Played a 4003 this weekend...

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by Tanner5382

I don't know anyone who DOESN'T take the pickup cover off.

I don't take it off. I like resting my hand on it. Plus it looks cool.

[bill reed]

Originally Posted by Sartori

I don't take it off. I like resting my hand on it. Plus it looks cool.

I also like to rest my hand on it. when i got the bass i though it would get in the way but its feel Ok and so far never got in the way so staying for the moment.

[superdick2112]

Originally Posted by spiritbass

Removing the pickup cover was the FIRST thing I did. I'm with you on the bridges. I prefer the Hipshot, sold the stock one. I'm pretty sure it's still a Ric...

+1
Rics are great basses, but they are not for everyone. I love the sound and especially the neck on my '08 4003, so living with it's quirks is not an issue for me. Bag the pickup cover (and maybe the bridge), add a pickup bezel, & you should be good to go.
I agree with other posters regarding the 4003 vs. 4004 tone - they are not the same. The 4003 has what most consider to be "the classic Ric sound", and the 4004, while similar, has a deeper, thumpier tone with a touch of P-Bass honk & bark to it. My 4004Cii is more comfortable to play, but I prefer the tone & great feeling neck of my 4003.

[FunkRenegade]

My friends' Rics are very uncomfortable to play. Ergonomics is important for me and I don't care how cool they look. Men don't walk around in high heels.

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by FunkRenegade

My friends' Rics are very uncomfortable to play. Ergonomics is important for me and I don't care how cool they look. Men don't walk around in high heels.

Ergonomics are important to most! One gain only that much for being cool.

[kcole4001]

`Ergonomics` is a rather more subjective term than many imply.
A Rick bass feels differently and often requires different playing technique than a Fender.
If one cannot or will not adapt their technique, then Ricks are indeed uncomfortable.

My first good bass was a Rickenbacker, so I`m fully in the opposite camp regarding `ergonomics`.

[thiocyclist]

I don't get what people are experiencing about Rics that makes them uncomfortable to play. Every bass I have ever played felt like... a bass.

[kcole4001]

Originally Posted by thiocyclist

I don't get what people are experiencing about Rics that makes them uncomfortable to play. Every bass I have ever played felt like... a bass.

I think largely it's a combination of body binding digging into their forearm, since a lot of players use that 90 degree plucking wrist technique (I don't, can't actually), and the lack of a positively sited anchor for plucking thumb (I use floating technique).

[M.R. Ogle]

That is one of the nicest looking Ric's I've ever seen. Very tasteful!

[Pet Sounds]

Originally Posted by kcole4001

I think largely it's a combination of body binding digging into their forearm, since a lot of players use that 90 degree plucking wrist technique (I don't, can't actually), and the lack of a positively sited anchor for plucking thumb (I use floating technique).

There's also something about the width of the neck at the nut that starts working on my left wrist after awhile.

[kcole4001]

Ahhh.
I don't get that, but then I've played Ricks almost exclusively for 25 years.
The lack of neck taper is one of the things that I find most comfortable.
Jazz necks tend to start to kink my left wrist.

[Unrepresented]

Originally Posted by kcole4001

I think largely it's a combination of body binding digging into their forearm, since a lot of players use that 90 degree plucking wrist technique (I don't, can't actually), and the lack of a positively sited anchor for plucking thumb (I use floating technique).

Those are two of my complaints. Isn't lower string tension a requirement as well? The Ricks I've played have had very low tension strings compared to my Warwick or Jazz.

I love the sound and aesthetics, but as others have commented, a Rick costs too much to justify paying for something I can't play comfortably out of the box.

[RickenBoogie]

String tension is a matter of preference. The necks are plenty strong, and adjustable, to handle any type of string gauge. I use a .125 (D standard tuning) on my Cheyenne, and it's flat, perfectly intonated, and as stable as I could ever hope. Last set-up was almost 4 yrs ago, with zero change since.

[kcole4001]

I use medium rounds 45-105, at standard tuning I wouldn't describe the tension as low by any means.
I tried the TI Jazz flats many folks rave about, hated the floppy feel.

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by M.R. Ogle

That is one of the nicest looking Ric's I've ever seen. Very tasteful!

Agreed!!! I have one and, coincidently, it looks EXACTLY like that!

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

Those are two of my complaints. Isn't lower string tension a requirement as well? The Ricks I've played have had very low tension strings compared to my Warwick or Jazz.

I love the sound and aesthetics, but as others have commented, a Rick costs too much to justify paying for something I can't play comfortably out of the box.

String tension depends entirely on what strings you use.

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by kcole4001

`Ergonomics` is a rather more subjective term than many imply.
A Rick bass feels differently and often requires different playing technique than a Fender.
If one cannot or will not adapt their technique, then Ricks are indeed uncomfortable.

My first good bass was a Rickenbacker, so I`m fully in the opposite camp regarding `ergonomics`.

Pretty much. My main bass is a Rickenbacker, so for me, they're very comfortable. I find Fenders to usually be uncomfortable, actually.

[1stnamebassist]

The scale length is ever so slightly shorter so I think it may reduce string tension a bit. I played Elixer strings on both my Rick and Thunderbird and they felt tighter on the bird which I prefer. Ricks are not for everyone. They are an incredible well made bass and a lot easier to set up and care for than most people think. The workmanship is incredible though the bridge design is a little dated and the sharp binding can dig into your forearm until you get used to it. You need to adjust technique a bit but it doesn't take long for most. I recently sold mine because it seemed all the weight was in the body and my left shoulder is messed up so I could only play a short time before my shoulder was intensely painful. I don't have that problem with Thunder bird basses for some reason. I guess the weight is distributed a little more. Feels a lot lighter to me. Going for a Jack Casady bass to save my shoulder and they are pretty awesome in sound and feel.

[frapbass]

Originally Posted by kcole4001

I think largely it's a combination of body binding digging into their forearm, since a lot of players use that 90 degree plucking wrist technique (I don't, can't actually), and the lack of a positively sited anchor for plucking thumb (I use floating technique).

Lol to the signature under your post ("I kinda wish that there was some other kinds of basses besides Ps and Js so we would have something different to talk about. -Nobody"), given the topic of this thread...

I used to own a Rick 4001. Sorry I got rid of it now. However, part of the reason I did is that I found the body edges uncomfortable. Of course, I used to wear my basses up high, jazz-fusion style, so I'm sure that was part of the problem.

Shoulda kept the Rick and lowered my strap...

[SRCRS]

So my question is, I have a 4001cs with the horse show style pickup, what's the difference between this and the pickup covers on the 4003's?