4001's got the blues

[el diablo]

New member,first post, so bear with me.I own a 1978 4001 in Fireglo that I came perilously close to getting rid of.I play in a working blues band with slight leanings towards 60's and 70's classic rock and everyone in my band keeps pushing me towards my backup bass whose brand rhymes with bender.I am the second owner of my battle scarred warrior 4001 for the past 25 years,and inexplicably got the urge to move towards a Precision.Thank god better judgement prevailed.My question is,does anyone play primarily blues based music with a Ric? Thanks in advance for any insight.

[jps]

Welcome, Mark!

I have played all kinds of music on Rickenbackers, so maybe you can tell your bandmates what brand of instruments you think they should be playing!

[rickenbrother]

Welcome to the forum, Mark. Stick to your guns and keep your 4001. It's fine for any type of music.
Like Jeffrey said, just try telling you bandmates what instruments THEY should be playing...see what happens!

I would play blues based music with a Rick over a F*nd*r any day!

[el diablo]

Thanks for the support guys,I knew I made the right choice.This forum has helped me alot.I had this bass for 25 years before someone(this forum) could tell me what the extra toggle switch was for on my bass.Now I understand the .047 cap bypass and why someone made the mod.In all that time I have never had the neck adjusted and she still plays effortlessly with good intonation throughout.I could put her down for a month(never) and she would stay in tune.The best 300 bucks I ever spent hands down.I have to say,I have not seen anyone in the Cleveland area gigging with a Ric.Dare to be different!

[ricnbacker]

New member,first post, so bear with me.I own a 1978 4001 in Fireglo that I came perilously close to getting rid of.I play in a working blues band with slight leanings towards 60's and 70's classic rock and everyone in my band keeps pushing me towards my backup bass whose brand rhymes with bender.I am the second owner of my battle scarred warrior 4001 for the past 25 years,and inexplicably got the urge to move towards a Precision.Thank god better judgement prevailed.My question is,does anyone play primarily blues based music with a Ric? Thanks in advance for any insight.

YES, I do and 60's and 70's classic/hard rock.

12 bar blues, swing, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Hendrix, Trower, Guns and Roses, Metalica, Who, Stones,Deep Purple,Zep and others all get played on my Ric.....

F the P bass. My back up to the Ric is a Thunderbird.

[ricnbacker]

Mark, '

Forgot to say Welcome aboard....thanks for telling us you got a Ric for 3 bills lol


BTW...A few weeks ago I went to see an old friend who I was recently reunited with play at a bar. He plays a Fender J with a graphite neck and active P/U's through a SWR with 6 10's and a 500 watt mark bass head.

I brought my Ric with me cause he had mentioned calling me up to play a few songs if I wanted to.

I did Sunshine of your love and Too Rolling stoned. After the set guitarist was like that Ric's tone was HUGE.....

Although my Buddy is a much better player than I am the comments were cool.

[Tarrbot]

When I was in college (and had my 4001) I was taking classes at the university in the music department. My professor loved the sound of the 4001. We played a lot of 12 bar blues and my favorite tunes to play back then was a lot of the bass heavy Zeppelin tunes which were based on blues scales and lines.

Couple my tendency to play with flatwound strings and it's my preference for playing any bluesy bassline.

[jps]

I have to say,I have not seen anyone in the Cleveland area gigging with a Ric.Dare to be different!

I guess you have never seen Brian Crisman or I, then!

We both have been playing Ricks for a very long time, in and around the Cleveland area, unless you are in Tenn.

[jps]

Mark, tell your blues guitarist he need to play this guitar!!! Especially, check out starting at 4:03.

[johnallg]

I have to say,I have not seen anyone in the Cleveland area gigging with a Ric.Dare to be different!

I guess you have never seen Brian Crisman or I, then!

We both have been playing Ricks for a very long time, in and around the Cleveland area, unless you are in Tenn.

Very good, Jeff. I was downtown Nashville and all I saw in the bars were old beat Fenders - everywhere. We saw the Band that won the Kenny Chesney National band search and the bass player was playing a Precision and in the Wildhorse Saloon with a pro PA and pro running it, the bass was just a muddy one note bass. Wasn't until we got back to the resort and were walking around and heard this great music coming out of Findley's bar that I found relief. John the bass player was using his early 2000s V63 MG and what a relief. It was just him and his buddy on acoustic guitar but what a great sound he was getting.

[aceonbass]

That was some impressive playing. Thanks for the link Jeff! While his right hand technique really facilitated that "Tele" tone, the 620's inherent Ricky brightness really comes through.

[el diablo]

Again,thanks everyone,the Ric community is out in full force.I am in Cleveland Ohio and although I do not get out every weekend,I just do not run across the Rics at bars.On another note,I went to GC with my 4001 to try out an amp and the salesmen were all over me about trading in my Ric.They made sure to show me their wonderful selection of Squiers and Epiphones.I hope to get another 30 or 40 yrs out of her and no more foolish thoughts of selling her.

[jps]

Mark, come on out to Chardon on the 19th and you will see a couple of Rick basses in action at the gazebo. Maybe even this:

[jps]

Most definitely this one:

[guitfiddle]

Whenever I get grief about playing blues on my 4003 (which is rare) I pull out my 4004L. That shuts 'em up very time. That is one dark sounding bass!