RIC Frustration...

[Ostrobothnian]

I love my Rickenbacker. But the neverending adjusting and unversatility is making me consider the unthinkable: Im starting to think of selling the damn thing.
It´s my only bass at the moment. It gets all the action: The rock, the pop, the funk and all that jazz(pun intended). But I hate to see it getting all the wear and tear from constant gigging. Im thinking of getting an AVRI 63/57 Pbass for their overall feel, versatility and you know, the roughness: Not having the fear of scratching it.
I saved money for the RIC for almost two years. Now that I´ve had it for about a year, im starting to have buyers remorse. Any advice from TB´ers?

[Baird6869]

RICs are a love or hate thing IMO.

I owned a beautiful 2010 Mapleglo that I sold after a few weeks. Lets just say I didn't "love" it.

[petrus61]

Originally Posted by Ostrobothnian

I love my Rickenbacker. But the neverending adjusting and unversatility is making me consider the unthinkable: Im starting to think of selling the damn thing.
It´s my only bass at the moment. It gets all the action: The rock, the pop, the funk and all that jazz(pun intended). But I hate to see it getting all the wear and tear from constant gigging. Im thinking of getting an AVRI 63/57 Pbass for their overall feel, versatility and you know, the roughness: Not having the fear of scratching it.
I saved money for the RIC for almost two years. Now that I´ve had it for about a year, im starting to have buyers remorse. Any advice from TB´ers?

The AVRI'S are nitro finished and scratch and chip if you look at them funny, just so you know. That's pretty tough, having such a niche bass to cover all that sonic ground. I can highly recommend the AVRI P's though. They will pretty much suit any style, IMO.

[greggster59]

I'm curious about what you mean by neverending adjusting. What needs constant adjustment on your Ric?

I ask because I had one for a day that had a warp in its neck that I thought was a relief issue. My tech let me know that if I kept the bass it would be a constant headache. So I returned it and eventually got another. It is a tank. No matter what I do to my current Ric it can take it.
I also find it very versatile in the tone dept. It is loaded with TI Jazz Flats. About the only thing it doesn't do very well is the P-bass thump. But, I find that not everyone can get a tone they like out of Rics so I wonder why. Is it playing style, strings, amp, the particular bass?

[jgroh]

I had a Ric that I sold and then I ended up getting another one down the road. I say, think about for a while and if you want to sell it, do it. You can always buy another one like I did someday if you get the bug. You could pick up a Squire or cheap Fender and keep the Ric for every so often too. I plan on keeping my current Ric for the duration (assuming I am not homeless or something like that)

[bassgod0dmw]

Originally Posted by greggster59

I'm curious about what you mean by neverending adjusting. What needs constant adjustment on your Ric?

I'm curious as well. Once you set the intonation there really shouldn't be much to fiddle with on a regular basis at all.

Also, what do you mean by unversatilty? Between the two pickups, volume and tone for each one, and the vintage/modern switch...they are pretty versatile. The rest is up to the player.

I also second the suggestion to skip the AVRI's if you're worried about scratches and dings. The nitro finish is much more prone to wear than a poly finished instrument. I take pretty good care of my basses and my 62' P has all kinds of chips, scratches, and wear marks on it. They are a killer bass though.

[RickenBoogie]

Color me curious too. What is all this endless adjustment? I'be had 9 Rics so far, and no trouble with any of them. In fact, they stay set up longer than any other bass I've owned.

[Niff]

they're versatile until you don't want them to sound like a Rick. because that is impossible. haha.

let it get a bit of wear and tear! mine is totally beat up and i swear it sounds better that way..

[rickster4003]

If your Ric is like mine I am constantly adjusting it too. It seems as though the neck constantly changes with the weather and humidty. Every other day I am adjusting the truss and string height. Today it could be perfect, tomorrow the strings will be buzzing and the next day the strings will be too high. I guess I've gotten use to making minor adjustments - Rics are like old Porsches, they might run great but you always have to tinker with them.

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by Ostrobothnian

I love my Rickenbacker. But the neverending adjusting and unversatility is making me consider the unthinkable: Im starting to think of selling the damn thing.
It´s my only bass at the moment. It gets all the action: The rock, the pop, the funk and all that jazz(pun intended). But I hate to see it getting all the wear and tear from constant gigging. Im thinking of getting an AVRI 63/57 Pbass for their overall feel, versatility and you know, the roughness: Not having the fear of scratching it.
I saved money for the RIC for almost two years. Now that I´ve had it for about a year, im starting to have buyers remorse. Any advice from TB´ers?

Best two days of my life as a Rick owner - the day I bought it and the day I sold it. In fact a pair of them. I gigged with two Ricks for years and couldn't wait for the guy to come pick them up when I finally sold them.

