Ex Rickenbacker players

[slugworth]

For all you ex-Rickenbacker players. What have you moved on to and why?

 

[Baleen]

I sold mine to get a 4-track. Which was a good thing for me at that point. I wasn't using it anymore after I got my MM SR5 (which now gets used the least). After a MM Sterling, I got a '75 EB-3 and just fell all over the passive experience again. Now I'm playing a 62RI Jazz and a Foto Flame P (which sounds way better than it has any right to). Funny, just last night I mentioned to our drummer how I missed my Rick ('77 4001 burgundy stain). It was a great looking bass. I'd be playing it with flats now if I still had it. I'm happy with my current line up, but I miss the Rick like an old girlfriend that didn't work out, but now you can't remember so much why.

slugworth,
Did you get rid of one, are you thinking about it, or are you thinking of getting one?

 

[James Hart]

it was stolen and by the time I could afford to upgrade out of the Ibanez EX405 I picked up to replace it, I moved into a 5 string.

I will own a mapleglo with black trim 4003 again some day though.

 

[incubus2432]

I'll just assume that you are referring to the more traditional 4001/4003. I sold off all of mine in favor of Rickenbacker 4004's . Traditional Ric shape and tone with quieter p/u's, better low end response, relatively light weight, no finger-cutting bridge p/u surround and a user friendly bridge. All of the best of the original with no negatives (IMO).

 

[Freddy-G.]

My '73 4001 is my old friend. I bought it when I was 17 with my own hard earned money (I was a huge Chris Squire fan). I played it incessently for two years before joining a full-time band for the next three years. I played it into the 80s and early 90s before I officially retired it. The frets are totally worn, but I may leave it just as it is. It has great sentimental value for me.

 

[barroso]

A Mapleglo '80 4001 was my only bass for 7-8 years. I played and loved it so much.
I just ended selling it and moving to Fender (mainly P) since I was looking for a more warm & fat tone.

I also do not like, in general the idea of neck thru.

Said that Rick are really peculiar and great basses.

 

[Blake Bass]

I got a Ric 4003 for my HS graduation present in 1985. I played and loved it until 1988. That's when I really started getting into jazz and the Ric just didn't have the sound I wanted. So I sold it and bought a fretless Fender J-bass.. which I no longer own. Of the two, I really wish I had kept the Ric.

 

[wdinc01]

My '73 4001 is my old friend. I bought it when I was 17 with my own hard earned money (I was a huge Chris Squire fan). I played it incessently for two years before joining a full-time band for the next three years. I played it into the 80s and early 90s before I officially retired it. The frets are totally worn, but I may leave it just as it is. It has great sentimental value for me.

Just out of curiosity, how much did that cost you when you bought it?

 

[Freddy-G.]

Just out of curiosity, how much did that cost you when you bought it?

I think I still have the receipt somewhere. $650 with the HSC. I ordered it in the summer of '73 and made monthly payments for six months to pay it off. I took delivery of it in December of '73. I remember it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen! I then purchased a brand new Fender Bassman 50 watt tube amp and cab. Wish I still had that!

 

[Roger Pounders]

I had a 97 Ric 4003 Jet Glo... Sold it in 2001 (wasnt gigging or playing much), I had a Jazz that I liked the tone of better, Figured, what do I need another 4 string for?. Fast Forward to 2006.. been in a band now for a couple of years. I get to missing the old Ric... So I went out and bought a 2006 4003 Jet glo.... Bought the old one for 850, sold it for 600. Bought the new one for 1200.... Alas..... Live and Learn... If had kept the first one I wouldnt be out the 1450 bucks....

What can I say? Im a dumbass

 

[Folmeister]

I played Rics from the time I was 15 until just three years ago. I had a 1980 mapleglow 4003 and a midnight blue mid-80s 4003. I stopped playing them because I gave up playing the type of music that was best served by the Ric sound. I had an epiphany when I started playing with some friends and they wanted to play lots of Pat Metheney and other jazzy stuff. The Ric sound just did not work for that. I never went back.

 

[MaddAnthony_59]

I got a Black (JetGlow?) 4001 and a Fender Super 100 stack for $500 used in 1978. I sold them a month later for $1200. I never really cared for the Ric, or the fender...I had just bought a Brand New RD Artist, in FireBrand, and an Ampeg V4-B with a GK 18" Folded, with 2 10's in the front...

My Son still has the RD Artist...

Semper Fi!!! (He's a Marine now...)

 

[tZer]

I traded my first bass (Fender P) and some $$ for a Ric long ago... Still regretting that move... not cuz Ric is a bad bass, but because THAT Ric was not a very good Ric and that Fender was a perfectly fine Fender... But that was my inexperience and impulsiveness driving things back then.

I'd love to have a Ric today - but to get a one that is worth while, I know I have to be prepared to drop a few $$ - and I ain't prepared at this time.

 

[nubs]

i retired my ric full time for a Marcus Miller Jazz which has just been replaced by a Lakland.....
I honestly never played my ric very much at all i always loved owning it, but never really loved playing it.....

 

[Fealach]

Neck dive, not enough frets, and after I bought my Mouradian I stopped wanting to play the Ric at all. It still didn't have enough frets, but balances great and the neck is more comfortable. One thing that helped actually was seeing one particular Yes concert. Squire's Ric died during one of the classic songs, and he had to finish with the Mouradian. It sounded much better.

 

[jamo]

I still have my 74 4001 Ric. Bought it around 80, my second ric. In 86 I bought my warwick streamer, which I still use. It was the playing experience that made the differance.

 

[lazyone2]

I played my 4001 from 1976 till 2003 when I bought a Lakland 55-02 Deluxe. I concentrated for month on the 5 string and the long scale differant string spacing and became very comfortable with it. My 55-02 is a great sounding and versatile. The 4001 was a one trick pony. Sold it on E-bay for mor then twice what I paid for it in 1976.

 

[xlows]

I'll just assume that you are referring to the more traditional 4001/4003. I sold off all of mine in favor of Rickenbacker 4004's . Traditional Ric shape and tone with quieter p/u's, better low end response, relatively light weight, no finger-cutting bridge p/u surround and a user friendly bridge. All of the best of the original with no negatives (IMO).

except a neck made of rubber

 

[incubus2432]

except a neck made of rubber

I've owned 6 4004's (three currently) and have never had to tweak the necks unless I made a drastic string change. Rock solid. YMMV apparently.

 

[muzikman7]

I had 2 loved the way they played, never got use to the sound of the bass.