Fireglo or Walnut Ric 4003, and why?

[GIBrat51]

Walnut. I dislike red a lot. I do have a red bass, and 3 red guitars; but the bass and 2 of the guitars are '70s Japanese Epiphones (EA-250 and -260s). With those, your only option was red - or buy something else. The other red bass is an old Fireglo Rick 330 guitar - and it ain't gonna be red much longer...

 

[pbass2]

When I got my Jetglo 4001 way back in '74, it was either Fireglo, Jetglo, or Mapleglo---so those are THE classic colors to me too, but I'm not a big red fan either. The Walnut is very sexy . . .

 

[Ben B]

Though choice. I agree with other posters that Fireglo is the classic Ric color. But I personally like plain wood bases so, I voted Walnut. I don't have a big GAS list, but one of the few items on it is a Walnut Ric or possibly a Mapleglo that been aged and yellowed a bit. Either way, it's got to have dot inlays. Not sure why, but I don't like the shark teeth inlays.
I really need to stay out of Ric threads.

 

[RedVee]

Of course, if you shop around, there are more that two options. Current standard colors are Fireglo, Jetglo (black), Mapleglo (clear), Midnight Blue (dark metallic blue), and Walnut. RIC recently discontinued Ruby (deep metallic red), and every once in a while comes out with a spurt of "Snowglo" - White - but they are hard to find. In the used market, there are a lot more colors from the past, all documented in the book.

Ox is in FNQ from memory.

 

[john_g]

Buy the walnut and I'll trade you my fireglo

 

[Bass'd on a true story]

The 4003W does NOT sound like the other rick 4003s. If you are going for the classic tone, please get the fireglow. I really like the W, but you need to understand that it sounds different. Try to play one first if you can find one locally.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Fireglo.

 

[Boristhespyder]

Fireglo, because that makes it look like an archetypal Ric 4001. The Walnut/maple combination looks like they succumbed to peer pressure from the boutique hippie-sandwich crowd.

 

[Session1969]

Tough one.

 

[Snibborwocky]

I have the same dilemma when it comes to choosing a color for Ric's. I like both colors and would want both but if I had to choose the first of those two... Walnut w/ maple board completely does it for me.

 

[Spidey2112]

Where's 'Both', as an option?

 

[Runlikegregg]

I love both. The Walnut sounded a little different than a typical Ric to me. Maybe the maple fretboard? not sure, but it definitely had a slightly brighter punch to my ears.

 

[Spidey2112]

Tough one.

Not arguing that one...

 

[flam]

Fireglo is probably my second least favorite Ric finish, together with Jetglo, but after Mapleglo. I have to choose walnut. I like maple boards. My only complaint is that I like the gloss finish. Satin feels cheap to me. I also think it would have been better with black binding.

 

[BigDrew]

Man, I was dead set on getting a Walnut 4003....until I played one. I ended up with a Jetglo and I love that thing. I didn't like the feel of the unfinished (yes I know it has a finish on it) body and especially the feel of the neck. I really turned me off of Rics. Then I played the Jetglo and bought it on the spot. I really like it.

Also, I put Chromes on it and it was ok. I just put on some GHS Boomers and so far I dig them.

 

[Gasman]

I voted fireglo because I prefer the classic rosewood look. For looks that's it. For playability I'd go with a 4003s

 

[DigitalMan]

I voted self-deprecation because false dichotomy.

 

[1stnamebassist]

Fireglo, like my avatar, or what you can see of it. I turned the walnut one into kindling, again see the avatar.

 

[Yango]

Fireglo. Off you go, the decision has been made.

 

[john_g]

The 4003W does NOT sound like the other rick 4003s. If you are going for the classic tone, please get the fireglow. I really like the W, but you need to understand that it sounds different. Try to play one first if you can find one locally.

Never tried the walnut...is it just brighter?