Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

It occurs to me that many local bands are looking for a bass player. That gives me a few ideas...

A while ago I bought a Guild Starfire bass in good shape, but feel it may be considered antique and too wierd for a band thats successful, but still like to own and play it. I really do like the look of the Ric 4003 bass in mapleglow, and with a 2-tone headstocl (dark & light woods) Maybe you all can assist me with a few questions that I have:

1. What can a player, or a band expect out of a Ric 4003 versus a Fender Pbase or Jazz bass? In other words if I buy, and then show up for an audition with a nice maple Ric 4003 & my Ampeg amp, what does that say mostly about me. as a bass player?
2. What is the purpose of a fretless bass, sound and function wise?
3. What kind of sound does the Ric 4005 give versus the Ric 4003?
4. Perhaps Fender basses are the most widely used? Other than the deep sound, why would I want to be, or not be like all the other bass players that play a Fender? (I doubt I will, no offense to anyone, but looking for answers)

I can definately state to any band why I play my Ric 360/12, or my Guild F412 & F512. But I have to figure out what one might say about why I would play the Ric 4003 bass, other than that I really like just like it.

Thank you,
Craig

The 4005 has a woody tone compared to the 4003. To my knowledge, there are no fretless 4005 models, but a fretless 4003 is an option. The 4003 has the more recognizable Ric growl and thud. Of course, I am merely a guitarist, but the 4001V63 and 4005 models make me drift to the bass side. A 4003 is much easier to obtain whereas a 4005 has been off the market since 1980, I believe. But Joey Vasco, Tony Cabibe, Jeff Scott, John Allagier and Paul Boyer are just a few of the guys who can help you out.

I saw this "Fretless 4005 Bass", and was wondering what it is, I think I see a few frets on it:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Rickenb ... 20c93c23e9
-Craig

idealassets wrote:It occurs to me that many local bands are looking for a bass player. That gives me a few ideas...

A while ago I bought a Guild Starfire bass in good shape, but feel it may be considered antique and too wierd for a band thats successful, but still like to own and play it. I really do like the look of the Ric 4003 bass in mapleglow, and with a 2-tone headstocl (dark & light woods) Maybe you all can assist me with a few questions that I have:

1. What can a player, or a band expect out of a Ric 4003 versus a Fender Pbase or Jazz bass? In other words if I buy, and then show up for an audition with a nice maple Ric 4003 & my Ampeg amp, what does that say mostly about me. as a bass player?
2. What is the purpose of a fretless bass, sound and function wise?
3. What kind of sound does the Ric 4005 give versus the Ric 4003?
4. Perhaps Fender basses are the most widely used? Other than the deep sound, why would I want to be, or not be like all the other bass players that play a Fender? (I doubt I will, no offense to anyone, but looking for answers)

I can definately state to any band why I play my Ric 360/12, or my Guild F412 & F512. But I have to figure out what one might say about why I would play the Ric 4003 bass, other than that I really like just like it.

Thank you,
Craig

What does it say about you?
Who knows...
A bass is a bass, meaning what you play on it is important.
That said.. You find RIC bass in more different styles then you do the guitars actually. They are rather versatile, they are at home in jazz, country, rock, punk, metal, ska, reggae, folk, doom ect act..
Here this thread should be fun viewtopic.php?f=2&t=405184
As for a fretless you only need a fretless if you think you need a fretless and want to play fretlessy....

viewtopic.php?f=68&t=406436

For sure, there are plenty bucko bum deals on ebay. I prefer that the seller is a recognized dealer on ebay listings. Then theres an ark of safety. Other than that lots of "opportunities" are eagerly awaiting the money pit.

Craig

This may sound silly, but the best way to get an idea of what a bass can do or not do is to get down to a decent retailer and play one, preferably through something comparable to your own rig. What I get out of a P, J or 4001/3 may be very different to what you get out of the same bass for a variety of reasons, including differences in technique, preferred genre, amp, strings, set-up etc. In general, P and J basses and Rickenbackers are pretty versatile, which may be what you are missing with the Starfire, which is a fantastic bass in its own way.

I believe one other generalisation holds true: Fender and Rickenbacker have very different philosophies - Fender sells a huge number of high-volume models over a wide range of price points, quality levels, and manufacturing locations. Rickenbacker makes a small range of instruments at a single location at relatively low volume within a narrow price range and narrow (high) quality range. As a result, there is no such thing as a "typical" P-bass or J-bass - there is a vast range with varying specification, materials, hardware and quality. In contrast, the only big difference between Rickenbacker basses is model (4003 v 4004) and colour - and now that 4004s have the same neck profile as 4003s, the differences between models are not so great.

As to what a bass says about you, if a band focuses on your bass of choice rather than your chops they're not worth playing with anyway....

BTW... don't worry about 4005s unless you have lots of cash and aren't worried about lugging around a bass worth over $5,000 to seedy gigs...

antipodean wrote:BTW... don't worry about 4005s unless you...aren't worried about lugging around a bass worth over $5,000 to seedy gigs...

