What's the deal with Rics?

[bigsnaketex]

I love my Ric. They are odd beasts for many reasons. Mostly because they are very far from a Fender.

Chicks dig them though and that's all that matters!!

[NYCbassist]

Many People expect RIC's to be perfect right out of the box. But the first thing a lot of people do with their Fender is Modify everything they can think of. Bridges, Pickups, Tuners, you name it. They make all kinds of aftermarket stuff for Rics too! As for adjustments. You only ever need a minor tweak of the truss rods on any bass.
If your RIC is perfect in every way but 1 minor thing then change it like you would on any other bass. It won't bite!

[Baird6869]

Originally Posted by NYCbassist

Many People expect RIC's to be perfect right out of the box. But the first thing a lot of people do with their Fender is Modify everything they can think of.

I am not sure I agree....

I honestly don't see many people spend $1500-2000 on a new American Fender or other high end bass, accept a crappy setup out of the box, then swap out pickups, bridge, etc.

On a $299 bass, maybe, but on a new American Fender, nope. Very rarely.

IMO, a crappy setup from the factory on a $1500-2000 American bass is completely unacceptable. Fret sprout/action issues due to temp/humidity changes should be the only exception IMO.

[Lee Bruton]

Originally Posted by NYCbassist

It's all just nuts & Bolts

Ya, too many nuts and bolts

[Kingbreaker]

Originally Posted by Lee Bruton

Ya, too many nuts and bolts

People complain about the classic models being. . . classic.

John Hall would probably prefer to make a lot of modernizing changes that Joe Sixpack would like. But the demand for the classic models is still very high, so they keep producing the 4003 with all of its quirks. It's a catch-22 for RIC.

The 4004 models are very modern. Much better bridge, no pickup cover, versatile HB pickups (although a lot of people coil tap them), contoured, better thumb-rest on the pickups, ergo-friendly. But these never figure prominently into the "Ricks are weird" threads.

[NYCbassist]

Originally Posted by Lee Bruton

Ya, too many nuts and bolts

I admit I was afraid to Tackle the Engine work on my sons BMW 740. Then I dug into it and it was about the same as any other engine. In fact once I figured out the "Trick" to unplugging the wiring harnesses etc. It was actually easier. Just Squeeze and pull & the wires disconnect. Very sweet!

[NYCbassist]

Originally Posted by Baird6869

I am not sure I agree....

I honestly don't see many people spend $1500-2000 on a new American Fender or other high end bass, accept a crappy setup out of the box, then swap out pickups, bridge, etc.

On a $299 bass, maybe, but on a new American Fender, nope. Very rarely.

IMO, a crappy setup from the factory on a $1500-2000 American bass is completely unacceptable. Fret sprout/action issues due to temp/humidity changes should be the only exception IMO.

There are just so many Fender basses around with replacement bridges and Pickups. People always saying the bent tin bridges suck etc... I love the cheap bent tin bridges personally. I love My Ric completely stock. It's all really just a preference.

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by Tarrbot

To some, a Rickenbacker just feels like home. To others, a Rickebacker just feels like ass. There's nothing that can be done about that.

About six years ago, I went into GC and they had a barely-used 4003 Fireglo without a scratch on it for $600 [!]. I picked it up and it had the strangest neck I have ever felt. I just set it back down. The floor guy said, "Yeah, that's why the guy traded it in, he just couldn't handle the neck." That was my take too, so I passed. He apparently ordered it online and had no idea what he was getting into.

Of course, someone immediately snapped it up.

I'm told the necks change quite a bit from one period to the other, so if I can find some more to try (fat chance), I may give it another shot. I'm assuming a lot of this odd profile is due to the dual trussrods.

It's really remarkable how few Rickenbackers one actually encounters in the wild.

[Kingbreaker]

Originally Posted by Bongolation

About six years ago, I went into GC and they had a barely-used 4003 Fireglo without a scratch on it for $600 [!]. I picked it up and it had the strangest neck I have ever felt. I just set it back down. The floor guy said, "Yeah, that's why the guy traded it in, he just couldn't handle the neck." That was my take too, so I passed. He apparently ordered it online and had no idea what he was getting into.

