Anything About a Rickenbacker 4003?

[guy n. cognito]

If Bass Northwest sends a Ric back because of a blem, do you think it's possible that Ric would re-ship it out to MF, knowing that they're not even going to look at it? Do you think the other manufacturers do this as well? Just food for thought.

Wow, what does that say about RIC? That's a pretty scummy thing to do, huh?

 

[audiomitch]

Of course it's true. Have we had our weekly "I h8 Fenders thread, yet?"

No one is foaming at the mouth here, well, maybe except for you. The OP asked what issues he may need to look for, and he's been answered.

Personally, I'm not overly concerned with random opinions from others about my current brand of choice. All brands have their issues and their detractors. Spending your life trying to hunt them down and prove them wrong is pointless. I own Fenders, yet I don't get all emotional when someone starts bashing them. Why? Because I know they can have issues and some people just don't like them.

I'm just poking holes in the unreasonable expectations placed on a certain brand of bass. Fender and Gibson get away with murder in QC, Ric gets slammed because of a smudge on the pickup cover (this was a real complaint in another thread). Individual issues are just that. You cannot make assumptions about an entire company based on this small sampling. There are thousands of happy Ric owners out there.

I'm not "hunting down" the threads, they are being presented to me. I make comments, pretty much just like you. If you think I'm being "emotional" or whatever, don't respond. *shrug* Fair enough?

 

[audiomitch]

Oh well, since you're completely clueless to what I'm trying to say, either that or being deliberately obtuse, then I give up.

Excellent idea! You say that these basses cost over $2k in a thread about people buying them for $1k. This is a standard Ric bash - they're too expensive. Puhleeze.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Excellent idea! You say that these basses cost over $2k in a thread about people buying them for $1k. This is a standard Ric bash - they're too expensive. Puhleeze.

Rics retail for about $1950. A few retailers offer sales prices less than that, just like other brands. Most of them are usually out of stock.

 

[audiomitch]

Wow, what does that say about RIC? That's a pretty scummy thing to do, huh?

Answer the second part of the question - do you think other manufacturers do this too? Do you think Musicians Freind will repack a return, and send it out to another customer hoping they won't return it too? Do you think Fender and Gibson send out their "less than perfect" instruments to the mega retailers knowing that the law of averages are in their favor? Be realistic. None of them are saints.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

No. Try Pick of the Rics, Bass Northwest, etc. Get a quote. These reputable Ric dealers.

I consider Guitar Center/Musicians Friend to be impersonal warehouse retailers. I doubt they look at every instrument that comes through, and they don't really offer anything except bulk quantities. If Bass Northwest sends a Ric back because of a blem, do you think it's possible that Ric would re-ship it out to MF, knowing that they're not even going to look at it? Do you think the other manufacturers do this as well? Just food for thought.

Some little hole in the wall shops, who knows of these places ?If someone wants a ric and they shop around there going to see used prices hitting 1600$+ and a list like eaglemoons , not these small shops actually selling them for what there worth.

and if ric does what your implying, shame on them and i dont think they do that

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Excellent idea! You say that these basses cost over $2k in a thread about people buying them for $1k. This is a standard Ric bash - they're too expensive. Puhleeze.

Search Ric in the classifieds right now. Most (and I dare say all available ones) are going for $1,450+ used. You can get a brand new Fender for less than that and not have to worry about QC issues nearly as much. Of course, this is arguing a point that should be avoided. Rics have certain issues that seem to pop up more constantly than any other brand at their price point, and even more so than brands that go for hundreds less. The OP asked what issues are common and he got a list. That doesn't mean every Ric has an issue, but rather those issues are common enough that you should watch out for them if you're thinking about dropping 2,000 bones on a bass.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Answer the second part of the question - do you think other manufacturers do this too? Do you think Musicians Freind will repack a return, and send it out to another customer hoping they won't return it too? Do you think Fender and Gibson send out their "less than perfect" instruments to the mega retailers knowing that the law of averages are in their favor? Be realistic. None of them are saints.

I can't speak for Fender, but Gibson does not. Blem instruments returned by retailers get stamped "B" stock and sent out through other channels. MF does resell returns, sometimes with obvious blems. But we aren't talking about retailers.

So, does RIC really send blem returns back out to retailers?

 

[audiomitch]

Well I guess I'll add this to the list of Ric threads that ended up being a Ric bashfest. Sheesh.

Have fun!

 

[audiomitch]

I can't speak for Fender, but Gibson does not. Blem instruments returned by retailers get stamped "B" stock and sent out through other channels. MF does resell returns, sometimes with obvious blems. But we aren't talking about retailers.

