-bird pickup and one Dean single coil pickup. It also has a 4 band active preamp. This one has more of a Ric sound.

Both suffered from neck dive until I installed an extended straplok post on both.

A stock t-bird will sound quite different than a stock 4001/4003 Rickenbacker.

I'll get some pics here later.

I've wanted to play a Thunderbird but could see the reverse body was out of balance . Interested in your modified strap posts Jeff .

Jeff,

Nothing sounds like a Ric! lol

Thats not what I was trying to get at.

I love the crunchy tone of the Tbird and it compliments my Ric nicely.

I have had P and J's since 1979, a 68 P,74 P, 74 J 82 P and a couple of knock offs I have now. Hated all of them. Hate the necks and the sounds of them.

The Tbird although heavy is a great feeling and sounding bass.

I am not really having the neck dive issue that everyone talks about....It is definitly not as well ballanced as normal shaped basses but its not hitting the floor when I let go

phlemmy wrote:I had a Gibson T-Bird a few years ago. I kept it for 8 days. I detested it.

I cannot blame you for that.

I tried 3 Gibson Tbirds, a Zerbra Tbird and a studio and they were all terrible basses.

for $300 bucks the Epiphone T blows them away.... seriously

here's my solution for neck dive ...

i played a new thunderbird at the gibson factory in memphis,and really liked it,but for the $$$ could have had another rick (and change),so i ended up with a 4004cii,which actually has a somewhat similar sound to the t-bird pickups,but with much mo' clarity. i have not had the opportunity to try the epi,which if i remember correctly is a bolt-on neck and priced a lot cheaper....my backup (or alternate) basses are a 70's/80's jazz bass clone,and a danelectro hodad,both of which have their own vibe.

jwr2 wrote:here's my solution for neck dive ...

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LOL

jwr2 wrote:here's my solution for neck dive ...

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You mean: against neck dive!!!

ricnbacker wrote:

phlemmy wrote:I had a Gibson T-Bird a few years ago. I kept it for 8 days. I detested it.

I cannot blame you for that.

I tried 3 Gibson Tbirds, a Zerbra Tbird and a studio and they were all terrible basses.

for $300 bucks the Epiphone T blows them away.... seriously

Could it be the wood? I played a mahogany bass the other day and just didn't like it (which I think is a pitty as I do like the SG design). What I understand some of these Epi's have maple also.

I tried a Thunderbird years ago and really liked it. Didn't have the funds for it though. I really like my Jazz as a back up for my Ricks. Mine has a really heavy mahogany body, which gives it a lot of girth and snap at the same time. Actually, other than the Ricks and the Fender, I get the most compliments on my Brice Beatle Bass copy. When I hook it up to my Ampeg combo and SansAmp Bass Driver, it really sounds good and deep.

I kinda dig T-Birds. I thought I wanted one a while back.

But I think I've finally surrendered to the Rick gods. I can play a Rick better blindfolded than I can play a Jazz or a T-Bird with my eyes open, staring right at the neck.

The Rick scale, neck, string spacing, balance, and the feel of that treble pickup surround are just too ingrained in my head at this point. I can play other basses, but I can play my Ricks better.

So the back up to my Rick...is another Rick!

I am the opposite ... I am moving away from Rics ...

Since I am a 5 string only player and Ric has no real interest in making 5 string basses ... Also I love active electronics ... again Ric has no interest in active basses either ... Ric is firmly rooted in the past and I am moving forward ... that really leads me to play non Ric basses.

I suppose if I were interested in play a 4 string passive bass Rics might hold my interest better.

My Rics are my back up basses to my 5 string jazz