Of course, someone immediately snapped it up.

I'm told the necks change quite a bit from one period to the other, so if I can find some more to try (fat chance), I may give it another shot. I'm assuming a lot of this odd profile is due to the dual trussrods.

It's really remarkable how few Rickenbackers one actually encounters in the wild.

I had a similar experience at a GC in Charlotte NC. I tried a used 4003. . . the neck felt really weird at the nut. Then again, I was playing an MIM J at the time, which about as different as you can get. I had about a six year stretch of no bass at all (ending in a few weeks!) . .. every time I've noodled at GC recently, I prefer the wider, fatter necks rather than the J's. Or, God forbid, an Ibanez pencil neck.

The point: a lot of "feel" is really acclimitization.

By the way, I understand the RIC started a newer, two-piece neck style on the 4003s and 4004s sometime after 2006 - CNC milled. They have a reputation over at rickresource of being very stable. (not exactly an unbiased source !) FWIW.

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by Kingbreaker

The point: a lot of "feel" is really acclimitization.

Sure.

My own preference is for a traditional large Precision neck, so the size wasn't the issue, but the shape -- which felt like a square fencepost with the edges rounded over a bit. Playing a lot of instruments makes you able to go from one profile to a much different one without having a fit, but this thing just threw me. In that I often fret the E with my left thumb, there's quite a bit of lateral movement across the neck profile and this square shape seemed like it would really make that hard.

Mainly, though, it just struck me as an accident of some kind, as if nobody on earth would have made it that way on purpose. I'm still assuming that this wasn't a really typical neck.

By the way, I understand the RIC started a newer, two-piece neck style on the 4003s and 4004s sometime after 2006 - CNC milled.

Consistency is good.

They have a reputation over at rickresource of being very stable. (not exactly an unbiased source !) FWIW.

Yeah, from everything I've heard, it's rabid fanboy central, drink the Kool-Aid or get out, "that wasn't a flaw, it's a feature," etc.

I hate people like that. HATE.

[Kingbreaker]

Originally Posted by Bongolation

Yeah, from everything I've heard, it's rabid fanboy central, drink the Kool-Aid or get out, "that wasn't a flaw, it's a feature," etc.

I hate people like that. HATE.

To be fair, there is a fair amount of candid discussion when folks have problems. For instance, I'd never/ever/no way buy a 2008 4004. There was a critical mass of owners talking about the necks on these having real issues openly and honestly. Sure, there is a lot of fanboyism, but some of the more contributive (sic) members will fully acknowledge the limitations of a Rick.

Originally Posted by Bongolation

I hate people like that. HATE.

Understood. I *am* one of those people, but I try not to let it show in public.

(I have a Rick 360 guitar - nothing else quite like it.)

[ggvicviper]

Originally Posted by Bongolation

Yeah, from everything I've heard, it's rabid fanboy central, drink the Kool-Aid or get out, "that wasn't a flaw, it's a feature," etc.

I hate people like that. HATE.

TB has it's fair share of that too - but we also have many reasonable RIC fans here.

I had a very hard time playing Rics for a long time - loved the look, but wasn't super in love with the feel or the sound. Thing is, I also heard so many great recordings played on Rics, so I figured there was something I was missing. One day, I just said that I vowed to find a really good Ric that I could play, and after search through some NYC music stores, I stumbled upon a really nice 1988 Mapleglo 4003. Just felt right.

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by ggvicviper

TB has it's fair share of [fanboyism] too - but we also have many reasonable RIC fans here.

I know. Believe me, I know. But fanboys really get out of control on dedicated forums. It doesn't take much, and all the "reasonable" users in the world can't shut them up, which is why I think we should throw all the fanboys into the big tree chipper and make the world a better place.

I had a very hard time playing Rics for a long time - loved the look, but wasn't super in love with the feel or the sound. Thing is, I also heard so many great recordings played on Rics, so I figured there was something I was missing. One day, I just said that I vowed to find a really good Ric that I could play, and after search through some NYC music stores, I stumbled upon a really nice 1988 Mapleglo 4003. Just felt right.

