New Ric vs. Old Ric?

[Jaymi]

I have now owned 85 Rics....Go with the old one...Most of the new ones have issues coming out of the factory...adjustments wrong, nut slots not low enough. Pickups are VERY hot and sometimes unmanageable when you are looking for a new bass. The prices do not justify the means...they are too much....this is rickenomics...jack the price and lower the quality out of the case...besides, if you are actually going to play the bass, get one that is already broken in so it will give you years of nonstop action...

 

[GM60466]

depends on the price
I like the 4001 model

G

 

[Oberion]

All things being equal, get the new one. The push-pull cap pot is worth having and the neck profile is really nice.

+1 The neck is butter

I think what's coming out of the Ric factory for the last few years is as good or better than anything they've ever made. Of all the Rics I've owned, ('76, '77, '85, '99, '06, and '08) the two new ones are by far my favorites. The newish neck profile is not as skinny as they were in the 70's, but they feel solid and comfortable, and have very little taper. A big plus for my average sized hands.

+1. I only have an 06 and 08 and the difference in the neck profile and finish just between those two years makes one take note.

RIC you can't go wrong new or old but that being said, the newer ones are really a tad more versatile IMO

 

[El Beardo]

I have a 1974 4001 and it is an absolute beast. I'm sure you'll be happy either way.

 

[18eranaRic]

Well, thats a bit of misinformation ehh?

??? explain...

 

[18eranaRic]

I'd go for the new one. The necks on the new ones are really thin and comfy, and the push/pull which activates the capacitor is supposed to be able to give you that 4001 Ricky sound when you want it.

It's what I'm saving up for now.

+1

 

[unclejane]

I have now owned 85 Rics....Go with the old one...Most of the new ones have issues coming out of the factory...adjustments wrong, nut slots not low enough. Pickups are VERY hot and sometimes unmanageable when you are looking for a new bass. The prices do not justify the means...they are too much....this is rickenomics...jack the price and lower the quality out of the case...besides, if you are actually going to play the bass, get one that is already broken in so it will give you years of nonstop action...

Sorry, can't agree. I've owned 3 and played a bunch more and havn't seen any epidemic like this during any period.

Nut slots are _always_ too high from factory new - this is on purpose so you can lower it to your tastes during setup. Same with other "adjustments". That's why you do a setup on your instrument.

Hotter pickups on a rick - you say that like it's a bad thing? No other bass in existence needs hotter pickups more than the rick!

The maintenance of quality of the rick over time is among the best I've ever seen in the industry. In fact I can't think of another bass offhand that's still the same quality 40 years later as it was 40 years ago.

My 2000 model is as good quality-wise as my 70's 4001 and my 80's 4003S were, same with all the other ricks I've borrowed or played over the years....

LS

 

[Mr. Mig]

Sorry, can't agree. I've owned 3 and played a bunch more and havn't seen any epidemic like this during any period.

Nut slots are _always_ too high from factory new - this is on purpose so you can lower it to your tastes during setup. Same with other "adjustments". That's why you do a setup on your instrument.

Hotter pickups on a rick - you say that like it's a bad thing? No other bass in existence needs hotter pickups more than the rick!

The maintenance of quality of the rick over time is among the best I've ever seen in the industry. In fact I can't think of another bass offhand that's still the same quality 40 years later as it was 40 years ago.

My 2000 model is as good quality-wise as my 70's 4001 and my 80's 4003S were, same with all the other ricks I've borrowed or played over the years....

LS

+1