I think I want a Rick...

[Wademeister63]

I really wanted a Ric bad for quite a while and ended up getting a brand new MID 4003 in I guess '07. It was ok but never really blew me away. Couldn't get the stings down as low as I wanted even with the bridge bottomed out. I wasn't terrible, I just wanted a bit lower and it couldn't do it. Sold that one and maybe a year later picked up a used AFG 4003. Same problem as the blue one. I also tried the hipshot bridge but I don't remember if it made much difference. Seems like I would have had to route the body and drop the whole bridge a little to get it exactly the way I wanted.

I've always loved the looks of them and I still do, the feel was pretty OK and the sound was nice but not great to my ears. I've moved on to other stuff including the Ric inspired customs I built for myself and my good old MIM jazz deluxe. I'm not a Ric hater but I certainly don't drool over them like I once did.

 

[iiipopes]

What inconsistency in the QC? Rumors. All rumors. Ever since Mr. JH has incorporated CNC into his manufacturing process, the QC has been the best it ever has been, and only gets better. Go check them out further at the factory website and forum or the enthusiast's forum rickresource.com .

About getting the action where a person wants it, these basses are set up completely different from a Fender style bolt on neck. The neck should be adjusted absolutely straight, no relief. Also, since every person has a different playing style, a bit of nut slot adjustment may be necessary. These two items will do more than anything else to bring the action down.

Finally, Joey's bass notes has step-by-step to get the most out of a Rick. Until a person takes a Rick bass and does everything he says, or takes it to a real luthier that actually knows and appreciates Ricks and will set them up properly, not just says he does then pulls out the Fender playbook to work on it, it will not be the best.

I set up a friend's 4003. He took it to a music store to do string shopping, and the clerk who played it said it was the best set up bass of any make or model, with the best lowest action, he had ever played. It kind of embarrassed me, because their luthier is a a top-notch guy who is the only guy that does my work when something happens to one of my instruments that gets over my head, or I don't have the proper tools for, like refretting.

 

[mcnach]

You've got to love how the Rick Taliban is never too far away

Actually, this is not a fair comment in this case, but previous experiences are brought to my mind very rapidly when I get but a diluted whiff ;-)

Truth is not all Ricks are great, and not all have issues... just like about any decent brand out there.
They are pretty peculiar though... so do try before you buy. They are not for everyone... hmmm just like about any other type of bass.
A matter of taste.

I'm surprised you don't find the L2500 aggressive enough. I had one till last month, and I always thought it was a beast, if I wanted it to be. Very versatile bass.

 

[caramanico1]

Definitely try a couple first for a good amount of time, if at all possible (I know that can be tough). I've owned three of varying years and models and there were common factors.

Too expensive. Gorgeous instruments - big "oooooh" factor. Love the necks, and the way the instrument sits on your body - feels like a weapon. Outstanding sustain. Tough and time-consuming to set up and maintain. Weak low E string. Prickly Ric policies if you need support or warranty help.

They're not really all that trebly IMHO- much more midrangy. Also, even the hi-gain pickups are not very powerful - there's a distinct lack of what I call that hard "bottom-bottom."

You want to be aggressive/modern? Remember that they pride themselves on being classic, and they were originally made for pop guys in the '60s.

I was disappointed - for the price and reputation I was expecting to be magically transported. I ended up switching back to the Fender Jazz.

Tone is always the goal, and I just tired of it fairly quickly.

Yes, it's all subjective and personal opinon, but maybe something to think about - classic bass gods Macca, Geddy, Hughes, Glover, Entwhistle and Geezer all either originally played a Ric and switched permanently or tried one for awhile and switched from it fairly quickly. Joe Macre of Baltimore heroes Crack The Sky, Jon Camp of Renaissance, Roger Waters and even Pete Quaife of The Kinks also. I can't think of a single example of somebody doing the opposite.

 

[Low End Lover]

To the OP:

Having owned most of the big names (Fender, MusicMan, Rickenbacker), I can honestly say I have never owned a bad bass. I think if you are willing to put the time and energy to learning about whatever bass you get, you can make it a great player.
Having said that, I think a Ric is a great choice for aggressive rock tone with a pick. I have a 2010 4003 Jetglo and I can say if this is the last bass I own, I will be quite pleased. Rics can do that tone, but they can also do a lot more. I have been able to get whatever tone I want out of my Ric and my musicial interests are fairly broad. They are much more versitile than they get credit for.
As far as Ric QC goes, my experience is that it is excellent. I have 5 Rics (2 basses and 3 guitars and all are different models) and I have bought them all sight unseen and never had a thing wrong that a standard set up didn't fix in short order. And while this is personal perference, I really like that Rics are made in only one place (Southern California) and the company was began, owned and run by going on 3 generations of the same family.
Bottom line, I think Rics are worth your consideration and I hope you find the bass that best suits your needs.

