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Help me! I'm a Fender guy but I'm wanting a RIC

foolforthecity

foolforthecity

Mar 12, 2009
2,372
4,122
Crossroads of South Texas
#1
Guys, please help me! I woke up this morning with the most intense urge to go find myself a Ric. I'm about to jump in my car and drive a couple of hours up to Austin and look at a Fireglo 4003 they've got hanging.

Why am I doing this? Can anyone tell me why I shouldn't do this? $2k at stake here, but I'm feeling drawn like a magnet and I don't know why. Ive traditionally been most comfortable with Fender Ps, Js, G&L JBs.

Any words of wisdom one way or the other would be appreciated. It'll take me two or three hours to get there, so I was sort of hoping you guys could pile on and help me to either accept or reject my temporary insanity.
 
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#4
I've been playing Fenders for years now but have always missed the Ric I used to have. If I still had it, I wouldn't be taking to all my gigs, but I'd appreciate it more now that I did back in the day.

The main thing - IMHO - is don't expect the Ric to do what the Fenders do. Ric has it's own, unique voice and it's wonderful in the right contexts. If you can spare the $ and you're wanting a new avenue to explore with the low end, I say "Go for it!".
 
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#8
foolforthecity said:
Guys, please help me! I woke up this morning with the most intense urge to go find myself a Ric. I'm about to jump in my car and drive a couple of hours up to Austin and look at a Fireglo 4003 they've got hanging.

Why am I doing this? Can anyone tell me why I shouldn't do this? $2k at stake here, but I'm feeling drawn like a magnet and I don't know why. Ive traditionally been most comfortable with Fender Ps, Js, G&L JBs.

Any words of wisdom one way or the other would be appreciated. It'll take me two or three hours to get there, so I was sort of hoping you guys could pile on and help me to either accept or reject my temporary insanity.
Click to expand...

Surrender to the call and see what happens. Maybe there's a song that bass thinks you need to know or something similarly arcane afoot here.
 
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#10
I play both Fenders and Rics and wouldn't have it any other way. Here's my '83.... ;-)

new_zpshv9p89lc.jpg
 
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#13
Wish I could help. Lifelong Fender guy myself, but always loved Rics. A nice 4001 or 4003 is maybe The One bass perennialy on my GAS list. For decades. Only ever owned a copy, which got stolen.

Nothing like them, though I get why some people don't care for them.

You got this part covered, but a Ric is one instrument you definitely wanna play before you buy, IMO, just because there's such variance in necks, etc...
 
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#16
Coming from Fenders you may find the ergonomic concessions (or the lack thereof) on a Ric hard to adjust to, but the tone is King. If you have the scratch, buy it. One nice thing about Rics, is if its not for you, you can sell it for nearly what you paid for it, they have great resale value. If you shop around, should be able to get one for $1600-1,800, nobody is paying $2k for them right now. Check out the 4003s model too, more comfortable to play with no binding and a little less money. Pick of the Rics and Wildwood guitars come highly recommended as vendors. They may be higher than GC, but they pre-inspect each instrument before shipping. If you are buying in store, ask to play a couple and get the most flawless one you can find. Their QC has been a little spotty, and you do NOT want to deal with Ric CS if you can avoid it. Good luck, just buy it, you literally have nothing to lose except the gas money and time to take the drive.
 
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#19
TMARK said:
Don't pay $2k. $1650 - $1750 even at The Big Boxes.
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+1 contact Chicago Music Exchange those folks are ready to deal I just inquired about a Ric yesterday and I already have three emails about getting me a great deal also Wildwood Guitars is a great source as well as Pick Of the Rics.
 
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