Anyone Playing a Rickenbacker?

Great bass. I had one and loved it. I was looking for a different sound, that's why I got rid of it. It would be perfect for classic rock.

 

I love my 4003. It plays very nicely and sounds awesome.

That being said, they are very polarizing. You either love them, or you hate them. You really want to try one out before you make the investment.

The Ric sound is the bass sound I attempt (and fail) to get out of any other bass I have ever played. To my ear, it is perfect. I play in a classic rock band and I get lots of positive feed back about my choice of instrument.

 

Ric 4003 would be great for classic rock. Perhaps a Fender Precision would be even better for that genre. However having played MANY basses through many rigs, I settled on a Ric 4003 as my axe of choice because once I was able to dial in MY sound on a Ric, my P-basses and even my Sterling seemed anti-climatic. Listen to some EARLY RUSH (first 5 albums or so) for a good indication of an attainable Ric sound.
They are very well crafted and balanced. The neck IMO is very fast and comfortable.The case is built like a tank. Try some DR Highbeams and a tube head or at least a sansamp SABBDI for added growl. Dig in hard and be amazed!
But try before you buy because the Ric is a unique beast ergonomically and the pricetag is precious as the tone.

best Regards, Rich

 

I just got my Ric in 2 weeks ago

after years (seriously) of reading about them, looking at pictures, waiting waiting waiting.

All of the Rics I've played were fantastic. You can get the action incredibly low with almost no buzz. The neck is wide and flat, which I love. Flatter than a Pbass even. Sort of hard to compare to anything else though, you'll have to try it. The thing is built like a tank. Its the most solid feeling instrument I've ever laid hands on. A lot of higher end basses seem so thin and light that they almost feel like toys. A Ric is nothing like that. You do have to pay for that however, as the bass isnt exactly "Light". Its not like hanging bricks from your neck or anything, but I recomend a wide strap. Maybe padded.

The only thing I can say that I dont like about it is the square body edges. It starts to hurt my forearm after a long session, but its not terrible. It'll just take some getting used to.

As for sounds of a Ric? Rush is a good example. 'By-Tor and the Snow dog" is a perfect example of that clangy Ric sound with lots of highs. Geddy Lee or Chris Squire used that tone, and that seems to be what the Ric is most heavily associated with.

Dont let that make you think that its the only sound it can do though. My Ric has so much more lowend than my G&L. I could hardly believe it when I first plugged it in. Paul McCartney used his Ric with a lot more lows in it, without it being muddy. Check out the Beatles 'Hey Bulldog' for my favorite example of a Ric's tone. A very full round sound. Lots of lows, but with enough highs to cut through the mix perfectly. Thats what they mean when they say a bass has a pianolike tone.

Hope I didnt write too much. I just got the thing, so I'm still in that honeymoon phase where I can talk about the thing for hours.

 

+1...that is really my only issue with the bass as well.

Overall, great bass...excellent fit and finish...great finger, slap and pick tones as well.

 

I've wanted one for years. They're perfect for the classic rock sound. They've been used in a huge range of classic rock. Psychedelic, Glam, Punk, Hard rock, prog. It won't be a problem.

They have a incredibly comfy neck, I think. The only thing that bugs most people are the pickup surroundings and the square edges.

 

Yeah. I couldn't stand the pickup cover, so last night I took that off. And now I can't stand my fingers hitting the edges around the pickup (Even though I love being able to play there now)

I'm seriously considering one of these
http://www.pickguardian.com/pickguardian/RICBridgePUPlate.html

 

Get a Rick, join the club! (check my sig )

 

check out rush's cygnus X1 for, in my opinion, the best ric (or any bass) sound ever

i'm ordering my ric next month from musician's friend, i can't wait any longer it's eating me up inside lol

RICKENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNBACKER

 

As to the subjects question... no. I have a EBMM.

 

Spacehog's Ric sound . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYxl-4oRu1U

 

"The only thing I can say that I dont like about it is the square body edges. "

Get one w/o the binding. I have 3 Ric basses and only 1 has binding.

 

I have 2 and I'm working on another.

 

Sure! I love mine.

 

Check out Alva's video of him playing Rush's YYZ. The Rick looks good, he plays great, and you can hear that Rick's Rick-y tone.

 

I love that finish on your fireglo, Alvaro. What's up with the inconsistency with the fireglo finishes? some are whiter in the middle while others have a more natural fade. does it have something to do with vintage styling or..? yours looks a particularly deep shade, I like.

 

Ric pretty much says that every run they do is uniquie. So they'll actually tell customers 'This run of Fireglows is really dark' or the likes. It goes for pretty much all of the finishes. My MID seems to be darker than a lot I've seen.

 

Look into a 4004 also. No binding and a nice, contoured body edge. The p/u's add a kick to the low end as well. Love 'em!