• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Is it sacrilege to put flats on my 4003 Rick ?

#43
All indecision aside, IF it were me and it's happy with your longtime Roto sets, I'd do exactly what you're doing now in terms of playing up towards the fingerboard and easing the mids out via the amp.

An '86 Any Bass is going to be as stable as it's going to get by that age, which is a good thing. Flats probably wouldn't disturb it much, but there's no guarantee you wouldn't have to touch up the action several times if it reacts to the different string set.

It's up to you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bill Whitehurst and SouthPawGary
#44
I have played primarily flats on my Rics for most of the time I've had them in a variety of different musical contexts. Rics can sound killer with either rounds or flats, but flats can really emphasize their cool "woody" timbre. TI jazz Flats are a great match because of their strong midrange response, but my favorite flats on a Ric are the older discontinued Sadowsky Black-Label flats. They were made by Labella but LaBella doesn't make a string currently that sounds like them- they are more traditional sounding (and feeling) than the TIs but with stronger midrange than most other traditional flats (LaBella DTFs are much thumpier/more scooped by comparison). They can thump and growl really well, retain a nice top-end attack, and I can trick people into thinking they are rounds on my Rics with the right signal path while also being able to dial in a super vintage flat sound on the next song. I've never been able to make a set of rounds thump like a set of flats though, which is why I gravitate towards flats (for me they are more versatile, probably unpopular opinion- but I don't really need the super fresh round sound). I think the Fender flats might be the closest currently made string to the Sadowsky Blacks that I've heard, and those are also nicely priced (fortunately I grabbed a few sets of the Sadowskys when still available and they don't really die!). Another options are GHS Pressurewounds, that sit somewhere closer to the round wound side of a round/flat hybrid and also sound great on a Ric
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: HuxLux, basmansam, Ricky Rioli and 2 others
#47
Flats on maple - Rounds on rosewood

IMG_5851.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: 53Rockets, Miles_ONeal, MrAB4003 and 5 others
#49
Any time I've listened to a Rickenbacker with flatwounds, it's pure bliss. I only have a Harley Benton rick clone (needs some work to sound like a Rick) but I enjoyed playing it for a couple of years with some D'Addario Chromes and loved how it felt and goes amazing with compression.

I've yet to try black nylon strings but I know for a fact that I will love using some.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MrAB4003, nixdad and Rezdog
#50
SouthPawGary said:
So, im 62 years old & have a mint 86' Rick 4003 mapleburst that i ordered brand new back in "The Day". Back then it was perfect for me playing heavy rock/metal & a little prog stuff. when i returned to bass playing after a layoff during the young kids years, I discovered I really like 5-string basses & now mostly play a Carvin LB75 & a G&L L-2500 Fretless. Anyway, I've been playing in my sons "neo-soul / R&B" band for the last year & its been awesome. Obviously everyone is drawn to the Rick & my son (& others ) would like me to play it in this band. I know, it really isnt the bass for that genre, but if i play the neck pick-up, keep my fingers accordingly & roll off the highs, its not bad. All that to say, i bought the 4003 because it was designed for roundwounds (dbl. trussrods) & its had nothing but Rotosound RS-66LD's on it since day 1. I think I would consider playing it, but the flats would help soften the brighter edge Ricks have. What do you think ???? Also how much neck adjustment do you think it would need ?It's always been unbelievably stable & ive never had to touch the trussrods, ever . thanks
Click to expand...
Well..
I'm not sure exactly when RIC switched from their factory German-made Maxima 4440 Flat wounds to (ugh) domestically made rounds, but the '73 4001 I bought in 2008 still had it's original flats on it. So, NO; Rick's dual truss rods were not "made for rounds". Until recently, Rick basses have always had dual truss rods. The guitars, as well... They just switched from "Hairpin" truss rods to "normal" single-acting ones when they switched to the 4003. So...
What do I think? I think you should put a set of Optima 4440 RB (Rickenbacker Bass) Flats on that thing, quick as a bunny. Those strings are near-clones of the original Maximas; round core, fairly light gauge, fairly low tension, flats. I have had them on my '01 COY 4003 for... well, since shortly after Optima started making them. My 4001 would wear them as well, but... it's beginning to suffer the neck problems that 4001's with their neck pickup right under the end of the fretboard get, sometimes. So, it wears Dogal "Jaco" JC106A CarbonSteel Flats, instead. Insanely low tension (about 1/3 the tension of TIJFs), but feel - and sound - very much like the Optima RBs...
But, it's your bass; put whatever flats you think you'll like on it. There's somebody in the Rick owner's club here, with just about every flat wound string you can think of, on their Rick. And they love those flats to death...
As for the neck adjustment? That depends pretty much on the strings you decide to use. The Jaco CarbonSteels? Yeah, you'll definitely need to adjust the truss rods, since they'll only be putting about 55 lbs. of tension on your neck. Roto RS77LDs, on the other hand? They'll put 214lbs. of tension on that neck, so... yes, some adjustment will definitely be required... Enjoy whichever flats you decide on. Rick basses were made for flats... :thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: thickenbacker, Miles_ONeal, nixdad and 2 others
#54
SouthPawGary said:
So, im 62 years old & have a mint 86' Rick 4003 mapleburst that i ordered brand new back in "The Day". Back then it was perfect for me playing heavy rock/metal & a little prog stuff. when i returned to bass playing after a layoff during the young kids years, I discovered I really like 5-string basses & now mostly play a Carvin LB75 & a G&L L-2500 Fretless. Anyway, I've been playing in my sons "neo-soul / R&B" band for the last year & its been awesome. Obviously everyone is drawn to the Rick & my son (& others ) would like me to play it in this band. I know, it really isnt the bass for that genre, but if i play the neck pick-up, keep my fingers accordingly & roll off the highs, its not bad. All that to say, i bought the 4003 because it was designed for roundwounds (dbl. trussrods) & its had nothing but Rotosound RS-66LD's on it since day 1. I think I would consider playing it, but the flats would help soften the brighter edge Ricks have. What do you think ???? Also how much neck adjustment do you think it would need ?It's always been unbelievably stable & ive never had to touch the trussrods, ever . thanks
Click to expand...
It’s a sacrilege to let others dictate what and how you play!
 
#55
I don’t have a Ric, but use Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats on all my Thunderbirds (except the newest, which I’ve left the ancient RS66s on for now). I’ve played them on other basses as well, and they are generally excellent strings. Unless you have a cobalt allergy.
 
#56
Gilmourisgod said:
So who makes the “brightest” flats? I like how flats feel, but want some bite on tap too. The TI’s? I like a fairly stiff string too, not too “rubbery”. Gonna have to buy something fairly soon for my current build, and I’m torn.
Click to expand...
EB Cobalt Flats are brighter and gnarlier than TIJFs and come in heavier gauges.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ImTheOnlyOne
#60
pbass2 said:
Flats on a Ric are awesome, and sound classic! I'm a long time Labella user but have recently been really digging DR Legends on a Jazz--a little "softer" in feel but don't sound too modern --still can thump--and they settle in really quick- they'd be worth a try on that bass for that music.
Click to expand...
Second that description. Love Legends on my Paranormal Jazz.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back