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If Ricks Are So Coveted...Why Are They So Cheap?
- Thread starter plangentmusic
- Start date
Ricks. There is a certain mystique about them, they are classic axes. I grew up wanting one because Geddy Lee played them at the time. I eventually bought one, then sold it quick. Tried another a year or two later, sold it again. Sure, they sound decent enough and are made well, but there is nothing outstanding about them, no tone that I could hear that was anything outstanding. I sold mine because they were uncomfortable in two ways. First, the sharp corner where I rest my arm, digging into my wrist. Second, taking the pickup cover off there is that deep hole my fingers would slide into when I am playing. I purchased a Pickguardian cover for it, that helped, but still sold that second one because I knew the resale value was very good and that Rick just didn't seem that great to me.
But speaking of value, I have noticed that these really don't depreciate at all. As a matter of fact I got great deals both the times I bought mine new, around $1,500 (yeah I know you may find them even cheaper) but then sold them both used (but like-new) on Ebay for around $1,800. These things just retain their value, at least the new ones.
But speaking of value, I have noticed that these really don't depreciate at all. As a matter of fact I got great deals both the times I bought mine new, around $1,500 (yeah I know you may find them even cheaper) but then sold them both used (but like-new) on Ebay for around $1,800. These things just retain their value, at least the new ones.
I've also been playing about 35 years (OK, 34 to be exact) and believe what you say to be totally true, but to be applied to ALL basses. A proper setup is crucial. But I think having a pro do the setup is a TERRIBLE idea. Unless that pro knows exactly how you like the setup. Setups are very subjective. There is no one proper setup that works for everyone. Sure, have a pro or someone who knows what they are doing show you how, but this is something we all need to learn on our own. I guess I went off point on this post. Sorry. I setup the Ricks I had the way I liked them. They sounded nice enough but were not for me.
They just haven't tried to gig with one long enough
. As for the cost, tho, you sort of have to come to their defense. They're still US made and generally have really high quality woodworking and finish. The hardware is still ancient but for whatever reason that helps to command the current cost point too.
My two ricks I gigged with I bought used back in the early 80's for IIRC about $500 each. My 4001 was a late 70's model and the 4003S was an 80 or something. I'm not sure why it took so long for the light to come on that the doctor visits and such were being caused by the things, but I ended up with 2 of them before I finally figured out they were tearing my hands up. Sold them both off when I went back to college in the early 90's and barely got $500 for both of them (combined).
My current 4003 is a one-owner that I bought new for about $1000. I still had an occasional use for the rick sound at the time and I could still play it passably while seated. Turns out I never did use it - it's been played I think 3 times after setting it up and it's sat in the case ever since.
As for the setup, the reason it's thought that they need a flatter relief than other basses is usually because of the (usually desperate) attempt to get that rick "grind" out of them without too much effort. That requires a fair bit of fret buzz/clank, which is achievable with as little relief as possible. Otherwise, there's no mystery to setting up a rick that I've ever been able to find. The bridge actually makes this easy because you have so little choice in the matter - you can only set the height of the tailpiece with the two screws and that's about all you can do.
And yes the balance is among the worst you'll find on a bass. Even worse than the P and J basses. I tried all kinds of things with weights and such to no avail....
LS
My Rickenbacker bias goes back to 1978 when, as a 14 year old, I wanted a bass like Paul McCartney. I had no clue about tone, strings, amps, ergonomics, I just had to have one. I bought a 4000 made in 1974 and it is one of my fave basses to this day. But because of that bass, I REALLY prefer Ricks with no binding and with dot markers. To me, it is a comfortable bass to play, since it was my only bass for about 25 years.
Detractors have their points. Still, the Rick is one of the coolest looking basses out there (along with the Gibson T-bird, which also has its critics) and is something that sets a bass player apart from the herd. I will always pick a Rick over a Fender, as I know I can, with the right tweaking, get the tone I want out of it for a gig. I have retired my 4000, but my 4001C64 fits the bill perfectly!
Detractors have their points. Still, the Rick is one of the coolest looking basses out there (along with the Gibson T-bird, which also has its critics) and is something that sets a bass player apart from the herd. I will always pick a Rick over a Fender, as I know I can, with the right tweaking, get the tone I want out of it for a gig. I have retired my 4000, but my 4001C64 fits the bill perfectly!
