Buying a Ric Question
 

I have seen that a new Ric 4003 is available and I would like to have it. It would mean transferring it in from another store ( Not a biggie, I have had them do it before)

Here is my delema...

I set a max on my financing account which I have already exceeded. Not a problem because I set my max at 1/4 less than I can afford to pay. But I consider myself at my personal max. For me to get this Ric and not blow my account out in the orbit of Mars I would have to trade in my;
1. 70's Jazz
2. Sterling Ray 34
3. Epi Toby
4. Squier Fretless.

These would make it so the Ric would keep my balance close to where it already is.

I dearly love my Jazz and Sterling but they are easier to replace (down the road) than getting another Ric without having to ait a year or so.

Now I still have my MIM Fender P, Raven West 4 and 8 strings, Squier Jazz (Heavily modded) and 2 Squier P basses

The P bass is in the shop getting a 51 P bass pup in the neck position to emulate the Ric sound, also the Squier Jazz has Kent Armstrong pups and I love them dearly, along with my Ravens, which I would not be able to trade in cause of store policy ( If they don't sell the brand then they wont take it in on trade) and the Squier P's are projects, one with a bad neck and the other with a non serialized cheapie e bay neck.

I understand that I could sell the gear to get the money but I live in the sticks and bass gear moves slow, so by time it all was sold the Ric would be long gone...

What would you do??

You'd have to get rid of the whole list or just one item from the list?

#1. Have you played a Rickenbacker before? #2. Have you played a newish Rickenbacker before? Two huge questions that have quite a bit of importance. Rickenbackers are not for everyone so it's important to know what to expect. The newish Rickenbackers have a wider shallow D profile. I tend to like it but others have had issues getting use to it.

Sepp

It sounds like you are dealing with L&M. The RIC in North York for $1799?

If so, they generally won't take more than a single bass as trade. 2 MAYBE. 4? I would be shocked if they allowed it.

Just a heads up as I tried to trade in a few basses once and it was a complete waste of time as the manager wouldn't allow it as it is against a chain wide policy.

Also, is the '70's Jazz a reissue or vintage? If it is a "70's" made bass, L&M doesn't generally have a clue about vintage basses and you will not get close to market value.

Lastly, if you haven't tried a RIC, I wouldn't buy one sight unseen. It is a love or hate thing for most people.

+2 ^ above two posts.

Ric's are a unique bass, sometimes a "Fender Lover" won't bond with em. I didn''t, till I got a 4004 Cheyenne which has cut aways & contours etc...
I'd wait, but, it's your life.:D

Good point.

I really dislike the feel of a 4001/4003 but the 4004 is great to me.

Haha, I know the exact bass then. That store is such a hit-and-miss affair.

That's the one.

Yeah I would have to get rid of all of them in the list. However what I can't trade they would buy back, but at a significant loss. I don't know if it is worth it. I do know some one with a new Ric, I should ask him to have a look at his before I make any kind of decision

You should not do what you are thinking about doing. There are a number of reasons; one is you shouldn't pay 1800.00 for a Ric. You might have to wait a little bit, but you can get them quite a bit cheaper.

I wouldnt do that and my 2009 ric 4003 is my main bass. If youve never played one i wouldnt take the chance.

Local stores have had Rics in stock recently. There was one I tried a year ago that played and sounded terrific. I wasn't ready. The ones in stock now?? They don't have that sound!!

So I'll wait.

First you should try one before you buy one if you haven't already. Ricks are a great well made bass, but they are not for everyone. You can find deals on them for less than 1800.00, sometimes more like 1500.00. Deal with a place with a good return policy. And maybe you should consider selling some of your basses. You would probably do better that route than if you tried to trade them.

Unfortunately, RICs are very rare in Canada and $1800 is what you will pay. I am a GAS freak and also visit the local Toronto stores all the time. I have seen 2 new RICs in stock in the last 10 years.

Buying one in the US for $1500 and having it shipped to Canada would not be cheaper. Tax would be charged at 13% which is $200 and there may be duty or brokerage fees added.

Defiantly play it first. I do not like the feel if the Ric, they do have a thick neck.

I love their looks, but I admit I am looking for the sound more so. I think I should wait until the mod is done on my P bass, might get me close to the sound I desire.

American P bass pup and a 51 SD Quarter Pounder 51 p bass pickup in the 24 fret position. 1 Vol 1 Tone and a 3 way tele switch. I finally got work the pup should be here in around 3 weeks. So perhaps I should just let this one go, and hopefully my bud will let me try his.

Yes, Rickenbackers should always be played defiantly. Especially when there's a Fender lover in the audience.

:D

That^

Every plucking hand rest needs to be spent flipping the bird!

And make a face!

.

LOL!

Top attitude! Ha ha!:D:thumbup:

I'd hang on to what you have already if you cannot try the rick. Particularly the jazz and the sterling. I'd probably only trade if you get to try it out and decide it really is THE HOLY GRAIL.

It seems odd to me that you are modding the P to sound like a Rick when you can (according to the conventional wisdom) get pretty close already with the Jazz?