Ric 4003 NBD Letdown

[bassgod0dmw]

Originally Posted by Pbass4003

Thanks guys.

I got a deal in the works at PotR that is making me feel a lot better about the brand. Chris is such a cool guy.

I also called about ggvicviper's '88 over a 30th St. A little out of my budget, but I'll check it out if I have time. Sounds cool!

Good call with POTR. Chris is awesome. I can't recommend them highly enough. He went above and beyond when I bought mine, and it came exactly as I expected it to.

Since you're local to them, it will only take a few days max to get it in your hands. They're right outside of Cherry Hill....

The 88' at 30th is pretty sweet too, but they seemed to be more interested in keeping it hanging on the wall rather than actually selling it when I spoke with them about it. Had they been willing to deal, the bass that's been hanging on their wall since August would have been mine.

[RhynoRock]

I bought my 4003 back in '02 and it was ridiculously out of whack. But, thanks to naivety and eagerness to own a Ric, I kept it and played it anyway, not knowing at the time that it desperately needed some surgery. After several years of having shops tweak it with no results, I took it to a luthier up in Buffalo, told them what I wanted to do with it, and within a week it was perfect. Set up for low tuning with standard Rotosound 66's, and the strings were just a few thousandths away from the frets. They had to iron the neck and work it from there, crowned the frets, filed and re-seated the nut. The neck kept twisting and bending all over the place, someone suggested I may have bought a bass that had neck wood that wasn't cured properly. Cost about $250 for all the work, but It's excellent now and has been for years. Well worth the money spent for a loved one.

[kcole4001]

Originally Posted by Pbass4003

Thanks guys.

I got a deal in the works at PotR that is making me feel a lot better about the brand. Chris is such a cool guy.

I also called about ggvicviper's '88 over a 30th St. A little out of my budget, but I'll check it out if I have time. Sounds cool!

Great to see you're going to get the bass you want.

[Jeff Scott]

Chris is the best asset RIC has as far as dealers are concerned.

[ggvicviper]

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

The 88' at 30th is pretty sweet too, but they seemed to be more interested in keeping it hanging on the wall rather than actually selling it when I spoke with them about it. Had they been willing to deal, the bass that's been hanging on their wall since August would have been mine.

That's really a shame. Maybe you should factor that into trying to negotiate...

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

Chris and a few friends hanging out, together!

Anyone else think the white Ric with the black pickguard is crazy good looking?

[kcole4001]

It's got a black headstock too.
Never seen that before.

[ShoeManiac]

Originally Posted by Pbass4003

Thanks guys.

I got a deal in the works at PotR that is making me feel a lot better about the brand. Chris is such a cool guy.

I also called about ggvicviper's '88 over a 30th St. A little out of my budget, but I'll check it out if I have time. Sounds cool!

I met the Pick of the Ricks guy at a Guitar Show outside of Philly, and they were definitely very cool. I've been thinking about pulling the trigger on a 4003 for a couple of years now, and when I do I'll either go through them or my longtime standby, Alto Music. Since PotR gets more Rick stock than Alto, I'll probably go with PotR. And I'm very glad to hear that PotR is doing right by you.

[A-Step-Towards]

So you got 3 rics from them and all were returned? sorry to hear that. As I said earlier I got 2 of the MID blue rics during a blowout in august 2011. The first had major flaws, nut seated pretty bad like yours, huge tail lift, bridge pitting issues, binding yellowed. It went back, the 2nd one I got in exchange was nice but not perfect. I sold it months later.

I called musiciansfriend in December 2011 and actually got them to send me a Mapleglo for $1080, I wasnt rude but was upfront abotu what I paid for other ones from them. That one I still have, I baby it and its pretty much perfection, except someone may call a little piece of dark grain in the wood on the back, I call it a birth mark. Its the best bass I have ever played and I can play it with so much ease.

I also had a used ric in that time frame that didnt speak to me, so in summary it took 4 Ric's to find my one.

[thiocyclist]

Originally Posted by kcole4001

It's got a black headstock too.
Never seen that before.

Chris Brubeck's Ric... but that one has frets.