So, does RIC really send blem returns back out to retailers?

Have no idea. Have fun! Bye!

 

[Fishheadjoe]

I feel I gotta jump in on this... firstly, some background...
As you can see from my sig, I have a number of basses from different manufacturers... and as a result, I have contacted many of them for service.
In speaking with the good folks at Roscoe and Pedulla,for example, I can say with 100% impunity, that I was treated with respect and I left those conversations feeling that I was important to them and even more so, my issues were important to them.
I wish I could say the same about RIC! I have documented here, the issues I have had with RIC, I won't go back into that, but, what I do find unacceptable is the complete lack of concern for me, their customer, when I called regarding my RIC. Honestly, the person on the phone sounded like he absolutely did not want to talk to me... and this call was regarding a crooked treble p/u. (It's mounted on an angle on it base plate)
I described the "problem" and was immediately dismissed as being a "cosmetic" problem, so it was/is not a warrantee issues. I was floored... and here's why... and I think it speaks to the issues of RIC bashing.
If you follow any of the RIC sites, you will find everyone from the company president to the lowly bedroom player talking about how wonderful their RICS are and how beautiful they look and the "quality American made" etc... but we the customer are not finding that to be the case in a consistent manner. WE have no recourse but to post to sites like this, to make others aware, or to simply let off steam... should we try and do that on any of the RIC centric sites, you are either banned or you are warned and your thread pulled.
So to me anyway, that's why we have what we have here at TB.
I think that what many of the "fanboys" and RIC management should realize, is that we bass player do want to play their basses, we just have an expectation of a certain level of quality, that is inconsistent at best. Add to that the company's approach to the internet, then customer service and frankly, I am surprised that they get off as lightly as they do!
Fishheadjoe

 

[lazerbrains]

.........If you follow any of the RIC sites, you will find everyone from the company president to the lowly bedroom player talking about how wonderful their RICS are and how beautiful they look and the "quality American made" etc... but we the customer are not finding that to be the case in a consistent manner.........

My 2¢.....

My 2009 4003 is a gorgeous, well-made bass. It has an impeccable finish and build quality that shows extreme attention to detail. It is the nicest quality production bass I have owned. Although it is the only Ric I have personally owned, I have played many of them - and tried out many more in shops over the years. While I have experienced variance in neck size, I have never noticed flaws in build quality in any of the ones I have tried - every one I have ever held was a remarkably beautiful and quality instrument - impressively so. (I cannot say the same for Fender basses, FWIW.) So, "as a customer", my personal experience is that Ric DOES create "quality American made basses in a consistent manner".

Unless I am misunderstanding you, you are making claims that "Rics quality is inconsistent" based on ONE bass which has a "slightly crooked treble PU"? Have you really played other Rics which had problems? If so, then why did you order one if they are so bad or inconsistent?

If yours is bad, it is under warranty. Take it back to the store you bought it from and get them to deal with Ric to get you a different one. That seems like the logical thing to do for just about any defective product - take it back to the store for exchange or refund.

 

[Ric5]

I feel I gotta jump in on this... firstly, some background...
As you can see from my sig, I have a number of basses from different manufacturers... and as a result, I have contacted many of them for service.
In speaking with the good folks at Roscoe and Pedulla,for example, I can say with 100% impunity, that I was treated with respect and I left those conversations feeling that I was important to them and even more so, my issues were important to them.
I wish I could say the same about RIC! I have documented here, the issues I have had with RIC, I won't go back into that, but, what I do find unacceptable is the complete lack of concern for me, their customer, when I called regarding my RIC. Honestly, the person on the phone sounded like he absolutely did not want to talk to me... and this call was regarding a crooked treble p/u. (It's mounted on an angle on it base plate)
I described the "problem" and was immediately dismissed as being a "cosmetic" problem, so it was/is not a warrantee issues. I was floored... and here's why... and I think it speaks to the issues of RIC bashing.
If you follow any of the RIC sites, you will find everyone from the company president to the lowly bedroom player talking about how wonderful their RICS are and how beautiful they look and the "quality American made" etc... but we the customer are not finding that to be the case in a consistent manner. WE have no recourse but to post to sites like this, to make others aware, or to simply let off steam... should we try and do that on any of the RIC centric sites, you are either banned or you are warned and your thread pulled.
So to me anyway, that's why we have what we have here at TB.
I think that what many of the "fanboys" and RIC management should realize, is that we bass player do want to play their basses, we just have an expectation of a certain level of quality, that is inconsistent at best. Add to that the company's approach to the internet, then customer service and frankly, I am surprised that they get off as lightly as they do!
Fishheadjoe

That pickup is designed to have a cover on it. So if it is 1 or 2 degrees off square nobody would ever see it. So if you take off the pickup cover then it simply is what it is.

