Good afternoon (in my neck of the woods). I need help figuring out anything about this elusive bass I’ve acquired. I bought this guy online sight-unseen from a store in Menifee, California. In my gamble I paid off, because it’s a truly fantastic instrument. Aguilar pickups, Seymour Duncan preamp, it is a true feast if you like this genre of instrument. But the only drawback is that there is no identification of who built it or what the origin story is. The store had no information whatsoever on it, and I’d like to try to gather some information if anyone on here has perhaps seen something similar or could point me in a direction. Thanks for the consideration, I’ve attached pictures for reference, cheers!!
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Help Identifying Mystery Bass
- Thread starter Steve pierce
- Start date
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- Tags
- bass myster builder
Solution
I’m glad somebody else sees the Rick in it! Haha, people look at me like I’m crazy when I say I see tons of Rick in it.
The head stock is obvious, the body is close besides the butt being Alembicish.
People who see more Alembic than Ric are obviously just staring at the butt. Hey! eyes up here, buddy. 
There's enough "Ric" there that if this was produced in any quantity Ric would be issuing Cease and Desist letters, and they'd have a case. Alembic? No case, IMO.
I agree! When I first laid eyes on this my initial thought was “wow that is an interesting take on a Rick”, but all the vintage purists I’ve shown it to refuse to see it.
Somebody couldn't make up their mind between a Ric and a Alembic. So they built one thats a little of both.
Or..... A Ric and a Alembic had a baby.
Looks pretty well made tho.
Or..... A Ric and a Alembic had a baby.
Looks pretty well made tho.
Definitely a custom build. Looks like quality work, too.
I'd bet money that that started as a Ric copy that someone milled off the top and back and glued on the Wenge? and Cocobolo? on the back and front and cut out the tail. I don't see any truss rod access, which is odd. Definitely started out as a Ric clone and morphed from there.
I see more Alembic than Rick but really it's neither, just a really nice piece of work. Somebody knew what they were doing. I'd like to see under the hood, inside the control cavity. How about a pic with the access plate off?
True test is - - what does it sound like? Hard to tell what the woods are. What does it weigh?
True test is - - what does it sound like? Hard to tell what the woods are. What does it weigh?
EVERYBODY: take note of the headstock tuner arrangement 2+3. This is THE PROPER headstock tuner arrangement that should be on ALL five-string basses. The B tuner is far enough up the headstock that the string does not bind over the nut, even with this bar string retainer. The G-string doesn't matter, and all the other strings take the leader properly.
songwriter21
I have an obsession for wood. The musical kind.
DAMN! Not a Rick fan, but that thing could be a contender...beautiful wood work!
