Is a Rick worth the money?

[Phalex]

Play a Ric before you buy one. They are very polarizing instruments, you either love them, or you really hate them. I have never heard anyone describe playing a Ric as being OK. It's either a little slice of heaven, or a trip straight to hell.

As far as worth goes, how do you determine worth? I love my Ric, and will never sell it, but I really don't play it out much anymore, so I doubt that I'd buy another one.

 

[bob atherton]

JMO,
The 4001/3 is a bit like the vintage Fenders - great collector's items with aesthetic and nostalgic appeal, but not anything you want to try to get through an actual playing career, or ever a gig or two with.

I gigged almost exclusively with a pair of ricks (a 70's 4001 and an 80's 4003S) for a good 10 years or so. The only reason I used only those was because the Rick was worthless back in the late 80's/early 90's and I couldn't get rid of them for enough to buy something else that sounded better.

Certainly give one a try, but before you plunk down the cash they're worth nowadays, make sure it's an extended trial with your band, music and amps. Don't just throw it over your knee in a store for 20 minutes and call it good. BTDT.

Also note the neck-dive - if this is a problem for you ergonomically, your wrist will really bark at you hard when trying to play a 4003 on the strap.

Otherwise, aesthetically and build-quality wise, they're actually really good. The woodworking is, IMO, really nice, though the hardware and electronics are kind of crappy. The looks and finish, tho, are almost boutique, IMO.

LS

I'm no dyed in the wool Ric Fanboy, if fact I now play Fender J's, but the above, IMHO, is so far from my experience that I feel I have to comment.

Neck dive..? Out of all my Rics only one, a very light 1973 4000 had any neck dive. When I say neck dive I mean if one lets go of the bass on the strap the bass will not stay where you let go of it, not real dive like a Thunderbird. I cured the 'dive' on my 4000 by putting a little lead in the control cavity as near the rear of the bass that I could stick it. It made the bass a touch heavier, though still lighter than most and no 'dive' at all.

As for not getting through a gig with a Ric..? I can only think this must be some kind of wind up. I played for many years in many semi-pro bands useing just my 1974 4001 because this was the bass that I chose to use. I did over the years try MM in 1976 when they first came out, some Fenders, both new and 'used'. Used back then meant anything from 1966, to 1971, but I still found the Ric to be the perfect bass to gig with, for me.

I think the Ric may not be for everyone but to say that it is not a great bass for gigging with is more than a little odd.

Got that off my chest, now back to my Fender Jazz....

 

[Toastfuzz]

Hey Eric. Don't worry, you're not trolling, and I wanna say props on taking some of the advice and critisms you've heard to heart.... this is the way it should be done.

The cool thing about Ric is that they don't compromise.... there is no "Squier" or "Epiphone" Ric, there is only the big momma itself. That being said, for me personally, I love the look and the tone from Ric's, but its not quite versatile enough for me to throw down the hard cash on. They can get the classic trebly grindy Ric tone for sure, or you can go neck pup and drop the tone to get deep low Beatle's sounding Ric tone. But outside of that, you're stuck in (in my opinion) a narrow EQ range, only 4 strings. I like the flexibility of a wide-range 3-band EQ pre-amps, mixed with blendable humbuckers, to get all sorts of sweet tones.

Also, I like very durable basses that can take a few knocks, and the reason I haven't reached above the $1000+ range of basses is because even though I TRY to take good care of them, they fall down from time to time, travel in various vehicles with band equipment, get sweat/beer/liquor dripped all over them, etc.

If I were to buy a Ric, it would be a very heavily used Ric that is structurally in great condition. IE, it has to have enough bumps and scratches in it to A. get the price down sub-$1000 and B. not be so pristine that I feel like a piece of s*** every time I give it a knock or two.

But ++++ on trying to play one.... admittably they're strangely hard to find, in Pittsburgh I've only found 2 music stores that carry them, and the one only keeps 1 in stock. They play and sound good to me, but I've never been able to give it a true test, being cranked through my own rig. Buying a new Ric is like buying a new car... its gonna depreciate in value immediately after it leaves the showroom. Buying a used Ric is a better value (especially in your situation), and theres a very good chance that any used Ric you find will be in great to good condition. I'm waiting for that "fair" condition Ric to hit the classifieds, so I can snag it up.

