Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Went to Guitar Center today to see if they were a GHS dealer--I'm going to order a custom set of strings. [The short of it is, they are, but I have to come in before 3 to get an order placed. Hm.] After I got that sorted I did my usual thing and went to the bass section (pretty decent at this downtown Denver location) and tried out just about anything that caught my eye, namely various P Basses and MusicMan basses as well as some of the newer Ibanez and Schecter line. I sat down with an Ampeg SVT rig and tried at least half of all of the basses out, giving each one a minimum of 5 minutes in my lap. Man, some of them--namely the MusicMan basses--were killer! (Quick aside, anyone played a Big Al? It may be my new favorite MM bass.) And while I had a great time trying all of those basses out, I walked away thinking, "Dang, there is just nothing like a Ric." Even the best of those basses I tried--the Big Al probably--was, while a great deal of fun, just not a Ric. The feel wasn't right for me and the tone didn't share any of the same subtle nuances. Yes, this is just me stating the obvious, but it also reassured me that I had chosen this path for the right reasons whenever I went headlong into Ric basses three years ago, eventually selling off all of my other guitars.

There are a lot of great instruments out there, but for me, nothing beats my Rics.

I played a Big Al at the Markbass booth at NAMM. Interesting with the pushbuttons for pickup selection. IIRC, it was a nice playing and sounding bass; I tried it through a F500 into two 604 cabinets.

I played a HH thru the new TE stuff and it was mighty tempting. The Ric always does me right - maybe the occasional Jazz bass - but, the MM with the TE was a great combo. Then again, a Ric with an Ampeg....

There is truly something about going into Guitar Center that leaves me feeling tainted. I was not surprised at all when Rickenbacker stopped dealing with them. Must have been too many helicopter parents demanding Rickenbacker improve their instruments when their spoiled brat kids couldn't play them properly.

That or Rickenbacker was sick and tired of all the Rickenfakers that seemed to pop up on the used rack .

I own a fretless Dargie Delight II Big Al bass (and a Rickenbacker 4003 amongst others). It's a pretty rare beast. Plays and sounds like nothing else - the ebony board sold me on it. Only the Dargie Delight II Big Als have the ebony board as standard.

Cheers

Andy

If I had the $$$ a Big Al would be my #1 bass. 4003 would be #2. I love my 4003 but the Big Al is perfection ! There goes my forum membership.

VRICKY63 wrote:There goes my forum membership.

Hey, it's a rock solid alternative. I hope you manage to find one for the right price!

Keep in mind that the neck is wider than a 4003, don't you have wrist issues that make that a big deal?

I know what you're saying, Joshua.

For the longest time I wanted a backup bass to my lone Rick 4001. I wasn't in a big rush...So for years, every time I'd go into any music store I'd try out everything I could get my hands on. Later on I'd get home, pull out the Rick and my hands and ears would breathe a sigh of relief! Eventually, I just bought another Rick (and then another, and then another ).

There are a couple other brands that I could use if no Ricks were available. But since they are available, I'm done looking. I'm just a Rick guy. Might as well tattoo it on me somewhere, 'cuz I aint changin'! No other bass sounds, plays, feels or balances as good as far as I'm concerned. RIC got it right.

guitfiddle wrote:There is truly something about going into Guitar Center that leaves me feeling tainted. I was not surprised at all when Rickenbacker stopped dealing with them. Must have been too many helicopter parents demanding Rickenbacker improve their instruments when their spoiled brat kids couldn't play them properly.

Rickenbacker and GC didn't see eye-to-eye on a return policy...it caused a lot of problems.

The GC near me doesn't have much in the way of interesting basses: no Rics, no Gibson Thunderbirds. If I need small things, especially on a weekend I usually go straight for the Sam Ash across the street.

cassius987 wrote:

VRICKY63 wrote:There goes my forum membership.

Hey, it's a rock solid alternative. I hope you manage to find one for the right price!

Keep in mind that the neck is wider than a 4003, don't you have wrist issues that make that a big deal?

Yes. Wrist issues is me. I thought the Al neck felt good. Maybe the "newness" blinded my wrist limitations.

Very good post, and very true!

I had my Rics, strayed, and came right back.

There are some great other basses out there - some of the Jazz basses are superb - but for all their problems, I came right back to Ric.

I wish I did like other, cheaper brands (from a financial perspective), but whatever I tried just always felt like it wasn't quite right.

The 4003 just fits my playing, especially the new 2-piece necks - they are very playable, in my mind as playable as a good Jazz.

Also, whenever I play with different musicians, the Ric ALWAYS gets the nod, and always gets me remembered as 'the guy with the Ric'!

spongebob wrote: Also, whenever I play with different musicians, the Ric ALWAYS gets the nod, and always gets me remembered as 'the guy with the Ric'!

I think a lot of RRF-ers have expressed a similar sentiment over the course of many postings and threads.... Rics have a uniqueness and their owners are indeed, something special.

cassius987 wrote:Man, some of them--namely the MusicMan basses--were killer! (Quick aside, anyone played a Big Al? It may be my new favorite MM bass.) And while I had a great time trying all of those basses out, I walked away thinking, "Dang, there is just nothing like a Ric." Even the best of those basses I tried--the Big Al probably--was, while a great deal of fun, just not a Ric. The feel wasn't right for me and the tone didn't share any of the same subtle nuances.

There are a lot of great instruments out there, but for me, nothing beats my Rics.

If Ricks did not exist, my main basses would be some type of modified P-bass and/or MusicMan bass.