• 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.

My new Ric is on it's way!!!!

Fishheadjoe

Fishheadjoe

May 5, 2008
3,490
6,362
Toronto Canada
#1
I thought I'd pass this along to you good folks...
I was keenly interested in getting a new RIC and followed the thread regarding the MF sale very closely. Now, Blue would not be my first choice, but also not a deal breaker for me.
After humming a hawing about it for the better part of a week, GAS took over and I dicussed the purchase with my wife, who was actually somewhat relieved that I had provided her with a viable option for her to purchase my 50th birthday present!
So, last Thursday I called MF to find out if they had stock and would ship to Canada. I found out that they would not ship a RIC to Canada, due to restrictions with distribution... awe crap! I then noticed a post regarding Music 123 matching MF's sale price, so I phoned them. Well, they had no problem shipping to Canada and had ten MB 4003's in stock. Unfortunately for me, my visa card was in my truck, parked at the train station! I told the girl at Music 123 that I would be calling back, at 5:30pm that evening with my card in hand.
So, once home from work, I called them back and got the same person on the line as I had earlier that afternoon. She then informs me that they were sold out of blue 4003's!!!!
I was pretty disappointed, but she remembered me from our earlier conversation and asked me to hold for a moment while she talks to her manager. After a short 5 minute hold, she came back and said that if I was willing to pay an additional $100.00, I could have either a black or red 4003!
Well, I fancy the red much more than the black, so without hesitation, I said YES!!!!!!!!!
I just this morning received my UPS tracking info and it should be delivered to my home in the next two days! :hyper:
I'm pretty excited as a 4003 was my very first bass, back in the early 90's. I had to sell it, but have held a soft spot in my heart for RICS. Funny enough, my RIC back then was also Fireglo!
I'll add some pics to this thread once I get the bass and give'r the once over!
Thanks again to TB for the heads up on this sale as the local $2200.00 price tag and 24 month wait put a Ricky right out of the question for me. :bassist:
Fishheadjoe
 
#12
JoshuaTSP said:
It will be set up with high action, nut slots cut shallow, tuned 1/2 step down, and slight relief in the neck.

...or at least that's what most of us got. :)
Click to expand...

Mine had a strange setup, or lack thereof. It was really high on the E side, and really low on the G side. E string was a little flat, A arrived fully in tune (across the pacific), D and G 1/2 step flat. A little relief on the neck.
 
#15
Fishheadjoe said:
UPS tracking says delivery by end of day Thursday! :bassist:
Fishheadhoe
Click to expand...

Unrelated but minor gripe about the UPS in my area. If you pay for guarenteed shipping, like 2-day or 3-day, they won't deliver the item untill the exact estimated time. For example, if I get 3-day Fedex shipping, they will put it on the truck to my house as soon as it's at the local facility, but with UPS, if it's a day early, they'll hold it untill the expected date of delivery. :mad:

Carry on.
 
#16
tkcthulu said:
Do you mind telling me how much they end up charging you on brokerage fees? I would like to know so I can decide whether I want stuff shipped directly into Canada or drive into the US for future purchase.
Click to expand...

Just got off the phone with UPS and they are charging me $190.00 in brokerage fees... and honestly, I was actually prepared for a higher price tag, not that I am complaining.

So, had I bought a RIC here in Toronto, I'd be paying about $2484.00CAD, tax included and have a 18 to 24 month wait on a new RIC. My total cost on this one will be $1605.97! Should I find the RIC to be not my cup of tea, I'm sure I can unload it locally and still find a tidy profit... but my plan is to keep it and rock it!
Fishheadjoe
 
#18
Unpacked the bass from it's box, it appeared to be a non RIC box, nothing on the box it's self indicated RIC. The box was immaculate, not even a torn corner.
Opened the box to reveal a very nice RIC case. Opened the case to reveal a nice shinny new Fireglow RIC!
My initial impressions were that the bass looked good. Manufacture date on it was July /11.
I began to really look over the bass to ensure that mine didn't have any of the QC issues that some others have found.
I then noticed that on the lower horn, there is a black mark, which kinda looks like over spray, under the clear coat. Hmmm... then I noticed that there is a black spot, under the clear coat, kinda the size of a side fret marker, right beside the output jack... Hmmm...
Plugged it in after a very quick bridge adjustment, for string height, and there was the old RIC sound I was seeking.
Then I noticed a couple of other things....
1. The bass is significantly louder when the treble p/u is soloed and the volume decreases with the p/u selector set to the middle position and even quieter with the front p/u soloed.
2. The tone controls on the bridge p/u do nothing! Whether I have the push/pull up or down, it makes no difference to the sound when I adjust the tone knob.
There is a difference in the sound when the knob is either up or down, but the tone controls do not do anything.

I have contacted Music 123 regarding the problems and they have, so far taken really good care of me arranging for the bass to be picked up by UPS at my home, taking care of getting me a new one as soon as mine is scanned by UPS and have waived through UPS, any brokerage fee for my replacement bass.

I hold hope that things continue on a positive path and as usual, I'll update this thread as the process continues...

I did not have time to take pics as of yet, perhaps I can this evening before I re-pack the bass for return shipping.

FIshheadjoe
 
#19
1. This is normally how they are set up from the factory. The neck pickup has a smaller magnet that keeps the strings happier--a big magnetic pull that close to the neck can mess with the setup a bit, and I wouldn't be saying this if I didn't have first hand experience with it. The pickups are quieter together for the same reason two Jazz pickups are quieter together, they are filtering each other's signal output when they hit the mono jack and that makes a "scooped" effect. (This isn't the same thing as RWRP hum cancelation, which is the other thing Jazz Basses do at equal volume and Rics can be modified to do this as well.) You can make the neck pickup louder by raising it or (better yet) lowering the bridge pickup to match. You can get it where either pickup is equally loud but together they should always be a little quieter than alone.

2. That sounds like a cold joint from the capacitor to the tone pot--very common. Basically just needs some touch-up soldering I would guess.

I don't know what your "black marks" were, never seen 'em. I hope your replacement is better.
 
#20
cassius987 said:
1. This is normally how they are set up from the factory. The neck pickup has a smaller magnet that keeps the strings happier--a big magnetic pull that close to the neck can mess with the setup a bit, and I wouldn't be saying this if I didn't have first hand experience with it. The pickups are quieter together for the same reason two Jazz pickups are quieter together, they are filtering each other's signal output when they hit the mono jack and that makes a "scooped" effect. You can make the neck pickup louder by raising it or (better yet) lowering the bridge pickup to match. You can get it where either pickup is equally loud but together they should always be a little quieter than alone.

2. That sounds like a cold joint from the capacitor to the tone pot--very common. Basically just needs some touch-up soldering I would guess.

I don't know what your "black marks" were, never seen 'em. I hope your replacement is better.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info...
The black marks I could have probably lived with, not happily, but liveable. When you combine the lack of functionality of the tone knob and the paint issues, I feel that I should be getting better for a bass at this price point.

Fishheadjoe
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back