I'm sure that makes sense, but it's not really my approach with stuff, especially considering the crazy (as in insane) tag prices used Rickenbackers have -- like far more than a hard-shopping brand new price, which recent buyers here have told me can be very low from some dealers.

If Rickenbacker's moved to a more dimensionally consistent product, I can either live with the current neck or I can't, and if so I'll shop for a long deal online and hope Rickenbacker's notorious QC roulette rolls my way, with no hassles I can't work out on the bench.

Since this permanently ended my ability to do anything but light recording, buying a Rickenbacker is really just a pointless indulgence of my curiosity anyway. I just want a price I can get out of ahead on if I dump it.

[kcole4001]

It's like anything: often people naturally prefer drastically different things.
I never used to get that, and the 'fanboy' sites don't give you any inkling about why others don't share your own enthusiasms, they're very insular places, but also chock full of really GOOD information that you just will not be exposed to on a general or Fender-centric site.

You also won't get the "what P bass should I buy/what pickguard should I buy/what amp should I buy" questions clogging up the bandwidth.
Sorry, but it's a pet peeve.

I consider myself a 'fanboy' but do fully realize that Ricks aren't perfect, but perfect enough for me.

And it's blatantly obvious that they're NOT for everyone.
Nor should they be, as then they'd be as common as P basses, like seeing your favorite non-Fender brand on every stage in every cover band.
No one wants that.

There does seem to be a serious 'brand-loyalty' thing with a lot of Rick players, but for me it was always about sharing the enjoyment I get from playing what I consider to be a great instrument.

[kcole4001]

Originally Posted by Bongolation

........

Since this permanently ended my ability to do anything but light recording, buying a Rickenbacker is really just a pointless indulgence of my curiosity anyway. I just want a price I can get out of ahead on if I dump it.

OUCH!
Very sorry to see that.
A real shame, hopefully it's not as permanent as you expect.
Best of luck in your recovery.

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by Kingbreaker

Understood. I *am* one of those people, but I try not to let it show in public.

Repeat after me: "It's only gear. I am not my gear."

With gear, emotions are always your enemy. It's just light industrial product.

Many decades ago when I was a young guy, I knew an engineer who despised "equipment freaks," as he called them, whatever the equipment was. "It's all just greasy machinery," he'd say, whether or not any grease was literally involved. Took me a while to get it, but I eventually grew up and realized what he meant and that he was right. It's all just commodities, stuff, product. Emotion is inappropriate except as something to manipulate in buyers.

Accepting that is the beginning of wisdom, Grasshopper.

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by Bongolation

Since this permanently ended my ability to do anything but light recording...
.

Originally Posted by kcole4001

A real shame, hopefully it's not as permanent as you expect.

No, I'm done. That was nearly eighteen months ago, after neurosurgery, which was just a grandstand play because I was a musician. I'm too old to regenerate nerves. It's only the pinky and I have all the strength and mobility, but it feels weird and like it's been stepped on after a few minutes of playing. I can record, but gigging's out of the question.

[Floyd Eye]

Well, I love mine. Only met one Fender ( bass) in my life that I didn't hate. Go figure. Different strokes.

[Kingbreaker]

Originally Posted by Bongolation

Repeat after me: "It's only gear. I am not my gear."

With gear, emotions are always your enemy.

True dat

I'd be a Buddhist but for my GAS.

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

Well, I love mine. Only met one Fender ( bass) in my life that I didn't hate. Go figure. Different strokes.

I do like a good P, but never could get along with stratocasters. At all.

[Kingbreaker]

Originally Posted by Bongolation

Since this permanently ended my ability to do anything but light recording,

Man, that's no good - sorry to see that. Truly.

buying a Rickenbacker is really just a pointless indulgence of my curiosity anyway. I just want a price I can get out of ahead on if I dump it.

The trick is to get one that can reasonably be passed off as "rare" and wait a bit before flipping it. Something like an old "color of the year" model. Buy used, sell used.