Getting the right bass the first time

[Wolfenstein666]

I know how you feel, the second I picked up a Ric it just felt like home. It's an extremely polarizing issue on here, some people love and adore Ric's, other people would love to round them all up and chuck them over a cliff. If you found your bass you found your bass. I'll never get rid of my Ric, in fact I'll probably buy more. But I found my home base, I'm a Ric guy through and through.

 

[Growlmonkee]

hey Garritynet, sorry for hijacking the thread, on the setup thing, I kinda did, it's obvious now, that you understood the importance before it was stated...I'm not alone, we tend to analyze everything on this forum, but, that is part of the fun of it, sharing tons of input, then hashing it all over again, of course no harm intended

 

[Kukulkan61]

Good Luck...

 

[bholder]

There is no right bass the first time. If you continue to like your first bass after owning it for a long time, then it was probably a good choice for a first bass.

I was going to say, sooner or later, OP may find that there is no one "right" bass ever - though there might be a "right" bass for a particular song / context, it's a tool, and no one tool can really "do it all". Or you can go around hammering screws or driving nails with screwdrivers.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

You DID get it right the first time. I went with an EBMM when I was in your shoes and i will never talk bad about that bass but I loooove playing a Rickenbacker! They are the best basses!

 

[hintz]

. I have four Ps right now, one of which feels WAY better than the others. In theory, you could pick up another Rick and not feel the connection you feel with yours. At any rate, based on some of your remarks and responses, I'm glad you chose bass guitar. If you keep doing what you're doing, you will be an asset to the bands that will be lucky enough to have you.

This is important to remember too... Not all precisions *or* Rick's are created equal, especially the older ones IME! I couldn't stand Precision basses until a buddy of mine got a late 70's one, after that the only ones that came close were 80's MIJ that were modified as P/J's!! On that note, I've tried out a 70's era Rick that had the absolute fattest neck I've ever held, the 2001 Rick I had was too dark sounding until I found a 77' that had *that* clank tone I wanted and was comfy to me(in the process of buying it back, long story)

Also From what I gather, modern basses are more consistent overall, but I wouldn't be surprised by some slight variations either! So I say you lucked out on the Ric, if a better setup doesn't help the P and you still want another, try before you buy if at all possible !!

Congrats!!

 

[Bajo Clarkko]

We come in peace. We mean you no harm. We all just have really strong opinions on this whole Rick/P Bass thing. Next time, try something less controversial.
Like flatwounds vs roundwounds. Or pick vs fingers. ;-).

 

[lz4005]

It was professionally set up when I first got it.

It wasn't set up for you. Because you don't know what your preferred setup is yet.
There is no one setup that works for every person or every instrument. Each one is individual to the player.

I'm not saying you're wrong to prefer the Ric. What I'm saying is that both instruments can be set up to play equally easily.

They'll always feel different, and you'll prefer one or the other, but nothing about either is inherently more difficult to play.
Unless there's something defective in one of them, like high frets or a warped neck.

 

[gjohnson441496]

Anyway I'm just thinking maybe I'm done buying guitars. Maybe I got it right the first time.

Yeah, maybe you did.

I still find that the easiest bass for me to play, and the one I love the most, is the first bass I bought. Still have it, still play it. All I wanted 38 years ago was was a natural ash maple neck Fender Precision. It's only been 5 years ago that I decided to buy another bass. I bought an American Jazz bass... It's alright, but I'm really excited about my Dimension bass. It looks like my P bass and can sound like it too, with more growl, and it also blows the Jazz bass away. The Jazz bass is cool due to its unique voice. There's nothing like it.

But my first bass is the one I love the most. As soon as I saw it I fell in love with it. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I can see it in my mind now. Buying that P bass was one of the coolest days of my life.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

If you do a search on TB threads, I'm guessing a heavy majority are about P basses of one sort or another, kind of the Gold Standard of basses, which totally does not make them right for you. For some reason I can't comprehend, Rics are a polarizing issue on TB, and attract trolls, both pro and con, to every discussion that even remotely touches on them. This thread is highly civil compared to some I've seen, go TB! The best bass on the planet is the one you love to play, so you currently own The Best Bass on the Planet. Congratulations!

 

[buldog5151bass]

Whatever works for you - works for you. My first "real" bass was a Ric, back in the late 70s. Later switched when I did not care for the sound when I recorded.

 

[ofajen]

Probably you got it right. It happens sometimes. The first twenty-five years that I played bass, I had only the Ripper and was quite delighted with it. After a refret, I could be just fine with only that bass.

Otto

 

[subsonicbassist]

I for one have never liked the sound or feel of a P bass, play what you like!

 

[Big Hoss]

I don't hate a Ric, but I have no real love for them either, they are few and far between near me, and the few I have tried out just never felt right to me. Having said that, oddly enough my favorite player is also my cheapest, Chinese P bass copy, an SX Ursa 1. Just tossed good strings on it, gave it a pick guard I liked and a good setup and I can't seem to put it down. I bought it with the idea of leaving it at my desk for practice during lunch, that didn't pan out as I ended up playing the snot out of it at home, and in gigs... It just sits in the mix perfectly.

If a Ric is what does it for you, I congratulate you on finding your sound quickly.

 

[MobileHolmes]

At the end of the day, play what you like and like what you play

 

[ZenG]

I think the completely over-used generic bro' response of "just buy a P-bass......you can't go wrong" is the absolute worst advice that can be given to anyone who is buying a bass. Period.

 

[bholder]

I think the completely over-used generic bro' response of "just buy a P-bass......you can't go wrong" is the absolute worst advice that can be given to anyone who is buying a bass. Period.

Unless, perhaps, their prospective employer makes the job offer contingent on it being a P-bass. There are still folks out there like that, though fewer.

 

[bholder]

And nothing wrong with buying a Ric. I have a few myself.

 

[japhy4529]

not every bass is right for every player regardless of how good the bass is. neck girth, nut width, string spacing, fingerboard radius, body thickness - the list of differences goes on and on. you found a bass you really like. why not use it to improve and enjoy rather than slowing your progress and making playing less fun? unless, of course, you're a guy who values a challenge.

+1 It sounds like you're trying to force yourself to like the P bass. As you no doubt realize, the neck on the Rick is MUCH thinner than a P bass. Add to that the fact that you've got flats on the P makes even more of a difference in comparison to the Rick. That's not to say that you can't like both, but don't play a P bass just because everyone says it's the right thing to do.

I've only played one Rickenbacker bass (an old 70's 4001) and I do recall the neck being very comfortable. I can say that without a doubt my Spector Euro Mike Starr bass (NS-2 copy) is the most comfortable bass I've ever played. Then again, it was designed by Ned Steinberger with player ergonomics being a key goal, so I'm sure that helps.

 

[Kirk Bryant]

Don't worry about getting the first bass right. "When" you don't get it right you'll just have to buy another 2or 3 or 4 or 5 or.......20 haha