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Do Rics suck?
- Thread starter Matt Till
- Start date
I love my 1981 Ric 4003.
Arbitrary is borrowing it right now, but I miss it. It has fantastic tone. Nothing else growls like a Ric.
If you don't like 'em, don't get one. It is very much a love it/hate it bass. I've owned mine for 20 years, and never regretted buying it for a second.
Arbitrary is borrowing it right now, but I miss it. It has fantastic tone. Nothing else growls like a Ric.
If you don't like 'em, don't get one. It is very much a love it/hate it bass. I've owned mine for 20 years, and never regretted buying it for a second.
I have owned so many basses; I waited 35 yrs. to buy the 4003, which I love. I had 2 Ric copies, they would not handle the Loud, Heavy metal; but the 4003 does. I think people are generally Scared of the tonal capabilities of a Ric. All it takes is Listening to the tone, unplugged. Pay close attention to the tone and sustain, before you plug it in. That will tell you how to set your EQ as soon as you plug it in. Cream of the crop! Used it to play Polkas to Bach.
Back in the early '70s, I wanted a blue one, real bad. Now I don't want one at all. But I wouldn't say they suck. Well ... I would if they did, but I just don't know.
I had one in the early 80's and I remember it to be a great bass. I have not played one in quite some time but would like to have one in the family...
My first "real" bass was a Ric ( I was Geddy fan) in 1985. I sold it a year later after I got into jazz and fusion. I went to a Fender J-bass and about 20 other basses since then. But I haven't missed the Ric at all. They're just not versatile enough for a wide variety of music. IMO
I remember back in 1978, I was lucky enough to get a new Jetglo 4001. The bass played like a dream. It had a killer bottom end and had the most unique (and usable tones) when played with the thumb (not slapping) and with a pick.
But it never had a real clank (raspy,stinging metallic stringy personality with plenty of bottom end) like Chris Squires.
I could emulate the tone of the bass player in 10cc (Gouldman) & that of the bass in Atlanta Rhythm Section (Goddard) which were excellent tones, but no clank!
I loved that bass, but I sold it about 10 years later because of my quest for the "clank".
I have played a lot of ricks since and I found that the ones with the unbound bodies & necks (4001s, 4003s, v63 & cs) to have more clank than the fancy bound ones.
I also reckon the old ricks (such as the 4001s & 1999 import model) had single truss rods..... I think this contrbutes to the "clank"
I read the "Guitar" article interview with Chris Squire where he said that his rick had its body and neck shaved down (decreasing the weight of the instrument).
This inspired me to build my own rick. I bought a genuine Rick soap bar neck pickup and horseshoe some time ago (when you could actually buy a horseshoe pickup from Rickenbacker).
I tried to shave down the body and neck and used a single truss rod (ala CS). I also did not use a standard Rick bridge and decided to use an orignal Badass one (ala Geddy Lee).
I was rewarded with the 'clank' (but lacking slightly the supurb bottom end that Chris Squire also gets)
However, it remains the best Rick I ever played.
I wonder how many of you people have gotten a decent grinding clank from your bound body and neck Ricks.
Just wondering if anybody else has made the same observations.
I still love ricks to death, but can afford the real thing
I would love to hear your feedback.
But it never had a real clank (raspy,stinging metallic stringy personality with plenty of bottom end) like Chris Squires.
I could emulate the tone of the bass player in 10cc (Gouldman) & that of the bass in Atlanta Rhythm Section (Goddard) which were excellent tones, but no clank!
I loved that bass, but I sold it about 10 years later because of my quest for the "clank".
I have played a lot of ricks since and I found that the ones with the unbound bodies & necks (4001s, 4003s, v63 & cs) to have more clank than the fancy bound ones.
I also reckon the old ricks (such as the 4001s & 1999 import model) had single truss rods..... I think this contrbutes to the "clank"
I read the "Guitar" article interview with Chris Squire where he said that his rick had its body and neck shaved down (decreasing the weight of the instrument).