 

[Fishheadjoe]

I bought the RIC because I like the looks and I like the sound. I had a RIC back in the 80's but was forced to sell it. I took advantage of the MF sale, because I like them. I had to return the first one I got from MF because there were paint smudges under the clear coat and the tone controls did nothing.
The 2nd one they sent me required a fret leveling, a nut cut, buzzing saddle on the G string and a crooked trebel p/u. I kept it because frankly, I did not know what a 3rd bass might end up having wrong with it.
A p/u mounted incorrectly had to be done at the p/u stage of their building process. How anyone can release a p/u which is clearly not correct, into production either speaks to the employee, or the company's internal acceptance of "quality".
So, given what was said above, ie, the treble cover would make it ok, should I leave it on... no where on the RIC site does it say you must leave it on or face the consequences... heck even J Hall talks about how easy it is to take off. The p/u cover is not part of the p/u's design, it's part of the basses looks. It makes no difference to tone.It's not right and most of you know it... I would not accept that from any other manufacturer, so why should I from RIC?
I would LOVE to see RIC get their act together... but based on the attitude they seem to enjoy projecting... why should they?
Fishheadjoe
edit - Ric5, it's far enough off that I am questioning whether or not the treble p/u bezel I was planning on buying will actually fit or if I am going to have to "customize" it because someone at RIC either can't see straight or simply doesn't care!

 

[Floyd Eye]

I have a 74' 4001 which I love. I have heard a lot of stories about Ric QC since JH took the helm, but having never owned a new one I can't speak to it personally. I do have a friend that bought a new one which arrived with bent tuners. He still has them because Ric would not allow him to ship the tuners for replacement. They wanted him to ship the entire bass back, at his expense, which he was unwilling to do.

 

[lazerbrains]

The 2nd one they sent me required a fret leveling, a nut cut, buzzing saddle on the G string and a crooked trebel p/u. I kept it because frankly, I did not know what a 3rd bass might end up having wrong with it.

All those problems yet you decided to keep it? Seems like the only one to blame is yourself here. You certainly could have exchanged it for a good one. Hard to feel sorry for you when you made the choice not to exchange, and then complain about it.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

All those problems yet you decided to keep it? Seems like the only one to blame is yourself here. You certainly could have exchanged it for a good one. Hard to feel sorry for you when you made the choice not to exchange, and then complain about it.

He lives in canada , thats not so easy.


So 2 rics came with flaws , so the 3rd ric is the charm?

The thing he is saying at this price point why should he have to exchange it?

 

[aztomr]

I play a 1999 4003, had it for a lttle more than a year, I think. I had one issue, the neck pick up has pole pieces that stick up a little, I have a heavy right hand and would ground out the strings on the pick up, making an annoying click sound. I didn't lower the pick up because thats where my thumb sits. A piece of electric tape solved the problem. Its the greatest bass I've ever owned, nothing is a close second. My only regret is waiting so long to get one......

 

[Fishheadjoe]

All those problems yet you decided to keep it? Seems like the only one to blame is yourself here. You certainly could have exchanged it for a good one. Hard to feel sorry for you when you made the choice not to exchange, and then complain about it.

Should I have rolled the dice and tried for a third? There is more to the story than simply returning it and given that this thread is not about me or my RIC troubles, I have not included them so as to not hi-jack this thread any more than I have.
Suffice to say that given my location and the costs of shipping and borkerage/taxes, keeping it was the lesser of two evils... plus, should I finnaly get fed up, I can sell it locally for much more than I paid for it.
Fishheadjoe

 

[lazerbrains]

Yes, you should have exchanged it - it obviously has problems. It sounds like you want a good Rickenbacker so why didn't you send it back to exchange it for a good one? Maybe you just want something to complain about? Or do you really want a good one? If so, exchange it. Do you really think that we are all making this up that we have high quality Rics? No, we are not. You apparently got very unlucky and got two duds in a row - I have never seen a dud ric so I can just assume you got very unlucky. Talk to the store and tell them to INSPECT the third one before sending it out - tell them about your run of bad luck with the exchanges. If you simply keep it, you really can only blame yourself when you have every right for an exchange. It sucks to have to do this, I know - I had the same problem with a Mercedes I bought new - it was a very expensive car (also known for quality I might add). Mine had a very significant flaw - I had to take it back three times to get it fixed. Should I have just "lived with it" - and then complained on forums about how crappy Mercedes are made? No. I wanted a nice Mercedes and I kept on the dealer until the major problem was corrected.