 

[unclejane]

I'm no dyed in the wool Ric Fanboy, if fact I now play Fender J's, but the above, IMHO, is so far from my experience that I feel I have to comment.

Probably not - you play something else nowadays too, so, no your experience doesn't sound that much different

Neck dive..? Out of all my Rics only one, a very light 1973 4000 had any neck dive. When I say neck dive I mean if one lets go of the bass on the strap the bass will not stay where you let go of it, not real dive like a Thunderbird. I cured the 'dive' on my 4000 by putting a little lead in the control cavity as near the rear of the bass that I could stick it. It made the bass a touch heavier, though still lighter than most and no 'dive' at all.

Er.. that _is_ the definition of "neck dive" - having to correct the imbalance with weights and so on, that's what neck dive is. If you compare the 4003 to a properly balanced design like the Carvin Bunny or others, the problem is immediately evident. The Jazz bass is also notorious for this problem so it's a poor comparison to try to gauge it in the 4003.

Maybe this will help: put the bass on and walk around your apartment a little bit without holding the bass. Note what eventually happens to the neck.

As for not getting through a gig with a Ric..?....

Well you guys must just have the strength in your arms/hands to hammer on them hard enough to get any sound out of them. I don't, particularly now with the permanent wrist damage I have in the left wrist. I need something that sounds good with a light touch, so I've finally gone with Carvin. My G&L L2000 fills the bill for a Fender style tone without the need for gorilla strength also.

So, like I said, if you're strong enough, definitely go for it. But certainly give it a _long_ trial and make sure it's something you can deal with.

LS

 

[Hevy T]

I want one to. But I am not going to pay a deposit to a guitar company and then wait two years for it to come in before I decide if I want it. I wish that Ric would do the same as G and L and have their off shore line call it Ric o Classic or something. Made with the same components as with G and L but just put together in China. That would give better mass production and will get more Rics in the hands of the customer, for a decent price with a better quality than the Chinese Rickenfakers you can buy on the wharf for 750 yen!!

Hell if I could get a off shore Ric made by Ric for say $700 (similar price point to a MM Sterling you better believe I would have one or two or three, but no more than four or maybe five at the most!

 

[Thunder Pulse]

I was thinking of selling all my basses and then saving up for a Rickenbacker.

How did you come to this decision?

I don't have enough time to try one

Why not?

Besides, I'm 15! I can't go around pullin thousands of dollars out my but. I don't make that kind of money.

With that in mind, how long do you think it'll take you to save up the necessary funds to buy one?

Prediction: This flight of fancy will be a distant memory long before you have anywhere near enough money to buy one.

 

[bob atherton]

LS, I liked your comment about me now playing J's and our experiences not being so different

I guess there is dive and there is DIVE. OK, if you let go of the bass, do a quick Highland Fling (Scottish dance, nothing perverted) then I guess most 4001's and 4003 heads may be a little South of their starting point before the dance commenced. I never ever found this to be in any way a problem. It could be that for the past 20 years I have used Overwater straps, not sure if they still make them. They are very wide, well padded and quite 'grippy' on the shoulder so my Rics, with the exception of that 4000, and my two Fender J's stay still when I let go.

FWIW the reason that I now just use J's is that my playing has changed to almost 100% fingerstyle, were I used to use a pick. Also I'm now playing mostly jazz fussion stuff and the J is pretty much THE bass for that gig.

OK, I've changed the bass that I now play but I don't see it as moving on or forward, just a different direction of instrument to suit the direction of my band.

This forum is a broad church and it's good that we can all voice our opinions.

All the best, Bob

 

[gidbass]

Hey all you Rickenbacker owners! Is a Rickenbacker really worth the money? I was thinking of selling all my basses(cept for the fretles SX J-bass I'm getting soon) and then saving up for a Rickenbacker. I don't know what model I want to save up for yet, but I know I want to get an older model similar to one of the basses that the Bee Gees had(I believe the bassist for the Bee Gees was Robin). Any one have an opinion or suggestion?