I've been known to do that!

jps wrote:

antipodean wrote:BTW... don't worry about 4005s unless you...aren't worried about lugging around a bass worth over $5,000 to seedy gigs...

I've been known to do that!

Hey! With my 4002, I resemble that remark!!!

antipodean wrote:This may sound silly, but the best way to get an idea of what a bass can do or not do is to get down to a decent retailer and play one, preferably through something comparable to your own rig. What I get out of a P, J or 4001/3 may be very different to what you get out of the same bass for a variety of reasons, including differences in technique, preferred genre, amp, strings, set-up etc. In general, P and J basses and Rickenbackers are pretty versatile, which may be what you are missing with the Starfire, which is a fantastic bass in its own way.

I believe one other generalisation holds true: Fender and Rickenbacker have very different philosophies - Fender sells a huge number of high-volume models over a wide range of price points, quality levels, and manufacturing locations. Rickenbacker makes a small range of instruments at a single location at relatively low volume within a narrow price range and narrow (high) quality range. As a result, there is no such thing as a "typical" P-bass or J-bass - there is a vast range with varying specification, materials, hardware and quality. In contrast, the only big difference between Rickenbacker basses is model (4003 v 4004) and colour - and now that 4004s have the same neck profile as 4003s, the differences between models are not so great.

As to what a bass says about you, if a band focuses on your bass of choice rather than your chops they're not worth playing with anyway....

BTW... don't worry about 4005s unless you have lots of cash and aren't worried about lugging around a bass worth over $5,000 to seedy gigs...

Whole thing quoted for truth.

#1 to the notion that whatever bass you show up with at an audition is of any real importance. What you PLAY and how it sounds are the important factors. Having now said that,i only get positive reactions when i pull out any of my Rics for the first time at tryouts,gigs,etc. i have met quite a few bass players who may not personally like them,but i usually get complimentary comments about my sound from the same bassists. If people are going to pre-judge based on those kind of factors (your tennis shoes are NOT COOL,dude...),then just move on.......

idealassets wrote:It occurs to me that many local bands are looking for a bass player. That gives me a few ideas...

1. What can a player, or a band expect out of a Ric 4003 versus a Fender Pbass or Jazz bass? In other words if I buy, and then show up for an audition with a nice maple Ric 4003 & my Ampeg amp, what does that say mostly about me. as a bass player?
2. What is the purpose of a fretless bass, sound and function wise?
3. What kind of sound does the Ric 4005 give versus the Ric 4003?
4. Perhaps Fender basses are the most widely used? Other than the deep sound, why would I want to be, or not be like all the other bass players that play a Fender? (I doubt I will, no offense to anyone, but looking for answers)

Thank you,
Craig

1. How well prepared, how well you play, knowledge and quality of your gear and your interaction between the potential band members is what should be what they think of you as a bassist.
2. A fretless bass will allow for expressions that a fretted bass guitar can't do. There are fretless simulators in some effects pedals that will give you the mwah expression, but it's really not like playing a fretless.
3. I don't have much experience with the 4005, never cared for it, besides being even longer than a standard sized bass guitar due to it's large body, the case is even more of a pain to carry around, fit in a car, etc. I think Jake gave a good the description of the overall tone differences of a 4005 and 4003.
4. Nothing wrong with using a Fender, but if a Rickenbacker is what you want to play, then that's your choice. Try telling a guitar player what brand of guitar he should play. See what his reaction will be. Are you afraid of using a Rick because you might have negative reactions from people? You shouldn't. I'm a bassist in a tribute band in which the bassist is known for mostly playing Fender Jazz basses, followed by a bassist who used mostly Precision basses, then original bassist returned. Regardless, I'm playing Ricks, as both of these bassists did occasionally use a particular Jetglo 4001 that's owned by the lead member of the band. I have answers all ready for the people who come up up to me and say, "Hey you know, you really should be using a Jazz Bass or a Precision Bass".

It is sort of like saying,if you're going to play bass in a beatles tribute band,you BETTER be left-handed.....

Given that there's no apparent shortage of folks who prefer form over substance, if you do get a 4003, odds are at some point someone will look at you funny or say something to the effect that your bass isn't "appropriate" for what's going on. But more often than not, you'll get people interested in both the bass and what it can do sound-wise.

I brought my 4003FL to an open blues jam about a year or so ago and got the hairy eyeball until, you know, I started playing it.

Given the way you asked your question, I wouldn't spend too much time thinking about fretless at this time. It's function isn't just sound-wise; for years I only played fretless basses because I had played double bass for so many years that the frets were an annoyance. Gradually, I've gotten back into fretted bass and play all three.

But a 4003 is probably the most versatile of all of the RIC basses and it really is not the one-trick pony that many folks (often those who haven't actually played one) claim it is. Listen to anything by McCartney from '66-'67 and tell me it sounds anything like Geddy Lee from '75-'78.

jps wrote:

antipodean wrote:BTW... don't worry about 4005s unless you...aren't worried about lugging around a bass worth over $5,000 to seedy gigs...

I've been known to do that!

Me too!