Is buying a Rickenbacker even possible??

[Rabidhamster]

My first real bass was a vintage rick I got at a yard sale for what I consider from the guy as charity-low money.

The things that we uncomfortable I didn’t realize were ‘Rickenbacker’ and not ‘electric bass’.

Moral of the story is if it took you actual years to get the cash you want to spend - be careful - you might hate it or it might be a lemon.

 

[40Hz]

Don’t finance gear. Particularly not a high priced luxury item at the top of your budget, assuming you already have basses to play. It’s just a road to being in debt and paying much more than you want to in interest.

^This is a piece of advice worth repeating a thousand times over.

If you’re just buying gear for your personal use, and it’s not something your livelihood depends on, do not ever take on debt to buy it.

(@monsterthompson - I wish there were a way to hit the like button 100 times to thank you for making that post. )

 

[Yonni]

Expensive but possible in the UK. The last 3 shops I went into had at least one in stock. I've seen read blue black and walnut recently. It used to be the bass I lusted after but now I have the money I'm actually not that bothered anymore. I prefer the ergonomics of a Jazz. I still think they look and sound great but to actually play? I'm not convinced its worth the money.

 

[david barnes]

I finally have a bit of loose change after years of work, and I'm telling myself "you know what? Maybe I could afford myself a little treat in the next few months"

Rickenbackers are so nice man, I can't describe it. That look, that tone, it's so beautiful!

So I go online casually scoping for a few Rickenbackers. I knew they were expensive but... That's an understatement. THEY COST AN ARM AND A LEG... AND YOUR HOUSE PLUS A FEW YEARS OF FREE LABOUR.

These things are like 4000$ CAD No way I could pay for that.

Is buying a Ric even possible? I mean, where do I buy them? How did you get yours? Is it possible getting one for under 1500$ CAD? I can't just wait until I'm 45 to buy one.

i see them all day long for 1500 on bass central .com some are higher but there is some there for a grand or so. american

 

[Siggy]

Check here. Their prices seem to be better then most.

Bass Guitars | Wildwood Guitars

No affiliation, I've just bought a couple here.

 

[nautipaul]

I've had one, that was enough. Didn't like it.

 

[96Brigadier]

I wouldn't buy one site unseen. Every single one I've put hands on at the L&M Calgary South store (at least a half dozen in the past 2 years) has had the finish bubbling up around the bridge. Doesn't matter if it's a Jet Glo, Maple, or Fire, they've all had that issue. Maybe it's the drier weather in Calgary that does it, although if that were the case I would expect Wildwood in Denver to have the same issue.

 

[Green Knight]

They're $2100 at L&M. They're not common, but they pop up every now and then. There's a jetglo 4003S at the Thunder Bay store right now - ask your local store to transfer it. And the odds of finding one for <$1500CAD are slim to none.

Yes, there's on in my local L&M for almost exactly that much. It always seems to be there.

 

[groooooove]

financing is a terrible idea...

the used market is your friend. I can't speak to your particular area, but find a TB classifieds deal - if you are patient, you'll get what you want.

 

[radapaw]

Is buying a Ric even possible? I mean, where do I buy them? How did you get yours? Is it possible getting one for under 1500$ CAD? I can't just wait until I'm 45 to buy one.

keep your eyes peeled on Kijiji, I've picked up 2 decent ones for under $1250 cdn in the last 5 years or so

 

[Jehos]

Isn't there a guy on the talkbass classifieds selling a used one in Canada? You should check here first.

That's pretty much the right answer for any bass a lot of TBers play.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

...Know anyone in the states to ship it too?

Most large US dealers ship international these days, and there's nothing in Ric's US dealer agreements that prevent a US dealer from shipping a Rick to Canada.

But there's always some sellers on eBay and Reverb who don't want to deal with international shipping because it can be a hassle for the occasional sale.

 

[Chrisenbacker69]

I would strongly advice to try before you buy! For two reasons:

1) Rick warranty starts running from the moment the instrument is shipped from the factory. Even if you buy a new Rick the warranty may have expired before you ever lay your hands on it. If you decide to get one, inspect it CLOSELY and return it ASAP if there's even the slightest hint of any problems (it goes without saying that you need to buy from a store with a good return policy).

2) If you've never actually played one you really need to test one before spending this much money. Ricks look beautiful but they are also very quirky instruments.

-Palm muting? Forget about it.
-Plucking close to the bridge? Very uncomfortable unless you've got TINY hands.
-The built in foam mute? Don't expect it to work after the first month.
-Adjusting saddle height/intonation? Not really possible without removing the entire bridge.
-Rick-o-Sound? It can be fun in the studio but not worth the hassle for gigs IMO (unless you're at a level where you've got roadies to do all the lifting/setup).

