Need help with a 'RICK purchase ... ASAP

[5544]

Blue is sadder than black. Black is meaner. \m/

Wrong.

Blue for blues, black for black metal.

 

[David Sutkin]

Yeah ..... maybe....... no.

 

[Anachronism]

Yeah ..... maybe....... no.

Troll along

 

[Mastermold]

Nothing to add other than that I love my Ric! Color shouldn't matter OP--if you find one that you love, buy it!

 

[Runlikegregg]

Runlikegregg ... Where in Brooklyn? I'm guessing Northside?

I was just thinking about that. I saw a couple of Rics at Main Drag a while back, but on their website they only show ridiculously priced ones....Craigslist?
In my experience every Ric just plays so differently that I wouldn't buy one without playing it.
NYC sucks for buying instruments now. HOW CAN THAT BE?!!?!?

 

[eigentone]

There's a sale at Musician's Friend. Today is the last day. You can get a brand new 4003 (Mapleglo, Fireglo, Jetglo, or Midnight Blue) for $1563 plus $125 back in store credit if you sign up for Backstage Pass (free). That's new, with return policy, warranty, etc.

That's what I did a couple years ago. I bought Fireglo. Among my basses, it's been at or tied for #1 since about the time it arrived. Great, great bass. I'd just grab one new in the color of my choice, if those are your options used. Then pray that it is a good one

They also have Walnut ones and 4003S options, if you prefer.

 

[David Sutkin]

I was just thinking about that. I saw a couple of Rics at Main Drag a while back, but on their website they only show ridiculously priced ones....Craigslist?
In my experience every Ric just plays so differently that I wouldn't buy one without playing it.
NYC sucks for buying instruments now. HOW CAN THAT BE?!!?!?

I live about a 1/2 mile from Main Drag (and around the corner from Pentatonic) .... Main Drag is CRAZY expensive. I'm in my late 40's now bit I can remember when NYC was THE place to go guitar shopping... Rudy's, Manny's Alex's ... the good old days.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

Jetglo is the better color. Hope this helps.

 

[David Sutkin]

There's a sale at Musician's Friend. Today is the last day. You can get a brand new 4003 (Mapleglo, Fireglo, Jetglo, or Midnight Blue) for $1563 plus $125 back in store credit if you sign up for Backstage Pass (free). That's new, with return policy, warranty, etc.

That's what I did a couple years ago. I bought Fireglo. Among my basses, it's been at or tied for #1 since about the time it arrived. Great, great bass. I'd just grab one new in the color of my choice, if those are your options used. Then pray that it is a good one

They also have Walnut ones and 4003S options, if you prefer.

Thank you, good looking out.

 

[Paul Boyer]

I think Paul Boyer still has a beautiful Montezuma Brown 2003/4 Color of the Year bass for sale!

Nope, just sold today (5/30).

 

[Mastermold]

Nope, just sold today (5/30).

Thank you for removing that lovely temptation--and congrats to the new owner.

 

[Asimov]

Nope, just sold today (5/30).

I knew it wouldn't last!

 

[logicman69]

Wasn' GC blowing out those Blue one's back then for like $1000?

I'd go with the Jetglow myself...

 

[Max Blasto]

Go for the blue. That's what's calling to you.

WRT price: Remember, a lot of the cats here on TP are chronic flippers and therefore see a bass guitar as worth x amount of money to buy or sell.
Paying too much or getting too little scorches them worse than watching their favorite team lose.

On the other hand, there are players that buy what they want because that's what they want. If you really love the thing, you're not going to miss the money you spent and you'll never sell it so the item really doesn't have a dollar value.

I can't for the life of me remember what I paid for my Rick in 1980, but if it was too much, who cares? I still have it, still play it, and it's not for sale. If you really want that Rick, you'll be able to say the same thing.

 

[David Sutkin]

"On the other hand, there are players that buy what they want because that's what they want"

That's the camp I fall in, I buy basses to keep them and enjoy them. If I end up paying a few dollars more then I should have, it doesn't keep me awake at night.

Don't get me wrong, dollars are as precious to me as the next guy but my time is more precious and spending hours / days / weeks obsessively chasing "the best deal" is not my thing. As long as I come close ... I'm good.

Some cats get off on finding the absolute best possible deal even if it takes months, and that's all good, I get it ..... but to each his own.

 

[Gizmot]

Max Blasto is right - get the bass that you want. The difference in price won't change your life - having a Ric bass that you like and that you'll be playing for a long time to come will. I've had mine since '79 and it's not going anywhere

 

[bobyoung53]

Can't read the whole thread but check out Wildwood, they sell them brand new as cheap as those used prices you posted including midnight blue.

 

[bwoodman]

The S model lacks the binding on the standard 4003, it has a single output so you can't send each pickup to a different amp, and the S model is also more rounded than the standard model.

Midnight Blue is not all that uncommon.

Before you buy a Ric, play one somewhere. I love mine, but some people find it uncomfortable to play.

I have an S and prefer no binding - easier on the arm!

 

[Korladis]

Don't pay $1650 for a used 4003. You can get a new one for that price.

 

[Buster Brown]

Hey all,

I could use some help / advice from the TB family ....

I've always wanted a 'Rick in my bass arsenal and over the weekend I started searching and found 2 that I really liked enough to buy either one .....

1. a MINT 2008 Midnight Blue 4003 - asking price $1,650
or
1. a MINT 2016 Jetglow 4003 - asking price $1,300

The seller of the '08 midnight blue 4003 wants about $350 more then the seller with the '16 Jetglo.

Is it true that Rick made less Midnight blue 4003's and so the extra cost could be justified if and when I try to resell it somewhere down the road? Is that BS or does that have any merit?

It just so happens that I LOVE the Midnight blue, it's cosmetically and tonally one of my favorite basses but again, it's $350 more then an almost new 2016 4003 ... I'm struggling with wehther the extra $350 is worth is for the color?

I'd like to make the purchase today so any advice would really help ...

On a side note: when reading up on Rick's I noticed they also make an "S" model which as far as I can tell only has cosmetic differences? The "dot" inlays as opposed to the "triangles" on the fingerboard and an unlined neck. I read somewhere that Macca and Squire preferred the "S" and so that makes me think maybe I am missing something other then cosmetics? There may also be a different truss rod configuration?

Thanks for your help and advice family.

BK

Look on Reverb.com .... There are Rick sellers asking INSANE prices for their used Rick's .... some want as much as $2,000 PLUS .... for a USED 4003!!!

PT Barnum had it right.

Actually PT never said that - but I get your point. I have owned many Rics over the years something like 9-10 (hell, I can't even keep track any longer). I currently own three - a Midnight Blue, a MapleGlo and a Fireglo that I picked up 2 years ago for a song, a Used Ric shouldn't cost any more that $1100.00 - 1200.00 TOPS.

There (unfortunately) are many people who see them as more than they are and "overpay".....then, a couple of months down the line say "why the hell did I do that?"