On a new instrument there's no reason not to return it for a replacement. If it were used and were a big bargain maybe that's another question
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
NBD major fret sprout
- Thread starter ahbradot
- Start date
That fretboard looks really dry. Never seen fretwork that bad in my life. We have personal injury lawyers here in Los Angeles who would gladly represent you for the trauma and emotional damages playing this thing would cause you, not to mention the bleeding fingers.
I'm thinking we've all been traumatized, so... class action.
I’ve always wanted a Rick, they look cool as hell. But the build quality just sucks now.
Sorry, but that is just unacceptable poor manufacturing. There is nothing else to say about that.
I would hope this is a one in a million situation. Anything more than that, I would count out the brand altogether.
Return it for sure, and maybe inspect its replacement before leaving the store with it?
I would hope this is a one in a million situation. Anything more than that, I would count out the brand altogether.
Return it for sure, and maybe inspect its replacement before leaving the store with it?
Although being returned, I would still get some better pics, a cohesive narrative (...just the facts, ma'am) and forward the whole schmear to Rickenbacker just to see what they say. Include the S/N. Diplomacy: telling somebody to go to hell and having them smile as they walk the distance.
Riis
Riis
Yes. I agree on the pics to Rickenbacker. @ahbradot
But please let us know their response to this. I'm jonesing to know how they react. I wish a Ric rep would comment here on this thread too. Fat chance of that, though.
Major Fretspraut and Major Hochstetter both report directly to General Burkhalter.
Update;
Just drove over to GC.
The GC return went smoothly.
GC ordered me an another brand new one again.
It's coming from the Kansas City warehouse and they have 8 of them in stock at the warehouse.
The sales agent said that the fret sprout was unacceptable and said that's got to go back.
The Guitar tech said the exact same thing, Rickenbacker needs to be aware of how poorly that bass left their factory.
The sales agent is an old-school regular guitar player himself and he just ordered a brand new Rickenbacker 360 this morning.
Just drove over to GC.
The GC return went smoothly.
GC ordered me an another brand new one again.
It's coming from the Kansas City warehouse and they have 8 of them in stock at the warehouse.
The sales agent said that the fret sprout was unacceptable and said that's got to go back.
The Guitar tech said the exact same thing, Rickenbacker needs to be aware of how poorly that bass left their factory.
The sales agent is an old-school regular guitar player himself and he just ordered a brand new Rickenbacker 360 this morning.
Last edited:
To be fair you have things like this with other US manufacturers. I had a new 92 fender that had bad fret ends, sloppy neck joint etc. With that being said you hit the nail on the head. They look cool. Rickenbacker gets a lot of slack for that alone. Let the fans get ready to skewer me here but I don’t care and the truth hurts. I had an 81 4001 for probably 12 years. Riddled with QC issues. Bad orange peel sticky finish. Poorly cut nut. Bridge pickup went open. The screws and washers would back out of the tuners and roll away to wherever. It played well but was a hot mess. Frets were soft and had to be recrowned every 2-3 years. The stories are there by the dozens fact is Ric has had continuous QC issues the entire time not just now. But they seem to get the pass and a lot of it is the look.
I don't want to start a Ricky flame-o-rama, but my experiences with Ric are that of similar QC issues. I owned two, and the 2nd one I had (a 2016 4003S) had globs of dried glue coming out of the frets. It was bumpy but not sharp, so playability wasn't really an issue, but I never forgot how that was on a new bass I paid over $1500 for at that time.
I don't think it's just the looks that make folks gaga for them, though. A lot of folks crave the unique sound. Plus Lemmy, Paul, Rick, Geddy, Mike, Cliff are still idolized my so many. I get it, but ultimately I can do without it.
Hope the OP gets a better one this round.
Last edited:
Great question.
Yes, the nut was wider than the wood on both sides of the neck top and bottom.
Wow - that's not even a seasonal sprout.
Another of many reasons I won't direct purchase from GC on line. They do not inspect inspect instruments on receipt. Minor cosmetic defects go straight to the sales floor. Problem is fret-sprout - warped necks, irregular nut-slots, etc. are all viewed as minor cosmetic defects.
Another of many reasons I won't direct purchase from GC on line. They do not inspect inspect instruments on receipt. Minor cosmetic defects go straight to the sales floor. Problem is fret-sprout - warped necks, irregular nut-slots, etc. are all viewed as minor cosmetic defects.
Like I've said before, its not just Fender who dropped their quality control checkpoints. They've all done it. It goes down the assembly line and the last two stations puts it in a case - then in a box and out the door. It's not like old school where there was somebody who handled and inspected each one. That was streamlined out of the process back in the 70's. I bought that very same bass - 5 years ago. It had poorly dressed frets as well. So its built into their process now...... (Those are pretty bad though)
Looks like two manufacturing steps weren’t completed correctly AND no one QC’d the bass. (I assume they make sure that the bass works, the electrics function and they run their hands over the neck and sides, and make sure the neck isn’t a total buzz fest.) Problem at the factory there.