I sold my 3 other basses and added $ for a new 2010 4003, which i really, really love. I bought it without ever playing a ric before. I figured MF has 45 days to return if i didn't like it, so the only real risk was the cost of return shipping (aside from replacing my 3 i just sold!)

The quality, fit, and finish are excellent, though this is the first instrument i have ever owned in this price range.

The only uncomfortable part for me, is playing when sitting down. There is no forearm contour and coming from playing P and J's, i rest my arm there so I had to adjust it a bit while sitting, but it isn't an issue now. Standing, there are no issues with comfort for me.

Weight is good (approx 9.5) but it does want to rest parallel with the ground, so i don't call that dive. I had to switch straps from a neoprene one, to a good leather with suede back, and now it stays in place great!

The nice thing about the new 4003's, is the option to bypass a capacitor and have it sound like the 4001's.

Anyways, i agree to try if you can before you buy. I didn't have that option, but I am very glad I made the leap.

Good Luck!

 

[Spike-]

Prediction: This flight of fancy will be a distant memory long before you have anywhere near enough money to buy one.

I wanted a Rick when I was 16. Saved up for 4 years doing odd jobs and bought one when I was 19. Anythings possible if you've got the motivation.

As to the topic, don't let anyone tell you what you can or can't do with a Rick or any other instrument, no matter how valuable their opinion may be, its not your opinion. Go out and play one is the answer to your question, bar none.

 

[5StringFool]

I found a Stargazer for $560, but I cant find any T-40s that are new. Does Peavey still make em?

Peavey quit making T-40's years ago. They're not bad basses at all, but they're pretty heavy. They show up in pawn shops in my local area fairly often, and usually go for $300-350.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Here's a story,

When I was your age I REALLY wanted a Ric but, like you, was never able to afford one or play one. Well one day my GC just happened to get two Rics brought in by a guy needing some fast cash. I took advantage of this and sat down with both Rics, plugged them in, and found... myself totally disappointed. It didn't feel good, capture the Ric sound well, or even look all that good close up.

They truly are a love/hate instrument. I highly suggest trying one first before buying one because it's a lot of cheese just to drop on something you've never played before.

 

[Personatech]

Asking Ric owners if they're worth the money is like politely asking a shark to take your left leg as a snack lol!

Now who's being the troll?

A Rickenbacker has a distinctive sound. 1966-68 McCartney would not have sounded the same with a Fender or Hofner. If that is the sound you want, the only way to get it is with a Rick and so yes, it is worth the money. People act like they cost an arm and a leg - a new Rick price is comparable to that of most new American-made basses, particularly Laklands or Fender AVRIs. I have a Rick, I have a Lakland, I have a fretless Jazz. They each have been worth the money because they each fit a need.

 

[sandmangeck]

I'm the same as JMATT. I love the aesthetics. Love them. But don't like the sound at all.

 

[MusicBear]

I'm trying my best not to, but I really need to hear the pros and cons about a Rick. I don't have enough time to try one so I'm relying on Rick owners to tell me the facts. Besides, I'm 15! I can't go around pullin thousands of dollars out my but. I don't make that kind of money.

Eric,

I ran the repair department for a local music store for five+ years early in my career as a bassist. That gave me an opportunity to play nearly every bass that passed through the shop - from the most-expensive boutique basses to the least-expensive starter models. For years I just could not understand why some players loved their Rics. (My first bass is a P-Bass.) After a decade I'd pretty much given up looking, until one day I picked up a 4001 that had been taken in trade on my day off. That proved to be the Ric I'd been looking for.
As you point out, you are 15. Don't rush. Take your time (you DO have the time), save your bucks and when it is "right" it will happen - and you'll be happier with what you purchase if you do it that way.

Now, IMHO:
Pros: Rics have a sound and feel all their own.
Cons: They are not Fenders, they may not work when you need a Fender bass...

 

[Ben Heard]

I used to really, really want a Rick, being a huge Geddy fan and all but after seeing what else you can get used for the same price as a new Rick changed that perception about them. I dont question theyre great instruments and that they work for some people, but when I played a 70s Rick I, like it seems has happened to others here, was very disappointed.

