Low cost basses with Ric tone

[bholder]

I played a t-40 in a music store recently ... not bad but not great either

Definitely not for all tastes - no bass (or any other instrument) is. And there were at least 2 different versions of the pickups, that don't sound the same.

 

[FaithNoMan]

The Jazz always sounds bigger on the bottom and very noticeably thinner up high.
The Rick sounds more even in terms of tone and output across and up and down the neck.

It's been proven that you can get a very cinvincing RIC tone just by using RIC pickups in the appropriate locations.
Ric5 has done it on a couple of different builds a few years ago: 2 were SG bodies and another couple were Fenderbird style basses. All had bolt on necks and were using varying wood bodies with all maple necks, so the wood choice doesn't have as much to do with the overall tone as many will suggest.

Most of his clips were recorded using a Line6 Pod which makes everything sound the same. Put himbuckers on a maple Ric and it will still have that clank.

But I also agree with you...if you are looking for a middle of the road Ric tone. Playing anything off Tool's "Undertow" album, that's not something I have seen copied very easily with just a pickup change. Fenders just don't usually have thay clank unless it's a body with exceptionally bright acoustics.

 

[progrockbass]

Lol, that's not true at all. Check out Mew's "And the Glass-Handed Kites" album. Big fat Ric tone there. In fact, I can even link up some of my own clips to show that isn't so.

Geddy never got the Farewell to Kings tone on his J bass. He always sounds great, but his J never touched that angry piano tone

You are right about Farewell believe me I love the tone I was/am a huge Squire and Lee fan. My first "name brand" bass was 4001 in 1979 and up until recently had a beautiful 1985 Jetglo 4003. I just found for me and the vast majority of the music I was playing it wasn't versatile enough and that a Jazz bass just feels and sounds right. Will check out the band...

 

[FaithNoMan]

You are right about Farewell believe me I love the tone I was/am a huge Squire and Lee fan. My first "name brand" bass was 4001 in 1979 and up until recently had a beautiful 1985 Jetglo 4003. I just found for me and the vast majority of the music I was playing it wasn't versatile enough and that a Jazz bass just feels and sounds right. Will check out the band...

I hear that!

Both are fine basses, and really you have to play the one that speaks to you.
If you do check out Mew, check out that album specifically. The songs are short, but the whole album flows as one song. Chinaberry Tree and An Envoy to Open Fields feature some prominent 4001 tones...but they are so thick that I thought it was a bright P bass

 

[RED J]

Sure, but there are T-40s with 2 of those rather than one. Not all T-40s or T-20s have that pickup, that's true. I used to know how to tell which was which - isn't that the "toaster vs. blades" discussion that keeps popping up? Anyway, not arguing with you. Last time I was gigging, my T-40 and my early 80's fretless Carvin were my gigging basses - hardly "boutique", but both sound great, are quite playable, and are built rather like tanks. A T-40 in its hardshell case is truly a weapon - I would have used it to swing my way out of a bar fight without a worry or 2nd thought.

Bholder, you are confusing types. The toaster/blade type pickups were on the T-40,
( double ) T-45 ( single) basses with the elaborate passive system, and were full humbuckers that could be coil split. Super Ferrites are single coils such as on the Foundation, Dyna Bass, T-20 1st Gen Fury, and Patriots. two very different animals.

I don't know what became of bassman rocke, ( sp ? ) he could wax encyclopedic on Peavey.

 

[bholder]

Bholder, you are confusing types. The toaster/blade type pickups were on the T-40,
( double ) T-45 ( single) basses with the elaborate passive system, and were full humbuckers that could be coil split. Super Ferrites are single coils such as on the Foundation, Dyna Bass, T-20 1st Gen Fury, and Patriots. two very different animals.

I don't know what became of bassman rocke, ( sp ? ) he could wax encyclopedic on Peavey.

Ah, yeah, you're right - I was confusing the T-45 and T-20. My bad. Memory is slowly going. There were some folks on HCBF in the old days with encyclopedic Peavey knowledge, too.

 

[4001]

Low cost basses with Ric tone sounds like imitation Oreo cookies that taste like Oreo cookies.