This inspired me to build my own rick. I bought a genuine Rick soap bar neck pickup and horseshoe some time ago (when you could actually buy a horseshoe pickup from Rickenbacker).
I tried to shave down the body and neck and used a single truss rod (ala CS). I also did not use a standard Rick bridge and decided to use an orignal Badass one (ala Geddy Lee).
I was rewarded with the 'clank' (but lacking slightly the supurb bottom end that Chris Squire also gets)
However, it remains the best Rick I ever played.
I wonder how many of you people have gotten a decent grinding clank from your bound body and neck Ricks.
Just wondering if anybody else has made the same observations.
I still love ricks to death, but can afford the real thing
I would love to hear your feedback.
No
John Hall is a pretty cool guy also..
How often does a CEO read customer's forums and make changes to the line to suit them(thin necks and vintage tone switch), and manage to answer questions from his customers? - he's a regular on Link Removed, and he's on their(Ric's) home forum too..
I recently lost the key to my case, for example:
http://www.rickresource.com/discus/messages/5/128677.html?1164999232
My 4003 sounds great, and I've had it for over a year - it's past the "wow" period now, and I still love the way it sounds.
Great company, imo
John Hall is a pretty cool guy also..
How often does a CEO read customer's forums and make changes to the line to suit them(thin necks and vintage tone switch), and manage to answer questions from his customers? - he's a regular on Link Removed, and he's on their(Ric's) home forum too..
I recently lost the key to my case, for example:
http://www.rickresource.com/discus/messages/5/128677.html?1164999232
My 4003 sounds great, and I've had it for over a year - it's past the "wow" period now, and I still love the way it sounds.
Great company, imo
Rics DO NOT Suck..... IMO....But, I took this route to cover the "tonal" spectrum:
Seriously, these two just about do it all.....at least for me....
Seriously, these two just about do it all.....at least for me....
Most people who don't like Ric's , say it's because of the price.
Well if you want exclusivity you gotta pay a little more.
I've owned mine since the 70's and it suits my limited ability and the music I love to play perfectly.
so No . they do not suck , unless you can't afford them
Well if you want exclusivity you gotta pay a little more.
I've owned mine since the 70's and it suits my limited ability and the music I love to play perfectly.
so No . they do not suck , unless you can't afford them
Since the introduction of the original single-pickup model 4000 bass in the '50s, they've always had double truss rods.
The key is to have low action and just play hard.
Never liked em personally - 
The ones have have played have been too thick necked and too fat fretted for my taste, but hey, to each his own, eh?
The ones have have played have been too thick necked and too fat fretted for my taste, but hey, to each his own, eh?
I play one that belongs to a friend. It has it's own sound for sure. Not really my thing. If you like the sound, they are well made and rock solid. They look heavier than they actually are, at least in the case of the one I play. They need an extra string for me too
I've played one for better that 15yrs and I love it!
That being said, a lot of bass players who have sat in with my band just for kicks do not love it. I find the pickup cover to be very comfortable and use it to rest my hand on. She's definitely built for comfort. Others find the P/U cover to be in the way and it causes them great consternation.
The tone is the thing I love the most however. It's the core of my sound. I've tried to get that tone out of other basses, but it just can't be done.
Is a Ric for everyone?? No.
Would I trade it for a Fender? No way!
That being said, a lot of bass players who have sat in with my band just for kicks do not love it. I find the pickup cover to be very comfortable and use it to rest my hand on. She's definitely built for comfort. Others find the P/U cover to be in the way and it causes them great consternation.
The tone is the thing I love the most however. It's the core of my sound. I've tried to get that tone out of other basses, but it just can't be done.
Is a Ric for everyone?? No.
Would I trade it for a Fender? No way!
I don't think they suck, I think they're pretty neat! I'll admit that they are limited basses, you're not going to be getting great slap tones out of one any time soon (imo, YMMV) but they are awesome for rock tones, especially fingerstyle. And for $1100, they're not too pricey either. You could do a lot worse!
