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cant get used to my rick

#63
I went from using my Hofner Violin bass which i had used for 10 years to a Ric 4003.
It was weird at first due to the fact that i had gone from a 30 inch scale bass to a full scale neck,but for the last 10 years i have only used the 4003.For me it's the bass i judge others by,i love them.
 
#64
Geddy usually rests his thumb on a string above the string (or strings) he's plucking. When he plays the e-string I don't think he has his thumb anchored. He wears his bass high so his arm is pretty horizontal.
I can't play things that jump strings with speed and precision with my thumb anchored in one place. I tend to rest it on strings and anchor it on a pickup or the body (or not at all) when I play the e string, so my thumb moves around.
Craig_S said:
Where did Geddy rest his thumb??
Click to expand...
 
#65
Yes, I love my Ric, but the pickup cover has to go!!! Got mine used and it didn't have a cover, so I bought one off evilBay. Had it on for about two minutes. It was awful!!! Who designed that thing, anyway??!! Useless in my book. Should have kept the money in my wallet.
I really love the way the neck on my '79 feels. Just something about it that I like. The first time I took it to practice, it felt like I had been playing it for years.
Also, I find myself moving my thumb all over the place, depending on what the music feels like at the time. Don't have a permanent anchor point, so I just go where it feels most comfortable. Seems to work out for me, but I can see where some would have a problem with it.
 
#66
I had a Rick 4001 in high school and I wanted a collectioon because i loved the action and the sound! I took off the guard and played witout it for years. I went to NYC to buy a 4003 because the 4001 was discontinued--The Greatest mistake by Rickenbacker, they "jumped the shark" on that one! I put $25.00 on lay away and never went back for the 4003--I don not miss it, if felt as ugly as it looked!
 
#67
I think Ricks really suit that aggressive pic playing to get that classic, wonderful clang and growl, ala Chris Squire, etc. If you play that way they're great.

My first bass was a Rick copy. I played with a pick then but when I got interested in finger picking it didn't feel right to me to drape a hand over the hard edges and use fingers.

I played one of the later models a few years ago in a shop and I was really shocked how crudely made it seemed - a great big, fat neck with loads of varnish on it - and a big price tag, of course. Not for me.
 
#68
I usually anchor my thumb in the curve of the pickguard or rest my hand on the pup cover and play with my thumb or pick. I find this incredibly comfortable and don't play any of my other basses this way.

If I want to play near the bridge I plant my thumb on the edge of the pickguard........ of my Musicman Sabre.
 
#70
I've had about eight Rickys over the years and have found that the model #4001V63 are my favorite. the body and neck has no binding so the edges are smoother. compared to a P Bass, for me they did take a little getting used to, but i love playing it. i usually play a P Bass in my 60's-70's cover band, but when a song calls for that distinctive Ricky sound (Beatles, Lennon, Steppenwolf, Yes, Genesis,or Deep Purple etc) i always reach for it. here's a pic of the current one that i have. (their necks can vary in size quite a bit, but this one's is fairly slim like my old 4001's)

rickyv63-1.jpg
 
#71
RickenBoogie said:
They're not for everyone, but maybe give it some time. I had to adjust to the pickup cover with my newest one, all others were removed. Took about a week of playing to get the feel, but otherwise, maybe you should stick with the P bass.
Click to expand...

Yeah, once I removed the pickup cover on the rick, I could anchor on the pickup itself.
 
#74
first of all-johnk,that is a beautiful v63- easily one of the best looking fireglo finishes i've ever seen. i have a 93 v63 in maple which is my favorite finish for ricks. this thread is interesting in that most people don't seem to like the 4001/3 's,and i tend to agree on the basis of the neck and flat-edge body binding-i have owned 2 4001's and sold them because i thought they were uncomfortable to play sitting or standing. i currently have a 74 4000,93 v63 and an 04 4004cii,none of which have binding,weigh 8 lbs each (or less) and are to me supremely playable,even the 4004 w/the wider neck. now,a different approach/technique is involved in playing rickenbackers-for me at least a lighter touch,and i play floating thumb style as well,use a pick maybe 10% of the time.
 
#75
Baird6869 said:
+1.

I was a P bass guy for years and a few years ago started playing Stingrays and Jazz basses. I HATED them both at the beginning. Turns out that they were uncomfortable just because I was used to a P and the P pickup as a thumbrest. Took me a few weeks to adjust and I haven't looked back!
Click to expand...

I've been quite comfortable resting my thumb on the bridge and neck pickups. and then gain i let it hang loose sometimes too
 
#78
I have vintage replacement pickups in my 73. I hate the pickup cover, but the only Ric certified repair/parts dealer in town told me they couldn't remove it, because it was "part of the pickup".

Is that correct or maybe were they just too lazy to do this for me? Is it very difficult? Thanks,
robert
 
#79
I've owned 2, have never played one that I actually like, but still want another. Why? They are gorgeous and some of my bass heroes play/have played them. I almost hate the fact that one day I will get another Rick (hopefully a 5er) and will probably later regret it. *sigh*
 

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