I still have one, though, and have recently tried the mute on it. With the mute and lots and lots of intense compression, the tone was actually not so bad. So you might have a go with the mute. It helps get rid of the empty clank the 4003 is so well-known for and some compression will help add some sustain.

If that doesn't work, time for it go bye-bye and to get something that sounds more like what you need. Fortunately, the resale on Ricks is pretty good so you won't lose much if any.

My fretted bass is a Modern Player Jazz bass. Only $500 and zounds cleaner of a tone than my 4003.

LS

[Ostrobothnian]

Thanks for the replies guys!

1. The neverending adjusting
I dont know if its the weather here in Finland, my self-taught setup skills or some hostile RIC deity that never makes this bass settle. I got it with Daddario flats and it was fine. I have switched back and forth between flats and roundwounds like twice within a year. I´ve always done a complete setup for every string change. Anything wrong here?

2. Unversatility
Yes, it does have two pickups, volume and tone controls. But to me, it just isnt the "go-anywhere-do-anything-bass". Like Niff said, its unversatile only when i dont want it so sound like a RIC. And that has become more and more common, which is kinda sad actually.

Ps. Im taking her to a local bass doctor for an examination. We´ll see whats his diagnosis.

[mikenel169]

I have a 1992 Ric 4003 and I absolutely love it!! I also play with a bit of overdrive constantly. I sold my spector euro to buy one. Even tho the spector is a fine instrument,and would definitely buy another in the future, the Ric is my favorite

[Immigrant]

Rics are like broccoli. Not for everyone.

But the bad thing is, if you sell it, you'll still kind of GAS for one. I sold mine a couple of years ago and I do. Might just be me.

I say near with it, save your money, and buy a second bass. Then of you find the Ric stays in the case, sell it and buy a second bass.

[greggster59]

Originally Posted by rickster4003

If your Ric is like mine I am constantly adjusting it too. It seems as though the neck constantly changes with the weather and humidty. Every other day I am adjusting the truss and string height. Today it could be perfect, tomorrow the strings will be buzzing and the next day the strings will be too high. I guess I've gotten use to making minor adjustments - Rics are like old Porsches, they might run great but you always have to tinker with them.

These are the exact issues the tech said I'd be facing if I had kept the first Ric. If the wood is a bit warped, and mine looked like it only had too much relief to my eye, they become a real headache to keep set up properly. It is important to get a good one and then, like others have said in this thread, they hold their setups better than most.
The root of the problem, IMHO, is spotty Q/C by Rickenbacker which is unacceptable in a more expensive guitar.

[gurensan]

I've always wanted to have one in my possession for a while. Maybe not own one, but just to be around it and pick it up and play it every once in a while. See if I like it.

[Grissle]

Maybe get a used MIM or MIJ (tough as nails) , put a 62' Fender Original in it and GO!

[marinecorpsman6]

I've had a few ricks over my life time..then had to sale them and hated it everytime....I'm.older now and a little more responsible...maybe...but I want one so bad now its not funny...but I want the jetglo that was the first and has always been my fav...

[Ostrobothnian]

Originally Posted by Grissle

Maybe get a used MIM or MIJ (tough as nails) , put a 62' Fender Original in it and GO!

This has been in my mind too. Ill just have to find a one that makes me feel something. Somehow the P-bass selection in my town is very bad.

[hsech]

A Ric is what it is. It will sound like a Ric, play like a Ric and feel like a Ric. If you are looking for something different then go for it. If you want your Ric to be anything other than a Ric........ it just won't work.

[Mike Yocum]

I have had two Rickenbackers in my time. I bought my first 4001 in 1973 (in Mapleglo, the last month they used checkerboard binding, I think), which got the puddin' used out of it and was traded in a few years later. I'm sorry about that and should kept it. However, it was in really rough shape after a year on the road. The frets were ground down by Rotosound strings and the finish was stained (Rickenbacker finishes seem to soak up other colors, like the red of a satin shirt) and checked. I wish I'd had it refretted and refinished. (The serial number was MF2498, in case anyone ever runs across it.)

I bought my second in 1994, a 4001CS Chris Squire Limited Edition. It's a beauty and I still have it and use it on nearly every gig.

I guess I've been blessed—both basses held/hold their adjustment(s) well and were/are super solid. I love the sound and find them extremely versatile.

But!—I agree with what the others have said here. They definitely do NOT have the classic Fender sound (I had a band leader who asked me not to use it) and I think you'll be frustrated if you try to make it fit that mold. You have to like the sound and so does your band.

They are expensive, so you can probably get a decent price if you decide to part with it. Consider it tuition and try again! Or find things you like about it and step away from the crowd.

Mike