+1 I just picked up a C64, and while I do love it, my favorite bass is still my 4004Cii.
Funny, though I'm fairly new here, I've been a member of the Ric Resource forum for some time now, and I continue to be amazed at most Talk Bass forumite's polarization over Ric basses - seems most folks here either love or hate them, with not many in between.
My point? Not really sure, but I do find it very interesting.
I bought one used for 450.00 in a music store in 1997,,,, at the time nobody I knew wanted one. I remember musicians friend had them for 1000.00 then I looked again some time later and they where 2000.00..... I was in a music store here in Mass the other day and they had a used rick in a rare tobacco burst and they wanted 3000.00 used even though it was mint looking I'm not sure I'd want o spend 3g's on a used rick.
as far as people hanging on to them I've been told that when you do buy one for 2000.00 and then you try to sell it for close to that its hard to do,,,, theres not alot of ric fans out there that will buy a used rick for 1800.00 so you more or less are forced to keep it..
not dissing them by any means but theres a heck of a selection of other vintage basses for the same price as a ric.
as far as people hanging on to them I've been told that when you do buy one for 2000.00 and then you try to sell it for close to that its hard to do,,,, theres not alot of ric fans out there that will buy a used rick for 1800.00 so you more or less are forced to keep it..
not dissing them by any means but theres a heck of a selection of other vintage basses for the same price as a ric.
Not entirely. I would guess that 9/10 people in the modern world could tell you what a Gibson or Fender is when asked though. I'm also willing to bet that less than half of that number could identify Rickenbacker as a guitar manufacturer.
Point and case, Fender and Gibson are crazier then Ric, because with them you buy the name, and they throw in the usable tone for free.
Agreed on the first part, but oil and gas were hog wild compared to the dollar over that span.
Eh, all those measures are in there for a reason. It's not perfect, but it's still a lot better than oil/gas prices--there are a ton of speculators in that market, and prices are driven up and down all the time by events such as war.
OK, didn't mean to turn this into an economics thread...
exactly this isnt an economics thread , we can just agree to disagree ,happy new year
Yeah, I love Ricks. But there are those here at TB who seem to need to hate. Not sure why. I don't like a LOT of basses out there that people here drool over, but I don't trash those basses like Rick haters seem to over and over again.
I had a 1972 4001 that was just fine, even though I used Rotosound fret eaters on it. The current crop of Ricks are probably better, butI haven't played one, mainly because I like the "Fender sound" better for what I'm playing these days. I think the current used market prices for Fender and Rick is highly inflated. But basically, any instrument is worth what you're willing to pay for it, be that $250 or $2,000. I have basses retailing from $500 to $4,000 in my arsenal, but I didn't pay that much for them.
RaginRog
Last guy you want to see is Employee Relations guy
Amen.
No need for me to ask..."Can I get an Amen?"
I tried them with flats...but it really does partially rob it of the Rickenbacker tone/clank. It does subdue the tone a bit if your after a littel smoothness.
No need for me to ask..."Can I get an Amen?"
I tried them with flats...but it really does partially rob it of the Rickenbacker tone/clank. It does subdue the tone a bit if your after a littel smoothness.
I have flats on mine. While it is different, to me there is still no mistaking that Rick sound! I have TIs on mine.
RaginRog
Last guy you want to see is Employee Relations guy
Yeah, but I think they hold their value a little better than Fender. That's partially because some people will settle for a MIM or CIJ Fender, but it's not an option for Rics...USA only.
RaginRog
Last guy you want to see is Employee Relations guy
Yeah, it still has the Ric sound...but I personally belive that all flats have a tendency of robbing a basses, or neutralizing, the true tone.
I am going to respectfully disagree. Basses made in the 50s and 60s had flats on them, and were made to be played with flats. The true tone of the bass was made to be heard with flats. Do rounds give a different tone? Yes. The true tone? That is debatable.
I had a white 77 4001 up until 82 and the neck develpoed a crack,loved the sound everything about it, I have an 08 pre oly white and a 03 Geddy Jazz, picked up an 09 mapleglo Rick to complete the stable,the new Ricks neck is a little beefier than the 4001 but it still is a fantastic playing sounding bass with excellent build quality,Between the 3 basses, I have all the sounds that I need...nothing clanks and snarls like my Rick w rounds on it,over time it ll be the one to retain it s value
