My story

[Sparge]

Back around '77 or so I had a Fender Strat that I never got anywhere with. Friends suggested trying a bass. My family was basically destitute, but I was a spoiled momma's boy. Traded the Strat for a new 4001 Fireglo. No, I have no idea how my mother was able to pay for it. (What did 4001s sell for back then?) I went off to college and had a lot more success with the bass. Jammed with friends, played at frat parties, etc. A couple years later I got married and took a year off to co-op and make some money. Made friends with a guy who was playing in a cover band. He was barely scraping by and had a cheap imported bass. When my year ended and I was about to leave town I realized that with the family and school I wasn't going to have much time for music any time soon, so I offered to trade my Rick for the cheap import.

Fast forward 30 years. The cheap imported bass is long gone. The kids are grown up and moved out. I'd been playing Rock Band with them for years and was starting to get the itch to play a real bass again. I decided I was going to get another cheap import and maybe, someday, I'd upgrade to something decent. I never set my sights on a Rick because I didn't feel worthy. Well, shortly after picking up a Chinese bass on Craigs List, a local friend with a band mentioned that they were looking for a bass player. Even though I was extremely rusty and had never been very good to begin with, I went and played with him some. He very patiently worked with me to learn a few songs. Eventually I played with the rest of the band and ended up joining them. We've recorded a few songs now on an AKAI multitrack digital recorder and are gearing up for bar gigs in January. We're all technical professionals for a living, and music is a passion. We play a mix of covers and originals. I was actually a fan of this band since they self-produced a CD a few years ago.

Christmas Eve my wife found out that her best friend, who lives in Nashville, had been diagnosed with brain cancer. The day after Christmas my wife went to visit her. When she got back yesterday, she asked me to help unload the car. In the back seat was a black hardshell case. Hmm... Then I see the RIC logo. I'm literally unable to speak. Carry it in the house and pop open the case, expecting maybe a nice used 4003 and it's a brand new Mapleglo 4003. Wow. It's a work of art, almost too pretty to play. Turns out there was one Rick bass, new or used, available in Tennessee, and it was at Corner Music in Nashville. Took it to practice last night and the bandmates were pretty much blown away, too.

So, I'm back in the Rick fold, at long last. Hopefully for good, this time.

[cjj]

Hey, congrats on the new 4003!

Great story too!

Welcome to the RRF!

[bartyclue]

Your wife...is a keeper

[Ivan3000]

Pleased to hear about the 4003, and how nice your wife is.
Sorry to hear about your wife's friend.
Welcome to the forum! Congrats on the new 4003!

[Brother Firefingers]

Your wife...is a keeper

Ditto and then some... your wife is most definately a keeper. Well played, ma'am!

Great story... thank you for sharing.


~Tim

[Kopfjaeger]

Now that's a great story! Well, except for the family friend dieing part.

Welcome aboard!

Sepp

[johnallg]

Welcome, David, and thanks for sharing a great story with a very sad side note. Welcome back to playing again, too.

[JakeK]

Welcome, Dave, and what an introduction! I'm not even a bassist and that story moved me. Your wife is good to you! Hopefully, the bass will be with you for a long time, too.

[jps]

Welcome, David!

Stick around, this time.

[Sparge]

Thanks, guys. Yes, my wife is a good 'un.

As for her friend, she's getting great care at Vanderbilt and we're hoping for the best. I'm thinking of naming the bass after her since she helped my wife find it.

[Tigger]

Lovely story, Dave, and welcome back to the worlds of live performance, bass, and Ricks in particular! Very best wishes for your wife's friend's progress – sounds like you have an abundance of lovely ladies in your life, and sincerely hoping it remains that way.

[rickenbrother]

Welcome to the forum, David! Thanks for sharing your story. Treat your lady very well!
Best wishes for your friends prognosis and recovery.

[T.A.R.]

Welcome to the forum David! and thanks for the great story. Here's to your wife and to your friend, all the best. Cheers.

[8mileshigher]

Welcome to the forum David! and thanks for the great story. Here's to your wife and to your friend, all the best. Cheers.

+1