Just got a rick, any suggestions?

[wraub]

Suggestions?
Either love it, and adapt to its unique requirements... or, don't, and sell it on.
Either way, never mention any potential "flaws" that it may exhibit on the Ric forum.

 

[lowendblues]

Really? nobody's asked for a picture yet?

Boomers rule.

 

[lowendblues]

And by the way, that '74 is gorgeous.

 

[lowendblues]

Curious, are the side dots on the neck red?

 

[MG Wolf]

Ok. Most likely a 4003, as I'm sure the store owner is too boomer to realize.

Hey Generation Zed: Can we see a pic of your 4003?

Congrats & Enjoy

 

[Spidey2112]

I recently bought a used 2011 4001...

Ok. Most likely a 4003, as I'm sure the store owner is too boomer to realize.

 

[mapleglo]

I've modded every Ric I've ever owned. Just because I can. This started life as a standard 2013 4003.

 

[ColonelZulu]

Ok. Most likely a 4003, as I'm sure the store owner is too boomer to realize.

“too boomer”? What does that make you? You didn’t seem to know either.

 

[devnulljp]

Buy a cape?

 

[Ostie]

Just play it for a while and get used to it. Rics are quirky unique basses and I wouldn't modify anything.

This. You said yourself that it sounds great. Why mess with perfection?

 

[NecroticImbecil]

Since you bought it used, I will assume a previous owner removed and threw away the bridge pickup cover. It is illegal to sell a used Ric with the pickup cover.

Start complaining about the bridge and, optionally, the sharp body edges. After an acceptable period of bridge complaining, remove it and throw it away, if the previous owner was not kind enough to do this for you. While not illegal to sell a used Ric with the stock bridge, it is frowned upon in polite society. Replace with bridge of your choice. There are aftermarket bridges designed to fit, or even the new Ric bridge. The classic Olde Skool Ric of legend, however, has a Badass crudely screwed on there. There's still no topping that for kewlness.

 

[red_rhino]

Get rid of the pickup cover if you want to hand mute the strings.

Yep, that was the first thing I did when I played a Ric (way back when I was a young boomer ). Promptly lost it too, as does almost everyone. Put it somewhere that you can find it again!

 

[Spectrum]

No pics no bass

 

[msb]

I'm looking for two pickup covers and have a brass 4001 pickguard I'd be willing to trade for them .

 

[4001]

Any suggestion on a great rick sound? I'm going for a "Permanent Waves" tone, but I seem to lack the lower frequencies, but other than that it sounds like a million bucks.

Rotosound RS66LD 45-105
Two amps and run it in Ric-O-Sound.... It will sound like two million bucks then.

Geddy used the Ric for Jacob's Ladder and Natural Science on Permanent Waves... the rest was his 1972 Jazz Bass.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

Ok. Most likely a 4003, as I'm sure the store owner is too boomer to realize.

You don’t know what it is either zoomer

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

too many _oomers for me, as long as you are a nice person it doesn't matter. I've experienced evil boomers and evil zoomers. The whole boomer and zoomer arguments, while funny, don't apply to most people in each respective generation. Happy nbd! Play it in good health.

 

[Blues Marvel]

I recently bought a used 2011 4001 (not 4003, for some reason) Rickenbacker bass. I got it at norms, and I instantly fell in love with it. It recently arrived in the mail and I've been playing it to poopie. It's a great instrument, and probably already my favorite bass. Any suggestion on what pedals, amp settings, hell even mods (I know, heretical) that apply to a great rick sound? I'm going for a "Permanent Waves" tone, but I seem to lack the lower frequencies, but other than that it sounds like a million bucks.

Congrats. For more bass try neck pickup only.
Sometimes RICs can need some setup attention especially depending on your own personal playing technique. If you play heavy or soft with fingers or a pick.

 

[Joe Nerve]

Lack of bottom end? Make sure the rear most knob is pushed in-

The only suggestion I have is to be careful not to get stuck in the Ric Sound mode. Many people are attracted to Rickenbackers for the Chris Squire/Geddy Lee kind of trebly magic they're famous for, but they can be ballsy and bluesy as all hell, too. Because I'll take any chance I can get to post this , here's the kind of low end your bass is capable of...

 

[Morosini]

Get rid of the pickup cover if you want to hand mute the strings. Neck is not very robust, so lighter gage strings
work out better. Bridge/ saddle are crap, but hey YOU own a Rick !

4001 Rick- 1974 HI -A Pickup @ bridge
View attachment 3716082

Awesome suggestion! Thank you so much.