NBD: My 1st Rick ('18 4003W)

[motornap]

I've wanted one since I first heard the opening notes of Rush's Cyngus X-1 as a teenager in the mid-2000s. I finally sealed the deal on one and I'm absolutely in love. This is one of those instruments I know I'm never gonna get rid of. The feel is simply stunning to my hands, with the neck feeling just chunky enough and very low action right out of the box. And MAN is it gorgeous. I simply adore the grain of that walnut next to the white binding and pickguard.

I got a chance to play it at a jam session last night through my 1976 V4B and and 810CL. The sounds I could coax out instantly had me in love and were far more varied than I had expected. I bought this for the aggressive, mid-heavy grind these basses are famous for but have found that and so much more inside these two magical pickups. There are so many flavors of grindy goodness available, and there is SO MUCH DETAIL in the midrange. Fret noise that I'd avoid making on my P Bass sounds musical on the Rick. And the neck pickup solo'd with a bit of tone knob roll off REALLY hits the spot for vintage thump played with a light fingerstyle touch.

So far, I prefer leaving the vintage tone cap engaged. It sits wonderfully in the mix with my guitarist, who plays with an overdriven, very bass/low mid-heavy sound.

This one is never leaving my side. To me, this bass is a dream come true.

 

[aproud1]

Congrats! Nothing quite like a RIC. Those walnut ones are sweet. Anyone who says they are one trick ponies must not have played one much. I personally find them as versatile as a P or J.

 

[motornap]

Congrats! Nothing quite like a RIC. Those walnut ones are sweet. Anyone who says they are one trick ponies must not have played one much. I personally find them as versatile as a P or J.

Thanks! They really are a sight to behold. I'd seen the walnut models in pics but seeing one in person is a whole different thing. The pics don't do them justice, something about that oil finish I think.

It seems incredibly versatile to me. I find I don't even need to adjust amp settings between songs at all, whereas on my P that was sometimes a necessity. I found a sweet spot on my amp very quickly and just set it there. A smorgasbord of tones on tap just by adjusting playstyle and onboard controls. It always sounds like a Rick, but there are so many flavors of Rick sound to choose from.

I also found myself using way less gain to leave its natural tone in place, just grittier. It's just too good to muddy up IMO.