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I bought a Ric on sale from MF. A bit perplexed. Thoughts?

#61
kcole4001 said:
That's a good price you got!

The finish looks like it's cracked due to pressure from the tailpiece casting.

You can run the serial number here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

That will tell you the week and year of manufacture.

As long as it's not one of the batch that had the serious flaking issue, it shouldn't get any worse unless you pick at it.

Your choice whether it's worth the hassle of a return.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. It was made on the 29th week of 2013.
 
#62
You should be OK, then.

Again, it's your choice whether it's a big enough deal to do a return.
You did buy a NEW bass, then again, you got a good deal also.

I took the tailpiece off of my 4080 to do a full polish and tightened it back down improperly and created exactly the same issue that you have, only mine is on the opposite side of the tailpiece casting.
Live and learn, I guess.
 
#63
Well, I talked to Musician's Friend and they are overnighting me a replacement and sent me a paid return label for the defective bass.

I asked what would happen if the 2nd bass was also defective, and they said they'd overnight me another one. Lighting surely can't strike twice, right?

All's well that ends well, I guess!

Let's just hope it ends well...
 
#64
That's a good price on a new 4003.

That bubbling on the side would bug me enough to want a replacement.

Ric gets away with being really quirky and often not in a good way, imo, more than other brands.

The fact that their warranty only is from date of manufacture and not purchase is ridiculous.
 
#65
Hand Amputation said:
Well, I talked to Musician's Friend and they are overnighting me a replacement and sent me a paid return label for the defective bass.

I asked what would happen if the 2nd bass was also defective, and they said they'd overnight me another one. Lighting surely can't strike twice, right?

All's well that ends well, I guess!

Let's just hope it ends well...
Click to expand...

Cool. Glad you got that choice resolved.

No, lightning won't strike twice in the same place.

So check the headstock after you unpack the replacement. ;)
 
#66
my opinion is this: an instrument's relationship with it's Finnish is fleeting at best. a good bass will feel and sound great and be fun to play throughout it's life as the Finnish deteriorates and flakes off eventually. So the eventual checking scratching and denting are inevitable, unless you never plan to play the bass, and even then, the shrinking and expanding of the wood under the finish will ensure that the Finnish checks anyway.

so basically I'd just play the thing and not ship it.

***Also more important than the Finnish is the Weight! that definitely does vary from bass to bass and we all have varying tastes when it comes to bass weight. so if the weight is comfortable and it plays well and sounds good, Keep it!!!
 
#67
Sundogue said:
Cool. Glad you got that choice resolved.

No, lightning won't strike twice in the same place.

So check the headstock after you unpack the replacement. ;)
Click to expand...

I will be checking over it with a fine tooth comb!


And I must take a moment to say:

Andrew at Musician's Friend was overwhelmingly helpful through all of this. I will definitely be going back to him for future purchases.

If you'd like his extension, please PM me and I will share it with you.
 
#70
fourstringdrums said:
Yikes. Makes me want to not buy a brand new Ric.

Anyway, glad to hear the OP got a resolve. Let us know when the new one comes in!
Click to expand...

The RIC finish warranty shouldn't be a major selling point in determining whether one wants a new Rick anyway.

For factory warranty you have to pay to ship the thing back to California, and as noted, it only dates one year from the date of manufacture.
The rest is guaranteed for five years (again, from date of manufacture).

Even for a faulty pickup, it would be cheaper to buy a new pup and replace it yourself than pay for shipping to and from CA (unless you live nearby, of course).

Buying from the major hands-on dealers (Pick of the Ricks, Wildwood, Northcoast, etc.) ensures an inspection and setup before the bass is shipped.
This is the best policy if in doubt, and their prices are as good as anyone's (excluding sale pricing).

MF usually just receives and ships out unopened boxes from their warehouse.
 
#72
Hand Amputation said:
I will be checking over it with a fine tooth comb!


And I must take a moment to say:

Andrew at Musician's Friend was overwhelmingly helpful through all of this. I will definitely be going back to him for future purchases.

If you'd like his extension, please PM me and I will share it with you.
Click to expand...

Well, the best part of all this is...

Having them overnight a new one to you at their expense and including an all expenses paid return trip for your other one.
 
#73
Me personally? I wouldn't care. I don't really inspect my new basses that well because it just doesn't bother me that much if there's a small imperfection. Hell, I TRY to get B-Stock items because they are discounted.

That being said, you didn't pay for a B-Stock or a defected item. You paid for a brand new Ric. I am almost positive that MF would take it back and send you another if you were bothered by it... that's how we would do it at my GC, at least.

EDIT: I'm an idiot. Didn't see that he already resolved the issue
 
#74
droskobass said:
my opinion is this: an instrument's relationship with it's Finnish is fleeting at best. a good bass will feel and sound great and be fun to play throughout it's life as the Finnish deteriorates and flakes off eventually. So the eventual checking scratching and denting are inevitable, unless you never plan to play the bass, and even then, the shrinking and expanding of the wood under the finish will ensure that the Finnish checks anyway.

so basically I'd just play the thing and not ship it.

***Also more important than the Finnish is the Weight! that definitely does vary from bass to bass and we all have varying tastes when it comes to bass weight. so if the weight is comfortable and it plays well and sounds good, Keep it!!!
Click to expand...

The Swedes are even more important than the Finnish.
 
#78
Hand Amputation said:
Well, I talked to Musician's Friend and they are overnighting me a replacement and sent me a paid return label for the defective bass.

I asked what would happen if the 2nd bass was also defective, and they said they'd overnight me another one. Lighting surely can't strike twice, right?

All's well that ends well, I guess!

Let's just hope it ends well...
Click to expand...

Now keep them both, and claim you never called them...:ninja:
 
#80
jongor said:
you know how some instruments just have that something special that's a sum of the parts and come together to make something magical?....I hope you didn't send one of those back nitpicking over some little finish flaw and end up with a *dog* that has a perfect finish.
Click to expand...

To be honest, the first one didn't play that great. OK at best.

Here's to the replacement playing great and looking beautiful.
 

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