My Jazz Bass wired in stereo has a lot of Ric tone to it.

 

[Ric5]

Definitely not for all tastes - no bass (or any other instrument) is. And there were at least 2 different versions of the pickups, that don't sound the same.

I played the T-40 and it was nice ... Then I played an active Warwick 5 string bass ... much better.

The Audere 4 band preamp is a wonderful piece of technology ... Boost nothing and you get the passive tone. Boost high mids and a little bass for the Rick tone. Boost low mids and a little bass for the Fender tone, boost bass and treble for the stingray tone.

Now with any given bass depending on wood and pickups and pickup locations you will have to tweak the knobs to get your tone dialed in.

 

[bholder]

I played the T-40 and it was nice ... Then I played an active Warwick 5 string bass ... much better.

The Audere 4 band preamp is a wonderful piece of technology ... Boost nothing and you get the passive tone. Boost high mids and a little bass for the Rick tone. Boost low mids and a little bass for the Fender tone, boost bass and treble for the stingray tone.

Now with any given bass depending on wood and pickups and pickup locations you will have to tweak the knobs to get your tone dialed in.

Well, yeah, Peavey and Warwick aren't exactly in direct competition on the price / performance scale! Some folks love or hate one or the other or both.

 

[Ric5]

Both were nice basses ... the warwick was 2 to 3 times the price, both were used.

Someday I need to get a warwick 5 string bass.

 

[Walfretless5]

What are the Dark Stars?

I own 10 Rickenbackers and this Laredo with Dark Stars is my ABSOLUTE Best sounding one. More definition and Still maintains the Rickenbacker sound but with more character.

 

[bholder]

I own 10 Rickenbackers and this Laredo with Dark Stars is my ABSOLUTE Best sounding one. More definition and Still maintains the Rickenbacker sound but with more character.View attachment 522637

Wow - now that sounds like a combination! I couldn't bring myself to do that to any of my Rics, though.

Actually, I'd love to hear some Dark Stars in the Ric semi-hollow model (I have serious GAS for one of those) - don't remember the model # though.

Looks like they never made one: www.talkbass.com/threads/ofbpoac-you-must-be-50-to-join.655998/page-3, but like a 330, I guess.

Edit: correcting again, they never made a 330 bass, but I was thinking of the 4005, of course. Don't think they offered that with Dark Stars - were they stock (custom order?) on that Laredo?

 

[kcole4001]

Most of his clips were recorded using a Line6 Pod which makes everything sound the same. Put himbuckers on a maple Ric and it will still have that clank.

But I also agree with you...if you are looking for a middle of the road Ric tone. Playing anything off Tool's "Undertow" album, that's not something I have seen copied very easily with just a pickup change. Fenders just don't usually have thay clank unless it's a body with exceptionally bright acoustics.

I tried the SD replacement pickups, and found that all of the Rick tone was gone.
I've heard a lot of folks say that Barts don't really sound like the Rick tone either, but never heard for myself.

It does seem that pot values have a lot to do with getting or cleaning up a Rick's tone, unfortunately I did all my modding before I knew this.

My '77 4001 had a nearly dead neck pup and a Jackson J pup in the bridge position when I got it, and that sounded nothing like a Rick.
The SD bridge pup beefed up the tone of my 4000 fairly nicely but I really had to pull back the preamp, 'cause that sucker was HOT!
The Jackson pup ended up being added to the '90s MIJ P bass I eventually got in a trade, which made it much more useable in my opinion.

Anyway, that's my 2c.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

The Tokai Rebelrockers can be pretty convincing with the right setup, maybe a pickup upgrade.

I tried the SD replacement pickups, and found that all of the Rick tone was gone.
I've heard a lot of folks say that Barts don't really sound like the Rick tone either, but never heard for myself.

It does seem that pot values have a lot to do with getting or cleaning up a Rick's tone, unfortunately I did all my modding before I knew this.

My '77 4001 had a nearly dead neck pup and a Jackson J pup in the bridge position when I got it, and that sounded nothing like a Rick.
The SD bridge pup beefed up the tone of my 4000 fairly nicely but I really had to pull back the preamp, 'cause that sucker was HOT!
The Jackson pup ended up being added to the '90s MIJ P bass I eventually got in a trade, which made it much more useable in my opinion.