Also, I've seen your thread about getting your first fretless (congrats on the SX by the way) and seeing how your budget was $250 and less Im guessing that this is a SERIOUS ways away price wise. Also, selling your other basses and relying on a fretless, when you havent really tried a fretless yet and may not like it, is a risky choice to make.

Just my 2 cents!

 

[unclejane]

LS, I liked your comment about me now playing J's and our experiences not being so different

I guess there is dive and there is DIVE. OK, if you let go of the bass, do a quick Highland Fling (Scottish dance, nothing perverted) then I guess most 4001's and 4003 heads may be a little South of their starting point before the dance commenced. I never ever found this to be in any way a problem. It could be that for the past 20 years I have used Overwater straps, not sure if they still make them. They are very wide, well padded and quite 'grippy' on the shoulder so my Rics, with the exception of that 4000, and my two Fender J's stay still when I let go.

FWIW the reason that I now just use J's is that my playing has changed to almost 100% fingerstyle, were I used to use a pick. Also I'm now playing mostly jazz fussion stuff and the J is pretty much THE bass for that gig.

OK, I've changed the bass that I now play but I don't see it as moving on or forward, just a different direction of instrument to suit the direction of my band.

This forum is a broad church and it's good that we can all voice our opinions.

All the best, Bob

True, the 4003's balance isn't quite as bad as some (like the thunderbird or anything with the Tele-style body, etc) but it's definitely a problem if it's a problem for the player. Again, one shouldn't have to resort to weights or particular straps or other contraptions to not have to hold the instrument in the desired position. Unless that position is with the neck going towards the floor that is, then you're ok...

I also don't agree that the Rick is a "polarizing" instrument. It just has more hype surrounding it than most basses, except the vintage Fenders (those are hyped even more). That just makes the disappointment with them when you actually get around to trying one that much more intense.

In fact, I'm definitely in the OK-bass camp with the 4003. It's vastly better quality than vintage Fenders for example, especially the 70's and earlier Fenders (which I definitely don't think were OK basses). The Rick was made of good wood, had a good finish and neck-through design at around the same time; it was much better quality in every respect than any of the Fenders available at the time.

Also, to give credit where it's due, the Rick sounds great, IMO, for slap. That's where it's normal clank and weak mids really make for a unique and interesting sound.

I still drag out my remaining 4003 from time to time when I'm working on something that uses slap. My fretlesses don't have a lot of bite when you smack them...

LS

 

[mccartneyman]

If a bass works for you, it's worth the money.

 

[Rockin Mike]

Well you guys must just have the strength in your arms/hands to hammer on them hard enough to get any sound out of them.

Modern amplifiers have a knob to compensate for this.

 

[cheezewiz]

When I was a young teen, I wanted a Ric more than anything else in the world. I was a huge early Rush fan, and thought Yes was pretty damned cool too. I lusted after one for years. Fast forward many years later, and I found a good deal on a Jet Glo 4003...the bass of my dreams. I took it home and began gigging with it. I loved the look. I loved the sound, I hated the pickup cover on the bridge pickup. I bought the pickguardian replacement, and my right hand still wasn't comfortable. I tried, and then sold the Ric.

I still love the look, I still love the sound, but my right hand is just not comfortable on one.

 

[fingerbun]

Eric, I spent my formative years on a 4000. One of my current basses is a 4003.

4001 have been out of production since the mid 1980s. But 4000, 4001 and 4003 are very similar designs. 4000 is single pickup, 4003 is an update to 4001.

The 4000/4001/4003 Rick has strengths and weaknesses, both in sound and feel. Asking someone else to decide whether you should like a Rick is like asking someone to decide whether you should like strawberry or chocolate.

Don't buy a Rick without trying it. When you try it, pay attention to the sound, the feel of the neck (I love them, some don't) the feel of the bridge pickup wrt how you play the bass (I accept it, some can't) and the bridge (arguably an obsolete design).

I don't know what you play or what you like, therefore I have no idea whether a Rick would suit what you do.