Happy Hunting,

LEL

 

[Moe Monsarrat]

I bought one brand new in 1969 & I loved it because it was the 1st good bass I ever owned. About 1974 I had problems with the bridge when a repair tch broke it in half. I tried to get in touch with Rickenbacker to order another one, but they never answered the phone & when they finally did, they said the part was not available. I was playing on a borrowed bass & had to have a working instrument because I had a new baby & HAD to work. So, in desperation I bought a Fender P & have never bought another Ric. I hear they still are hard to get any parts from and many are made by other companies & are not original Ric parts. I've never understood why they do business this way......not very user friendly. What's the advantage of that?

 

[cassius987]

I set up a friend's 4003. He took it to a music store to do string shopping, and the clerk who played it said it was the best set up bass of any make or model, with the best lowest action, he had ever played. It kind of embarrassed me, because their luthier is a a top-notch guy who is the only guy that does my work when something happens to one of my instruments that gets over my head, or I don't have the proper tools for, like refretting.

I can vouch for this because that was my bass. And I had that luthier set up my Jazz as well and it was definitely not as good a bass as the 4003 after Scott got a hold of it.

I have generally found that I really, really enjoy playing Rics and get less fun out of playing other instruments, many of them derived from the Fender family, although I do love a P Bass where the stars align and it feels good in my hands. Rics feel better to me which is a big part of it but another big part is that nothing can replace them as far as sweet, deep tone. Most other basses out there focus way too much on the mid-range IMO. Rics actually emphasize the BASS frequencies (don't believe me, plug the neck pickup in to a fEarful cab... ouch). However I do acknowledge there are tons of other greats out there... I just played my first Mike Lull P Bass and was pretty blown away, whereas most of the other "revered" brands on here have left me cold in the past. I think a Lull P4 with pickups in the Ric neck and P Bass positions would be pretty amazing, if an expensive bass. It would be about $1,000 more than I've paid for any bass ever, even after the dealer discount. At their price point, I feel like Rics are a good deal, because I can't get the same satisfaction with similarly priced basses, possible exception certain EBMMs (the ones with finished necks).

 

[audiomitch]

The neck should be adjusted absolutely straight, no relief.

Uh oh... Be very careful here. I posted those exact same words here a few weeks ago and the haters jumped all over me. Something about "the law of physics" and how nothing is truly flat.

First, it is among the most polarizing basses ever produced. There is a significant faction of haters that is simply unrivaled in the arena of bass guitar (and they show up here on TB with an uncanny degree of regularity). They will tear at your every fiber in their attempt to make you feel ridiculous for targeting this bass as your weapon of choice, and they are unrelenting. Think for yourself: Do not be fooled.

^^ THIS!

 

[Shawn Luckman]

Love the Rickenbacker 4001 / 4003 basses, from the first picture of a Jetglo one back I saw back in 1988. Even though I own other basses the Ric is my favorite.

 

[Spectrum]

There is a big fanboy vs. hater thing going on with Rixs that I don't really understand. Fanbois take it personal if you are unsatisfied with your purchase, as if John Hall is paying them. And haters take it personal if you like your Ric, as if they made a bet against it or something. So forget all that. Just be aware that there are some things about the design you may not like, such as the bridge and overall feel of the instrument, and like all factory-made products, sometimes you have to send one back. No big deal.

You will have to either get used to the pickup cover or take it off. I chose to get used to it, and I play finger-style closer to the neck. You can also rest your thumb on the cover and play close to the bridge if you like. It took me a week or two to get used to the neck and body shape and all, but it worked out.

The setup is a pain in the neck; fortunately they come fairly well set up out of the box. Mine didn't need any truss rod adjustments or anything. I was very impressed with it.

As for sound, nothing else sounds like a Ric. Especially that neck pickup, it puts out the most deep bassy caramel tone ever while delivering harmonics to sweeten it up. The whole instrument just seems...tighter to me. Like it's more rigid, more resonant. Of all the basses I've tried out in all the music shops I've been in, none of them sound quite like it. Paul playing Lucy in the Sky is a great example. I have three basses but only my Ric can make THAT sound through almost any amp.

 

[iiipopes]

Uh oh... Be very careful here. I posted those exact same words here a few weeks ago and the haters jumped all over me. Something about "the law of physics" and how nothing is truly flat.

Direct quote out of page 4 of the the Rickenbacker owner's manual: "It is vital that the neck is dead straight before making intonation adjustments as the location of the bridge components was chosen on the basis of a well adjusted instrument." This, of course, means as straight as possible, not with some degree of relief that other manufacturers specify. Yes, way back when in school, I had physics and geometry. I used both, along with algebra, to set up the fret coordinates for my custom fanned fret P-style bass. I know all the arguments. I also have six hours of philosophy. I could argue that point on either side from any perspective all day long. But I don't. I never argue with idiots. They just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

And now the confession: I tend to dig in. I like medium, not low action, for clarity and sustain with zero fret noise. So I love the Rick double truss rod system. My 4002 is set up with the neck as straight as possible on the G string, and just the slightest bit, hardly measureable, of relief on the E string side. And since settling on a good brand, model and gauge of strings, I haven't had to adjust the setup on the bass for almost 20 years now.