A Rick also feels completely different than say a Fender and will require some adapting, especially for the plucking/picking hand. Some people never gets comfortable with a Rick. Personally I don't find this a huge problem but I play close to the neck. If you are used to playing close to the bridge, good luck, lol.

Then there's the sound... which is highly subjective of course. Personally I think a Rick has a very ideosyncratic sound that works best for certain genres. Definitely not the best choice as an allrounder IMO. I love how a Rick sounds in isolation and I also love it for some genres. But most of the time I struggle to fit it into the mix (I'm speaking as an engineer here, I'm really more of a studio engineer than a bass player these days). With a P-bass everything is just so much easier.

I got hung up on the whole Rick thing because some of my favourite bass players used Ricks. I used a 4003 as my main instrument for almost a decade. Then one day I decided I'd had enough and went back to a P-bass. Suddenly everyone could actually hear me at rehearsals! My stage sound improved massively. Engineers were happier. Recording/mixing went from an uphill struggle to (more or less) plug-n-play.

My 4003 has been gathering dust for years now. I hardly ever use it but I can't bring myself to sell it either. Once every couple of years I need THAT sound and when I do there's nothing else that compares. You just need to make sure THAT is the sound you actually need.

This post is dead on from top to bottom. I play my Ric for Beatle songs only. My 4001 C64S is beautiful to look at, weighs a ton, and has beautiful tone for the right genre. I'll never sell it. But it is not versatile and not my first choice for playing out.

 

[Paulabass]

I paid 2100 CAD at Long and McQuade brand new. I have 4 more expensive Fenders that are run-of-the-mill MIA's.

 

[Tony In Philly]

I would suggest looking for a used one on Reverb and find out what the CAD conversion price would be. Can't hurt to look. Also start with the 4003S as they are cheaper.

 

[Gunga Din]

As for s/h in the UK, you'll rarely see one under £1800 - that's USD 2219 - because sellers are trying to recoup the outlay on them.

 

[Bassndrums73]

Don’t finance gear. Particularly not a high priced luxury item at the top of your budget, assuming you already have basses to play. It’s just a road to being in debt and paying much more than you want to in interest.

Somehow I don’t think that’s any of your business and it really torques me off every time I see see someone make a statement like this on TB.

 

[Paul Boyer]

They may not be made all too well(judging by many accounts) , but I too have found myself thinking that a Rick would be quite a cool thing to have, not having heard that tone from anything else.
The one I'd be interested in is the 3000 however and, as far as I'm aware, no longer in production...

Yes. The last short-scale 3000 left the factory 35 years ago.

 

[smtp4me]

Yeah go find one and play it. I think they're gorgeous and sound fantastic.

They feel HORRIBLE in my hands. I can't even begin to play one. Too skinny. Too narrow. Nowhere comfy to put my thumb. They even feel all wonky against my body. I like literally nothing about playing one.

I'm jealous of those who get along with them because the cool factor is there for sure.

I would rather look at a Ric. I would rather PLAY a 2X4 with a runner band on it than play a Ric.

That's just MY hands and playing style. I also owned a beautifull Mile Lull 5 string with a Sadowsky preamp in it. Every nass player around me said it was the finest instrument they ever held. But I couldn't get along with it AT ALL. So don't take my workd for it. Play one for yourself.

Of my three basses, the Ric is the least comfortable to play. But for me, the tone is worth it.

 

[smtp4me]

I finally have a bit of loose change after years of work, and I'm telling myself "you know what? Maybe I could afford myself a little treat in the next few months"

Rickenbackers are so nice man, I can't describe it. That look, that tone, it's so beautiful!

So I go online casually scoping for a few Rickenbackers. I knew they were expensive but... That's an understatement. THEY COST AN ARM AND A LEG... AND YOUR HOUSE PLUS A FEW YEARS OF FREE LABOUR.

These things are like 4000$ CAD No way I could pay for that.

Is buying a Ric even possible? I mean, where do I buy them? How did you get yours? Is it possible getting one for under 1500$ CAD? I can't just wait until I'm 45 to buy one.

Not sure if any advice I can give will help you. When I bought my Ric two years ago, I chose a 4003S because the shark-fin fret inlays and the stereo (Ric-o-sound) jack on the typical model were unnecessary to me, and there was about $300 difference in price. I also bought from the local Guitar Center during the holiday season when they sometimes have deep discounts - I got mine for 25% off - so just under $1200 USD. Which was much more reasonable than a full price 4003.