Anyway, that's my 2c.

Just remember with Duncan (or Dimarzio) there are the vintage style pickups and of course the many hotter versions and variations.

Who are the companies that make Ric pickups that are very similar to the originals in tone & response?

 

[FaithNoMan]

Just remember with Duncan (or Dimarzio) there are the vintage style pickups and of course the many hotter versions and variations.

Who are the companies that make Ric pickups that are very similar to the originals in tone & response?

I have Classic Amplification pickups in mine. They sound better than my '03 Hi-Gains for sure. Mean and biting with great lows.

 

[Neon Blues]

I own 10 Rickenbackers and this Laredo with Dark Stars is my ABSOLUTE Best sounding one. More definition and Still maintains the Rickenbacker sound but with more character.View attachment 522637

Holy shag. I think i just wet myself a bit. That is stunning. On to my wishlist.

 

[Walfretless5]

Wow - now that sounds like a combination! I couldn't bring myself to do that to any of my Rics, though.

Actually, I'd love to hear some Dark Stars in the Ric semi-hollow model (I have serious GAS for one of those) - don't remember the model # though.

Looks like they never made one: www.talkbass.com/threads/ofbpoac-you-must-be-50-to-join.655998/page-3, but like a 330, I guess.

Edit: correcting again, they never made a 330 bass, but I was thinking of the 4005, of course. Don't think they offered that with Dark Stars - were they stock (custom order?) on that Laredo?

No... to my knowledge Ric never offered Dark Stars...they are a pretty proprietary company. They won't even do a special paint color , at least when I inquired about it they wouldn't.
I didn't do it to this Laredo , I actually bought it from a fellow TB'r and they are Fred Hammon pick ups, not the ones that Curtis Novak makes (not to say Curtis' pickups don't sound good, I have heard that they sound identical).
I never was a fan of the Laredo ,(I think it was designed to sound more Fenderish) however doing it to that bass was a definite improvement. It sounds better than any of my 4001's or 4003's in my opinion (and I LOVE my 4001's). It still happens to have all the Ric tone but with more character as I said earlier. All the high end but with a deep piano bass sound. Alot more clarity. You'd really need to hear it, it's a bit hard to explain but FOH sound guys love it.

 

[bholder]

No... to my knowledge Ric never offered Dark Stars...they are a pretty proprietary company. They won't even do a special paint color , at least when I inquired about it they wouldn't.
I didn't do it to this Laredo , I actually bought it from a fellow TB'r and they are Fred Hammon pick ups, not the ones that Curtis Novak makes (not to say Curtis' pickups don't sound good, I have heard that they sound identical).
I never was a fan of the Laredo ,(I think it was designed to sound more Fenderish) however doing it to that bass was a definite improvement. It sounds better than any of my 4001's or 4003's in my opinion (and I LOVE my 4001's). It still happens to have all the Ric tone but with more character as I said earlier. All the high end but with a deep piano bass sound. Alot more clarity. You'd really need to hear it, it's a bit hard to explain but FOH sound guys love it.

Doesn't seem like Fred is making them currently, definitely planning a project for a set from Curtis. I want to try the latter's "Charlie Christian" style Ps as well (overwound really fat wire). Now, if anyone knows of a 4005 with shot electronics....

 

[Walfretless5]

Doesn't seem like Fred is making them currently, definitely planning a project for a set from Curtis. I want to try the latter's "Charlie Christian" style Ps as well (overwound really fat wire). Now, if anyone knows of a 4005 with shot electronics....

Yes , you are correct, Fred is out of the picture. Curtis makes them and I think there is a guy in Europe doing them as well. Curtis is your best bet and a really nice guy as well.

 

[bholder]

Yes , you are correct, Fred is out of the picture. Curtis makes them and I think there is a guy in Europe doing them as well. Curtis is your best bet and a really nice guy as well.

Someone mentioned the Harley Benton RB-414CS in another thread, not terribly expensive Ric-ish semi-hollow - no way I'd cut up a 4005 (even if I had mad skilz), so that seems like the way to go.