[NYCbassist]

I just spent 3 hours jamming on My 2012 RIC 4003. I think I'm in heaven. I play it every day and yes My Fender Jag is easier for me to play because I'm used to it. My Ric takes more/different Right hand strength. The less I think about it, the easier it gets. I can feel my right arm pumping up and I mostly end up with my right thumb nail anchored on the top of the Scratch guard. I can play equally fast on my RIC as My Fenders. I can Groove equally well on both also. I got very luck because My Action is spectacular right out of the box. Thanks so Much to Rickenbacker for building this gorgeous bass for me.

[Pbass4003]

Originally Posted by NYCbassist

I just spent 3 hours jamming on My 2012 RIC 4003. I think I'm in heaven. I play it every day and yes My Fender Jag is easier for me to play because I'm used to it. My Ric takes more/different Right hand strength. The less I think about it, the easier it gets. I can feel my right arm pumping up and I mostly end up with my right thumb nail anchored on the top of the Scratch guard. I can play equally fast on my RIC as My Fenders. I can Groove equally well on both also. I got very luck because My Action is spectacular right out of the box. Thanks so Much to Rickenbacker for building this gorgeous bass for me.

After Christmas, Chris at PotR is shipping my new fireglo with a custom setup to my specs. I can't wait. You're experience is just what I needed to hear. Any pics to quench my excitement?

Merry Christmas!

[bobalu]

Originally Posted by thiocyclist

Nuts are cut extra high on almost all basses I play, this is because it's better for it to be too high than too low.

Of the I don't know how many basses I've had over the years (Fender, EBMM, Rickenbacker, Squier, Sterling by Music Man, Cort, Yamaha and Ibanez), I've never had to cut down a nut. Ever. I've seen this excuse too many times now. No, it's not better to be too high. It's better to be done "properly" in the first place. This is a cop out for any manufacturer to save cost and time by not properly finishing the guitar or bass in the first place. String height/action is adjusted through the truss rod and bridge, not the nut (if its cut properly in the first place). This is nothing but shoddy and lazy craftsmanship, period.

BTW, I own a 4003 (2011) and no, I didn't have to re-cut the nut. With respect, and for whatever reason, Rickenbacker (and Gibson now as well) can't seem to match the manufacturing quality of stuff coming out of Indonesia, Mexico, Korea and China. Ask the Detroit big three how well that worked out for them.............

[FretlessMainly]

Originally Posted by bobalu

I've seen this excuse too many times now. No, it's not better to be too high. It's better to be done "properly" in the first place.

You had me until you used the word properly. At that point, you ventured into subjectivity. Personally, I like high action at the nut, as well as across the fingerboard.

So, you need to rethink what properly means in the context of all of us, not just you.

[bobalu]

Originally Posted by FretlessMainly

You had me until you used the word properly. At that point, you ventured into subjectivity. Personally, I like high action at the nut, as well as across the fingerboard.

So, you need to rethink what properly means in the context of all of us, not just you.

Nope, sorry. There is an optimal string height at the nut that any "mass" manufacturer (except Rickenbacker, apparently) will set their instrument up for. Not subjective at all. That's what I mean by "properly". Ask a luthier. A custom instrument is a different story.

[NYCbassist]

Originally Posted by Pbass4003

After Christmas, Chris at PotR is shipping my new fireglo with a custom setup to my specs. I can't wait. You're experience is just what I needed to hear. Any pics to quench my excitement?

Merry Christmas!

I will post some when I wake back up later today. Just keep in mind that RIC's take just a little getting used to. They play, Feel and sound different than most other basses IMO. Enjoy your FG and I'll Pm you some Pics as well as post them here.

Cheers and Merry Christmas:
Gerry

[willsellout]

Originally Posted by bobalu

Nope, sorry. There is an optimal string height at the nut that any "mass" manufacturer (except Rickenbacker, apparently) will set their instrument up for. Not subjective at all. That's what I mean by "properly". Ask a luthier. A custom instrument is a different story.

Although I don't disagree with you in regards to a proper setup, the term "proper" is subjective to each person, and each bass guitar. There are specs that many manufacturers use as a baseline. Those specs don't equal "optimal" however.

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by bobalu

Nope, sorry. There is an optimal string height at the nut that any "mass" manufacturer (except Rickenbacker, apparently) will set their instrument up for. Not subjective at all. That's what I mean by "properly". Ask a luthier. A custom instrument is a different story.

