I've never played a Rick before...but

[Jools4001]

What do you guys think of this one?
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/trade-your-5er-for-my-custom-ric-stunning-bass-porn.1064966/

Well, since you ask...Just like a real Ric there are bits I love about it, and bits that I hate about it.

I love the mahogany body and the precision fit of the control cavity cover. I really, really love the Wenge neck and the recessed controls. I also like the hipshot bridge.

I'm not wild about maple fingerboards on any bass, and this one does nothing to change my mind - especially with the bass clef inlay at the twelfth fret; which I think is a bit cliched. While we're on the bits I'm not wild about, the carving seems completely superfluous to me.

The bits that I really hate about it are the Seymour Duncan pickups. These sound nothing at all like Ric pickups and are total tone killers...how do I know? Well, The SD marketing blurb about 20 years ago was convincing enough that these pickups would be an upgrade to a Ric bridge pickup: hotter and with all the advantages of being humbucking, so I got suckered into buying one because my bridge pickup sounded thin and weedy compared to the neck pickup and I wanted to beef it up. Fitted the SD and it sounded hideous, dark and muddy...and just, well...let's leave it there; in the days before the internet, there was no-one around to tell me that the cap just needed bypassing to give me all the juice from the original Ric single coil pickup.the SD pickup surround leaves a lot to be desired as well, just a cheap piece of flimsy plastic. So while it wears the Seymour Duncan's it may look like a fancier Ric, it may be better in some respects than a real one - but it will never sound like one....and with Rics, that't the whole point

 

[JMacBass65]

What do you guys think of this one?
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/trade-your-5er-for-my-custom-ric-stunning-bass-porn.1064966/

I'd love to get it in the hands of someone who will use it.

WOW! That sort of thing would usually not be my bag, but that is way cool!

 

[EagleMoon]

I've had several of them over the years and they are quite different ergonomically. And I still say those basses would have looked a lot better with walnut inlays.

 

[woodyng]

Every one of my 3 Ricks has been modded,sometimes extensively,to get what i want out of them. I never say never,but i likely never will buy another 4001/3.(unless it's an S model). I love my Laredo and Cii 4004's,and always recommend newbies to check them out as modernised alternatives to the classic series. All of those comfort and adjustability issues of the older series are just done away with the 4004's. And The darker sounding humbuckers can be brightened up considerably with a very inexpensive electronics upgrade.

 

[frankieC]

I've got 2 Rics Bought my first back in 1972 (4001 Fireglow). Enjoyed the hell out of it for 40 plus years. Purchased another back in November, it's an 84 2030 Hamberg. A completely different animal, but just as wonderful to play.

 

[GIBrat51]

I am waiting-with what little patience I can muster-for Chris at Pick of the Ricks, to tell me that John Hall has condescended to make the 4003w's in lefty.
Then, one of them will join my '73 4001 and '01 COY 4003 as fast as possible.

 

[Ray Fierro]

Lo-E & Jools 4001 have hit it right on the head, I have played Fender's and Hofner all my life and the Ric is a totally different animal. But now that I own a 4003W I would never give it up, love the look and sound, worth the forearm ouchie. I just can't put it down once I start playing it.