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81 Ric fretless?

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by aproud1, Jul 17, 2008.


  1. Jul 17, 2008 #1
    aproud1

    aproud1 Don't surround yourself with yourself. Supporting Member

    Aug 13, 2007
    Cincy, OH
  5. Jul 17, 2008 #2
    fretlessman71

    fretlessman71 Still beats havin' a job Supporting Member

    Aug 8, 2005
    FoCo, NoCo
    I had a Ric fretless back in the day. I found that Rics don't really lend themselves well to being fretless, but YMMV.
     
  9. Jul 17, 2008 #3
    Ric5

    Ric5 Supporting Member

    Jan 29, 2008
    Colorado
    If I could only own 36 basses what would they be?
    That bass had the frets removed and the finish removed from the neck.
     
  13. Jul 18, 2008 #4
    moomoocajoo

    moomoocajoo

    Feb 13, 2008
    Glasgow, Scotland
    Yeah I always found the idea of fretless ricks a bit of a weird idea but that one looks pretty sweet :)

    Also, how is the finished removed from the neck? :confused:
     
  18. Jul 18, 2008 #5
    Buster Brown

    Buster Brown

    Feb 4, 2008
    The Plains of Kansas back from Colorado!!

    +1
     
  22. Jul 18, 2008 #6
    Jools4001

    Jools4001

    Mar 28, 2008
    Near enough to London, UK
    +1 on the opinion that it is a fretted Ric that has been defretted. The original Ric 4001 fretless had dot position markers and an unlined fretless fingerboard - almost identical to the 4003FL that is still available (Pics are on the Ric website)

    This bass has the triangular position markers just like a fretted bass and the fret slots have clearly been filled with contrasting veneer to produced a lined fretless.

    Fretted and fretless Ricks also have a lacquered fingerboard (I'm not sure if it's actually lacquer or polyester but whatever...) this is quite thick and glossy and is a distinctive Ric feature.

    The fretless on eBay has this finish stripped down to what appears to be a bare fingerboard, maybe oil finished or something, but certainly not lacquered
     
  26. Jul 18, 2008 #7
    aproud1

    aproud1 Don't surround yourself with yourself. Supporting Member

    Aug 13, 2007
    Cincy, OH
    Wow. Cool. Thanks for all the info everyone.

    I've been waiting to get a really nice fretless(you know the bass that plays itself with perfect intonation) and this is probably not it.

    I was kind of set on saving to have Tom Clement build me one anyway.


    Thanks again,
    Andy
     
  30. Jul 18, 2008 #8
    moomoocajoo

    moomoocajoo

    Feb 13, 2008
    Glasgow, Scotland
    ah of course i forgot they laquer the FB
     
  34. Jul 18, 2008 #9
    Throckmorten

    Throckmorten

    Aug 3, 2006
    Central NY
    IF you'd like to hear a fretless Ric, and a very good one at that, check out Chris Brubeck (you may have heard of his Dad).

    Specificaly the Triple Play "Live" CD (there are others, Live is the best for Chris's fretless work)

    http://www.brubeckmusic.com/tripleplay.html

    I think the tone is drop dead on. And it sure isn't Jaco.
    It's great music in any case. You may come away with new recpect for the harmonica too.
     
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