No - the nuts on most new instruments are more or less just rough cut and are intended to be filed down as part of the setup. This is usually done to keep manufacturing costs down, since, as you probably know, getting the nut slots where you want them is a delicate operation that can take quite a while even with the right tools.

Carvin does do an initial setting on the nut out of the box though. On both my bunnies, the nut slots were nearly perfect. The 4 I didn't have to do anything further on and the 6 only required a couple of swipes with my files on one or two of the slots.

But that's the only case where I haven't gotten a way-too-high nut on a new instrument. So I've finally concluded that that's not a factory defect; you have to file the nut to suit yourself...

I've never seen a factory new Rick with anything other than a mile-high nut. Again, doesn't appear to be a defect, just needs a setup.

As for the nut height itself, there's more or less an optimum setting to start with, but the final figure is a personal preference. I like mine right at the fingerboard if possible, but I'm too unskilled to get it that close without going that one or two swipes too far and getting a buzzy open string. So I usually stop a little above that and call it good.

I've seen guys play with the nuts as-is the entire time they own their basses. I have no idea why you'd want the nut 800 miles high, but they like it that way.....

LS

[Tarrbot]

Originally Posted by bobalu

Of the I don't know how many basses I've had over the years (Fender, EBMM, Rickenbacker, Squier, Sterling by Music Man, Cort, Yamaha and Ibanez), I've never had to cut down a nut. Ever. I've seen this excuse too many times now. No, it's not better to be too high. It's better to be done "properly" in the first place. This is a cop out for any manufacturer to save cost and time by not properly finishing the guitar or bass in the first place. String height/action is adjusted through the truss rod and bridge, not the nut (if its cut properly in the first place). This is nothing but shoddy and lazy craftsmanship, period.

BTW, I own a 4003 (2011) and no, I didn't have to re-cut the nut. With respect, and for whatever reason, Rickenbacker (and Gibson now as well) can't seem to match the manufacturing quality of stuff coming out of Indonesia, Mexico, Korea and China.

I think you're being a bit obtuse or myopic of both on this. String height is affected by the nut. It is adjusted how you say but you're stating how you like your nut and thus string height. Joe down the street may like his higher than you.

The company appears to be making the nuts where you can cut them down to your liking. It's not like they are cutting them down small. If you just bought a bass and wanted the nut higher, you'd be on talkbass bitching that they cut them down too much.

It seems no one can be satisfied. I just don't get the complaint when it is a very minor adjustment and done to help the end user since cutting it down too far would require the few who like it higher to have to buy an entirely new nut... on a brand new bass.

How is that better?

Ask the Detroit big three how well that worked out for them.............

Seriously? Yeah, I'd go for the fact that you're both obtuse and myopic. Detroit hasn't made crap cars on the scale you're talking about for at least 30 years. I'll put my Lincoln up against anything anyone wants to compare. Any day. Or a Cadillac. Or even a Chevy pickup or a Ford Focus.

Blind much?

You're probably being blinded by the fact that Detroit has UNIONS that increase manufacturing costs which is why two companies required some financial help.

Financial help does not equal bad build quality. Logic fails you, apparently. Or facts. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

[NYCbassist]

..........For Pbass4003. Best of Luck with the Fire-Glo. Here's the Pics.

[Pbass4003]

Originally Posted by NYCbassist

..........For Pbass4003. Best of Luck with the Fire-Glo. Here's the Pics.

Sexy! Glad you love your MG, she's definitely a looker. You know what, although I originally was GASing for MG, I'm actually glad I ended with Fireglo by default. Although it's one of the longest running Ric finishes, it seems underrepresented nowadays. Aside from Scott Pilgrim and some commercial I saw on TV yesterday, I don't see too many out in the wild. I see JG, MID, and MG in that order. Now Ruby is taking over the red-Ric spectrum, but I personally think "ketchupglo." JK Ruby owners, your Rics are awesome!

Anyways, I can't wait to see how she plays more than anything. Chris is also filing down the factory nut free of charge (which he admits is high) to accommodate the TIs. Can't wait! Also, if I ever get MG lust, I'll just creep on NYCbassist and Gadgetgirl's basses. Thanks, guys! Merry Christmas!