I feel lucky I guess.I had a 04 MIA Jazz and a Sterling HS when I bought my new Ric last May.From the first time I picked it up I loved it and it continues to impress me more every gig.Both the Jazz and the Sterling went down the road because I just didn't have any desire to play them anymore.They are definitely not for everybody and I'm glad they're not.
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cant get used to my rick
- Thread starter Linas
- Start date
This is what I posted in this thread;
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=476600
In his efforts to find a comfortable place to anchor his thumb, he had this thumbrest added to the pickguard (not into the wood).
I was going to order a replacement pickguard, but found myself using it, so I left it. It works pretty good and is an easy fix if/when I want to take it back to stock.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=476600
I traded a buddy of mine some PA gear for the Ric because he just couldn't get comfortable with it.
In his efforts to find a comfortable place to anchor his thumb, he had this thumbrest added to the pickguard (not into the wood).
I was going to order a replacement pickguard, but found myself using it, so I left it. It works pretty good and is an easy fix if/when I want to take it back to stock.
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I just joined this forum. Been playing bass for about a year. Love the look of the Ric, but enlightening to hear comments about how they feel. I've been playing an Ibanez(no jokes please) for the past year. A buddy lent me a '71 P Bass this weekend. Like butter in my hands. If I could afford it, I'd buy it today.
In my experience, Ricks are THE hardest basses to work with. They can sound awesome, but I've never ever got on with a single one I've played.
I've owned three different 4003's in the past four years. The first one drove me nuts. It looked great but felt very unnatural to me. I flipped it pretty quick. After a year or two of thinking about it, I got another one. I got the Pickguardian pickup ring for it. The bass became more comfortable and I finally started to be able to focus more attention on the bass's tone. I loved it! However, I flipped this one to fund a badly-needed amp. My current 4003 was picked up about four months ago. I had a company make a chromed version of the Pickguardian ring for it. I forced myself to play it an hour a day for several weeks. Now, it's far more comfortable to me than even a Fender is! It's my main player and i cannot imagine playing out every weekend without it. Long story short: make sure that you have REALLY tested that Ric and spent a lot of time with it before getting rid of it. You may find that it just needs to grow on you. 
+1 I've owned a few but always had to ditch them. Shame because they are beautiful basses.
I bought a 4003 in 84. I saved a long time for it and even traded in my Fender musicmaster shortscale(1st bass) I thought it was awkward to play but got used to it. Rested my thumb on the E string. In 87 I got a Fender Jazz and the rick collected dust for the next 4 years till I sold it. After getting the jazz I realized how comfy a bass should be No crease on my forearm. I really wanted that bass but it was the most awkward thing I have ever played. (untill I got a Dean accustic)
My 4001 looks almost exactly like ryco's. I'll chime in and agree with the others who suggested removing the pickup cover. I don't think I could play mine comfortably with the cover in place, as that's right where I tend to play.
I've never played a rick but damn they look nice. Having no personal experience this may be off the mark but could it be worth developing a floating thumb technique like Gary willis uses? He kind of rests his thumb against the strings and his movement comes from the shoulder moving, not the fingers stretching? So the thumb works as a mute on the strings not being played but also provides an anchor point.
Just my .02 and worth trying if it makes playing a beautiful instrument like that more comfortable.
Just my .02 and worth trying if it makes playing a beautiful instrument like that more comfortable.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I am pretty sure Geddy rests his thumb on the E string while playing, I remember reading about it in a book somewhere.
To the gear snobs.I played Ricks for the first ten years of playing( been playing for 25+). I had a 72 and a 77 4001. I did tons of giging and recording with both. I usually had to struggle to get a sound with some bottom. But it had a very aggressive tone that I loved but didnt always work for the situation.
On some tours I did, my forearm would be a mess from the edge digging into it.
On some tours I did, my forearm would be a mess from the edge digging into it.
I'd remove the pickup cover and try a different technique (if you're up to it).
Floating Thumb Technique (Todd Johnson)
Floating Thumb Technique (Todd Johnson)
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Yes, she is absolutely beautiful but for some reason i can not get into her. The neck, although chunkier than i am used to, i can work with. Although my P seems so much easier to play. I cant seem to find a sweet spot to anchor my thumb and pluck, and when i play near the bridge pickup the metal ring gets in the way when im on the E and wears on my fingers. Although the sound is killer and like nothing else i have, i just cant feel it. I feel the only reason i am keeping it around is because its such a nice bass. I guess i can afford to keep it, but is there a point if i dont love playing it?
I love Rics ... but I hate the pickup covers, I hate the .0047 capacitor, I hate the mechanical mute, I hate that they don't make a 5 string bass, and I don't like the current fireglo color ... it looks like mecurichrome ... I like the way they used to do fireglo ...
For me a Ric feels good in my hands and I like the sound as well ...
Most new Rics really need a good setup ... the setup from the factory is usually not good ... with a good setup a Ric is a lot more fun to play.
I always use the floating thumb technique; but even using it, my Rics were simply not as comfortable as the Fenders. It's not JUST the pickups. It's also the non-contoured body. Just my opinion, of course...
This has been a very interesting thread to read. Lot's of good information and testimonials. Here's my $0.02.
I bought my first Rick back in 1982, a used 4001. I loved the look but never bonded with the bass. I sold it to a friend after owning for about a year. Even though this bass didn't work for me, I still liked the looks.
Fast forward to recent day and after perusing the Bass NW website about a month ago, I saw a Midnight Blue 4003 come through the shop. Wow was this bass a looker. So, being used to running a stereo bass with my Alembic, I thought I'd give the Rick a try again. As it turned out, I fell in love with the bass after about 5 minutes and made the plunge. I couldn't be more happy with the purchase of this bass. I absolutely love the Rick-o-Sound feature. Being able to separate the pickups into different amps gives you a ton of tonal flexibility. Right now the Rick is my current go to bass.
Bones
I bought my first Rick back in 1982, a used 4001. I loved the look but never bonded with the bass. I sold it to a friend after owning for about a year. Even though this bass didn't work for me, I still liked the looks.
Fast forward to recent day and after perusing the Bass NW website about a month ago, I saw a Midnight Blue 4003 come through the shop. Wow was this bass a looker. So, being used to running a stereo bass with my Alembic, I thought I'd give the Rick a try again. As it turned out, I fell in love with the bass after about 5 minutes and made the plunge. I couldn't be more happy with the purchase of this bass. I absolutely love the Rick-o-Sound feature. Being able to separate the pickups into different amps gives you a ton of tonal flexibility. Right now the Rick is my current go to bass.
Bones
Fair enough. I just picked up this technique myself after someone pointed it out to me. Maybe the OP could try it and it'll atleast make the bass tolerable?
