Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

We're in the middle of putting together a hi-quality demo to use to get gigs and to sell at gigs. We got the drum tracks down last week and last night was my turn to start with the bass. We tested 5 of my basses: Lakland SkyLine 4-94, Musicman Stingray, '76 4001 AG, a FrankenJazz with an EMG and Musicman SR pickup and my '69 Fender Telebass. After playing all 5 basses to different tracks and comparing them "side by side" guess which one we're going with...

The Ric! The guitard and the drummer both said it was best sounding of the bunch!

Go Ric!!! Time to seriously consider investing in another!!!

about the only non-ric basses that I play these days are my own home built 5 string p-basses ... I take a 4 string p-bass body and neck drill a hole for an extra tuner put in 1/4 pound sd pj pickups and a schaller bridge ... it makes for an interesting diversion ... but when it comes to recording I use a Ric bass usually a 4003 or 4004 with a low B ...

also when we record we do all the tracks together and then re-insert a clean vocal track and mix it down ... the only time I lay down a bunch of individual tracks is when I record by myself ...

hey ... the ric bass sounds better live as well ...

I never understand what people are talking about when they say that Ric's can't get a solid bass sound...

My '75 4001 rumbles with the best of them. I have an early 90's fretless J-Bass, which is nice, but by far the Ric is the superior instrument. No comparison.

If I had a couple more 10's or a 2x12 in addition to my 2x10 cabinet, I could probably rattle the seismic stations at universities a long way from Florida...

My favorite non-Rick is my jazz bass. It is an orphaned Lakland Joe Osbourne body with a '72A p-bass neck. I built it up with barts and concentric controls. The picture is a bit ****** but here it is.

Hate them A necks. Give me a C neck anyday...

I like the growl of a p-bass once in a while ...



that is when I am not playing a 5 string ric bass ...

The only other bass that I really like besides my 4003 & Cheyenne is my 75 Reissue Jazz Bass. My Lakland Skyline 55-02 is OK, but I'm still getiing used to active electronics and 5 strings.

Lakland makes some great stuff. The Skyline series is korean but the quality is simply amazing. The bodies and necks are built by Cort.

I sold all of my active basses ... they didn't growl ... but 5 string basses rule ... it takes a while to make a mental adjustment ... but if you take the time and put in the work it is worth it ...

I used a number of basses on our latest release, including a CS4001, '73 4001, 4003s8, 4003 (since sold), Music Man Sterling, Geddy Lee Jazz, Steve Harris P Bass, Mexi P Bass, Mexi Jazz fretless, and a Samick 5, which sounds amazing for a $200CAN guitar.

I am very interested in a Dingwall 6 with its fanned frets and a 38" B string, but that one is way out of my league for now. I am also interested in a Modulus Q6, and a 12 string would be useful as well. I'll be using the 4004CII, Shadow and 4003s5 on the next album somewhere.

I don't find the extra string really causes a problem, but I would like to expand the bottom end, perhaps even going to a contra bass, if I could get one designed that I liked. There is so much that can be done with a bass guitar, it is a shame they are relegated to such a menial presence much of the time.

I played 5 strings for a few years, then I just kind of grew out of it. To me a B string would be worthless since both of my bands play original music, and we tune DACG. Actually, for one band we have a few songs in B. For that I use my '79 4001 tuned BEAD.

I don't own any active basses anymore, either. I had a warwick 5 string and spector 5 string for a while.

I've got a '73 P-bass and a '66 Jazz I break out every once in a while. Not for gigs or recording though, Ricks only!

so Jeff ... what did you think of the Geddy Lee jazz bass? ... every single one that I play sounded below average ... but they look wonderful ...

The first and only other bass I own is a Peavey P-Bass - It's the one I learned on and played for quite some time. Everyone in the band thought that it was adequate and provided a good bottom. However, when I brought my 4003 to practice, they (and myself) were simply blown away by the difference. More articulate, more thump, more...well, just more! I still have the Peavey, but now its simply my backup.

The GL I have now is a good one, I had to send the first one bought back due to a bad neck, which is the one area those Jazz basses can have some problems in. It's still pretty tempermental when it comes to climate changes, and the truss adjustment at the body is a PITA. Like most instruments, they need the right strings to make them deliver the magic. I think, like a lot of Fenders (and others), you have to be selective. I use a number of MIM strats, but had to sort through dozens to get ones that have the right vibe.

I'd also like a couple of Peaveys, though the one Cirrus I took home on a trial was less than impressive. It looked and played great, but the electronics were a mess, completely tuned wrong for the instrument. I'd be planning on changing pickups/preamps with these, unless the one I had was just a dud.

I don't think any of these will be added to the collection anytime soon, as there are other areas that I would like to address first, like a baritone guitar or a hammered dulcimer.