For those who own Ricks, when did you find out it was for you?

I wanted one for the longest time and finally got my hands on one after 13 years of waiting. It was $450, a blonde 4001, and I got it in '95. I was NOT a Ric guy and I knew IMMEDIATELY. To this day I still lust after the look and that awesome tone. I tried and tried with that thing and finally traded it.

 

Rick appreciator, not looking to buy one (at least not yet).
Took about a minute playing one at a friend's house to recognize the sound and feel are terrific. IMO.

 

Bought my first bass, a Ric, in 1980, a used '78 4001. It was my main bass until it was stolen in '89. Went many years with other instruments, mostly a '72 Tele Bass and an '82 Vintage '57 Precision. Then in 2015 I got my hands on another Ric. It felt like I had been away from home for a very long time and finally come back. Now my Precision feels coarse to me. I guess I just have Ric hands.

 

I’ve went through a similar process four times in the past 15 years.

 

Ricks sound nice, but I dislike everything else about them. IMO you would be better off building a parts bass with Rick pups.

 

My first bass, 1978’ 4001, $450 with HSC. My bass teacher had a crappy 70’s P-Bass that felt like a crudely dressed 2x4 by comparison (still does, truth be told). Ergonomically Challenged for sure, but once you develop a callus on your forearm..... It was always my dream bass, always will be, so I built my own.

 

I took a dozen different demos and then “the one” fell into my lap. It’s beat up and needed some tlc, but it has the best neck and after some help from Dane it sounds killer. It’ll never leave me

 

I always loved they way they looked and sounded, but the design flaws are a no go for me especially when considering the price. The bridge issues have been beaten to death as well as the truss rods. Another thing that bugs me is that they don’t reverse wind one of the pickups for him cancelling. I think they’re hands-down the best looking bass on the market, and I like the way they sound.

 

They look beautiful and sound amazing
Especially the 4004.
The neck profile is uncomfortable for my hand and I don’t like the dual trussrods
Someday I’ll build my own with a nice jazz bass neck profile with some HB1 pickups

 

Geddy and I share the same size proboscis, so I picked mine...

... sight unseen.*

* '80 Ric, jetglo... still going strong.

 

I'd never had the chance to play a Ric. Went to our local store to try one out and bought it after playing it for a few minutes. So I guess it spoke to me.

 

Early 70's and had a 4000 model (single treble pup) by mid 70's especially ordered through Rose Morris (Rose Music Aust) I believe it was here in Australia...was a 6 month wait for it even back then loll

 

I’ve been a longtime appreciator, but could never justify purchasing one until someone here wanted to trade his 4001 for a 78 Jazz I wasn’t bonding with.

Prior to that? I’d never once picked up a Rick bass, and I’d only ever handled one Rick guitar. I just loved the aesthetic, and I’m a pretty adaptable guy.

So I didn’t become a Rick guy until after I owned one. But I knew I could punt it easily if if I didn't bond with it.

 

I've had 2.5 Rics, mostly recent- ish years. I say 2.5 because I got 4003S from Musician's Friend that was a POS and returned it immediately. My first was a 2007 4003 Fireglo while I dug the sound, it was ergonomically messing with me. Same with the second one. I wanted that Ric sound so bad I got the third one and was disappointed I had to return it. It kind of turned me off of Ric.

 

I knew I liked it before I even knew what it was... I still remember standing transfixed the first time I heard Roundabout. When I found out what Chris Squire (and MIke Rutherford, and others) used to make that sound, I knew I had to have one. When I got my first real job after college and had the money, I bought the first used 4001 that came through the local music store. I still have it.

I've never been bothered much by the ergonomics (I wear a sweatband on my forearm sometimes), and don't mind the extra half hour fiddling with the intonation if I change the type of strings I'm using. And I love the wide, thin neck!

 

Had one, loved the timbre, hated the neck & the weight.
I'd buy one again if I could find a 4004 that was 3,600 Grams or less.

Apparently the necks are slimmer now than the one I had.

 

I bought my first in 1973 … I liked it instantly … I have been playing Ricks ever since ...

That being said … I hate binding, I hate pickup covers, and I hate mechanical mutes.