 

[willsellout]

First, it is among the most polarizing basses ever produced. There is a significant faction of haters that is simply unrivaled in the arena of bass guitar (and they show up here on TB with an uncanny degree of regularity). They will tear at your every fiber in their attempt to make you feel ridiculous for targeting this bass as your weapon of choice, and they are unrelenting. Think for yourself: Do not be fooled.

It is polarizing because of both sides, not just one.

Second, as cool as you think a Ric looks and sounds, they are perhaps the most unusual bass you'll ever play, and will probably feel much different from any other bass in your experience. There are a few idiosyncracies in playability and set-up protocol. It is up to you whether the relatively small learning curve is too large a price to pay. For me, it was a small price to pay, and I am so glad I was patient and learned how to get the most out of my Rics.

Definitely. There are a few things that people need to adjust to, but they are definitely minor. Ric's are a give and take. Moreso than any other bass I can think of.

Last, no matter what you hear, Rickenbacker QC is among the best in the business, and their warranty is rarely matched in the world of guitars. You get a bad one, it's a rarity, and you have plenty of recourse for Rickenbacker to make things right. Buying a new Ric covered by both the retailer's return policy and Rickenbacker's warranty is about as sure a bet as you can possibly make with a bass guitar. Without even trying, I can name several high-profile bass guitar manufacturers who can not come close to the guarantees and warranties you have with a new Rickenbacker. You WILL get a perfect specimen, most likely first shot right out of the box, there are no two ways about it.

No way. They are below standard, especially for the prices they command. Most other manufacturers with perceived QC control problems are simple setup issues. Rickenbackers have serious component and procedural problems.

I love my Ric, but this constant influx of excuses for piss poor consistency on Ric's are a primary reason why:
1. This company continues to flourish despite their lack of attention to detail
and
2. There is such a polarization in regards to the basses and the company in general.

I know there are new Ric's that don't have problems, but just take a look at the recent mid sale thread. People aren't picking apart Ric because they are cheap shots, they are picking them apart because they are sending out an inferior product by and large.

Once again, I should reiterate that I love my Ric. I do not, however, make excuses for the company.

 

[iiipopes]

No way. They are below standard, especially for the prices they command. Most other manufacturers with perceived QC control problems are simple setup issues. Rickenbackers have serious component and procedural problems

I respectfully challenge you to name them, using new and well cared for and well set up instruments as references, and not the abused instruments from improper setup and maintenance.

 

[lomo]

Rics are less than 34" scale, not where I'd want to go if downtuning was in the forecast. YMMV.

 

[RickenBoogie]

I don't know Lomo, my 4004Cii (avatar) is set up with the bottom 4 strings of a 5 string set (.125) and tuned D standard. Did the set up almost 2 years ago, and hasn't needed an adjustment since. Crazy fat low D too, and full & rich sounding across the fretboard. Only thing I had to do was file the nut ever so slightly. They may be slightly shorter scale, but the necks are bulletproof.

 

[msb]

I spent several years looking for a nice old 4001 , they don't often come up for sale around here , and I didn't want to buy one without playing it and checking it out .

Found one , and love it for what it is . I'm not a diehard fanboi , I'm a Fender guy that loves a nice Ric .

They are different than other basses , try to play before you buy . I wouldn't want to be without one ...

 

[lomo]

I don't know Lomo, my 4004Cii (avatar) is set up with the bottom 4 strings of a 5 string set (.125) and tuned D standard. Did the set up almost 2 years ago, and hasn't needed an adjustment since. Crazy fat low D too, and full & rich sounding across the fretboard. Only thing I had to do was file the nut ever so slightly. They may be slightly shorter scale, but the necks are bulletproof.

Like I said, YMMV

 

[john_g]

Well, I bought an 88 Ric 4003 that I really liked. Bought it here on TB without ever playing one first. I had played a similar (to me anyway) bass for 20 years so the the ergonomics were no problem for me, though I can see how it could be for alot of other people. Then I got a G&L L2500, again here on TB, and in my band at the time, the G&L was killing the Ric. So much that I sold it months later.

A couple of years later I got GAS for another Ric and found a mint 09 FireGlo. This one was much better for me and even though I still love my L2500, this Ric has taken the #1 spot.

 

[cassius987]

Rics are less than 34" scale, not where I'd want to go if downtuning was in the forecast. YMMV.

It's all about the strings. I've strung a Ric BEAD and gotten amazing results (I preferred that B to any other B I had played at the time, and it's still up there in my mind with others I have played since).

 

[audiomitch]

Who are these "fanboys" people keep talking about? Does dispelling Ric myths make one a "fanboy"?